British National Emergency Services Road Race

British National Emergency Services Road Race - 4th September 2021

Words by Bruce Wallace

It's that time of the week again, grab a beverage, some crisps and put your feet up!

This morning Hamish & I (and Niall for morale support👍👌) travelled down to Arkholme, Lancaster to compete in the British Emergency Services RR held by Cold Dark North (same organiser as the British Masters Champs this year). The race us open to the Fire Service, Police and Ambulance Service from all around the UK. It has an overall podium but also acts as the championships for each service within the race (just tk make it more complicated than normal)! On seeing the start road book it was 5 laps of a 10km circuit....yes we read that and thought what the hell aswel!

At only 35miles it seemed a little short until we saw the circuit and realised that at over 2500ft over that distance, barely any flat sections and a pretty horrible crosswind there was reason for the lack of miles!! The fear was that from the start riders weren't going to be saving themselves to make the distance and it was likely to go bang from the off......and oh were we right!

We rolled out for 2miles neutralised (uphill) and within seconds of the flag coming in the first attack was launched, everyone rode across and it continued like this for the next mile or so with a 'slight' cross tailwind I looked down and saw I was doing about 27mph...yes, still uphill! It was all about positioning and Hamish & I were riding on the white line together! I was panicking wondering how long it was going to sit like this for while riders came round, had a little dig and bunch rolled across! We then hit a left hand junction and hit the first steep punchy little climb which we'd hit another 5 times, it was a little ring effort for me and for the 30seconds i was hitting 700-750w to hang on (for those that like numbers)! The bunch regrouped over the top with Hamish & I safely tucked in...well I say bunch, we were already down to about 15 riders...I'd say it was a break!🤷‍♂️

As the race turned towards the finish line, the crosswind switched to our otherside and it was a fight each lap to get shelter and not get caught out! Riders attempted to get away but with a horrible crosswind they were left to dangle out there like a pair of dirty pants on a washing line that nobody wanted to get near and werr inevitably brought back as we returned to the uphill section of the course! What was left of the bunch was quickly whittling down each time we hit the steep climb! With 2 laps to go another attack on the climb and as I clambered over again I realised I was now at the rear of the group with only the Chief Comms car behind, my partner in crime (excuse the pun) had succumbed to the relentless rolling roads and dropped back. I started to feel my knees cramping and got back in, fired 2 gels down my throat and hoped to recover, quick count of bodies ahead and we were down to about 10! It was status quo for the next lap, hit the climb again and another attack fired me off the back, it was now or never and I dug in with everything to get back on! One rider saw me getting over and tried with a huge effort to distance me further, must have seen me on Tuesday nights (you'll all no I'm not at home on the hills)! Scraped back on and the group was now strung out! Last gel down the hatch (yes 3 in 10miles, I was desperate for a miracle) and I tried to recover!

Last drag and last big attack from the group saw riders surge towards the last left hand junction which was 300metres from the finish! The rider from West Mids who I knew I had tk stay with launched his attack, he dragged me past the bunch and off the front!! 300metres is not within my target area for sprinting and certainly not a false flat with a now raging crosswind (maybe felt worse than it was)🤣😳! My knees were cramping and didn't have the strength to stand up and come by, the last 10metres to the line kicked up and we were swamped by a couple riders! 6th overall and 2nd polis for me, Hamish came in not far behind in 10th or 11th!

Happy with the result and couldn't have done anything else!!! For me personally i was ecstatic with the result my 2nd road race this season and with minimal racing up here it's hard to replicate the effort! I have to thank Hammy Hammy for coaching me and guiding me through it all, there is no substitute to coaching or structured training, it works and you can't argue with it! Also to every member of the club, everybody that turns up to training nights, you've all added something positive to my and everyone elses training! If nothing else....its great fun!!!😀💪👍