13 signed up for the ride. Add to that JFW that showed up unannounced.
A roster full of sprinters. I knew GC Denis was focused on GC so didn’t have to worry about him. Grant was clearly the most dangerous one, but JFW, Will R., and Nigel also to be considered. Andy L., Oliver and Peter L. were a bit of a question mark. I needed to be clever playing my cards.
For me, being clever in cycling is synonymous of wheel sucking. And that is exactly what I did.
It helped that five riders DNS’d. Being a group of nine riders I was the odd one at the back of the group.
As always JFW was the protagonist of the first couple of sprints. Grant and Will R. played ball with him. I didn’t. Clever cyclists don’t bother with minor points. That’s a loser's game.
I’m sure they will come with a list of excuses, but the pace was so hard that by the time we got to Windsor we dropped JFW and Will R..
Good for me. Although I was still a bit worried about Grant.
He rode steady in the first three “climbs” and I got to experience what riders feel riding next to van der Poel. Happy to be there, almost at your limit, praying to God he doesn’t accelerate.
Getting to Henley I got a puncture in my rear wheel. That was my opportunity!!!!
I told them to carry on, I’d catch with them at the coffee stop.
But I knew Grant was pressed on time. If I took a bit too long to fix my puncture he would have to skip the coffee stop and would DNF the race.
I was riding tubeless and, of course, I didn’t have my saddle bag with me. All part of the plan. Unable to pump up my wheel I was forced to ride very slowly to Henley and find a bike shop in Henley to pump up my wheel (thank you Henley Cycles).
To be on the safe side I lost a bit more time pretending to be trying to find my riding mates in Henley when I knew all too well the race plan was to stop at Twyford for coffee.
My plan worked to perfection. By the time I got to Twyford Grant had DNF’d.
Not all was ideal though. My riding mates had finished their coffee and cake so I felt compelled to skip mine.
No caffeine for the critical part of the race is a huge disadvantage but I am always up for a challenge.
At Drift Rd. we agreed to ride through and off.
Position in a through and off when you ride towards the second most important sprint of the day is critical.
I decided to sit on Nigel’s wheel.
My plan was to wait until the last time he would lead me to the front. And as soon as he moved left I’d go for the sprint. The idea was to take everyone by surprise and Nigel was “tired” after his turn.
I wanted GC Denis on my wheel to make it very difficult for anyone to jump after me as GC riders don’t take part in sprints. Unfortunately it was Andy L. who was on my wheel. Not ideal but not much I could do about it.
I was unlucky because the last time I was hitting the front was a bit too far away from the line but it was then or never so I went for it.
Boom!!! The plan worked wonders. No one jumped after me. I was leading the points competition.
The problem was that by Virginia Water I knew my legs were empty. Time to play the team card.
I sent Nigel in a suicidal breakaway to force Peter L., Andy L. and Oliver to chase while I took a free ride sitting on their wheel.
When they caught Nigel Andy L. moved to the front preparing the sprint for Peter L. and Oliver. That was the situation for most of the approach to the sprint.
At the right time GC Denis came from the back allowing me to get into position. Only the great GC riders do that.
I had to wait until the last second to launch my sprint and I took it.
Being so heavily competed made the victory even sweeter.
One more proof that I am a master strategist.
The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/16731033762/
Take care of yourself
Javier Arias González
