It can be safely agreed that 4th is the worst position to finish in any race. I would argue that the next most frustrating result would be 11th. Especially when points are awarded to the top 10 places. I can make this claim based on the experience of 3 out of my last 4 races! (When I was eventually upgraded to 10th in one of these, finding out felt like I'd just stepped onto the podium.)With only 21 riders in my race 'bubble' on Easter Good Friday, 10th or 11th would also have the added significance of finishing in the the top half of the field or not.
The clue is in the name, the Torq Breakout series signifies finally breaking out of lockdown and getting the 2021 cross country MTB season underway. The 3 race series is orgainised by Gorrick at their secure Area 51 venue near Frimley. We've raced there before and it is a brilliant course to ride, but perhaps not the best to race. The 3 mile course is a continuous twisting ribbon of fun, flowing singletrack. If I could ride there socially every Sunday I would. All that singletrack though can make it a nightmare to race, as it can be VERY difficult to pass. Especially if the rider in front doesn't want to let you through. It also means that there is simply nowhere to take a hand off the bars for a drink or reach into a pocket for something to eat. Gorrick had posted on Facebook before the race that they had added a stretch of fireroad for this very reason. I never noticed it on Friday.
Like last years events Covid rules were in place to keep everyone well apart. As previously this has it advantages for me when it comes to the socially distanced gridding, which is done alphabetically! This time I left my slot on the front row clear for another rider, not wanting to be the cause of a first lap bottleneck. Starting midfield I was able to hold my place in the pack as we shot away at the sound of the starters horn.
Some riders passed me and I let them go, as I wanted to keep something back on the first lap, so I'd hopefully have energy in the tank later in the 3 hour race. I selected to follow the wheel of a rider in orange. I had to work to stay with him on the straighter sections and uphill gradients, but could recover and maintain position through the rough stuff and the twists and turns. Behind a rider in blue reeled us in over the course of the opening lap, passed us and for a while opened a gap, but we regrouped and the three of us rode together in formation for the next 30 minutes.
On the 3rd lap we began to spread out. I was slowly dropping back from Mr Orange, but at the same time the gap was growing behind. On such a twisting course it was impossible to get out of sight as we constantly passed each other going in opposite directions around the switch backs. The gap was about equal in front and behind, I'd estimate about 20 seconds.
I had planned to try not to stop during the race, but was overheating as the day and the racing warmed up. If there was nowhere to drink there was certainly no opportunity to unthread my arms from a gillet while moving. So I stopped at my pit box, and also took the opportunity to gulp a banana and take a swig of water. By coincidence the rider in orange stopped at the same time so our gap was unchanged, but the rider in blue was now right on my wheel.
Over the next lap I closed on Mr Orange, bringing Mr Blue along with me, until we were again riding nose to tail. We were half way through the race and riding just as we had started lap 1. Having closed the gap I was feeling good and decided to be bold, passing Mr Orange into a tight left hander. I thought Mr Blue might follow my lead, but he stayed where he was. Perhaps he didn't have the pace? It is always easier to follow and I had to work hard to try and stretch a bit of a gap. I paid for the effort and I was aware that the gap I'd fought to open was coming down again just as quickly.
As we came past the pits with 3 laps and less than 10 miles to race Mr Orange was back on my wheel. I was surprised, but slightly relieved to see that he stopped in the pit area and I knew this was my opportunity to make a break. I really put the hammer down, but I soon began to feel the cost. It wasn't in my legs so much but just general fatigue. I started riding erratically and making mistakes. I picked the wrong lines and was slow out of corners I'd nailed flat out on the previous laps. The gap behind however did not change as I continued pushing as hard as I dared. With about 10 minutes racing remaining I began to feel confident I had those behind covered. Just as I had that thought and relaxed for a brief second I lost concentration and my front wheel washed out in a loose sandy corner -I was face down in the dirt.
I was quickly back in the saddle and relieved to find the bike was undamaged. I was so annoyed with myself however. I'd nearly thrown away 3 hours racing and I know from experience that you have to remain focused right to the end. I blame the lack of recent racing.
Anyway luckily I was still safe from behind and then I spotted the rider ahead getting back on his bike, perhaps after a similar error. On the final hill I chased him down and got right up behind him, but there was no way past as we dropped back through the finish line. The commentary announced 10th and then yes you guessed it, "Ben Connor 11th"
