Great recovery by Richard

York Cycle Works Road Race - 29/07/2006 - North Yorkshire

With Andy and Gareth non starters, Richard rode the York Cycleworks event on Sunday morning 23rd July.

Richards race diary...

'Well I haven’t been going too well of late, what with the job change and the intense heat; I literally haven’t been training at all through the week.

My legs on Sunday didn’t feel good from the off, and I was looking to get round, just to get some miles in.

Every time anyone as much as moved, the bunch reacted, and I could see it was going to be a day of futile attempts to get away.

Nonetheless, I thought I may as well have a go, and on the fourth lap I had a dig up the climb, hoping to pull a few of the stronger riders with me.

It wasn’t to be, and I found myself 15 seconds clear on my own, but with the bunch lined out chasing me back. Danny McCluskey (White Knight RC) came across to me, but by this time my bad legs were already feeling the worse for the effort, so I sat up and let the bunch catch up.

With the off circuit climb at the finish, any breakaway was going to need a good lead if they were going to stay away, and although a couple of attacks got 20 seconds or so, it was always going to come back to a bunch sprint up the climb, so I rested my legs in the bunch, hoping just to get up to the finish in a reasonable place.

Heading for the climb off the final lap, I found myself about two thirds of the way down the field. To my surprise, I had the legs up the climb, and as the bunched riders struggled, I passed the field, and made my way up to fifth spot with 200 metres to go, and with enough left in my legs.

As I looked up, I couldn’t see the flag, and thought it was further away than it was. I was conserving my burning legs more than I should, and as I hit the line, I was pipped for 5th place, and took 6th.

To be fair, I’d have taken 6th at the start of the day, but if I’d seen the flag, I could’ve put a bigger effort in, and maybe got a higher placing.

After a bit of confusion at the HQ, I was finally rewarded with 6th. At the start of the race, my number was missing, and I had to take number 1, non-starter Jack Savage’s number. Initially Jack was credited with 6th, which would have been a fine performance for a Sunday lie in'.