Blogs
Mon, 13 Jun 2011
Simo's on a roll!
By Annie Simpson - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
My recent block of racing has consisted of, well...Crits! Sitting here on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I can say I have so far done 4 with just one more remaining on Tuesday. Going into this block I had mixed opinions on crits. I enjoy them when they are rapid, with lots of corners, but dislike them when they are slow and come down to sprint finishes. So throughout these races I've basically been trying to make things....fast!!!
The reason for all these crits is the introduction of the Johnson Health Tech Women's GP, which supports 4 rounds of the men's Tour Series, throw in a cheeky Smithfield Nocturne and there you have my 5 crits. And on a whole i can say it's been going pretty dam well! As a team I feel we have really showed massive strength and executed some top notch team plans, collected jerseys, winning team prizes and giving us 2 overall wins in the tour series and one by yours truly. That's right Little Simo herself pulled out a win at the Oldham round from a break of 4! Led out superbly by team mate and best mate Dani King, I got my hands in the air for the 2nd time this season. Well that's not strictly true, I only got one hand in the air as I was pretty shocked to have actually won. On such a brutal course with a cobbled climb, the win meant a lot and I'm a tad embarrassed to admit I had a small tear in my eye as my team mates praised me on the podium. For me I'd say it was the most important result of my road career! I continued my good form and took a 4th at Smithfield Nocturne last night; I was pleased because my legs are really starting to feel the wrath of 4 races and all the travelling that goes with it. Definitely starting to feel some speed coming to my legs now though, which naturally bodes well for the rest of the season when I head overseas.
These crits really do require some serious team work, more than I realised at first. And to be honest I feel like a lucky girl being part of the team I'm in. Every race is a privilege to ride with them, whether I'm leading Hannah out for sprints, or blocking while Dani or Helen attacks, or even being led out myself for a victory. I always give 100% in races, I'm just that sort of rider, and being able to ride week in, week out with girls who will do the same really is just fuelling my love for racing even more. We are growing stronger together as a team...and o oooo I'm excited for what we can achieve!
Today, I had a much needed rest day and exchanged push bikes for motor bikes. I spent the day at Silverstone in the Hospitality and Pit Areas of a good friend of mine Bradley Smith's Team. He stormed from 28th to 2nd in the Moto2 race, and god was it THE most nerve racking thing watching him hold on to 2nd for 10 laps in such wet conditions! My advice to him before hand was 'Don't crash! Or I'll Cry!' So after those wise words I'm going to take a smaller part of the credit....nahh just kidding but I was chuffed to be there to witness it!
Coming next I have the tour series on Tuesday in Woking, where we have to pull our sock up and defend team and overall prizes, and get back a sprint jersey. And I am MORE than up for the challenge. Then we head to Somerset of all places, for a 2 day Men's Stage race. This will be the team's final preparation before driving the length of the country to Newcastle (I really do hope the Micra survives) to compete in the National Championships. It's always a strange race but I feel like a different rider from when I attempted it last year, so I can only look forward to it.
Naturally i'll keep y'all posted!
Simo!
For more information on the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.horizonfitnessrt.com.
Image courtesy of Andy Jones.