CDNW Dolphinholme Sunday 12 August
Josh becomes a Second Cat
A tough day and tough conditions saw a deserved winner in Roy Davies (Team Elite/Paul Bethell Electrical) win the 12th event of the year run by CDNW with the assistance of the Lune Road Cycling Club on the edge of the Forest of Bowland in North Lancashire. Windy conditions prevailed, but the rain held off making for a fast pursuit over the elevated moorland in Abbeystead.
Going into this race, I had good form with some promising results over the past few weeks. To add to this, I had been told that this race course should suit me well being a hilly course. Although, I had heard many stories of how brutal this race course is. So, I was not too sure what to expect, except a lot of pain. My aim was to make sure I was always near the front of the race in the hope that I would succeed in being part of a breakaway. The weather was overcast as we rolled through the neutralised zone to the circuit proper, which began with a twisting climb and continued into the uphill finishing straight. There then followed a left hand turn and the course leveled out a bit and then headed downhill across a couple of cattle grids. By this time the side wind was rather unpleasant and meant cautious riding by most. As soon as we came onto the rolling part of the course, the pace significantly increased; the peloton strung out in a line.
Whilst the race managed to stay together for two out of four laps, it was not long before a select group broke away using the tough hilly circuit and the strong windy conditions to create a lead group of 10 riders. I had a good sense of the ability of riders within the break away and realised that this breakaway was going to succeed. So, after relentlessly chasing for 3 miles I thankfully caught the breakaway. With a lot of hard work, the time gap between us and the main peloton increased from 1 minute 18 seconds to over 3 minutes 15 seconds by the end of the race which was satisfying.
On the penultimate ascent of the main climb, all of us in the breakaway started looking at each other wondering who was going to open up the sprint. The long climb from Four Lane Ends was always going to be a tactical one, but it came down to a last minute sprint up a very deceiving hard incline. Just before the finishing incline, my legs felt empty and I thought well a top 10 finish on a course like this is respectable. However, after following those riders who attacked up the finishing incline, I found myself leading with 100 meters left to race. At this point, my legs were screaming stop and it was safe to say that I had nothing left to give. This resulted in Roy Davies (Team Elite/Paul Bethell Electrical), the eventual winner kicking past me with 20 yards to the finish line to take the well-deserved win.
I finished 2nd out of 56 starters with only 25 riders successfully finishing the race! It just shows how tough and selective this race is. I had never thought I was capable of achieving 2nd place on a course like this, so, I was chuffed to have achieved this. I was so close to winning, but, I had nothing left to give so that's the main thing. My Garmin showed that I had covered 51.75 miles in 2 hours 28 minutes at an average speed of 21.0mph over 4,823ft of climbing and hitting a maximum speed of 50.8mph!
Having had a good season picking up British Cycling License Points slowly but surely along with a further 12 points for this result, I had collected 40 points; meaning I am now a 2nd category rider and will be racing with the professionals (E/1/2's). This was an aim at the start of the season, but, I was not too sure if it was a realistic aim, but, it was! With a good winter in my legs and the right support, I think I will be ready for the step up!
I have to say thanks to quite a few people who have given me advice & support. Naming a few names: Colin Baldwin and Ken Beck from Southport CC have given me a lot of advice and encouragement throughout the year & a massive thanks to Craig Middleton & Mike Jackson of Onix Bikes who lent me an Onix Azzuro race bike to me after crashing my Kuota KOM Evo that was beyond repair earlier during the season. I could not have done it without them & I am sure I have done the bike and the help I have received justice.
