2016 ROAD RACES
Results/details from Surrey League Road Races can be found here on Facebook
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and there is now also a new Surrey League website
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Results/details from Southdown Velo Goodwood Series can be found here
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SUN 11 SEPTEMBER
WINCHESTER CRITS VC VENTA |
A 4th cat race around Winchester park and ride. 35 minutes plus 3 laps.
Riders: Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
SCHAEFF GETS HIS 3rd CATEGORY LICENCE!!!!
and AARON IS NOW JUST 4 POINTS AWAY Report from Schaeff:
Aaron and I raced here for the second time this season. I went into the race needing to place 8th to get my 3rd category license and Aaron wanted to do better than last time and possibly pick up some points. The race was faster than the last one with many people trying to create a breakaway. We both followed many attacks and I managed to get in a 5 man break that eventually lapped the field. The rest of the bunch fell apart and Aaron was working hard in a group of 4. In the last two laps the 5 man break became 3. We stayed together until the last lap when a rider put in an attack which I couldn't follow. I managed to finish second and get my 3rd cat! Aaron won the sprint from his group to claim 8th and he now needs just 4 more points to get his 3rd cat. Aaron had pushed himself so hard during the race that he had an asthma attack just after he had finished!! All in all a good race for us both. |
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SUN 11 SEPTEMBER
VC MEUDON |
A 3rd Category race over 7 laps and 50 miles at Milland Hill
Rider: Dom Maxwell
DOM GETS HIS 2nd CATEGORY LICENCE!!!!
Report from Dom:
So I still needed 2 points for my cat 2 licence and following my all inclusive holiday I had a few kilos extra baggage to carry round. I was going to use the Surrey League Milland Hill course to get some race miles in with Portsmouth pencilled in the following week to try and get those points. Milland Hill is one of the toughest parcours on the calendar. The hill itself is 25% and being larger framed I have to be very careful to manage it, make sure I start close to the front and not to over cook at the start. We had to do the hill 7 times and they all hurt. The weather was a bit chilly but soon warmed up. On around the 3rd lap 3 got away. I was not interested in any breakaways as I would always be dropped on the hill so I just kept my nose out of the wind and worked on my positioning. Soon after the break away a young lad from East Grinstead lost control after hitting a pot hole and crashed at around 30 mph. He took up a lot of the road but luckily everyone else avoided him and when I saw him after he only had cuts and bruises which was much better than I would of suspected after seeing him go down. I managed to keep up with the peloton on each accent of the hill until the bell lap. The 3 were still away and I knew I had no chance on a bunch sprint up a 25% incline so I had to go early I tried to get away on a bit of dual carriageway after the hill but was chased down, so I had 2 minutes breather and then went again on the 2nd smaller hill on the course. The elastic was broken and a strong lad came with me. We 2up time trialled to the bottom of the hill and I told him to go on as I was cooked and not the fastest up the hill. I didn't look back to see where the peloton was just focused on not cramping and giving it everything I had up the gradient. I got to the top on 5th place and a young Oli Fenton from South Downs Bikes sprinted past me as he led out the bunch sprint. I had to give it one last effort and followed him over the line for a provisional 6th. Very pleased with the race strategy as have got points twice on this very difficult course and it's always really satisfying when a bit of bravery pays off. This gives me my cat 2 licence which was my goal for the season. So I am extremely happy!     |
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SUN 28 AUGUST
SOUTHDOWN VELO |
A 4th cat race around Goodwood
Riders: Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
Race report kindly supplied by Schaeff:
Aaron and I raced the 4th cat race at Goodwood motor circuit. I went with the aim to finish in the top 10 to get some more points and Aaron wanted to mainly finish and get in a breakaway. The pace was comfortable throughout the race and we both got in short lived breakaways. Due to the wind eventually a 2 man break got away and surprisingly stayed away as the bunch got lazy. Aaron put in some big turns on the front of the peloton and I stayed sheltered for the sprint. In the last 500 metres Aaron dragged me and 3 others up the inside of the bunch and put in a big effort taking us to the final sprint. I managed to get 2nd in the bunch sprint and 4th overall to put my points tally up to 10 needing 2 more points to get my 3rd cat. Aaron rolled across the line in the front half of the bunch.  |
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SUN 14 AUGUST
WINCHESTER CRITS VC VENTA |
A 4th cat race around Winchester park and ride. 35 minutes plus 3 laps.
