To kick off from where I left the last blog, the end of June start of July saw me heading straight from Herne Hill Velodrome to the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub for three days of work experience. Whilst my twin sister, Madeleine was learning the world of sports journalism at Rouleur, in the midst of preparing copy for Le Tour De France, I was at SSEH preparing for the upcoming Glasgow World Champs, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Due to various confidentiality agreements I am not allowed to tell you everything we did, but I can give a brief description.
On the Monday I spent the day testing tyres and discs on the Rolling Resistance Rig, the aim being to see which combination had the least friction, and therefore making them, in terms of Rolling Resistance, the fastest, Aero improvement being something very different. On the second day, I was helping Adam from Vorteq test skinsuits and overshoes on mannequins of riders. It was absolutely fascinating to see what Aero testing is like, and how what may look the fastest often isn’t, and what doesn’t look quick, might be. It’s very much a ‘you won’t know until you try it’ type of thing. My Dad thinks it is just wizardry and magic, but as a Physics student I know it is slightly more than this. It was great to apply my understanding of my theoretical Physics to real work problems. I then spent the third day being a ‘Guinea Pig’ for the new Pedalling Efficiency Rig, which combines the Rolling Resistance Rig, Stiffness Rig, and Chain Efficiency Rig. A supercool piece of kit that was interesting in the numbers that it was giving out. I also maybe managed to sneak in and have a little go in the wind tunnel! I was able to test a couple of helmets, and one came out a lot quicker than the other for me, but obviously I am not allowed to say which one. Overall, I had an amazing few days, it was so good to combine my passion for Maths, Physics and Cycling all together in such a fantastic facility, and see how the answers were certainly blowing in the wind! Therefore, a massive thank you to Gary and the team at SSEH, and also to Chris and his team at Vorteq. Also a huge thank you to Grandma and Grandad for sorting out accommodation and looking after me for the few days. The Iron Bru was very much appreciated!
We made it home late Wednesday Night, ready to ship out early Thursday Morning, this time to Holland, ready for my third UCI 2.1 of the year, the Acht Van Bladel (the ‘Eight of Bladel). Over the next few days we found out why the 8.
The first day was a 112km, 45kph hit out weaving its way in and around the countryside and over the cobblestones surrounding Bladel. We lost Stanley about an hour and a half in, his injuries from a previous crash causing him too much pain to keep racing. Our four remaining riders made it across the line safely. It was 56th/160 for me, not brilliant, but not the worst either. The next stage was a point-to-point, starting in Lierop, snaking its way through the narrow roads and fields south of Eindhoven, before finishing over the same finish line that every stage would finish on, after a few laps of the finishing circuit. Again, there were cobbles, but due to some less-than-ideal weather, it was like racing over a bumpy ice-rink. Positioning was important; it was crucial to stay in front of the crashes and gaps that opened up, ready to take unassuming riders out the back. At the start of the last lap of the finishing circuit, a gap opened in front of me on the cobbles, and I put the hammer down. I was hoping someone would go with me, but instead I ended up solo, into a cross-headwind, on the longest secteur. I put my head down, rode as hard as I could, but sadly it wasn’t enough, and I was swallowed up by the bunch. Unfortunately, I ended up the wrong side of a split on the last secteur, meaning I rolled in a minute off the winner. At least I had given it a go and was able to race the next day.
The last day was a double day, the road stage in the morning was 90km, followed by a 9km Time Trial in the afternoon. Stage three was made up of loads of little loops, a nightmare to try to understand using the roadbook, but a lot easier when all you had to do was follow the wheel in front and avoid the crashes. I was taken out in one of these crashes 200m from the finish line, but the 3km rule applies, even in Junior Races, so I got the same time as the front group. Now all was left was the Time Trial. In my head, I wanted a strong result to finish the week, maybe even a top 20. The only issue with that was my legs had packed their bags and got the ferry home. Still, I finished 59th/160 overall, and had a good experience racing ‘eights’ around Bladel.
My next race was the Brixton Supermadison.
My partner was one James Ambrose-Parish: Fixie Crit World Champ. King of The Don. Obsessed with anything aero. LVYCC rider of old and my regular rival at Welwyn Track League. This was going to be fun!
Our first race was a flying lap, where one of us would lead the pairing in, and then at some point during the lap throw the other rider in to finish it off. We ended up second, not far off the Longstaff Brothers, a good start! Up next was a normal Madison scratch. James won the final sprint; moving us up to first in the overall. However, the effort in the sratch meant his legs were more tired for the team win-out, so he entrusted me with winning the race, which I did. Onto the team elimination. I knew how I wanted to race it, and trusted James to finish it off for us. With that in mind, we executed our plan to perfection. It was quite a simple plan. I plonked myself on the front, kept the pace high, and stayed there for the entire race. James sat on my wheel, didn’t have to do any work, until the final lap, where he came off my wheel to win the final sprint. The last race was the Madison points, and the points all counted to the final tally. We raced a sensible race, winning sprints and picking up points here and there, missing changes when one of us needed a longer rest. Winning the final sprint, double points on the line, and that was that. Brixton Supermadison 2023 Champions. I won a new Wahoo, amongst other awesome prizes, so it wasn’t a bad day’s racing!
