Concrete,
marble, roundabouts and racing. Chuck in Nandos and a very ‘local’ hotel and you’ve got the Milton Keynes 2 day race. Don’t get me wrong, we all had a blast. Its just that well, Milton Keynes is a bit shit isn’t it?
Organised by TeamMK at the Milton Keynes bowl the weather blessed us and it was going to be a good weekend of racing. It started with a very short 3km time trail. New lesson learned, 3km time trails suck! We did pretty good, I came in 8th with George in 12th and Rudy and Daniel not too far behind.
This led a little time to wait before the crit scheduled at 3pm. Not much food about at the venue and we were hungry so George, Rudy and I smashed back a bacon and egg bap from the only food vendor which was a burger van. It wasn’t really what we wanted, but it was pretty good. A couple of locals in the queue laughed at me, stating ’proper athlete this one’, I could only shrug and smile in retaliation.
The crit was good, fast paced with a lot of attacking. I managed a breakaway for a bit, got pulled back in and then the attack went that stuck to the end. We missed it and spent most of the rest of the race trying to organise the front into chasing properly which ultimately failed and we lost 40 seconds. The last lap was a bit of a nightmare as we were lapping a large group of riders who had been mistakenly given the last lap board as well which meant that no-one moved and there was an inevitable crash (this was caused by someone, number 73, dropping a shoulder and riding into some poor lad who hit the tarmac like a sack of spuds). Ended up coming in the top ten with George close behind to secure my GC position in the top ten also.
The next day started early in the countryside for a 90km road race in the morning fog. It was great fun, although at one point I was pretty sure I’d lost it all. I punctured at about 50km in just as I was in a good move off the front. Hand up and pedalling slowly, the bunch and my team mates fly past, I heard George shout in protestation at my bad luck. It was gutting and I was sure then that GC and the race were over for me. God bless neutral service. After a quick wheel change I spent the next half an hour pedalling like mad at 60kph behind a BMW estate being dragged back to the field. It was amazing but also properly exhausting, its not easy. I was back in the pack for the last 20km and just had to focus on staying up at the front and setting myself up for the sprint. Going cross eyed with the effort I was praying that around every corner the 1km to go sign would appear. When it finally did Rudy was on the front looking back at me. I knew he wanted to lead me out, he was ready and he’d got it fucking perfect. I nodded and Rudy dropped the hammer. The bunch dragged out into that familiar arrowhead with me 4th wheel. Rudy pulled off with 400 to go, a few riders in front meant I could hold back and at about 100 to go I let it loose.
There was another breakaway which had stuck that day and I came in 7th overall. Leaving me with 9th on GC. The team did a great job and having Rudy up the front in that last KM was one of the best race experiences I’ve had. Chapeau boys and thank you.
– Alex Blomeley
Concrete,
marble,
roundabouts and racing. Chuck in Nandos and a very ‘local’ hotel and you’ve got the Milton Keynes 2 day race. Don’t get me wrong,
we all had a blast. Its just that well, Milton Keynes is a bit shit isn’t it?
Organised by TeamMK at the Milton Keynes bowl the weather blessed us and it was going to be a good weekend of racing. It started with a very short 3km time trail. New lesson learned, 3km time trails suck! We did pretty good, I came in 8th with George in 12th and Rudy and Daniel not too far behind.
This led a little time to wait before the crit scheduled at 3pm. Not much food about at the venue and we were hungry so George, Rudy and I smashed back a bacon and egg bap from the only food vendor which was a burger van. It wasn’t really what we wanted, but it was pretty good. A couple of locals in the queue laughed at me, stating ’proper athlete this one’, I could only shrug and smile in retaliation.
The crit was good, fast paced with a lot of attacking. I managed a breakaway for a bit, got pulled back in and then the attack went that stuck to the end. We missed it and spent most of the rest of the race trying to organise the front into chasing properly which ultimately failed and we lost 40 seconds. The last lap was a bit of a nightmare as we were lapping a large group of riders who had been mistakenly given the last lap board as well which meant that no-one moved and there was an inevitable crash (this was caused by someone, number 73, dropping a shoulder and riding into some poor lad who hit the tarmac like a sack of spuds). Ended up coming in the top ten with George close behind to secure my GC position in the top ten also.
