Having shivered the whole ride from the Velodrome to the School, I finally stopped when I lined up with the other 6 Team SPR4-ers under the inflatable starting archway. Waiting, waiting waitng for the missing team in front to turn up; they didn’t, so it was now our countdown. Re-checked the strap on the group’s timing band wrapped around my ankle, reset my computer and we were off. It was a couple of 100 metres or so before we ran over the timing detector in the road and as I crossed it at the front of the group, had thoughts of how I could have saved a few seconds of our time if I been sitting at the back . . . .
We’re all still a bit numb from the cold and it took a klm or two before we started chatting and thinking about any form of strategy, pairing up, rolling through or single paceline . . . . . Called to start the Roll throughs to get to know each other and settle the group down; speed sitting around the low to mid 30’s and each rider only exposed on the front for 15 secs or until the next bike came through.
The group starting behind ours came past at a reasonable lick and we were happy to let them go – the boys commented on how the view in front had suddenly improved (something to do with long blonde hair and a trim pair of cycling knicks) but irritatingly they just slowed right in front of us, meaning that we had drop our speed just to sit back the required several bike lengths behind as per “the Rules”. Sat there dawdling along and muttering shall we / shan’t we overtake them and then came that long slight uphill. Tried to maintain low 30’s up but a couple of our lot dropped off and with the group in front slowing & getting tangled up with our leaders we just sat up, re-grouped, let them sort themselves out and get away. Up to the left hand turn on to the main road and the first of the fast sections of the course; we’re still being held up and finally in frustration, a nod and wink and we ran up behind them, accelerated past and hopefully dropped them. Clearly they weren’t playing by the rules as they hopped on and sat on our wheels for the next half a lap, before taking us again just past the finish line for the first lap. This time they cleared off and we were happy to let them go – nice view and all.
The laps started to form into a pattern of fast and slower sections, speeding up to get momentum on the ‘downs’ to hit the following ‘ups’; running down the fast back straight at 40 to make up for the slower climb up on the other side. Generally when we were overtaking or being overtaken most groups called and singled out ok, and we were happy to get overtaken by the SPR1’s and share a bit of banter close to the end of lap 3 I think it was. We took in turns to have highs and lows and as always on a good bunch ride, when someone’s on a low there’s always another on a high to pull them through.
At last the final lap. As owner of the timing banded leg, I had earlier let Mike know that I would be looking for his lead out at the end; making sure that for the second half of that final lap I would only sit on very short turns in the lead. By now Mike and Frank were taking turns to dominate on the front and I stayed at No.2 and sucked their respective wheels big time – good effort guys. Then it was the left /right into the 500m straight to the finish line. Mike looked back, checked I was still on, and he took off like a rocket. Speed up to 45 and just over 100 metres to go and all I could feel was a world of pain, no lungs left, legs like jelly and with a panic flash of impending failure I was about to beg Mike to ease up, when someone right on my tail shouting ‘GO MARK GO’ (or something like that). That gave me that final kick that I needed. Crossed the finish line at 46, relaxed and then instantly both legs locked into a solid cramp, it was the best that I could do just to stand up on the pedals and stay upright. I really had absolutely nothing left in the tank. ( Had a chuckle when later Pete manning the SPR tent tried to con me to sitting and doing a power test – “its only for 20 seconds” he said – yeah sure maybe I’ll have go with fresh legs – but not today thanks).
Momentarily there was no pleasure in finishing – just relief. And then the ‘well dones’, handshakes and self congratulatory pats on the back between all team members start; and with it that inner glow grows of having worked together and achieved something – maybe seemingly mindless for those who weren’t there, but very important for those who were.
Have to say a big thanks to ‘ring-in’ Mike Round who as a keen time trialist knows what has to be done and just gets on and does it –he’s a power house on two wheels. And a big thanks to the rest of our team – we posted a good time at 2hrs 20mins 55 secs; everyone worked their hearts out to keep the momentum up and finish in the mid field. I think we came 30th out of 56.
My computer reckons we did an average speed close to 34 but the official result of 32.999 will have to stand and set the target for next year.

Cheers Mark_S