Darley moor 3/4

Darley Moor 3/4

Pre-Race
It was an early start in the parry houseland, luckily my son thought it was a good day to get up at 6.30am ready for the day ahead. After a big bowl of porridge and a cup of coffee, it was time to head to darley for the race as the start time was 10.00. As I pulled in I could already tell it was going to be a big peloton today, I think over 70 started. Into the office picked up my number 68, went for a slash several times, set the bike up and onto the course for a warm up!. I did I few laps round the course which has one hairpin, and two corners nice and easy, a bit of a breeze up the one straight so I do not want to loose the wheel. At the start line I looked around noticed there was a few riders from a couple of teams and plenty of others. I never raced in such a big field of riders so I knew it was going to be  a test.
I'm in there somewhere probably at the back!
Race
Once again I got to the start and I was sat towards the back, and that's where I stayed for a few laps as I was unable to work my way up the peloton. Every time I did make some ground within a few seconds the rear of the peloton would follow and I would be swallowed back. If you've never raced before the problem with sitting at the back is if the front of the group ease it makes it way to the back then the front will speed up and you kinda have to sprint to stay on. Around Lap 7 I decided I needed to start making my way up so I put an effort it but I went a little hard and went of the front, a few others followed but it hurt and we was quickly back in the bunch. Towards the end of the race I could get any where near the front. I Kept getting boxed in and one guy really put the anchors on in the middle and I was stuck behind him. I ended up mid bunch probably around 30. I was satisfied with the result as I feared I might of been dropped as there was some good cat 3 riders in the race.
My son always comes to watch me race! nice to be greeted by him at the end!
Next
In a couple of weeks I'm going to target the Mallory cat 4 races on a Thursday night and hopefully pick up a few points! I would like to get my cat 3 licence by the end of the season and one good result could just do it. I really need to build my confidence on racing and be little more aggressive rather than been defensive, riding towards the front of the peloton and trying to get in a break. In the meantime ill be doing a few more zwift races which are a really good workout and Saturdays ill be joining tom and his mates for tempo rides.
Heres a quick link to my strava ride of todays ride, probably the fastest ive ridden.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1468757407
Also got the club jersey now, happy with it just looks a bit better when racing.


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