This was a good weekend for cycling. Firstly, the temperature crept into double figures (10 degrees) in the first time for what seems like ages. Double digit temperatures mean racing in shorts, and the annual ritual of shaving the legs the night before.
The course was shortened from 10 miles to about 8 miles after some road works appeared in the middle of Woolhampton. There was a bit of breeze but, after about 10 years of riding over humps, holes and divots, the A4 has finally been resurfaced. You can’t a lovely smooth bit of fresh tarmac – especially after all the potholes in the road elsewhere. Before my speedometer packed in half way, I was averaging around 29mph. I finished in first place with a time of 17.13. Second place was Steve Golla (Specialised, Sigma) and I think third place was Justyn Cannon (RAF CC) or Jesse Elizinga (Beeline Cycles)
First women was Olympic pursuit gold medallist Rebecca Romero. After the UCI decided to scrap the 4KM Pursuit (btw see previous post for what I think on decision to remove individual track pursuit from Olympics) Rebecca is now aiming for the individual Time Trial for London in 2012. Given her athletic pedigree, she has a very good chance. I’d love to see her do well. It’s certainly inspiring to be in same race as Olympic hopefuls.
Well done, that’s an average pace I can only dream of!