You couldn’t call it practice though – it was a bicycle race and, oddly, we raced around the Indy circuit in reverse. The pic is climbing out of Paddock Hill Bend.
The one-hour circuit race was for newcomers yet had a brisk tempo and was tough going with three short but spikey climbs per lap and a brutal headwind along the start/finish straight. One guy took off from the start so I stuck in the group which was working well. I still felt good by the end so I made a plan and attacked the bunch at the start of the last lap, breaking clear to take second. As much as you all know I love to win, it felt as satisfying as a victory when I found out that the winner is a semi-pro triathlete heading for the world championships.
I’d like to do a bit more racing, though I’m under no illusions that it’s for anything but fun. Through my work at Procycling magazine I’ve had a chance to ride with a number of elite racers and witness first hand their talent and strength.
Round six at Cadwell Park is in two weeks and I’ll ensure I’m fully prepared. As well as training and tweaking the bike that also means resting and getting some sleep. All five rounds so far this year have been preceded by a deadline week on the magazine, meaning very long hours. It will be great to arrive fresh, get a full practice day and have a proper crack at qualifying. Might do a few laps on the bicycle too…
