It was all Noel’s fault.
GC Denis was setting a good pace up Woldingham. Good because I was sitting in third wheel and already counting on taking the KOM outsprinting him and Noel at the top.
But Noel decided to attack and I had to follow. To my surprise when I got to him I felt I still had more to give so I carried on.
At some point, when I was running out of steam, I looked back and the gap looked to me big enough to take the KOM.
A shame I didn’t know where it was because I got the feeling GC Denis beat me to it on what had to be the top.
Then Toy’s Hill came. The Pope (absent at Woldingham) set a good pace. Good because I was sitting in fourth wheel and already counting on taking the KOM outsprinting The Pope, GC Denis, and Noel at the top.
But Noel decided to attack. The Pope followed him. I’m glad I didn’t have the legs otherwise I would have followed The Pope and that never ends well. All I could do was sit on GC Denis’ wheel.
The Pope dropped Noel and disappeared at the front. GC Denis closed the gap to Noel and he moved behind me.
For whatever reason I felt the moral obligation to take a turn at the front, something very unusual. Very reluctantly I passed GC Denis and moved to the front for what must have been 30 seconds but felt like an eternity.
When my pace was starting to embarrass the trio GC Denis passed me again and took matters into his hands.
As you would expect as we were approaching the top I “sprinted” to take the KOM only to find out that there was (just another) ramp to go and GC Denis was sitting comfortably in my wheel.
Beaten again by GC Denis.
So, now Juniper was the last climb. GC Denis at the front for most of it. Noel on his wheel, I on Noel’s, Nigel on mine.
I wasn’t planning to sprint for the KOM, but at the final ramp I saw Noel changing to the small chainring. I got a bit over excited, sprinted, and took the climb.
For some reason no one believed me when I blamed Noel when we regrouped at the top.
But then the Horton roundabouts sprint came. I definitely wanted to take that one.
So I move to the back of the group. Behind Noel.
He was doing a fairly good job taking me through the roundabouts and staying at the back of the group until Nigel opened a gap at the front.
I stayed on Noel’s wheel.
Second at the sprint after Nigel.
It was all Noel’s fault.
The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/20046657266/
Take care of yourself
Javier Arias González