Riders: Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
Update from Schaeff:
The race was fast from the off and the bunch split in to two groups after the first few laps. I was lucky enough to make the first split but unfortunately Aaron wasn't. The front group worked well together to maintain a lead of around 8-10 seconds over the second group throughout the whole race, it was obvious that the race would end in a small bunch sprint. After coming out of the last corner towards the back of the group I managed to sprint to 6th place and get some points! Aaron rolled in with the second group.                                        |
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SUN 14 AUGUST
NORWOOD HILL SURREY LEAGUE (REDHILL CC) |
A 3rd category race
Rider: Dom Maxwell
No points today.
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THURS 11 AUGUST
WIVELSFIELD SURREY LEAGUE (SUSSEX REVOLUTION) |
A 30 mile E1/2/3/4 handicap race
Rider: Dom Maxwell
This is Dom's second race in consecutive days, and his third in five days. He describes it as a "useful training ride"
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WED 10 AUGUST
PORTSMOUTH MOUNTBATTEN CIRCUIT |
A 3rd category ace at the outdoor Portsmouth Mountbatten Circuit.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Update from Dom:
So in chasing the holy grail which is my second cat road race licence I need 40 points. I have been stuck on 30 since having destroyed my form climbing up Mont Ventoux 3 times. so I needed some evening racing not too far from home to try and find those elusive 10 points. The Mountbatten Centre is an outdoor velodrome similar to Preston Park and has recently reopened after a racer sadly died a few years ago. It now has all the safety requirements. The banking is reasonably shallow again. The series have youth and junior racing followed by a 3rds and then an e12. The race itself is only 30 minutes long. But it's a very long 30 minutes. The action is full gas from the start, so it's like a TT with VO2 Max efforts in it. My first race there a few weeks ago was an eye opener. After normal racing and then a lot of steady miles in France it was just an effort to keep on the back of the peloton. My results in the series up till last night were 24th, 13th, 11th and last night I managed 3rd. The reason for the result last night is that my form has improved and I worked out that I have been sitting too far at the front in the last couple of races so not seen the attacks coming and that resulted in some wasted efforts. Last night I stayed further back and went with the attacks and tried some myself. It was a relief to feel the form coming back to my legs after a wooden 4 weeks. It ended with a group sprint and that's all about the positioning even with 3 laps to go you have to be in the top 6. I held my position in 3rd on the penultimate lap and started to reel in the 2nd and 1st placed riders. I almost pipped 2nd on the line but he must have just held on. Great to get some much needed points. Still 3 to go! 
CLICK FOR LINK TO STRAVA
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SUN 7 AUGUST
KIRDFORD SURREY LEAGUE (i-Team.cc) |
A 65 mile Cat2/3 race
Rider: Dom Maxwell
You can spot Dom finishing at 1:13 on this YouTube clip
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TUES 5 JULY
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Dom Maxwell, Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
Schaeff Potter had some fun with a breakaway for a lap before being reeled back in.
Dom is well placed for quite a while - before having his rear mech wrecked by a rear end shunt in a crash (one of two on the night). The good news is that he stays upright, and that Aaron and Schaeff also finish safely.                  |
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WED 29 JUNE
DUNSFOLD SURREY LEAGUE (VC ST RAPHAEL) |
A vets series race over a reduced distance of 24 miles at Dunsfold Park.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Race report from Dom:
The weather for Dunsfold vets was wet and windy. This can help as the circuit is open to the elements and it makes it easier to break away. Because of the conditions the race was reduced to 8 laps from 10 but they were all hard laps as riders tried to get away. 2 riders got away on lap 4 ish and they were soon joined by another 2. It was still hard work as people tried to get away but the peloton was just about sticking together until the last lap, into the wind it splintered with ones and twos going off and others not prepared to chase before the sprint. I thought I would change my arm and went with 1k to go and was caught by a rider who did some work on the front. I let him burn himself out and then got on the back of someone who has overtaken me and managed to finish in 10th place. My first point of the season at the vets. Yay!      |
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TUES 21 JUNE
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Dom Maxwell, Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter, Ed Klose
Good to see a familar name with Ed Klose back in action for the club.
