Anyway the pace was high from the off and after 10km a break of 22 went off up the road because in the roller-coaster section someone dropped a wheel, I found myself a little too far back as the pace was so high in the preceding kilometres and with so many wanting to do well I thought there was no need to be any nearer the front than about 50th wheel out of the 130 who started. Unfortunately I was proven wrong and tried a good few times over the subsequent 6km to try and get across the 20/25 second gap that had quickly been pulled out, alas, to no avail.
After about 10km from the initial break happening the gap to the leaders quickly drew out to 50seconds/1min and everyone sat in for the test of Cote de Plumelec, but when we got the climb we were told by the motorbike that the leaders were still only 50 seconds in front, due to this many people began to attack and fly up Plumelec, I conserved my energy as at this stage as my right knee was hurting quite a bit and I just wanted to nurse it and myself round to the finish, but once I got over the top I felt great and I attempted on a couple of occasions to bridge across to a group of about 10 that had got away from the peloton on the Plumelec climb, but within 3km we were all back together with the same gaps between the lead group at 50secs that included Sma Allen and Doug Dewey and then the peloton.
Heading back towards the finishing circuits the peloton absolutely flew and I was beginning to feel better in my right knee as well as my whole body and so I began thinking about maybe grabbing a top 20.
Upon reaching the finishing circuits the peloton exploded, 6 x 5.5km, with a short sharp ramp and a long drag with a steep section of about 12% at the top as well as 800m of plain flat for the finishing straight, the finish loop was really interesting and perfect for me. Allied to this, I felt stronger and stronger as we went round the loops and as a result, I launched a 2 attacks of my own as well as getting in countless moves eventually bridging up to Doug and Sam's group, who had been jettisoned by the lead group on the finishing circuits, here's Doug with a his view on what happened, 'It split with about 4 laps to go I think and I went out the back door along with about 10 others I think.' So after what remained off the peloton joined us I tried to sit in as much as possible and save myself for the sprint.
Here's me leading one of the moves I got in.
Sadly I positioned myself about 2 places too far back in the final sweeping right-hander resulting in me getting blocked and not being able to sprint, to add insult to injury I was on the far-side from the judges and so even though I finished in line with the guy who got 24th, I was placed 29th and then the remaining numbers were obviously between me and 24th. If I was 2 places higher up in the right-hander I would have got a top-20, damn it.
I am unbelievably frustrated by this, but I've learnt something from it and so my toil was not wasted, it's just a shame that I couldn't really show what I was fully capable off that's all, but such is the nature of the beast. I'm just happy that my knee was not too bad and I didn't have to climb off like I said I would do to Hamish after an hour as well as the fact that as everyone is saying now I beginning to knock on the door of a decent result soon so hopefully that might come this Sunday, my last race in France for a bit as I'm returning to Britain straight after.
Out of the 130 starters only about 70 finished and less than 60 finished with the peloton or the winning group, this demonstrates somewhat how tough it was as does my Strava so get on it people and be nosy.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and I look forward to talking to you all from the comfort of Bexley!
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