Upavon Race Report by Sarah Maidment of Squadra Donne – 22nd July ’10

It was a windy day for the two-stage race at Upavon Barracks airfield – part of the Women’s Team Race Series. Kitted out in our new Shutt VR jerseys, we lined up at the start for an 8 mile team time trial (four laps of a circuit around the airfield).

Having perfected our “through and off” during a brief warm-up lap, we were not quite so slick during the actual race! I lost contact with the rest of the team after the second lap and ended up riding the rest of the 8 miles on my own. Thankfully, we only needed four riders to cross the line and Squadra Donne came in fourth place with a time of 20 min 16 s.

The two stages were separated by a paracycling race. It was incredible to see the guys riding around the circuit on their adapted bikes. An hour of hand-cycling certainly looked painful!

Our second stage was a 20-lap circuit race. The pace was fast, the wind was strong and the airfield was exposed, so there was little shelter from the wind. After the first lap I was wondering how on earth I was going to manage another 19! I was going to have to dig deep…

Iona attacked on the fifth lap and a group of four got away, two of these riders stayed away for the rest of the race. Iona stayed with them for at least 6 laps but eventually slipped back into the bunch.

There was a crash at around lap 13. Annoyingly, I was caught just behind it and had to slow down significantly (although I was grateful not to have been involved myself!) Having worked hard at the start of that lap, I just didn’t have anything left to chase the bunch again, so resigned myself to being lapped, sat up, had a good drink and refuelled.

Once I joined the bunch again, I felt much stronger. The pace had also slowed significantly but picked up again with a couple of laps to go. Steph did really well to finish in the bunch and came 13^th overall. Squadra Donne finished in 4^th place.

I am new to racing this season and I thought this was the toughest race yet. Nevertheless, it was a great day out as a team and we looked really smart in our new team jerseys!

Our next race will be in Naseby on 25^th July. See you all there?

Sarah

Photographs ©Barrie Austin