And well done to Schaeff for riding there and back due to the train strike. Race report from Dom: Last weeks winner had an early puncture and there were no TT monsters from Blazing Saddles there so it was a bit of a dull race. The pace was high and consistent but there were no efforts to get away. I thought I would sit and look for anything decent going and then maybe give it full gas on the final lap. I got away but no one came with me and I ran out of steam on the back straight. I sat in the bunch but nothing left for the sprint. I think Ed was in the top 15 and Schaeff and Aaron safely in the bunch along with myself. A missed opportunity for points but I stay in 3rd in the series with 2 races to go. So as we reach the end-game of the Series with one more Cat race event and then the TTT to go the top 3 in each category are; E/1/2:- Henry Latimer 55 points Benjamin Marks 37 points Christopher McNamara 31points Cat 3/4:- Thomas Treagus 29 points Luis Coutinho 21points Dominic Maxwell 20 points Women :- Elise Laverick Sherwell 44 points Kara Perryman 43 points Victoria Lovett 35 points            |
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TUES 14 JUNE
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Dom Maxwell, Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
Race report from Dom:
We had a bit of wind at Goodwood. I thought there may be a breakaway and I had my eyes on Andy Langdown, since he took 1:30 out of me on our ten course. It was a very fast nifty night with not much rest and some fast lap times. Blazing Saddles were the most proactive team within Andy trying an early breakaway. I was being pretty cautious staying near the front but not burning too many matches despite the speed. On lap 7 another breakaway went with Tom lane from blazing saddles and a Southdown Velo rider. With those being the prominent teams then I knew I had to get into to it so have it full gas and bridged over. We were then also joined by another experienced looking rider. So found myself in a breakaway of 5. The pace was extreme and I was on the limit. I was the weakest of the 5 which is never a pleasant place to be. I did try and do my turn but had to miss a few to avoid blowing completely, I was on the ragged edge. We got a reasonable gap on the peloton although never one where we could lift off and lined up for the sprint. Blazing Saddles did too much work into the last corner and blew leaving the others to contest the sprint. I has nothing left so was very satisfied to roll in 4th. Schaeff and Aaron both stayed in the bunch for a very fast night and finished safely.           Spot the WECC riders - Click on photo to enlarge
Thanks to Karl Twort for the photos. Check him out at Kappatango Shots.
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SUN 12 JUNE
SURREY LEAGUE (OXTED CC) |
A 2nd/3rd category ace over a distance of 65 miles at Lingfield.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Well having negotiated my first national masters race I thought a local 2/3 should be easy enough.
When the guy who beat me by 4 minutes on the sca15 pulled up next to my car then I did have a twinge of concern and then someone mentioned it was hillly, and then the heavens opened for another wet race. The pace was frantic from the start and riders were spat out the back on the first climb. They did not rejoin. I lost my 1 bottle hitting a pothole on the first decent which was a bit concerning with 65 miles of hard racing to come. The pace did not die down much and I was given a bidon by a mate of mine from Sussex Revolution. It was a hard course and really I should have been much better positioning myself at the front for the climbs, but was a bit shocked at the pace and the effort required. Also I had no idea of the course so did not know when the climbs were coming. Might have to write some stuff of my top tube next time. In the 3rd lap on the steepest hill the elastic broke, and I could not get back on the peloton after the steep hill so cycled the circuit until hq. 31 out of the 68 riders dnf so I was in good company. But I will have a lot of work to do to be remotely competitive should I get to a cat 2. |
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TUES 7 JUNE
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Dom Maxwell, Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter, Neil Crowther
Initial good conditions quickly deteriorated. Dom was frustrated as he was robbed of points for the second time in a week. He was in a breakaway that was going to stick, but the monsoon caused the event to be abandoned mid-race.
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SUN 5 JUNE
EASTBOURNE FESTIVAL 4th CATEGORY CRITERIUM |
A 42 lap 4th category mens criterium race as part of the festival.
Riders: Aaron Hartley, Schaeff Potter
In only his second ever road race Aaron Hartley produced a superb ride to finish in 4th place. Given the inexperience of some of the riders Schaeff was more wary and enjoyed his ride, eventually finishing in 12th place having worked with a rider from Eastbourne Rovers CC.
Great experience for them both. 
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SAT 4 JUNE
EASTBOURNE FESTIVAL HILL CLIMB |
The Beachy Head Hill Climb - a great way to end the first day of the Festival, racing the same Category Climb that the pros raced in the 2014 Tour of Britain. Niki Terpstra took 6m 01s to ride the 3.4km from Bede's School to the finish on Beachy Head
Rider: Aaron Hartley
A fine 11th place on a challenging course in the festival events programme.
