Bad Luck strikes for all 3 Cherry Valley riders

John May memorial road race - 6/05/2007 - Wakefield, North Yorkshire

Bad luck struck 3 times in one lap for all three Cherry Valley riders in the John May memorial road race on Sunday 6th May. In a suprise move, Andy Hayton rode the race despite awaiting surgery on his right leg.

Andys race diary

Despite being sidelined due to an ongoing 'injury' - becoming increasingly frustrated at waiting for surgery, I decided to start today's event with the view to assisting Gareth and Adam in the early stages of the race.

The race contained numerous top Elite riders, and started quickly. The first move went away immediately after the end of the neutralised section, and contained Gareth. The break appeared to be pulling away until a crash on the first descent broke it's rhythm. By the time we past, Gareth was visible scrambling out of the nettles, though was obviously OK.

In pain because of my arterial problems and with few training miles under my belt, I felt surprisingly aerobically comfortable on the main climb round to the finish. Myself and Adam were active closing gaps and bridging groups as the field fragmented on the drag up the Wakefield Bypass.

On the second lap, a roll of hand towels blew across the road, and somehow found itself wrapped around by rear cassette, with no choice but to stop and remove it, the field disappeared up the road, and it was effectively race over. Though frustrated, I wasn't too disappointed, because it it doubtful I could have continued much further with the increasingly worsening blood deficit in my leg!