Keith Jones looking comfortable

Mal ditches some excess weight

TLI Anglesey Road Race

Sunday 5th September 2004

The main subject of debate before the start, between Mal, Norman Keith, Mark and myself, was whether arm warmers would be required or not? Norman said only wimps would need them but Keith and I put them on anyway, only for the ride up to the start, where they were removed. The sun came out just after the start and stayed out. So under a blazing September sun the TLI Anglesey Road Race began.

The under 40s and juniors set out first with the over 40s three minutes behind. Keith lined up with us (under 40s) to the disappointment of the over 40s didn't start! He waited to join his group, we could hear the moans as we rode off.

I moved to the front with Norman and set up a nice steady pace that got the group strung out, a couple of half hearted attacks went off the front but they came back by themselves. As we turned off the main A5 the pace moved up a little. Just when we started one of the many small climbs Norman rode off, not fast but fast enough to break away taking two other riders with him. I sat up and let them get away, there wasn't much enthusiasm from the bunch to chase to be honest.

My race settled down into quite a pleasant Sunday ride as a group of the juniors started working on the front, a pleasure to watch. The youngsters towed us along for the next nine or ten miles keeping a nice pace. Then on a climb into one of the villages I managed to get my chain off and had to chase back on for the next couple of miles.

After a good rest on the back to recover from my efforts I thought I would chance upping the pace, someone else had the same idea and attacked as we came up the long drag back up to the start. I decided to let him go and see what everyone else did... Nothing. I started to work with with one of the young lads from Chester Road Club to bring him back. With a little help from a tractor! we caught him and kept the momentum up. No-one would come through and work so just Kieran (CRC) and myself worked to keep up the pace. It did the trick of reducing our group down to about six.

Mark was suffering like a dog, still trying to get over a cold he picked up in Paris a couple of weeks ago and fell away from the main group. With no-one else wanting to do any work and me not feeling that strong (to many little climbs to come before the end and still feeling tired after chasing back) I sat up and waited for the sprint.

There were a couple of attacks in the last few miles but nothing serious and I timed my sprint perfectly to take forth place behind Normans group. Norman had won as expected, taking the sprint easily, and HERE'S the proof. Mark came in with the main bunch just behind.

I had hardly crossed the line when Keith came in comfortably ahead of the rest of his race. As it turned out he dominated the race and was never really under a lot of pressure. Malcolm suffered on the last climb but still crossed the line in eight place.

Thanks to Ian Edwards for this report.

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