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THURS 2 JUNE
LEWES WANDERERS CRITERIUM SERIES |
The 50th edition of our Criterium Series (Lewes Crits). This is a series of three Thursday Evening 50 km road races limited to just 50 starters.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Extract from the race report:
Unfortunately, riders from a nervous bunch switched across the road with 300 metres to go and one mistake brought down a small group, some suffering broken bikes and road rash. The bad news is that Dom was caught up in this 30 mph crash. The front wheel is a write off and the frame has cracks in the down tube and there is extensive road rash and bruising. But the worst thing from Dom's perspective is that he was well placed to take serious points. Typical cyclist.
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TUES 24 MAY
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Dom Maxwell, Schaeff Potter, Aaron Hartley
Another fine result and more points scoring for Dom as he notches up a fourth place finish.
In Dom's own words:
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A windy and cool evening for the Goodwood 3/4 race. There were three Worthing Excelsiors riding with myself Schaeff and Aaron.
I don't enjoy the cold, but the windier the better. I forgot my turbo wheel skewer so my warm up consisted of sitting in the car with the heater up. Which I regretted when I got out the car and had to wait for the start. It was a good race with some strong riders going off the front, and break away trying to form. Blazing saddles were out in force and looking good. Eventually 3 riders got away. They must have been strong as they stayed away in that heavy wind. On the last lap, where the wind was at its strongest Rob Baird from Blazing Saddles kindly let me out the peloton and I gave it everything, as I thought nobody would chase straight away into the wind. I managed to get a 200m gap and held it until the finishing straight and with the tail wind crossed 20m up on the peloton for 4th place. |
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In his second race young Schaeff did very well indeed, and certainly better than his first outing (a tumble in a sprint finish). He had learned from that and this time kept himself clear of trouble and finished in the bunch.
Fellow junior Aaron has his first road race this evening. He loves to try everything, having adopted long distance journeys, time trials and hill climbs - all with equal enthusiasm. He did well in the bunch early on but got boxed in and dropped on the 6th lap. He bravely battled on for another two solo laps before cramp and realism set in.    Click on photo for expanded view
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SAT 28 MAY
NATIONAL MASTERS 
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Rider: Dom Maxwell
A special event and a big step up in class as Dom competes in the National Masters 75 mile road race.
The status of the event is reflected in the management of it. As the organisers pointed out: All races will be run to the same standards of safety and organisation appropriate to a National Championship including Accredited Marshals (next best thing to closed roads), NEG, Neutral Service and 2x2 Mobile First Aid crews and professional Traffic Management at one critical roundabout.
Details of the event can be found here. In Dom's own words:
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A 4am start was required to get to Milton Keynes to the national masters 75 mile road race at 8.20 am.
Weather was pretty benign and race was fast, over 26 mph. The course was rolling but no dramatic hills. There seemed to be attempts at breaks trying to get away all the time. I just sat in and followed the wheels as it's a long way and knew I would be pretty tired at the end so wanted to conserve as much energy as possible. Even sat in it was tough racing and on the last lap I fell asleep a bit and found myself at the back with a big group up the road. Collectively we managed to get back on but found myself mid pack on the 2 mile finishing straight which was stretched across the road and I could not get anywhere near the front for the sprint. I was lucky to stay upright when the chap next to me had 4 spokes taken out by a stray rear mech. The sprint was dicey to say the least. I managed 24th which I will take for my first national event. I'm still 4 kilos over weight and that makes a difference when it's rolling. Plenty to aim for next year. 
Crossing the line at the finish
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WED 25 MAY
DUNSFOLD PARK |
A vets series race over a distance of 30 miles at Dunsfold Park.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
A third road race in four days for Dom as he returned to Goodwood for the 30 mile vets event. This time he finished in the middle of the bunch in 15th place (right next to his good mate Ian). He did have the satisfaction of winning the first Wiggle Prime which gained him some small socks, some Haribo and a useful front light.
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Winning the first prime
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TUES 24 MAY
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 3rd/4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Dom's best ever result! A second place in a sprint finish.
In Dom's own words: |
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Pretty benign race tried to get into a breakaway and we got around 10 in it but didn't stick.
A bit of an untidy last lap as we overtook the ladies race, the e12 race came past us and then we went past them but managed to clear for the sprint finish. Hit the sprint very early with a "Wight" rider but he was strong as an ox and there was no getting past him. But 2nd is my best ever result so very pleased. |
The final sprint
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SUN 22 MAY
SURREY LEAGUE (VC MEUDON) |
A 3rd category ace over 6 laps and a distance of 62 miles at Kirdford.
Rider: Dom Maxwell
Well Dom certainly learned from his experience at his last outing on this course (24 April). He scores points with an excellent 6th place.
In Dom's own words: |
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A warm morning made for a pleasant change.
