Support Illy next Sunday

Well done Matt!

Well done Matt. Racing at that level is a lot more controlled than 3/4 racing but much quicker. To be where you are in the time you've taken to get there is a big achievement. Here's hoping you have a very successful racing season.

What a great result Matt - well done sir. A beer with your name on it awaits in a HH pub of your choice.

Well batted, Matt.

Stirling effort Matt.

Yes, Stirling effort, Matt!

Well done, Matt... You didn't look at all shagged out when I saw you at HH yesterday afternoon... Dunno if that's a good or a bad thing... ;]

This might explain your lacklustre start to the season. :P

I think it's the lack of actual riding and not what I'm imbibing that is the issue.

Finished with the bunch is fantastic work. Nice one illy!

Fantastic effort Illy.
Next year top three or don't bother posting.. capicheee

@PinkGottiMobbs - get some bar end plugs, FFS.

@cliveo - remember this?

After this one?

Actually you're not far off. This is what the winner was wearing!

Two more interesting pieces of info, the whole race took about 3 and a half hours, and I was in the big ring the whole time.

If that's what's needed to reach the top at that level then I'm out.

Funnily enough I overheard someone asking if they changed their kit because "the old one wasn't gay enough".

Goodness, that jersey looks dreadful. It reminds me of the forum's 'My Little Pony' designs for some reason.

Have you seen the WM owners? I can't tell which one's the bloke and which one's the girl.. ;)

I've just looked at their website, one of their heroes is 'Eddie Mercx'. Wander who he is?

I've just looked at their website, one of their heroes is 'Eddie Mercx'. Wander who he is?

I'll make do with wondering. No time for wandering today. ;)

Here is the picture which shows we didn't make up the whole story, and that there were riders crossing the line after illy. I will add my race report below.

I couldn't feature illy in the general report, but I can say here that he did exactly what he set out to do - finish in the bunch (or f.m.b. as so many diaries record).
From what I saw he maintained his position in the bunch efficiently (and this is not quite so easy as it may look), never seeming to be in danger of being dropped, but economising on effort. He could not have known how much margin he had between finishing and blowing up, so this was a wise course of action.
In the future things may be different - will CS Grupetto provide domestiques for their current star rider?

As for the big ring question, I can confirm from my own limited experience that the only time the small chainring is used in these events is when riding back to the HQ.

1 Attachment

Hounslow & District Wheelers
Peter Young Memorial Road** Race 28th March 2010 – Report.**

Alex Higham (Wyndymilla-Maxifuel) crossed the finish line alone to win the 85 mile Peter Young Memorial Road Race. His time was a rapid 3hours 19 minutes 40 seconds.

He had chosen the right break to go with, and then the right moment to leave it and go on his own. The break, originally containing twelve riders left the main field with only about twenty miles covered, and although there had been earlier attempts, this was the one that worked. The courage of these riders must be admired since they had to hold off a big bunch for over sixty miles.

On the finishing circuit with two laps to go Ben Luckwell (Wilier/Bigmaggys) attacked but failed to get completely clear, and in a classic but well judged move Higham counterattacked just as Luckwell was recaught. Luckwell, not surprisingly, was unable to respond and the rest of the group dithered for a moment allowing a gap to open. The Wyndymilla man was off, apparently managing the last seven miles on his own without difficulty.

Alex commented afterwards that he was a bit concerned by having no team mates with him, unlike most of the others, but that he had felt strong all day. And from the roadside ‘strong’ was just how he looked. Ben Luckwell was a little disappointed with his second place, believing he would probably have won the sprint if the break had stayed together. However, he couldn’t really complain about his weekend – he had won a criterium on the Saturday!

Last year’s winner, Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) said he had tried to organise a chase but he found it difficult to get the bunch to work together, although eventually they managed to start reducing their deficit and at one point on the sixth lap the gap was down to a bare minute. This was the closest they ever got to the flying breakaway.

This race has never had a team prize, but if there had been one, Team Zappi’s would have deserved to win it. Although strictly speaking the Wilier/Bigmaggys team achieved slightly higher placings, what impresses about the Zappi team is that they are young second and third cats. taking on established elite riders. There must be some wisdom in Italian cycling practice.

Result:

1. Alex Higham (Windymilla Maxifuel) in 3.19.40.
   
2. Ben Luckwell (Wilier/Bigmaggys) at 25 secs.
   
3. Sam Parker (Team Zappi’s)
   
4. Jon Pain (Wilier/Bigmaggys)
   
5. Paul Landors (Python )
   
6. Dexter Gardias (Team Zappi’s)
   
7. Tom Hemmant (London Dynamo)
   
8. Tim Elverson (Team Felt-Colbournes)
   
9. Mike Wragg (Team MK) all same time.
   
10. Pete Wager (Team Felt- Colbournes)
    
11. John Wager (Team Felt-Colbournes) at 43 seconds
    
    

Then the bunch at 2 minutes 6 seconds, led by 12.Josh Gosslin (Guernsey CC), 13. Duncan Putnam(Team Nemesis), 14. Ian Rees (Wilier), 15. Jack Kirk, (Zappi’s) 16. Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) and the rest all same time

Ha, nice trackstand! The guy behind is about to fall over ;)

Well done BTW

Bloody hell Matt, more white shorts! You bloody tart! Need to work on the tan though.

It looks as if you may have forgotten to shave your legs, too. You could have won this thing with the smooth legs of a child.

Bloody hell Matt, more white shorts! You bloody tart! Need to work on the tan though.

Shorts? Bbrrrrrrr

Well done mate!

Haha, wait until BDW sees the non-regulation CS Grupetto kit. ;)

^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ Isn't it great that you can always find something to criticise, no matter what. :)