V C Meudon Cycle Kingdom 2-day  - 6th and 7th April

Those of us who have spent the past few years road racing in WECC colours will probably agree that 2001 was a season of enthusiastic racing and vastly improved team riding. In previous years one or two Worthing riders would nervously sit on the start line, but in 2001 four or five blue and white figures would be in regular attendance at the popular Tuesday night Goodwood gallops. We were by no means an all-conquering team, but we raced with a purpose, gathered experience and learned fast. For example: the experience of sitting in A & E waiting to have my bruised knee examined taught me not to ride into my team mate’s back wheel. Having gathered this, and other valuable pieces of knowledge, the team was looking to build on it’s success.

It therefore represents a small but pleasing milestone for road racers such as myself (who raced as solitary figures in past seasons) that WECC can now produce a team of five riders to take part in a tough stage race. The five in question would be Paul Carruthers, Neal Coleman, Peter Thorpe-Hincks, Chris White and myself (Chris Dransfield, in case you were wondering). Before the day’s race had even begun the benefit of teammates became apparent as a complex network of carpooling and rendezvous points were used to transport all involved to the correct location. Tactics were discussed, numbers pinned and bananas eaten before we rolled out onto the course to begin the days racing – a 100km road race followed directly after by a 10km TT.

Narrow roads and tight corners made for a tough, technical race where position in the pack was crucial. One of the biggest differences between time trialling and road racing is the mentality; decisions are constantly being made and executed. So as Peter and Chris came along side me it was time to decide some team tactics. "Sit in the bunch," I shouted, "Nothing’s going to stay away. Just sit in, it’ll end in a sprint." This is what racing is all about, I thought to myself, organising the team and riding with our heads, not just our legs. About a lap later three riders went off the front. We never saw them again. It wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made, but as the miles went by it seemed irrelevant. The pace was still high and my attention switched from the three break aways to simply staying in the main bunch. Neal and Paul, both newcomers to bunch racing on the open roads, were casualties of the relentless speed and lost contact with the bunch, eventually having to pull out. As the speed dropped slightly in the latter stages, I tried to position myself for the uphill sprint finish. Coming round the final bend in 15^th wheel I launched my sprint. It took me about 50 yards to develop cramp in both knees which brought back into the saddle. Peter came past me just before the line, and if I had looked behind I would have seen Chris on my wheel. We had three riders in the main bunch: a pleasing result in such a tough race.

I can’t tell you much about the time trial that followed (and when I say followed, I mean literally straight after). It hurt. Imagine riding 100km at 25mph as a warm-up before a time trial. All things considered Chris and myself sneaking inside the top 60 in the TT wasn’t too bad. Peter, however, seemed in his element (lucky git). While we struggled, he powered round to the twelfth quickest time, giving him tenth on the overall classification. While Chris and I settled for a decent 46^th and 44^th place overall respectively.

Day two started amid cooler conditions. Neal had decided not to start so our numbers were down to four. The course that awaited us would be a sterner test than the day before; again 100km, but this time using seven laps of a hilly circuit that finished at the top of a viciously steep climb. The climb would be the crucial point, and it seemed to be working in my favour early on. I was never further back than fifth on the first four ascents, as the bunch slowly shed riders. Peter wasn’t suited to such a hilly course, but lap after lap I would see him fall back on the climb only to shoot back up to the front on the descents. Like the day before, it was the distance and unrelenting speed that hurt the legs, and slowly we began to crack. Paul and Chris were dropped and forced to pull out. I think Peter went with about three laps to go. My time in the lead seemed to be up with two to go when I missed a split and found myself in a ten-man group off the back. However, a strong chase meant I was back in the lead group as the race approached the climb for the final time. This finished me off though, I cracked completely and could only watch as Peter (who despite getting dropped was holding the lead group at about 40 seconds) caught and passed me with about three miles of the race left to go. I struggled to the finish line 2 minutes down on the lead group.

Back at the HQ Peter, Chris, Paul and I gathered to recount the days events from our individual perspectives. So the race ended with the team united, even if it was only to discuss our aches and pains; a fitting end to an enjoyable challenge. Made all the more enjoyable by our placing of second in the team classification, which was contested by 16 teams from around the country. The Surrey League Jaunts 5-day stage race is in June, and with a truly competitive team we won’t be there just to make up numbers.

This page was last updated on 24-04-2005.