5th Overall
Covid has had an interesting impact on cycle racing....the main event survivor is TT (time trialling) as by it’s nature there is “social distancing” (riders are set off at one minute intervals and “drafting” a fellow rider is not permitted). A few common sense tweaks around signing in and out have been introduced, and Oh Noooooo, the worst, on the start line competitors have to “clip in” themselves (normally a ‘pusher off’ holds you in position, pre clipped in)....out of 6 races, I’ve clipped in pretty much first time in 5, in one I had about 4 stabs before success....vital seconds especially in a short race! Nightmare!! 😫
We all miss certain things of course, the biggie being the HQ, with the post race drinks and cake, and social discourse, from enthusing to your pals about your new course PB whilst simultaneously ignoring your team mate blame a tractor for his relative underperformance (secretly chuffed that you beat him for the first time, result sheets don’t lie, you tell yourself 😝)....awaiting the results board to be completed, with typically an informal presentation to close the show....such an important part of the racing experience...none of that now, and results only posted online, between one and four days hence (in my experience)....although a recent development are “live results”, initially introduced by the Newbury club and the forward thinking Rachael Elliott - one for the future? 🤔
Irrespective many TT races have been cancelled, the initial official Covid list of instruction was perhaps off putting, for the sake of a few months, and anyway, “it’ll soon be March when everything is back to normal so we can wait then....” so we thought a few months back.....
Also, with fewer events and practically no road racing, the quality and quantity of the entrants in those TT races has rather escalated. I’ve been fortunate enough to typically target top 5 places pre Covid, but have had to be a little more flexible in recent events, when the start line includes occasional pros wanting to test their fitness levels, and a number of startlingly talented under 23 years olds (the sport certainly appears healthy) role out too....great to see!
So, last Saturday. The Common Lane Occasionals 10M TT at the most unappealing Hatfield Woodhouse course (there is a tentative promise from the council that they will resurface it one day, didn’t say what year though!)....and who roles up?
We only got a Dame and a pro.....yes, Dame Sarah Storey made the journey to experience the potholes and sunken drains of South Yorkshire, and of course, she only broke the Lady’s course record just shading under 22 mins....how good
does she look on that bike! 😳And the son of a friend of mine (I did message Mervyn, and instruct him to tell his son to “bugger off” and stay in his neck of the woods, when I saw the startsheet )......yep Simon Wilson, a member of the amazing Bigham mavericks, and fresh from his 3rd place in the (full fat) National 10 Champs last weekend....Simon was targeting Connor Swifts (who is now racing the Tour de France, who would’ve thought: from Donny to Paris!) recent course record but missed out by 3 seconds, so the record stays in Yorkshire, bloody Lancastrians, get back (I’m one btw) ! 😎
Great to have these guys participate, raises the profile of course and brings TT to the forefront of the domestic racing calendar, if only temporarily, but who knows what the "normal" will be in 2021?!
And finally, for completeness, this old boy, well, yes! Personally chuffed, solid ride again, form hitting the spot, just in time for a series of National vets Championships....another sub 21min performance and 5th place overall.....
Thanks of course to Pete Laud and his CLO team for organising the event.👏
And also many thanks to Chris Lawrence for all photos below, and particularly allowing me to use the photos of Sarah and Simon. 👍📸
