Richards Quality Training with the Elites

Dave McKay Memorial Road Race - 03/04/2005 - East Yorkshire

Richards Dave McKay Race Diary:

'With an eventual field of 55 riders, ranging from Elite down to 4th category, I entered this race purely for training.

The course was an undulating affair with a very tricky downhill section of single lane road with a central isle of mud and stones, looking more like a dried out river bed than a road race circuit.

The first lap inevitably brought about numerous punctures on this section, and dodging past riders waiting for wheels proved tricky, as the field lined out with the fast descent.

The climb back up to the start line saw a break emerge, and the main bunch settled into a steadier rhythm with no-one willing to give chase. I sat in hoping to recover, and get the miles in.

The second time down the descent saw the main bunch split following more punctures, and my group had to work hard to bridge the gap. This is where the speed took it's toll, and on the next climb up to the start my legs gave
way, and the remainder of the bunch rode away. The speed had simply been too much.

So what was meant to be a training exercise to get the miles in turned out to be a short race of just three laps.

As recompense I rode home from the Humber Bridge to get in some extra miles.

As it turns out, only 17 riders of the original 55 starters completed the race, with the win going to Matthew Robinson of Regal RT'.