Last year I was told “you should enter the LVRC TT champs. The course would really suit you.” On the day of the race I was 39 years and 364 days old. So close to 40 but not old enough to enter.
Despite having never raced the course before this year felt like unfinished business. Training has been bit hit and miss the last few weeks as I have been away at the weekend so I considered myself well rested (look for the positive). The TT bike had a new front wheel and both wheels were now tubeless, thanks Gary at Unleashed cycles for some last minute help, so the bike was also prepped. Storm Hannah was coming though Saturday and the winds should have dropped for Raceday (Sunday). All looking good.
At the start line I was chatting to me 1 min man. He seemed a strong rider so if I could reel him in I knew I would be on for a good time. Rolling out of Napton there is a nice long, fast stretch of road an good tarmac. I could see my minute man and could get a sense of the gap.
Turning onto the Welsh Road the wind cam round to behind me but the road starts to climb. Gap appeared to be closing.
Climbing out of Priors Marston towards Hellidon I had closed around half of the gap and was feeling good about the ride. Through Catesby and on to the main road there were now 3 riders in sight. If they were all my age group (I knew at least 2 were) I must be having a good ride.
Past Skylark Cafe an through Lower Shuckborough, and with a little aero benefit I past all 3 riders to go. Just hold it together to Napton and climb Butt Hill.
The problem with TT is when you cross the line you have an idea of whether you rode a good ride for you but no idea of anyone else unless you passed them. I’ll have to wait for the awards!
“And in first place, from Kenilworth Wheelers, Paul Atkins is the 2019 40-44 LVRC national time trial champion!”
I also got joint fastest time. I guess you can say I had a good day!
Chairman Paul
I entered this, only my 3rd race, with zero expectations for a result (I’m no sprinter by any stretch of the imagination) but eager to build up my racecraft. With absolutely no experience or knowledge of my fellow competitors, I resorted to arbitrarily picking out who I thought the riders to watch were during the briefing, and promptly kept myself on their wheels after the roll-out. Amazingly my selection transpired to be vaguely correct, and I found myself mixing it up in the top 10 to 15 riders for much of the first half of the race, posting myself on the front for a couple of token efforts to legitimize my placing. The fast, flat course meant that most attacks amounted to very little, barring one guy who managed to clip off into the distance, never to be seen again (Chapeau!). The race was about 20 laps of the business park, meaning 20 times to work out the best positioning for the last lap. Armed with an awful sprint, I figured that if I could be near the front as the sprint opens, I might be able to hang on and score a few points. With a plan at hand, I worked my way up to 3rd or 4th wheel for the bell, and set about defending my place on the road like a kid guarding sweets. Entering the final few hundred meters, I found myself 4th wheel, well positioned on the road and with a totally clear space to sprint into on my right. Had this plan actually worked? I patiently held on as late I dare (and then some) before opening the taps, then moved into the space to my right, which amazingly was still there. I experienced a very alien, unexpected sensation when I looked to my sides and realized I was headed for the line at the front of the bunch! Though pipped in the final few meters by another rider, I held on for 3rd, far better than I’d ever expected and enough to get me out of Cat 4s – Happy days!
