Hatherlegh road race

Theo-saurus

Very hot, very hilly. Another round of the national series with some top riders, this time in Devon around the foothills of Dartmoor. I went into it with a bit of a cold so my from was a tad off. It didn't take long before the race was splitting up, by the first proper hill riders were flying out the back. The next one was steeper at 16% and that really separated the men from the slightly skinnier men; I tried to keep a steady pace going up it but so many people in front just died, I put it in a low gear and spun up to the front group. There were a few people off the front but I kept in the ever decreasing in size peloton. As the course rolled on more people whizzed of the front, I was more concerned about me whizzing out the back, there were no flats the whole time I was either in my big ring top two gears or little ring. Approaching the first feed station I was really feeling it and I lost a lot of energy covering the gaps where people would slow down to grab bottles. Soon after I got dropped But I caught back on at the next climb. I was just hanging on spinning my biggest gear as we descended into the last 40km or so, at this point the group was only ten strong but they were all really strong riders (I was the only one who wasn't on a team). Once we got past the second feed stop the pace died down and we rolled in together with about 19 people in various breaks of the front but the guy that won was on his own 2 minutes ahead. Great course very hilly but stunning scenery and not bad surfaces, I'd recommend it.

PeterG

Theo, top report and well done.

Thanks for the recommendation, but I'll pass thanks...

Peter.

Neil M

Wow well done Theo, that sounds like a seriously tough race.
Holding your own in with the teams, great stuff.
makes the WhiteWell 3/4 yesterday Seem like a club run haha

Senecio [Daniel D]

A very modest report. Theo finished 27th out of 42 finishers from 85 starter. He finished just ahead of the Junior National Champion Chris Lawless and hill climb specialist Germain Burton.

It was really hard work just standing by the roadside handing up bottles!

BC report here, featuring more photos of tortured riders struggling against the heat and gradient.

Daniel

Theo-saurus

cheers guys, Neil: how was the race?

Neil M

Yea was good mate, only Will and myself from Ashwell.
It didn't start till 1300 and was bloody hot, really started to feel it on the last couple of laps.
A break of about 8 got away from the start and managed to stay away, even with Will's continuous efforts on the front that closed it right down with a couple to go but then everyone stopped working and they disappeared again.
Will finished towards the front of the bunch and I was around mid but didn't bother trying to fight for the last couple of places.

wilburtrump

Holy moly, Theo... sounds like a good result in what looks like a hard day! doing CCA proud! Col du St. Paul's Walden pales in comparison. I came in 13th at Whitwell, chuffed as I was feeling a bit rubbish and didn't really fancy racing. Good placing in the sprint at the end. Great pics of yours, lots of gurning, must have been a tough one.