The next day started early in the countryside for a 90km road race in the morning fog. It was great fun, although at one point I was pretty sure I’d lost it all. I punctured at about 50km in just as I was in a good move off the front. Hand up and pedalling slowly, the bunch and my team mates fly past, I heard George shout in protestation at my bad luck. It was gutting and I was sure then that GC and the race were over for me. God bless neutral service. After a quick wheel change I spent the next half an hour pedalling like mad at 60kph behind a BMW estate being dragged back to the field. It was amazing but also properly exhausting, its not easy. I was back in the pack for the last 20km and just had to focus on staying up at the front and setting myself up for the sprint. Going cross eyed with the effort I was praying that around every corner the 1km to go sign would appear. When it finally did Rudy was on the front looking back at me. I knew he wanted to lead me out, he was ready and he’d got it fucking perfect. I nodded and Rudy dropped the hammer. The bunch dragged out into that familiar arrowhead with me 4th wheel. Rudy pulled off with 400 to go, a few riders in front meant I could hold back and at about 100 to go I let it loose.
There was another breakaway which had stuck that day and I came in 7th overall. Leaving me with 9th on GC. The team did a great job and having Rudy up the front in that last KM was one of the best race experiences I’ve had. Chapeau boys and thank you.
– Alex Blomeley
Theres always a lot of stories that come out of crit week. Most of which are super positive. You can’t avoid breaks,
even tears (quickly followed by some serious dancing) and we weren’t without our fair share…
One of the biggest things I took out of Barcelona is just how great this scene is. Our man Rudy had a tough time getting a fast lap in with a busy and hectic field. Finding it difficult to get a lap he eventually struck a fast one with Chas himself. Old friends from the scene sharing a common language a simple nod suffices as they charge into an absolute flyer of a lap. Both would qualify for the final with great times.
Photo – Caro Paulette
Dosnoventa are a big name in the scene and especially with RHC in Barcelona where they hold the pre party at their HQ. These guys properly hooked me up and we wanna thank them again and again for being so damned cool! I was involved in the big group 1 crash in the now notorious turn 1. Thankfully I had done enough to qualify me in P25 on the start line. The problem was that my bike was totalled.
Photo – Rachello / Mavian
5th man
take my bike, wheel, forks whatever you need!’ But he’s tougher than 9 stitches and ended up wanting to race. Slightly desperate, Rudy and I went over to the Dosnoventa tent with their chill sofas and bike line up and asked if they had a spare wheel, forks or just anything that could help get me in the race. The reaction was incredible ‘shit dude! you need a bike? lets get you a fuckin bike!’ Well, thats not quite what was said but it was mostly in Spanish and I don’t speak Spanish, but thats pretty much what I understood was going on. So for the final I was riding Felix’s golden prototype Dosnoventa (unfortunately he’d punctured during qualifying and not had time to get a flying lap). That bike was lightning. This isn’t a product review and I love my Condor but this bike was pretty damn special, keep an eye out for it in the future. Again, thanks Dosnoventa and also big shout out to Dave Noakes who spotted me his helmet for the final!
Photo – Rachello / Mavian
Bike racing is tough, bike racers are nuts and Reece is both. I was aching, but he had just had 9 stitches in his leg! After the crash he spent the afternoon riding around and trying to stay loose so he did’t cease with the impact damage. It worked and Reece bossed the race staying in the top 20, I just wish there was some kinda ‘tough bastard’ award, he’d get it. I had dropped out of the race by 5 to go, I was held up in crashes. Off the back and in pain I decided to watch and cheer on my team mates. 2 laps to go the race got halted and I knew then Reece was in trouble, body limber and racing he was fine but 10 minutes on the start line cooling down with his injuries changes it completely. As I said, he is tough and came across the finish line in 35th, proper job. Huge props to George too who strongly finished 12th.
Photo – Rachello / Mavian
Photo – Barceloneta Bikes
We’re here to race, we’re here to party and we’re here to be involved in this mad fast expression of something we all hold dear. Even though the race didn’t go the way I wanted RHCBCN3 was the best yet and I can’t wait to see whats going to happen next.
Slide photos – 1, 3, 4 by Rachello / Mavian, 2 by Caro Paulette, 5 by Chiara Redshi, 6 by Perekms.
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