Then back to the Road, the Bath Road Club Road Race, a round of the Junior National Series. Despite its name, it was in Aylesbury (near Milton Keynes; nowhere near Bath). It was an undulating course, but the thing that stuck out, for me, more than anything was the road surface. Imagine if you can the Carrefour de l’Arbre and the Trouée d’Arenberg have a baby, and you’re getting close, and this road wasn’t specifically put in just to test the riders, like a secteur de pave would have been, this was just the state of British roads. No need for panic though, Rishi is going to sort it all out for us!
Anyways, back to the racing. We set off, and after the fluttering flag dropped, the attacks started going into a massive head wind, riders trying to form the early break. I just sat in until a break of three were comfortably up the road, before bridging across with about 100km to go, bringing a couple of others across with me. Not long later a group of four containing some strong riders came across. We all worked well together, lost a few along the way, and with a lap to go had seven minutes on the peloton. This is when everyone started bringing out their best tactics, in the hope of winning. The Beeston/BCC team had four riders in the break, and then there was Calum Moir from Zappi, Cai Curtis-Roberts from Flanders Colour Defever, and me. Some of the parents I talked to afterwards compared it to the 2015 Stannard vs Quickstep Omloop. They were using their strength in numbers, and everyone else was watching them, when, with 2km to go, I snuck away off the front of the break. I quickly gained speed on the downhill with a strong tailwind, gaining enough of a gap to cruise up the other side and cross the finish line, arms in the air, for my first national win. Calum came through for second, and Lewis Tinsley from Beeston took third. Again the answer was ‘blowing in the wind!’
Still buzzing from the win, I had my last couple of days of Year 12 to contend with , before moving the circus on to the UCI South London Grand Prix. Another trip to Herne Hill, only this time the racing was much quicker. There were some big names racing, such as Will Perrett, Rhys Britton, and Alec Briggs. I was originally supposed to be racing the junior races, but there wasn’t enough of us, so I was moved up to the seniors. The racing was tough, but it was a good hit out before Junior Nationals the week after. I did well in the Points, Madison, and Tempo races, let myself down in the devils, but just had a bit of a laugh with a nice group of guys, and enjoyed racing in front of 700 people each night. A truly unique experience.
So, onto the big one. The season’s goal. Junior Track Nationals. The circus made its way down to Newport (again) for a week of racing. I was racing in four events: Scratch, Individual Pursuit, 1km TT, and the Points. Four chances at taking home a stripy jersey. My first race was on the Tuesday, an 80-lap Scratch. I was slightly nervous, but a lot more excited. The race was full gas from the gun, attacks going as soon as the previous one was reeled in. I was up there and active, involved in the one that won the race, but not quite strong enough to go with it. Ben Marsh just rode away from us, and before we knew it, he was coming back round again after taking a lap. The pace stayed high until, with eight laps to go, the pace eased up, and the group sat up above the blue. That’s when I saw my chance, and carried on riding hard, going solo for a last-ditch attempt. It wasn’t planned, I just raced what was in front of me, and took my chances. I managed to stay just ahead of the oncoming bunch sprint to take the silver medal, my second National Track podium.
After the elation from the day before, I was feeling good for my IP. Despite only having done two 3km IPs in my life, I had messaged Joel the IP guru about how to ride it, and going vaguely off his advice on splits, and relying a lot on good vibes and decent legs, I rode as hard as I could and came away with 9th, a 7-second pb, and was only a tenth of a second off qualifying. I was pretty pleased.
Friday was a big day for me. My two best races, the kilo and points, both on the same day. I was feeling good on Friday morning, but then disaster struck. I was doing an effort in track warm up, when someone slid down the banking, taking me out. I was missing a lot of skin, but even worse, there was a hole in the front disc I had borrowed for the week. It’s fair to say I wasn’t the happiest person at that point. I put a different front wheel on for my kilo, but everything just felt out of kilter. I went 3 seconds slower than I was aiming for, ending up doing a 1:07.661. I had to try and put it all behind me for the Points.
I got up on the track for my Points race, but I was feeling sore and stiff from my crash, and my head really wasn’t in the right place. I came off the track after about 30 laps, annoyed and upset; I hate DNFing.
I had to look at the positives though. A medal and a pb. And most of all, I gave it my best shot. I couldn’t have tried any harder, and I did my best, even with the unforeseen circumstances. It wasn’t the best week, but it was far from the worst.
As usual, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s helped me and supported me. To Gary and the guys at SSEH; Chris and his team at Vortex, everyone at Herne Hill; Bob, Julie, and everyone at the Lee Valley Junior Team; Essex Community Foundation for their support in enabling me to have a week in Newport. All my sponsors and supporters; Tamsin for stitching my skin suit, Thomas, thanks for doing your best to help, even while you’re broken; and, of course, Mum, Dad, Madeleine and Harry, for always being there, and trying to fit your lives around my crazy schedule.
Roll on August …
Gilbank Racing 