Woolly Mamil Round 4 (cat4)


Woolly Mamil Round 4
Pre Race
I wake up to the lovely sound of rain bouncing of the window, it must be race day at woolly mamil. This four series race event had brought the most disgusting weathers to Saturdays, snow, sideways rain, wind and cold. But it has been brilliant, I'm now gutted this is the last race. Its well organised has good facilities and is a cracking course to race on. If I am racing next year then this will be where I start my season. Back to today race and like I said the weather is poor, small gusts of winds and rain was pelting the window as I looked out of the window. I made sure I had eaten plenty in the morning so I wouldn't run out of energy within the first few laps as I did in round 2. We arrived and on sign on I was told it was only running around 15 min late, I warmed up and set sail for the start line.
Me Harry and Tom Race for 9th Place



Race
I noticed a few faces I had not seen before but most had been throughout the series. It was a quick start to the race and I chap when from the off. I couldn't make my way up the group and I was sat around 10th when 6 guys split off in front. Within a few seconds the gap grew and there was no chance of catching it up I was gutted. I went to the front of my group which was around 6 riders to try and pull the gap back but it had gone. This was probably the most stupidest thing I done since racing. I went to the front from the back of the group and pushed to hard causing myself to blow up. I quickly fell to the back of the second group and was distanced on one the the hills after the bend. I was devastated but didn't give up. The race was in bits there was 6 in the front goup, then a group of four, another two in front of me. I had a young lad from Halesowen cc with me (harry) I we worked really well together. Then in the second group there was a crash taking out two guys, I said to harry the two guys in front are now 9th/10th theres points to be had. We was pulling the two back when there group split making it easier for us two pull them both back. With five laps to go we pulled 9th place back, so for the 5 laps left three us was racing for 9th/10th. 2 laps to go the front group lapped us and One of our group jumped on the back of them causing a small gap to form between me and  him. There was no way I was letting the go, I dug in deep and caught up just before the last lap sign. I made sure I sat on his wheel and when it come to the sprint I went round him and smashed it up the hill to claim 9th. Harry managed 10th which I was happy for him as we worked bloody hard to get that point each, I'm sure I will see him through the year racing and good luck he did brilliantly today.
Going to the front before blowing up = idoit


 Summary of race series.
Ive really enjoyed racing here, its gone from thinking how the hell would I even manage to get on B.C point this season too would I actually manage to get my Cat 3 this season. First race was eye opening and the second was disaster. From wrong positioning to not eating enough, there has been lessons learnt. My positioning needs to better at the start of racing in crits. There not a fat lot you can do if your 10 riders back and a split emerges, also not using to much energy chasing may of helped me staying in the second group today. Ive also learned that talking to your group helps encourage others and it may help in the long run. I enjoyed encouraging Harry on today, hes probably been racing longer than me but he was doing some great turns and if he didn't we wouldn't of come in the top ten. Ive also learned if you want to race then just go and do it. It deosnt matter if you get dropped straight away, its a massive learning curve and you will get better. Next race for me will be in the middle of march at darley moor, ive not booked on it yet but I don't want to leave to long before I race again. I intend to enjoy my next few weekends off from racing just doing a long ride on the weekend and a few turbo sessions in between. At the end of feb I should have my new elite direto turbo, so might do a couple of races on zwift to keep some sort of race pace.

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