Glasgow Green Cycle Club

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Lake APR – Race Report

24 Mar 2013

Lake APR – Race Report / Jethro Dowell

At this time yesterday I had resigned myself to the idea that at 10am this morning I would me in the Dumbarton McDs sipping a coffee, not on the start line of the Lake APR, then the message came though, the race was on! I quickly packed and set of to a B&B in Killearn.

I started in the second group, 3 minutes behind 4 ladies, all of whom I’m sure wished that the other 4 on the start list had turned up. The pace was not racy and yet folk still were shouting ‘ease up’ less than a mile in! The first little climb soon sorted things out, 10 of us pressing on and starting to work well together. I was still comfortable and after a few miles joined number 18 who had been hanging off the front for a while. The break was formed and grew to 6. Soon we had caught all of the ladies and were leading the race, though 18 and I were doing most of the work and not happy about it. Approaching the final corner of the lap 18 and I pulled away and pressed on – the rest of the race had come together and was gaining, we didn’t want to be caught on the climb back up to the start line.

At the beginning of the second lap the main field caught us and a group of 10 of riders from the scratch group were trying to escape, and succeeding. 18 and I jumped on and got stuck in until – CRASH! A touch of wheels brought down the 4 riders directly in front of me, how I managed to avoid the mess of bikes and bodies I don’t know. The remaining group of 8 pressed on but where was 18? My comrade who had worked so hard had fallen in the crash.

The reduced group was really working hard, I was still able to contribute and get some recovery but was close to the edge and soon enough a small surge up the climb to Dykehead was enough for me to loose contact. Number 22 had also been dropped and the two of us attempted, in vain, to rejoin the break. Realising that there was a large gap back to the main field we pressed on with 15 miles to go. Turning into the wind down the A81 we were still working well together but 22 was tiring, I knew I was the stronger rider but was worried that the bunch was closing on us. My turns were getting longer and rest shorter until on the last straight road I looked back and there was a commissaire’s car… followed by the peloton? The time had come, 3 or 4 miles to go and 22 spent, I pushed on alone hoping that I had enough left to get up the final climb and fight the head wind to the finish line with out being caught.

The wind was brutal but I had been in breaks all day, I wasn’t going to let myself get caught so close to the finish. My legs were burning and I was breathing hard, the cold air cutting my throat, and yet still only 15mph! When the finish line was in sight I looked behind and saw an empty road behind be. I’d made it and rolled across the line to take 7th, 3:30 down on the front group. 22 came in 30s later, and the peloton… nonexistent! The race had been blown apart and after a minute or so lone riders started coming in.

To say I’m pleased would be an understatement, I couldn’t have asked for a better result. And to what do I owe this success? Training hard? Probably. Last night’s huge bread and butter pudding? Possilbly… The amazing support, guidance and encouragement from the GGCC and all of its members? Definitely. 

GGCC forever!