BirkenheadPark 22_07_12

Birkenhead Park Road Race Sunday 22 July

Sunday 22nd July saw the annual Birkenhead Park Road Race. Everybody hoped that this race would be well received and supported so that it can become a popular fixture on the racing calendar once again. This race once again did not disappoint. The race was 20 laps of a 2.00 mile circuit, making a relatively short total race distance of 40.0 miles.

With the sun shining, 40 riders lined up on the start line ready to race. At 12:00pm, all of the E/1/2 category riders set off followed 1 lap later by all the 3/4 category riders. Despite the fact the E/1/2 category riders had a 1 lap deficit, we all knew the E/1/2 category riders would eventually catch us, nevertheless, the race was well and truly on! As expected, there was attack after attack with quite a few riders including myself trying their luck to establish a break away early on. Most of the attacks were chased down instantly and easily caught. My aim was to work, chase and attack throughout the race in the hope that I would succeed in being part of a breakaway. By doing this, I would become stronger in the long-term despite the fact that I knew I would be running the risk of not having enough energy left for the end of the race in order to have a strong finish in this particular race.

Every 5 laps, there was a prime 'sprint' lap. I do not normally try and contest these prime laps as I prefer to conserve the energy. However, the short steep incline leading up to the finish line suited me well. Therefore, on the first prime lap I attempted to use lead-out riders to launch myself up the incline to take the prime lap win. Pleased to say that it worked and I won the prime lap, earning myself £20 in the process. Unfortunately, with 10 laps left, the E/1/2 group inevitably caught us and this is when the race really sprung into life with the pace significantly increasing. As the bell rung to signal the beginning of another prime 'sprint' lap, I thought I may as well have another attempt and try and make it two prime lap wins. Unfortunately, I lost out by the smallest of margins to 2nd category rider Anthony Greenhalgh of Wheelbase. I was gutted not to have won this prime lap, but, considering how much my sprint has improved since the beginning of the season; I was pretty pleased.

Back to the main race, one break-away group managed to stay clear of the main bunch. As the sprint opened up coming around the last corner, the incline began to take its toll, but, I had enough energy in the legs to win the bunch sprint to take 10th place out of 40 riders!

The well-deserved win went to Luke Boulton of Base2Race Cycles. I do not often win a lot of race prize money, but, I walked away from the race with £60 for a prime lap win and more importantly the best placed 3rd category rider! Safe to say it had been a good day on the bike!

Birkenhead Park Road Race Results - Garmin Link -

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