Moore Bob success - at Nationals

Bob Moore, Brian Hoadley and Steve Barnsley at the LVRC National Crit Champs.

Bob reports:
"The championships were held at Milton Keynes Bowl, a tough twisty circuit less than a mile long.

The race went from the gun with two riders getting away for a couple of laps. The sound of a bunch of 50 year old riders gasping and wheezing to get their legs to do something quick was a true joy but the front of the group worked to catch them. Then on the little rise thru' the start/finish line a break of five went, I jumped on and we all worked well to get away.

After about 40minutes six new guys got across to us including Dominic Gabellini, a sprinter of some renown. The pace remained high as we worked together less but jumped about more to try and break the group.

Steve was unwell earlier in the week and retired early and Brian became the victim of 'one gap to close too many' and climbed off after 45 minutes.

With the 3 lap to go board up, John French attacked and then crept away to a well deserved win on his own. Everyone watched it happen, seemingly content with runners up prize.

With 1 lap to go I was in third place in the bunch and as the riders in front peeled off I was stuck on the front for the last half lap. I jumped out of the last corner and had a gap, but despite Brian's encouragement the little rise earlier in the race was now much more significent and I faded into the headwind 50 metres from the line. Gabellini getting the silver and me slumping across the line in 5th."