With several races available each week at local venues, the club’s road racing team have recently been spoilt for choice as to where to put their efforts. We’re pleased to report that it’s been another busy and successful month. The best results are listed below, but the team have been in action at many more races than just these.
Special congratulations are due to Adam Bassom, Jamie Parkinson and Alex Ballinger for gaining enough British Cycling points to earn their 3rd Cat licences.
The club hosted a day of races for the LVRC at Dunsfold Park on 12 May. The day was very successful and we’d like to say a big thanks to all those members who helped out on the day. Without volunteers, none of these races can happen. Thank you!
1 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League Vets Series #1 ME/MF – Warren Vye 6th
3 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League 4ths Series #1 – Jasper Korteweg 8th, Giles Short 10th
7 May Hillingdon, BC West Thames Series #4 4ths – Adam Bassom 3rd, Jamie Parkinson 5th
7 May Thruxton, Behind the Bikeshed Series #4 4ths – Alex Ballinger 4th
8 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League Vets Series #2 ME/MF – Warren Vye 9th
12 May Dunsfold Park, LVRC Spring Classic – A Luke Stratford 6th, D Tony Clack 10th
15 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League Vets Series #3 – Luke Stratford forgot his kit, so ended up racing in rather – ahem – unconventional attire, as the photo below shows
17 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League 4ths Series #3 – Tony Morancie 9th
19 May South Chailey, LVRC Le Col/Arcadian Series 2019 #5 – C Warren Vye 7th, D Tony Clack 8th
21 May Hillingdon, BC West Thames Series #6 – 4ths Joe Naylor 7th. 3rds Luke Stratford 7th, Adam Bassom 10th. Matt Fawcett, Martin Richardson, Mike Woodhead and Jamie Parkinson also raced, making a big club turnout
22 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League Vets Series #4 MC/MD Luke Stratford 7th
23 May Hillingdon, Masters Series #4, Masters 50+ Warren Vye 7th
24 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League 4ths Series #4 – Gavin Lattimore 10th
28 May Hillingdon, BC West Thames Series #7 – 4ths Adam Dart 4th, 3rds Luke Stratford 7th (provisional – Luke’s result is being double-checked)
29 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League Vets Series #5 – ME/MF Tony Clack 9th, MC/MD Luke Stratford 9th
31 May Dunsfold Park, Surrey League 4ths Series #5 – Jasper Korteweg 2nd
For a little insight on what it’s like to be in one of these races, this is what Luke Stratford had to say after his 3rd Cat race on 21 May at Hillingdon:
With five of us lined up in red there was a good chance we could control the race. Team plan: have someone in every break, two if possible, and if caught then sit back in the pack and recharge, staying top 15.
Having started near the back, I spent the whole first lap moving up – tough job – and I had to take the outside line around the hairpins just in time to join the first break with Mike already on it. We were clear and stayed away for just over a lap, but there was a lack of commitment from non-FCCC riders so it slowed and we got swallowed up. I had to drop to the back as I was blown, only to be replaced by Jamie and Martin, who joined Mike in chasing everything down. About lap 8 or 9 Mike made a solo break. I wasn’t far enough forward to block at the front, but I rode off line, top ten, blocking any more coming up the inside – they had to go onto the grass to get around me. Mike stayed away for two to three laps before suffering a mechanical.
The commitment from the guys was great! There was always someone top ten and I would say there were break attempts for 15-16 of the 22 laps and we were in 12-13 of them! Unlike the Vets race there is no sitting up when a break goes so it was going to be a bunch sprint. And with the boys briefed on the finishing tactics I was sitting tenth wheel approaching the hairpins, only to have Jamie appear to my right. Good man! With a blip of the gas I let him in, positioning was good and he was holding his lines well. I was hugging his wheel like my life depended on it, hoping there was another FCCC rider hugging mine because today was going to be a good sprint day! As we approached the last corner it was time to break formation and take the shorter inside line, nudging the power to 80% then 100% as we straightened up! I had a clear line through the middle to take it! I was catching the riders in front and kept full power on past the line. Squeezing a 7th and only losing out on 5th and 6th by a few inches! Adam B had followed through to get 10th on his first Cat 3 race.
If you’re interested in the idea of road racing, then get in touch with our RR secretary, Warren Vye. He looks after a friendly team with a wealth of experience who can pass on plenty of advice and tips.
