A very quick Picarde report

This year's VC Meudon representatives at the Ronde Picarde sportif on Sept 11th were Richard Radford & Martin Hulbert.

Here's Martin's report:


Results:
Martin Hulbert - Time 4hr 54min 14secs - 34th Overall and 3rd in over 50 age group. (got a cup etc. at presentation, will forward copy when I have it.)
Richard Radford - Time 5hr 24min 59secs - 157th Overall and 27th in over 50 age group
Full results for the Master (189Km) event below :
http://www.sportcommunication.info/web2010/pdf/MASTER.pdf


Ride Report.
Richard and I travelled on the Friday morning Ferry from Dover. After a scenic drive down and coffee stops en-route at Le Crotoy we picked up our race numbers and transponders at Abbeville, checked in at the F1 Hotel just up the road and rode the first 10 mile of the course out to Bellafontaine and back. Followed this with a meal in Abbeville in the evening and off to bed fairly early.

The course this year was changed from last year, the section to Alt was more or less the same, a more direct route was taken back to Abbeyville where the shorter course riders turned off. The long course riders then did a hillier loop to the south of Abbeville. Overall we thought the course was a bit harder and longer than last year, but not as windy.

Race morning weather was good and it warmed up as the day went on, reaching 24 deg by finish time. Richard had arranged race numbers for us both under 300 which meant this year we could start in the front group and not right at the back. However, differently this year, just before the start they allowed numbers over 300 to join the back of the first 300 and we then all started together. This made it quite conjested and not quite the start we had expected or hoped for.

The pattern of the race was the usual, start as fast as you can, move up as much as you can & get in the nearest group to the front as you can.
I was lucky to be able to make it to the front, avoiding the few crashes and getting back to the front group again twice after getting blocked by falling riders on the hills. I found it harder this year trying to ride with the top riders, the speed up the climbs was faster and even faster over the top into the side winds. The bunch was getting very stretched and riders continually going off the back. Richard in the meantime was not able to make it through to the front group and was riding strongly in the 2nd or 3rd group.

I stuck with the front group into Alt and back into Abbeville, after about 80-90 miles a few riders broke away when the front group slowed for a while. Then picking back up the speed for the usual flat out last 10-20 mile. I finished with this group, unknowingly been outsprinted by 2 other 50+ year olds who were in the same group. Richard stayed with his group throughout, eventually catching another group in front due to his and a few others hard work, but just loosing a few minutes at the end with cramp.

We were both very happy with our rides, Richard and myself both knocking off about 15 minutes from last year and also finishing much higher overall.

After the race we stayed another night, enjoying a nice meal and drink. For Richard this meant a long awaited Ruby Leffe

Another great Picardy weekend.