There was one major team there is Paceline RT and a few smatterings from other teams. There was an early break away for 3 laps of the 54 mile race but they tired. On the last lap 2 went away but were not chased down by Paceline. The reason is beyond me. An uphill sprint finish does not suit my larger frame so I got some good advice from Ian Leeding to go on an incline a mile from the finish and give it everything. This I did and a Paceline RT rider went with me so the pack held back. The 2 stayed away and the peloton were closing fast at the finish with a couple overtaking me but I held on for 6th place. |
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TUES 10 MAY
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Rider: Darron Muggeridge
A pacy event with the average speed at 25 mph as the race finishes in just under the hour. The chicane had been taken out this week and it is perhaps no coincidence that last week's mega crash was not repeated.
Darron in the bunch
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TUES 3 MAY
SOUTHDOWN VELO GOODWOOD SERIES |
A 4th category ace over a distance of 25 miles at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
Riders: Schaeff Potter, Darron Muggeridge
An 'interesting' evening out for Schaeff in his first try out at bunch racing. He did very well to last the pace and to be well placed for the bunch sprint. From that point though things went less well. An enthusistic but unskilled rider proceeded to wipe out those around him. Schaeff suffered road rash and some bike damage (groupset) but is still raring to have another go on another day.
It is pleasing to be able to report that Darron got home safely in the bunch. 
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SUN 24 APRIL
SURREY LEAGUE (BRIGHTON MITRE CC) |
A 3rd category ace over 6 laps and a distance of 62 miles at Kirdford. Rider: Dom Maxwell.
One to file away for experience. In Dom's own words..... |
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Because two of the teams thought that an early break would succeed I did far too much work too early and then missed the break that did eventually succeed. Two teams completely controlled it and I was 'very tired' (not Dom's actual words) at the end. I need to learn to not follow the early breaks. I had been told that it's 5 onwards but I didn't pay heed and am now really annoyed with myself.
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SAT 16 APRIL
SURREY LEAGUE (LONDON DYNAMO) |
A 3rd category race over 15 laps and a distance of 30 miles at Longcross. Rider: Dom Maxwell.
Another good top 15 place on a course that doesn't favour Dom. In Dom's own words..... |
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When I left my house at 8:30am it was 8 degrees and sunny. I got there and it had turned to 5 degrees and wet. I hadn't got the right clothes so has to borrow a gilet from Norwood Paragon's Ian Leeding (Trevor's brother). The conditions were very cold and a bit wet. There were some pretty spirited attempts at break aways but nothing was going to stick with so many riders. As expected it came down to a sprint finish and I managed to overtake a few riders to get into top 15.
I'm looking forward to some harder races now that will help with selection (and reduce the bunch sprint at the end) |
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SAT 2 APRIL
SURREY LEAGUE (LONDON DYNAMO) |
A 3rd category race over 15 laps and a distance of 30 miles at Longcross. Rider: Dom Maxwell.
In a strong field of almost a hundred riders and on a flattish course at Longcross breakways were never going to succeed and it was always going to be about positioning in the peleton and the final sprint. Although Dom was unable to get a good position in the final straight a strong sprint lifted him into a very good top 15 place. |
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SUN 13 MARCH
SURREY LEAGUE (ARMY CYCLING UNION) |
In Sunday’s Surrey League Road Race, held on a testing 60 mile course at Liss in Hampshire, Dom Maxwell did well to finish in seventh place. The circuit based race included tackling a hill with a 25% gradient eight times. He finished in the second breakaway group of three riders who were unsuccessfully chasing a group of four that had got away.
In Dom's own words..... |
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Felt much better today compared to last week, just that days rest makes a massive difference. The hill really was 25% it was brutal and 8 times.
I had no chance to breakaway in the hill and maxed out each time I was on it but made sure I was close to the front at the start and drifted back. Had the power to then get back on. I was never going to get points in a sprint up the hill so broke away on final lap. Had 2 wheel suckers but just kept going. Already 4 up the road. Got away and they overtook me on the hill but managed 7th, that's on one of the hardest courses so really pleased with that as was not expecting to get anything out of it. Bloody good training. Completely emptied myself in each hill rep. |
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SAT 5 MARCH
SURREY LEAGUE (KINGSTON WHEELERS) |
On Saturday Dom Maxwell rode in a Surrey League road race on the Dunsfold circuit. At one point race the riders encountered snow and subsequently Dom’s race came to a premature end as he hit a pothole and punctured after 36 of the scheduled 51 miles.
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