Imperial Winter Series 2010 - Final Race

The final race of 2010's Imperial Winter Series at Hillingdon. I need to finish in the top 6 to win the 3rd Cat Series title. 4 of us from the club (Jai, Kieron, Mark C and me) had decided to work together and attempt to string out the final sprint to avoid bunching. The best case scenario would be a Paragon sprint train but we didn't expect to pull that off!

It was a chilly day with a fairly strong wind but a good number turned out on the start line. As the flag dropped the race began at a steady pace. 20 or so minutes in a couple of riders went off the front and were soon joined by Tim Benham (sitting 4th overall in the series). At this stage I probably should have relaxed in the middle of the peloton but instead moved near the front to make sure the break wasn't joined by more riders. This meant me chasing down a few attacks and using energy.

30 minutes in we passed the 4ths with Tim still ahead but now only with one other. It looked like we had them pegged so I settled into the bunch and sure enough they were reeled in over the next 2 laps.

A lap later, Tim B's team-mate attacked taking a Wheeler with him. As they rounded the corner to the home straight we were amazed as his bike seemed to slip underneath him. Fortunately he was unharmed and the peloton managed to avoid him and bike.

5 laps to go and with the peloton altogether Dulwich moved towards the front. With 3 to go we were in formation - 4 blue shirts leading the race with the peloton in a line behind us. With one lap to go that was still the case - an amazing effort from the lads. Mark C dropped out as Kieron kept a superb pace then Jai put in a monumental effort to lead out to the last corner. At this point 5 or so riders came round the outside and it was time for me to get out the saddle. Driving up the left hand side I managed to squeeze past two riders but 20 metres from the line there was no room to manouvre and I had to scramble for a few centimetres to nick 5th place.

So victory in the series was just sealed and my 5th place in the final race also took my BC points tally to 42 which means 2nd Cat has been attained. It's been a great winter of racing and thanks must go to Lucy and Doug at Imperial for the organisation. Next year I'll have to lift my game for the E123 series! *gulp*

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Race 12
Place Club Series points
1st w 73 Tristan Natoli AWCycles 3
2nd w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 200
3rd w 86 James Dunsbier London Dynamo 3 150
4th w132 Matt O'Callaghan Exiles CC 3 130
5th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 120
6th w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 3 110
7th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 100
8th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 3 90
9th w133 Ian Redding TimeRT-TerryWrightCycles 3 80
10th w123 Piers Curle Exciles 3 70
11th w 18 Andrew Harvey Kingston Wheelers 3 60
12th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 50
13th w105 Jeremy Hewitt Kingston Wheelers CC 3 40
14th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 30
15th w111 Jacek Reder private member 3 20
16th w117 Chris Grange Hemel Hempstead 3 10
17th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 3
18th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3
19th w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
20th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
21st w 38 Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3
22nd w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3
23rd w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
24th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3
25th w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
26th w 4 Robin Osborne London Dynamo CC 3
27th w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
28th w129 Rune Sanbeck Nilsson London Dynamo 3
29th w 63 Wayne Thomas Reading CC 3
30th w122 Richard Rose Progression Fitness 3
31st w 50 Kieron Redmond Dulwich Paragon CC 3
32nd w 98 Mark O'Brien Archer RC 3
33rd w124 Josh Vicino VC Meudon 3
34th w 2 Paul Redman Thames Velo 3
35th w115 Nigel Burns St Ives CC 3
36th w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
37th w127 James Stratton London Dynamo CC 3
38th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
39th w 92 Matt Treadwell Twickenam CC 3
40th w114 Peter Bolke DHcyclesport/Colnago 3
41st w126 Rosara Joseph private member 3W

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Series Leaderboard
1st w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 960 120 150 100 130 * 130 90 120 120
2nd w 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 930 110 200 150 130 40 * 100 200
3rd w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 830 200 200 200 * 120 110
4th w 31 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 820 200 120 150 150 * 200
5th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 700 30 * 120 200 100 200 50
6th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 650 80 90 80 * 110 110 80 100
7th w 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 630 130 120 100 130 * 150
8th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 600 90 110 110 70 * 20 200
9th w 46 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 470 130 70 120 * 100 50
10th w111 Jacek Reder private member 430 * 130 130 150 20
11th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 360 90 100 * 80 90
12th w 5 Tom Neale Spalding CC 310 100 120 90 *
13th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 270 * 120 150
14th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 260 50 20 80 110 *
15th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 240 * 80 130 30