This weekend’s race was a home one, in Huesca, so it was a race of high importance to the team. We had the numbers, with 13 riders from the team competing in the race from roughly 160 riders in total. The race was just under 100km, 3 laps of a 31/32km circuit, prodominantly flat with only a 2km section of short hills, and included a technical dangerous descent with potholes and bad patchwork.
We were briefed the day before on the team tactics, which were basically to have the majority of the riders in any break, attack on the hills, and if there is no-one away from the team on the last lap, we would set up our sprinter.
The race started less than 1km from our apartment, which was such a weird feeling, the closest race I have ever had was a local crit (at the UCLan arena in Preston) which was still a 15 minute ride, so this was so great to have the race almost literally at our doorstep. We had a team mate ‘Raúl Piña’ come 3 hours in the car the previous day, from Catalonia, to stay with us. He slept the night, then we rolled down to meet the team.
After briefly going over the team tactics again, and the neutralised section, the race began.
There were some attacks very early on, which came to no avail. Then, after the the first half lap, the team were all at the front, Josh Sandman, my English room mate and team mate, attacked and got a gap. I was 5th man going over the climb, so I set my self in a great position for the risky descent, as I knew to be at the front here. Josh managed to pull away with the bunch not co-operating, and our team, La Tova, marking any moves. I stayed safe, got to the second lap, and was right in the front again, and found myself on the right side of a small split, but this was all brought back.
On the final lap, I positioned myself a little far back going into the climb, so had some work to do to get to the front. My legs showed up and I just went and passed everyone on the outside up the first rise. I found myself in a small move with 2 other riders, including my team manager, Adrian Barcelo. We were just getting caught by the bunch, then I attacked, another rider came with me but I rode him off my wheel, drove hard over the climb, and got a gap.
I’d say it went up to about 20 seconds. I just thought, hold this to the line and you’ve got a top 5. I changed to my power and just tried to hold the figures, which may not have been the best thing to do in hindsight. I nailed it down the descent, taking caution to the wind, but then got caught about 2km from the line, after being away for over 10km solo.
I stayed near the front of the bunch and still managed to sprint to 23rd place.
Meanwhile, Josh extended his lead all race and won solo by a handful of minutes. And Antonio, a fellow team mate, also escaped in a 3 man group on the final lap, to sprint to take 2nd place, and our sprinter won the bunch sprint for 5th. So we also got the best team in the race.
I am ecstatic for Josh’s win and I think it’s just the beginning of what’s to come for him as he has such a strength in depth. And I am also happy with where my legs are at this early point in the season.
My next race is a big one, a national level ‘Copa España’ on 17th March. I am really looking forward to the test, and I can hopefully get a solid result in the bag there.
Elliot Reed Cycling 