Wobbly Womack, Energetic Esser and Jaunty Gentry do VCB proud

Some of the Velo Club Baracchi riders have already started their racing seasons in time trials and mass start racing.

Chris Womack, the club’s top supervet, and Nick Esser both rode in the CC Breckland 10-mile time trial to the west of Hingham and encountered bitterly cold northerly cross-winds.

Watch out Fergus, Womack is coming! (Photo by Fergus Muir)

Esser, 43, achieved 24:42 and said it was clearly the slowest he has ridden in six years, adding, “A severe north crosswind just put paid to any fast times on the whole, with most riders two to three minutes down on their times.”

Re-joined member Nick Esser wearing dodgy kit while waiting for his VCB skinsuit. Looking good otherwise, Nick!

Womack, 69, recorded 25:54.  Though it was 49 seconds slower than last year it was a strong ride that reflected the cold and wet.  He won his age group (66-70) prize of £15, effectively sharing honours with Chris Nudds of the home club, whose 24:36 at age 67 won him the top veteran prize on age standard.

Womack said, “On the start line and as I started I went off the tarmac onto the gravel by the side of the road and only just got back onto the road surface.  If I hadn’t I would have hit Fergus Muir, who was taking photos.”

The winner was David McGaw of Cambridge CC in 21:19 from Daniel Bloy (Team VeloVelocity) 21:35 and Paul Jay (also TVV) 22:23.   Mark Fairhead (CCB) was fasted fixed wheel in 26:55 and Jennifer Smart (VC Norwich) fastest lady in 27:03.

Mark Richards and Esser both rode two weeks ago on Saturday the 3^rd-cat race at the San Fairy Ann Crits.  Richards finished in seventh place and Esser 15^th.

Esser said, “It was flat out from the off as there were several juniors out to prove themselves.” Once the initial attack was neutralised by Esser a few others Richards “got up to temperature” and started animating the race.

A young junior attacked at half-way through the hour-long race and they never saw him again, another break went soon after and Richards chased to get it back which split the race in half. Richards was in the front group of ten and Esser was in the second group of six riders.

In the Masters Mid-Week Series at Cyclopark on Friday it was again “flat-out from the off,” Esser said.  “A couple of guys attacked every lap on the last corner and on the sixth lap (about 30-mins in) it split.”

There were nine in the first group and six, including Esser, in the second. There was a tail wind on the finishing straight so that part was quick.

He said, “We all got back on but the same two guys attacked again at the same place and it split for good. I had a minor mechanical when my rear quick-release skewer came loose but I got back in and carried on.”

“The first group came in about 40-secs ahead of us and I picked up second place in our sprint.”
It was a hard race, at an average of just under 24mph compared to the previous Saturday’s of just under 23mph.

Liam Gentry and Mark Richards of VCB rode the Crest CC road race, though Richards pulled up with a puncture at about 3.5 laps.  ”

Gentry and Richards in the Crest CC peloton

Gentry said, “It’s the hardest race of the year.  Normally the top ten make 1st cat in that year and I’ve never finished outside the top ten. It’s not a course that suits me, as there is a big long hill. The first three times of eight were crazy fast and a break of eight got away, who built up a big lead.”

Gentry decided to go full gas with half a lap to go and rode two-up with a Norwich CC rider who pipped him at the line. They finished 9th and 10^th, with the bunch just 10 seconds behind.  It was a great start for him and disappointing for Richards.

• Advance registration for Beccles Cycle for Life on May 15 is open. Click link to the website: BCfL
  

  At the start of Beccles Cycle for Life last year