Race Report: Naseby – 25th July ’10
Naseby 25th July
Round seven of the National Women’s Team Race Series took place in Naseby, Northamptonshire.
I had been warned that the course would be tough. Having studied the OS map, I was slightly dismayed to find that the contour lines really were quite close together in places! The last few races have been fairly flat and I was wondering how I’d fair on the hills. (There aren’t many hills to train on in my neck of the woods!)
It was a beautiful day for a race and it was a bonus not to have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the start. The women of Naseby had been busy baking – judging by the impressive display of cakes at the village hall. (Funny – the sports nutrition books don’t mention cake as staple cycling food!)
There were around fifty riders on the start-line, including three from Squadra Donne Iona, Gail and myself. The race was 50 miles long: four laps of a 12.5 mile course with two steep climbs on each lap (one of which was within 1km of the finish line). Thankfully the riding I’d done in Bath and Kent earlier in the week paid off and whilst the climbs were painful, I didn’t have any trouble staying with the bunch.
There were a number of attacks but none of them lasted. I felt strong coming into the final lap and had to keep reminding myself to save something for the final climb! A bunch of sixteen riders got away towards the top of the final climb. I soon found a wheel to chase and gave it my all for the final 2-300m to the finish line. I finished 18th with Iona just a few places behind.
It was a great race on a challenging course and I was really pleased that I managed to keep up on the hills. Back at Naseby village hall it was time for tea and cake…
Next weekend, Iona, Gail and I will be racing in the Essex Giro 2-day stage race.
Hope to see you there.
Sarah
