With surnames that would raise any Englishman’s eyebrows both Nick & Jo Le Cocq and Donna Le Blancq took to the UK last weekend to take advantage of one of the rare occasions when the world renowned motor circuit, Brands Hatch, would be closed to motor vehicles and opened to pedal power.
The circuit races were put on by Hot Chillee and British Cycling as part of the BikeRadar Live Bike Festival weekend during which thousands of cycling fans flocked to a sun-soaked Brands Hatch, with more than 10,000 visitors expected over the weekend to take part in or watch various cycling events from mountain biking stunts and races to 100mile sportives and releases of the latest gear and demos.
Now, not being a motor sport enthusiast I have to admit I had always assumed (and I apologise for my ignorance!) the circuits were generally relatively flat but oh no! Cyclists racing around the 1.2 (1.9km) miles of the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit started in the (for those that know the track) Brabham Straight, the circuit then included the iconic sporting landmarks of Graham Hill bend, Clark curve and Stirling bend. All with about 40metres of climbing per lap! Now given each lap was expected to take about 5mins and the men’s race was 1h 45mins+5 laps and the ladies 45mins +5laps...do the math, NOT flat!
We were informed all races (other than the men’s E/1/2) will be standard circuit races. The E/1/2 men’s category however would have some extra excitement for the spectators by having a Devil format for the last 5 laps – where if you were not in the main bunch you would be removed for each of the last 5 laps. It was therefore up to each individual rider to stick with whatever attacks went and to close down any escapees or risk being pulled out.
The weather on Saturday was still, with trackside temperatures reaching scorching 30’s. On Sunday, race day the wind had picked up providing a strong headwind along the home straight that might perhaps limit solo efforts but the temperature was much the same increasing the difficulty of what was already dawning (at least on Nick) as an incredibly hard day of racing to come.
The E123 Ladies Race:
The dominant team in the ladies race was instantly clear on the start line with Pearson Cycles colours making up almost half the field. Jo and Donna however seemed very relaxed and clearly intended to enjoy the race not letting any pre race nerves get to them, or show anyway!
A spilt of the field happened almost instantly with Jo and Donna in the lead group with the Pearson team and one other lone club team member. This format stayed pretty much unchanged for the majority of the race with only one Pearson team member making a number of aggressive attacks only to be bought back into the main group on each occasion. Jo tactically sat in only doing what she had to keeping an eye on breaks and letting the Pearson team dictate the pace. Donna however having not raced for the last few weeks found the pace on the circuit a little challenging at times and began to drift off the back on the climbs but still managed to stay in touch with the main pack for about 30 minutes before another surge by Pearson Cycles on the climb to the home straight left her facing the head wind alone and the gap became too much to get back on. Donna continued to pursue the main group alone until the end whilst Jo was left to counter any attacks by Pearson Cycles alone.
With ten laps to go a Pearson member attacked and Jo chased, they gapped the peleton and stayed in front for a short time but neither were sure of the others strengths so didn’t work together to stay away as the group reformed.
The same aggressive Pearson member attacked on the final climb before the home straight, Jo glued to her wheel chased her down instantly but just couldn’t find the final burst of power to take her on the line taking a great second place by no more than a wheels length and a good few hundred yards ahead of the chasing group. Great results for the VSJ ladies, both Jo and Donna, in a race where the odds were stacked against them both from the start.
The E12 Mens Race:
To say I felt a little overwhelmed by the company I was keeping on the start line might be an understatement. As a lowly 2nd Cat I was lining up shoulder to shoulder with not only top teams from the Halford Tour Series last seen on my telebox flying around various UK towns at an incredible speed, teams represented included Pendragon-Lecol-Colnago (Yanto Barker and Dave Clarke, no Mr Tanguy today, I believe he might be sunning himself in Majorca...although the temperatures on the track must have been similar!), Sigma Sport-Specialized, Cycle Premier-Metaltek and (SiS) Science in Sport but also Alex Dowsett a member of the U23 Trek Livestrong Development Team (yes the Team owned by Mr Lance Armstrong!). Dowsett came 7th in the 2009 U23 World Championship Time Trial and is returning to form following a crash during the Olympias Tour in May during which he suffered a broken scapula at which time he withdrew the race in 2nd place to team mate Taylor Phinney. I wasn’t concerned about the devil at this point, just about hanging in the race for the first lap!
Thankfully whilst an eager Alex shot off from the start line to a lot of groans he was reeled in by the resident Hot Chillee team who had been told to set a tempo for the first lap and keep us together...phew! I knew then (or hoped) I would survive at least one lap, although their tempo was still a brisk pace...then with dread, lap two came around and the relentless attacks began instantly.
The motivational words from Jo moments earlier after her successful race of ’don’t worry it’s not too hard out there, you’ll be fine’ soon vanished as the heat, wind and constant attacks on each climb made holding any wheel almost impossible, these guys were fast. Team tactics came into play fast and as soon as one of each of the stronger teams were represented in a successful break it was suddenly down to those without team mates in the break, such as I, to work together to try to catch them, with the devil format in mind however the attacks continued at every opportunity as individuals tried to jump the gap. This was never going to be a race I could just sit in and enjoy the ride!
Needless to say a long introduction to my race has a very abrupt end, with what felt like hours having passed going in, I have no idea how many circles, in reality however it had only been 55mins, the voice in my head was listening to the pain in my legs and the overwhelming heat and telling me there was no way I could go on for another hour like this, then shortly after it happened I lead up the climb into the home straight, another attack went into the headwind over the crest, wheels flew past me but the elastic I was holding onto so tightly during these attacks began to stretch and eventually I was blown out the back and going alone into the wind. Looking behind to see no one, I considered my options. Clearly those dropped earlier were pulling off rather than continuing alone for the sheer fun (?) of it! I decided this was a good call and pulled into the pits, I had lasted just 1hr.
A starting field of about 30 ended with a very select elite field of only 11 finishers, with Yanto and Alex off the front impressively dueling it out between themselves whilst almost making it look effortless to stay away from the chasing group of four riders who looked on deaths door. Needless to say the devil format was reconsidered with so few riders left and the race was left to play out, Yanto unexpectedly managed to take the sprint from Alex on the line almost down to a photo finish it was that close as the remaining riders were just happy to finish after a very hard hot day.
I will certainly be putting this race down as an experience, albeit a painful one but certainly an eye opener and testament to the quality of Elite riders in the UK. The Jersey rider of the weekend however has to of course go to Jo for an outstanding performance as a single club rider against 4 Pearson Cycles team mates, keeping her calm and watching the moves taking an impressive 2nd place in a sprint finish.