Surrey League, Dunsfold Park 3rds 25th April

[Guy Phillips]

It was a fine and blustery day. My back was still stiff but at least I was able to pedal properly. The circuit was the 3 mile perimeter road of the aerodrome.

I got off to some early attacks and bridges but nothing stayed away along the windy back straight. So I decided to sit in until at the very least lap 8 of 13. Comes lap 8 and I tried it a couple more times, without success. Lap 11 and I ratcheted up the effort to stay at the head of the race as I felt that a break could possibly go if the elastic snapped. At the end of lap 12 I attacked hard down the finishing straight - I hadn't planned it or figured it as a good place to go, but by the time I looked round at the end of the straight there were 3 riders with me and we were away clear and starting to work. A fifth rider bridged over and we attempted to echelon, but it was disrupted by a Dynamo who had a team-mate up the road. But the team-mate was dying and he was soon caught. Nonetheless, me and the Army CU pulled the group through the wind.

It was looking like I was going to collect my second points of the season, and god knows I had deserved them, when the Dynamo that hed been up the road touched the rear wheel of the Army CU and went down in front of me. 400 meteres from the finish line. It was the sort of crash that should never happen in a small group. But it did. I swerved to avoid the Dynamo but his head slewed across me and I rode into his helmet. That had to hurt! I went down.

I wasn't hurt so got up straightaway but in time to see the rampaging peloton speed past, so I rode across the line last or unclassified. The break had been successful and the Army guy was a deserved winner. My injuries are slight, just some road rash, grazing and a cut finger - the bike was wonky but OK. The Dynamo who crashed spent time in the ambulance but basically OK - not so his cervelo, which will be a write-off with a cracked down tube, and a testament to the amazing weight-saving that brand boasts.

Nonetheless, despite my frequent outbursts of 'If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all' I was placated by a pint and a pub lunch and was pleased with many aspects of the race - particularly that I was strong enough to make and maintain the decisive move, and also because my tactics played out nicely for a change. I'm also pleased I can put some force thru the pedals again and am not crap after all...