EASTERLEY RC FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE - UGLEY- 110km - Sun 5th Sep
Tony Bradford and Frank Rawlings rode in
the Easterley CC Falling Leaves Road Race this Sunday. The 70
mile race was run off over 9 laps of the very hilly Littlebury
course. Whilst the name of the race suggested autumnal weather
the sun was shining and boy was it hot.
Sixty riders started the event and the
pace soon became intense as the race neared the first climb. As
the season is drawing to a close a number of the participants had
travelled some distance and were hunting points to upgrade their
licences. The first two laps were without a hitch for the two
North Roaders. A minor incident which left two riders sprawled on the
floor prompted some conversation in the bunch and in the lull Tony
took off with two other riders. This pack were having none of it and
pulled them back after a lap. Two more laps on and a group of
eight went off the front and gained a significant lead, stretching the
gap to 1 minute. With two and a half laps remaining Tony
Bradford and Ron Hewes (Harlow CC) left the bunch behind with a soft
attack which stuck. One lap on and the two had joined the lead
group, upping the tempo as soon as they joined. The gap between
break and chasers fluctuated but some hard work by Frank Rawlings in
disrupting organised work or following small breaks made a real
contribution in keeping the break away. Final time up the climb
to the finish line and Tony took 7th place despite suffering cramp
in the uphill sprint. Frank rolled across the line in a
creditable 29th despite the hard work done to protect his
team mate's lead.
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