Highfield/Godleys round 1 north east spring cup 1st march
This was both Ben Wood and Nikky Jovanovics first race of the season. They are both pretty new to road racing and wanted to test our winter training on the closed circuit race in Middleborough and with the support of All Terrain Cycles www.allterraincycles.co.uk they went to the race ready to test their legs and the new bikes supplied by Giant. This was the last race of the day starting late at 4pm. The weather for a change was bright and dry, but very fresh. Always hard at this time to choose the right kit and balance being warm enough in practice but not being too hot when the racing really starts.
The race started and both Ben and Nikky moved up the bunch. Ben told Nicky to stay on his wheel as much as he could and if I went of the attack to try and come across if it was safe to do so. We both soon realised this was going to be a very fast race.Ben said his heart rate was already through the roof and for a 4th cat race it was hard to make any kind of attack with the pace being pushed high. They both stayed in the top 10 riders throughout the race. On 3 laps to go Ben decided to make my move up the short climb and see if I could get away along the finishing straight.
Nikky stayed in the bunch but being insure of myself and whether the move would work I soon got caught. Sometimes it’s all or nothing. Within half a lap Ben was caught and sat back in. The bell went for the final lap, so I upped the pace and tried to get near the front for the final corners. A couple of other teams had the same idea and it was a battle to hold wheels and keep your line. They got round the second to last corner before the climb then Ben made my move.
Nikky had got himself in to a great position in front of me out of the corner and as we hit the last corner the peloton swung across from left to right and closed the gap that hard that Nicky was pushed on to the grass verge. Luckily he used his BMX skills to push through and jumped back on to the tarmac then made his sprint count. At this point Ben was blocked and had nowhere to go. Ben rolled in with the rest of the bunch 13 or 14 place.
Nikky had managed to get his sprint on and get second. Amazing result. I was over the moon with how both of us had rode on not only our first race of the season but with average speed of 25mph for 30mins of this 1km cycle circuit. All in all lots to learn but what a great result.
Meantime at York Sports day ,Peter Barusevicus, of All Terrain www.allterraincycles.co.uk managed an impressive 3rd, with 4th and 5th also going to the Team with Riders Matt Robinson and Matthew Bulmer pulling out the stops.
Not to be out done , young star, Bjoern Koerdt, was in his favourite place, number one again.
The DH boys were out testing their new Giant Glory Race rigs in readiness for the first meetings of the year. Here are Jed , Chris and Si in Hamsterly Forest blowing off the Winter cobwebs!
In the Lake District, Enduro Rider, Joe Flanagan, falls deeper in love with his new Team Bike the Giant Trance Advanced 0. He cant get over how light, responsive it is and its amazing ability to climb and descend. His words – Incredible ! Here is in a snow loop of Grizedale Pike to Causey Pike, finishing at Catbells.
Get that training in !
Highfield/Godleys round 1 north east spring cup 1st march
Not to be out done , young star, Bjoern Koerdt, was in his favourite place, number one again.
The DH boys were out testing their new Giant Glory Race rigs in readiness for the first meetings of the year. Here are Jed , Chris and Si in Hamsterly Forest blowing off the Winter cobwebs!