Despite it being super early in the season I think it’s fair to say that I was really looking forward to racing this event. With my love of criteriums and it being the world’s first ever fully indoor crit it was sure to be an awesome event. Plus I knew we’d end up in the pub having a good old catch up and a few too many drinks in true MBG style!
So the day before the race when a worrying email was sent round with peoples concerns about getting there with our bikes, due to the forecast snow, I got worried…I wanted to race! I decided I needed a plan; if worse came to worse and I’d ride there on my cross bike (with cross tyres) with a change of road tyres for the race. But surely there wouldn’t be that much snow?..
I woke on Friday and there was snow, lots of it, I live on a hill and looking up and down my road there was no way I was getting down it on a road bike. Worse case had arisen and I was going on my cross bike! I’d arranged ride to Sarah’s and we’d ride over together from there as she’s better at getting to places. As I headed into more central London there was barley any snow on the roads, maybe I’d been a wrong and should’ve just gone on my road bike, oh well! After a quick cuppa at Sarah’s we set off to the ExCel, getting a bit lost we ended having to nip across some snowy pavements and bike paths, maybe I had needed the cross bike. Either way both Sarah and I made it to ExCel with a bike to race on each…Two down, three to go!
Anna was already there with her Ananichoola stand so she and both bikes she needed for her two races there safe and sound. However we had a text from V, her shed had frozen shut so she had no race bike so was riding her training bike over and would be racing on that, mudguards and all! Nat then turned up. However she’d been unable to get her bike there so after a kind offer from Hope rider and team friend, Rachael, she had a bike to race on and some shoes to borrow. Sorted, just about, it was time to race!
As I said before I was excited for this race and when I get excited about races I want to do well, so I was rather nervous. I was even more nervous as it’s so early in the season it’s hard to judge where you’re fitness is at, would I have enough speed to race as hard as I usually like to?
The whistle went and we were off, Clem from High Wycome went off like a bullet and opened up a gap. After just a few lap I was already struggling, my lungs and legs were burning, I was cornering so badly that at one point I managed to shoulder barge the barriers! I remember looking at the clock and seeing only three minutes of our 25 minute race had elapsed and didn’t think I was going to last.
I tried to take on the sprint on with a lap to go, but my legs weren’t having any of it and Alice Barnes went flying past me in the back straight. I managed to hold on to third place and get myself onto the podium, so was pleased with my performance and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come this season!
All our team did great considering the circumstances and all the pre-race bike palava and problems we had. Surprisingly though V’s decided she may prefer racing on her training bike so if you spot a bike with mudguards at the tour series it’s probably hers haha!
Thanks to the IG London Nocturne for putting on another great event to let us showcase Womens cycling, see you at Smithfield!
