Pete survives Central Divs

A strong field lined up for the 2008 Central Divs Champs including PCA (Tony Gibb and his pink ladies), AW Cycles, Agisko, London Dynamo, Sigma Sport, Team MK, Felt Racing (my brother and ex VC Meudon rider John Wager) plus the legendary Roy Chamberlain,Team Corley and Aaron McCaffrey, VTT Pyrenees (he said he was only riding for a laugh!!). VC Meudon was being represented by me - Pete Wager. Just under 7 laps of the rolling Cublington circuit lay ahead in calm and overcast conditions.

Lap 1 produced the usual flurry of attacks with nothing really getting away. Coming to the end of the 2nd lap a large group of 15 riders went clear over a short drag and pulled out a maximum lead of a 1 minute - this group included all 4 of the PCA team and at least 1 from all the other major teams with the exception of VC Meudon, Team Corley and Felt. It was on the 2nd lap that I managed to loose a full bottle after hitting a pot hole and with no one handing up drinks I was left to survive on a single bottle and a handful of gels....

Lap 3 - The chase was on! A combined effort of around 10 riders including Team Corley, Aaron McCaffrey, myself and John, worked for the next 3 laps in an attempt to pull them back - the rest of the bunch enjoyed the views over the rolling Buckinghamshire countryside. Slowly the gap came down and we began to catch the now fragmented front group just before the final lap. At the bell only Tony Gibb remained off the front with a 27 second advantage going over the climb.

Final lap and the attacks started - nothing really stuck and Tony Gibb maintained his gap. A London Dynamo rider escaped and was quickly followed by James Millard (PCA) in the last 5km and they appeared to bridge across to the leader. Into the final kilometre and the bunch were preparing for the UP HILL sprint. Tony Gibb attacked and held on for the win from the front group while the bunch swallowed up the other two riders on the hill. My attempt at a sprint only proved how much the effort over the previous laps and a lack of fluids had affected me and I rolled across the line almost to a standstill in 28th position - Totally exhausted.

Chapeau to my brother, John (Felt racing), for sharing his drink on the last laps and a creditable 10th place - I would not have finished the race otherwise.