Race Report – Hatherleigh Junior National – Louie takes 6th!

This is the most local of the National series for me meaning I was able to sleep in my own bed and have a fairly relaxed race weekend not worrying about getting there on time being only a 1hr drive from my house! The race was on the same circuit that the Primavera was held on in February. Although it was -8 back then… and it was 30 degrees for the National! But fresh back from Spain I wasn’t too effect by the temperatures which helped.

Race started of quite slow and slowly built into a race rather than a club ride. Few guys started to chip away but nothing stuck. I followed a few early moves but sat on them knowing they weren’t dangerous. But just to play it safe be in them. With 2 laps to go on the small circuit I attacked and 2 other riders bridge and get onto my wheel. Including GB rider Lewis Askey. About 20mins into the break with 3 of us working good a group of 4 got across to us with an additional 2 GB riders being Alfie George and Sam Watson. This was a strong move.

On the final lap of the mini circuit before we headed to the finish Lewis Askey attacked the group of 8 and got away. This meant that the break started to split up and have riders trying to get across to him. Sadly I didn’t have the legs to react straight away and get onto Lewis’s wheel and I waited for the others to chase. In the end a group of 5 go away from the original break and made it to the finish with Lewis taking a strong win! I finished around 30s back in a group of 4 where I took the bunch sprint to come home with 6th. Little bit gutted to be out of the top three at my Home national but still a great result for me! Overall a very smooth event and very well organised.

Thank you to the organisers and everyone who chipped in – Was a great race. Big thanks as always to MDCC and EPiC Coaching for the continued support!