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Thames Velo Road Race + Roubaix Selection

Last Week started good just after my win. Morale was high, but legs were very tired! Went out for a long ride Wednesday and could still feel it. The Maidenhead time trial on Thursday night felt far worse than the final climb at Cadence! That horrible muscular fatigue that you get and you can't get your Heart Rate up. I must have dug pretty deep on those Welsh Climbs.

I also got news about my selection for Junior Paris Roubaix. The race runs the same day as the pros and passes over most of the cobbles around 2 hours before. Check out the website- http://asso.nordnet.fr/veloclubroubaix/prxjun.html  We arrive in Roubaix at 2:30. My team mates are Dan Mclay, George Atkins, Sam Harrison, and Pete Dibben.

I had a fun session on Calshot Track on Saturday with my club, Twickenham CC. Calshot is a great track as its only 150 metres round so you pick up some real g-force. We did a few short races and lots of skills. It was a good leg refresher for the Thames Velo Race. It was Stuarts first time on the track as well. He looked pretty good and was able to do a race at the end. We went for a dip in the sea afterwards. It was cold!

Sunday was Thames Velo Road Race up near Watlington. We had a good Twickenham turnout. Tom Sutherland got 4th in the 3/4th race. Ride of the day though went to Dave Peck. After doing the track session yesterday rode all the way out from London to watch and support the 3/4 race and the E/1/2 race. It must have taken the best part of 5-6 hours riding. What a great Chairman! Dad was also there to video the race. I don't think race was easy to video simply due to the speed.


The race itself didn't suit my characteristics as it wasn't a very hard course due to the glorious weather. There was one small climb but not really enough to split the bunch. I kept persisting throughout the race but Simon Gaywood took the spoils in the bunch sprint to the line (I was at the rear of the bunch). I did 2 hours afterwards riding home including sprints so I should be set up for Roubaix! Had an ice bath then watched 2 hours of Flanders. My tip Flecha was pretty poor.

Legs are stupidly sore today but can't really expect much else! I have put down my upcoming races on the right. Its a bit lacking in racing miles but I have to miss all the GB stage races because of exams!


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