Blogs
Mon, 4 Jul 2011
Up north for the British National Championships
By Penny Rowson - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
My first year as an U23 i didn't know what to expect. But with a good winters training behind set by coach and DS Stef i seemed to have managed the jump alright. The real test comes at our British national championships where everyone wants to do well and pull a performance out the bag. Great thing was U23's get to ride with the Elites and the standard's high as we get to race against the likes of Emma Pooley, Lizzie Armistead, Nicole Cooke, and Sharon Laws all riders you look up to, I'm now competing against!
First up preparation was key. We'd successfully won the Tour Series and almost joked that we couldn't race for longer than 1hr with all these crits. So we travelled down south, as far down south as stone-henge! To stay in a lovely little caravan in Someset for the KALAS 2day. Although we were racing against men, we weren't completely out of our depths and got stuck in with the racing 4stages in 2days, complete with wind and rain made it all that bit harder. But we got through it finished well in the crit, and hung in as best we could in the road race. After this all that was left was to recover for the big national championships that faced us.
However not one to worry, strolled up on the Friday with Ella to check out the course see what lies ahead. To make up for being down south last weekend it was nice to be so far up north and pass the Angel of the North, in Newcastle. Now we decided to ride the smaller circuit which seemed okay enough, heavy roads but basically flat, not too windy. Then drove the larger circuit only to find the ryals! You could see them from a fair distance, getting closer it looked more like a brick wall. Once over that climb, could get any worse could it.. there was another even longer brick wall of a climb! Wow that looked tough.
Eventually after getting lost we made it to the farm to greet our team mates, chill out and forget about Sunday. Were Helen once again taught me to cook, Ella was into her Wimbledon whilst Annie was getting competitive with Hannah over some fruit ninja.
Come the day of the race you could of easily syked yourself out with big names to compete against, pressure to perform, the immensely hard hill that lied ahead. But there wasn't much more you could do to improve now so what will be will be just hope for the best!
Unfortunately we raced at 9am so had to be up at a nice 6:30am. Rolled off, and all Horizons were to the front. Annie's brave move attacking from the gun almost paid off as she just got pulled back before the climb, Sarah's moves were closely marked by Cervelo they weren't letting her get away, and Claire attacked on the narrow downhill. Where fortunately I found myself in a great position close to the front with team mates close by. Now I couldn't quite remember how far out the ryals were, but by the pace set you could tell it wasn't long. Luckily we only had to do the climb once so it was a make or break moment and you knew it. Cervelo weren't ones to hesitate taking to the front, bodies everywhere as i struggled over the first climb just off the group, didn't panic then gave everything up the second climb got over the top thinking that wasn't actually as bad as i thought. Over the brow of the hill is always the hardest part but you know it can only get batter as you start to go downhill!
Behind was a group of about 6 that swooped me up, so i just got my head down to drive through till we caught a strong group ahead yet the 4 big names had managed to just get away by now. Still the U23 prize was up for grabs and we were in the best position with Sarah TTing her way onto our group, Claire, Helen, me and Dani. The smaller circuit was almost boring but there was no need to just sit on the front, it was going to be a pretty negative race after that as we controlled it to be a sprint finish, playing into Dani's strength. I had the job of sticking to her wheel like glue, which isn't easy when you're getting barged about! As best i could i made sure no one stole it from me. Then i got switched, didn't panic.. till i saw 250m! So close! Asif there wasn't a 1km to go banner or anything! All i could do then was sprint in as best i could, rolling in 11th and 6th in the U23. Which was a lot better than expected I can't complain with that! Happy Dani finished for us on the podium and it was a great performance by Helen, so determined to give a great lead out she gave absolutely everything which is nice to know you've got your team behind you when you need em.
Now then a good 2days rest for me to recover as i tried that hard in the race i've made myself ill! Luckily feeling a lot better now and raring to go for the Krasna Lipa - Czech Republic stage race which isn't going be easy.. then again bike racing never is!
For more information on the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.horizonfitnessrt.com.