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Lee Valley Youth CC - Winter Series #2
Just before Theo won his first race as a junior, CC Ashwell had no less than five Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 riders in the morning's youth races at Hog Hill today - and three of those were riding their first ever road races.
First up was James in the Under 10 race, but as he lined up on the start line he realised his rear tyre had punctured... I ran up the (rather big) hill to the clubhouse and fetched Helena's bike for James to use as an emergency spare. She's two inches taller than James and her bike has Under 12 gearing which would have got James disqualified as an Under 10, so I quickly dropped the saddle and started screwing down the rear derailleur to restrict the gears. By this time the race had actually started and James had been given a lap out. I finished working on the bike just as the bunch completed its first lap, so James jumped on and I shoved him straight into the race. My heart rate was probably at maximum by this stage, but his adrenalin must have been flowing too because he rode straight up to the leading pair and took the lead. They dropped him a lap later but he held on to third place at the finish, and he now lies second in the Winter Series overall standings.
We had two riders in the Under 12 race, Adam and Helena, both of whom were making their road racing debuts after a successful winter of cyclocross. It was a high quality field with plenty of experienced riders, but they both rode hard and intelligently, showing great promise for the season ahead. I didn't see the results but Adam contested the finish with the leading group and Helena was, I think, the third or fourth girl.
Next, Gareth and Lottie raced in the Under 14 race. This used the full Hog Hill circuit including the tough hill each lap. The race splintered quickly and they both settled in to a strong group of seven or eight riders working together. Gareth worked in this group until the finish. Lottie showed great determination in her first ever road race, slipping off the back of the group with three or four laps to go, but pushing on hard all the way to the finish.
A good showing by CC Ashwell. The third & final race in the Winter Series will take place on 16th March.
Mark F
First up was James in the Under 10 race, but as he lined up on the start line he realised his rear tyre had punctured... I ran up the (rather big) hill to the clubhouse and fetched Helena's bike for James to use as an emergency spare. She's two inches taller than James and her bike has Under 12 gearing which would have got James disqualified as an Under 10, so I quickly dropped the saddle and started screwing down the rear derailleur to restrict the gears. By this time the race had actually started and James had been given a lap out. I finished working on the bike just as the bunch completed its first lap, so James jumped on and I shoved him straight into the race. My heart rate was probably at maximum by this stage, but his adrenalin must have been flowing too because he rode straight up to the leading pair and took the lead. They dropped him a lap later but he held on to third place at the finish, and he now lies second in the Winter Series overall standings.
We had two riders in the Under 12 race, Adam and Helena, both of whom were making their road racing debuts after a successful winter of cyclocross. It was a high quality field with plenty of experienced riders, but they both rode hard and intelligently, showing great promise for the season ahead. I didn't see the results but Adam contested the finish with the leading group and Helena was, I think, the third or fourth girl.
Next, Gareth and Lottie raced in the Under 14 race. This used the full Hog Hill circuit including the tough hill each lap. The race splintered quickly and they both settled in to a strong group of seven or eight riders working together. Gareth worked in this group until the finish. Lottie showed great determination in her first ever road race, slipping off the back of the group with three or four laps to go, but pushing on hard all the way to the finish.
A good showing by CC Ashwell. The third & final race in the Winter Series will take place on 16th March.
Mark F
Comments
Gareth
U10
3rd James Fraser
U12
14th Adam Lightfoot
20th Helena Dyce
23rd Harley Pell
U14
23rd Gareth Lewis
26th Lottie Dyce
Full Results: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/83680/Lee-Valley-Youth-CC-Winter-Series-2#results