Weather was good, just very blustery which I didn't think would affect the race as the circuit is quite tight but I was proved wrong as on the only climb and we were into a block headwind which I was not physically able to power into so took shelter as much as possable during the race, this is the finish straight so had an affect in that I was in postion for the primes but had no answer when riders came past so made no real effort as it was the overall result I was after.
The race started fast, Russell Downing attacking at the end of the first lap to then find him on the ground after the first corner after running wide into the crowd barriers, strange as the rest of us were chasing and had no problem what so ever speeding round this corner even while he was picking himself up, seemed to be a few issues with people coming to grief on the corners, slowly the main bunch was getting whittled down, I was doing a good job of staying in 3-4th wheel for most of the race, allowed me to remain stress free as I was lacking any real power, still have a head cold so not done any hard rides since the sunday previous.
Eventually it was down to Kristian House(Navigators), Malcolm Elliot(Pinerallo RT), Dave Collins(Science in Sport) and a fast charging Gordon Macauley(PCA-Evans) who managed to bridge from the remanents of the bunch, so we were sorted so just got on with reducing the lap times from 1:10 to down to a constant 1:06, I wanted to attack as I felt I could go faster into the corners, just needed to lead into the first corner which meant being on the front into the wind which was my undoing as I said I had no more punch to kick into the corner to get any advantage after the climb, so had to be content in following and doing little sneaky attacks if someone went wide just to nail the gap left by them at pace and force a reaction, at one point Malcolm came up to me and asked what length cranks was I using as I seemed to be able to pedal most of the corners or get on the power earlier than everyone else, well thats what I do and do well, hence why I can keep up even while under par by gaining into and out of the corners so less work for me to do in getting back up to pace on the straights, I knew I was hanging on by the skin of my teeth but could feel the end was near, so when Gordon attacked into the wind with ten minutes left, it looked as I should chase as I was coming through for a turn anyway so I sat up as I had nothing to give so Kristian went, followed by Dave and Malcolm and me just getting back on after 3 corners, we had Gordon at 5 seconds then we slowed and he drew out to 12 seconds, so I tried to rustle things up as I thought I was feeling stronger, after 2 laps I realised that was a false feeling as I was really hanging on for dear life, eventually I could not quite hold the wheel in front thinking I would gain the distance into the next corner but it was again into that bloody headwind up to the finish line so Dave Collins attacked me in an effort to catch Malcolm and Kristian, so had two laps left of the race to try to redeem myself so stayed calm and just nailed the corners, keeping as tight a line as possable to ride the shortest distance between corners, one lap to go I was catching but not quick enough so gave it everything I had and latched back on to Daves wheel just as he caught Malcolm and Kristian going into the very last corner, but as I had no power to take on Malc or Kristian so I had to focus Dave as the others were already powering up the hill towards the finish, I made no effort to get past Dave untill 50 meters to go, in which I stayed seated and just went beyond any normal effort and past into the red zone but managed to get Dave on the line, in the end it was a close finish as you can see by having a look at the report and pics from the British Cycling website that I have copied below.
So Gordon hung on to win by 3 seconds with Kristian 2nd, Malcolm 3rd and me 4th 1 second behind. I was was in a world of pain, legs, lungs totally maxed out to then just stop because the marshalls standing blocking the circuit, phew!
All in all a good result and glad to have finished the UK season, only downside was that I was called for a random dope test but only found out after I had already been to the toilet so had to wait one and a half hours after drinking 1.5 litres of water before I had any urge to go again, so left Warwick at 9pm, my wife was not impressed at all, so home at midnight.
Next I am in France working for Mark Neep and GPM10, riding from Chamonix to Nice over 4 days, leave on Thursday.
McCauley Grabs Circuit Series Finale
TravelWise Cycle Races
Elite Circuit Race Series
Warwick, 16th September 2007
Report & Images: Richard Robotham
Podium 1st - McCauley 2nd - House 3rd Elliott
The historic town centre of Warwick was the setting for the final race in the Elite Circuit Race Series which was sponsored by TravelWise for which many of the riders had traveled down from Glasgow following the end of the Tour of Britain to compete in this last event.
McCauley and Elliott keep the pace high in the early laps
A fast pace was set from the beginning, Russell Downing led the race at the end of the first lap but crashed into the barrier as he negotiated the tight bend at the start of the second lap.
The race settled and held together lapping at a consistent pace for a further 5 laps until a crash on the back of the course bought down 10 riders including the BC National Circuit Race Champion James McCallum who continued with a large gash in his leg.
McCallum clearly suffering following the crash
This crash was the catalyst for a group of riders to break away which included Malcom Elliott (Pinarello RT), Gordon McCauley (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT), Warrick Spence (Cyclefit Serotta), Kristian House (Navigator Insurance) and Dave Collins (SIS - Trek).
McCauley out in front
The five leaders remained ahead of the field which had now splintered into three groups over the course, and with 27 minutes of racing elapsed the leaders were now in sight of the back of the field. It took a further two laps for the leaders to make contact with and drive through the main field.
The three riders in the chasing group Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT) team mate Simon Gaywood and Jon Mozley (Merlin Racing Team) pushed hard working together to catch the leaders but first had to get past the bunch at the back of the field which also contained the only other rider Simon Holt (Recycling.co.uk) not to have been lapped by the leaders. Holt was working hard at the front of the bunch to stay in touch with the leaders.
House & Elliott break clear to start chasing down McCauley
With 50 minutes gone Gordon McCauley took his opportunity and jumped away from the leaders as they climbed the hill to the finish line, gaining a 5 second advantage over the rest of the leading group. With the hour fast approaching all the lapped riders were withdrawn from the race leaving only the 11 remaining unlapped riders.
McCauley was now 7 seconds ahead with 5 laps to go to his four nearest rivals and a minute ahead of the remaining six riders.
As the lap board dropped to 4 laps to go McCauley caught Gibb, Gaywood, Freeman, Mozley and Holt, and kept going and increased his lead to 12 seconds.
McCauley takes a narrow 3 second victory
With 2 laps to go and McCauley out front, Kristian House and Malcolm Elliott stepped up the pace and pulled away from Warrick Spence and Dave Collins. At the bell McCauley, was just ahead of the now lapped riders and the gap to Elliot and House was coming down fast. But McCauley held his nerve and waited for team mate Simon Gaywood to come over the line together.
Elite Men's Result:
2nd Kristian House - Navigator Insurance 1:06:36
3rd Malcolm Elliott - Pinarello RT 1:06:36
4th Warwick Spence - Cyclefit Serotta 1:06:37
5th Dave Collins (SIS - Trek) 1:06:37
6th Martin Freeman - Alpha RC Team Corley Cycles 1:06:37
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