Winter Series Race 7

Well we are into the home straight now for the Winter series with 3 more races to go.  Race 8 took us along the Coastals, through Ruby Bay, over Harleys, into Edwards Road, along Central Road and then back over the Moutere Hill, Waimea West before finally finishing in Ranzau road.  

I'm not really sure what happened for the first third of the race.  Right at the start a small group of us just difted off the front (Rob, Murray, Richie V and myself).  We were soon joined by Aaron and together we made it to the start of Harleys when we were joined by Chris N, Robin, George, Thomas and Dean.  The pace over Harleys was not too bad so the group pretty much stayed together (Richie dropped off).  Down to Edwards Road and along Central Chris, George and Robin played their "let a gap open to force someone else to close it and then attack and complain routine".  At the start of the main climb up Central Chris attacked and was quickly joined by George and Robin.  Looking at the combination and realising what the outcome would be if I joined them I decided to maintain my own pace and soon found myself with only Thomas for company (Thomas climbs really well).  On the downhill run to the Moutere Highway he dropped off so I waited and was joined by Rob and Murray.  The 4 of us rode together with myself doing the bulk of the work.  We could see that we were not going to catch the others but were pretty keen to keep away from the rest of the group.  We all stayed together over the Moutere and took turns into the head wind along Waimea West.  Murray was definitely suffering now.  Rob was looking quite good and it was hard to tell how Thomas felt.

We lost Murray over Burkes Bank.  Rob and I wound it out to try and limit the time losses between us and the front group.  As I had done the bulk of the work Rob had told Thomas to not sprint.  Rob led us out along Ranzau but partway along Thomas took off.  Thankfully he went too early and I was able to get on his wheel and then accelerate past.  I placed 4th which put me into 3rd place overall.  

Chris C was not far back - he had got boxed in at the critical moment and hadn't made it across to the group that caught us.  Henry told me that Chris had ridden on the front for most of the race before riding away at Brightwater - Henry was most impressed.