James Smith – Probikekit.com’s enigmatic Team manager gives his race report from the weekend and will (like all of us here in the UK) be looking forward to some decent weather for a change!

A day for hard men and lovers of the rain awaited the riders at the Qinetic Circuit.  This closed road circuit at Barnesfield has a number of different routes and today the easier route was chosen without the large hill every lap, although there is a slight rise after a sharp right turn.

This proved to be the staging point for many attacks.  As soon as the race went away two DHC riders attacked and managed to stay away for five laps.  I tried to jump across to them but ended up stuck in no man’s land so sat up.  As soon as the group came together I attacked again and got a decent gap for a couple of laps.  This again failed and now the group was together, this time I attacked as the race turned into the headwind.  I gesticulated to let other riders know that I wanted help and finally Harry Bulstrode (DHC), Steve Dring and Stu Bowers came across this proved to be the winning move.  As we approached the final corner I attacked trying to avoid the inevitable sprint but Bulstrode who was super strong dragged me back before attacking again leaving me gapped and Steve Dring struggling to stay with him.  There was no chance as this guy dropped both of us and finished strongly.  I was bringing Dring back but not quick enough as he went over for second and I finished in Third.  A hard day of racing in atrocious conditions.

Results

Provisional Result
1st Harry Bulstrode (DHCyclesport/Colnago)
2nd Steve Dring (Team Echelon-Spiuk)
3rd James Smith (Probikekit.com)
4th Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles)
5th Andy Bryson (DHCyclesport/Colnago).

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