KW - Medium Windsor (The Opportunist)

Medium Windsor is a flat course. One for the sprinters. Two sprints to contest.

The moment I saw, two days before the ride, The Opportunist had signed up for the ride I conceded both sprints.

There is a reason for his nickname, and he is also faster than me. 

That is why part of me found joy when I learnt he had a bad night and he couldn’t ride. The other part of me felt bad for him, and wished him a speedy recovery. I’m not a 100% terrible person.

It was four of us. Taking turns at the front. Riding easy all day.

We were riding through and off at Drift Rd. when I saw Bidders riding in the opposite direction.

Part of me found joy in seeing him. He would turn around and join us for the rest of the ride. It is always great to ride with Bidders. The other part of me knew he would turn around, catch us, and, still, beat me at the Drift Rd. sprint. That is the part of me that breathed a sigh of relief when we found the roadworks that forced us to neutralise the sprint.

Cinnamon bun and late at Windsor. A must as per my own tradition.

Bidders leaves the ride way before the final sprint. That brought back the idea of being the sprinter of the day. 

The strategy was clear for me. Sit on Michal’s wheel. Don’t move from there (which implies don’t move to the front). Wait until the last 50 metres and then launch your sprint. Take the win. Easy peasy.

The problem was that Michal was sitting on my wheel, instead of the other way around.

To make things worse I moved to the front and pushed the pace. A move that can’t not be explained under any rational circumstance.

I got right the part of waiting for the final 50 metres to launch my sprint.

There was a slight problem with the take the win bit. 

Michal started his sprint about the same time as I started mine. He got in parallel with me and, at the exact moment I thought I was going to accelerate and pass him, he accelerated and passed me. He took the sprint by three bike lengths (at the very least).

I won the best domestique of the day though.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/20894153447/

Take care of yourself

Javier Arias González