National Road Race report

When i first started Cycling back in the early 90's when still at School ,Stamfordham was one of the first villages i rode through on my first long club run.Fast forward to 2011 and Stamfordham in Northumberland was to hold the British National Road race Championships and the chance to ride on local roads.The village was buzzing before the start with thousands turning out in the warm sunshine to check out all the teams none more so than Sky who had parked the team bus on the village green,we also had our Wheelbase team van on the green and set about sorting out the race food and bottles etc.

1. 30pm and the 140 rider peloton rolled out to start 122 miles of hard Northumbrian roads,this would be my first senior road race having only ever done the under 23 one back in 97 and would be by far the longest race i've rode.The first 6 miles were done at a club run pace through Black Heddon until the left turn at West Belsay then with the first hint of a cross wind Team Sky had the bunch lined out and this was how the race would remain for mile after mile.

Three miles before the big climb of the race  the road goes down a narrow single car type of road, this is probably the most  nervy part of the circuit as the road has a lot of loose gravel so much so thet cavendish was to pick up his first of two flat tyres in the race.Out of this  section of road you take a left turn and start the full on sprint to the bottom of the Ryal a lung busting effort even before you start the 1 in 5 climb , only the crowd took away a little bit of the pain.By this point the break with 6 Sky riders were well up the road and left everyone to do the chasing and the decent right back through to Stamfordham was fast, another 2 laps of this circuit was to follow all done at over a 24 mph average speed before the race started  the 4 lap smaller circuit. Each time through the village was a chance at the feed station to take on fresh water bottles being handed out by Geoff and my Dad.With the warm weather everyone was making good use of this. Stu popped an energy bar into my jersey pocket having done all he could do due to a foot problem.

Two laps to go with over 100 miles and the bunch split again with both Andy's making it.Andy Howdon coming in a great 27th  but Andy Coupe only to suffer a snapped chain to end his race probably due to all the power he puts out! As for me i finished in 71st pleased to have finished after a week spent with a heavy cold and stomach problems.But i did enjoy the day.