Flying start for Josh

Josh (Swords) is a first year junior embarking on his first season, here's his first race report:

"On saturday I finished second in what was my first ever cycling race after switching from triathlon last year. I was therefore obviously starting in the cat 4 race. I did not know what to expect, how fast the pace would be or if I would struggle. So far that week I had already had a decent amount of training in me and and my legs were not quite as spritely as I would have liked,but I am training for bigger goals in the summer and so just had to train through the week.
After a couple of laps of my warm up, just loosening the legs and observing all the corners, I moved to the start line with the cat 3 and 4's. I wanted to get near the front, as I was told that the first part of the race can be quite fast as people try to break away and the bunch pulls them back. The cat 3's went off 10 seconds in front, and then we set off.
I have been told by numerous people that Hillingdon can be a bit dodgy and there is normally a crash or two in the race, especially when like today it was a bit rainy and had a strong wind. So positioning was key, and keeping concentration on the others.
The first 10 minutes of the race were probaly the hardest, but were well within my comfort range. A few people tried to get away but were sharply pulled back in. For the next 20 minutes it was just rolling allong with no more attacks. I was just concentrating on the other riders, sitting about 15 back in the bunch.
There was a very strong wind, and this is what allowed for a small group of three to get a 100m gap. It was in the chicane section of the course that they pulled out a lead with a very strong cross wind aiding them. They were pushing on and no one was willing to pull them back, a few of the guys on the front just sat up and were clearly hurting. I decided to try to reel them back in, and down the back straight with a massive tail wind I closed in on them, finally pulling them in around half way up the finishing straight. Without even really noticing, the tailwind and the effect of the bunch, allowed me to take that bottom bend at 58kph.
The next 20 minutes was just a procession until the final 2 laps, where a few attacks were made.
I was really surprised at this stage of the race how comfortable I was feeling. I knew now that it would come down to a bunch sprint and was trying to place myself in the top 5 or so riders. The last lap there was a bit of pushing and some even got nudged off onto the grass. Down the back straight I put in quite an effort and overtook around 5 riders and got myself into about five back.
The finishing straight was up a slight slope and into a really strong headwind. Just sitting on a very large mans wheel the sprint began. About half way up the hill there is a slight kink in the road and as the front four spread across the road I saw a gap down the left. I hesitated for a split second and the gap had closed. I then made my move for the right hand side of the road. By now there was only me and four others in contention. As I put the power down I was quickly gaining on the leader, passed the other two riders, and just as I was about to pass him the finish line came to quickly and he won by a wheel. I got second.
Overall I am fairly happy with how the raced went. I did not know what to expect and found it a lot more comfortable than I thought it might be.
To be honest I find the last hour of the Sunday club runs, when I have run out of energy a lot harder.

Josh"