2024; A season in review.

Wow. Not quite sure where to start here, but what a rollercoaster 2024 was! Heading into my first season as an U23 navigating the very steep learning curve from a Junior and realising that the step up is a lot bigger than it looks.

It seems fitting to head to my first few races of the season. Started off on the wrong foot so to speak. First real test of the season was a 70 mile Nat B crit, double puncturing in the first lap wasn't in the plan, but nothing I could do about that. Had to accept that and move onto the next race as the season is quickly developing! A weekend later I trekked down to Surrey for the popular Wally gimber. As the race got de-neutralised on a damp and technical descent all hell broke loose. Multiple riders going down in possibly one of the worst crashes I've seen. Managing to scrape through I was left with a sizable gap to chase to the charging group. An all out chase from me finally catching the group at one of the courses steeper climbs blew my doors right off. I was left in the dust looking down at my legs thinking "that wasn't the plan at all". To be honest I wasn't fully sure what to take from this at the time. I felt like I had good form, but that didn't quite fill me with confidence. Obviously the chaotic start didn't help me in anyway, but when you are looking to do well you start to second guess yourself and believe the worst. With all this in mind I concluded that the events of the race didn't help me, but I can use this as a good gauge of my condition and I believe there is some work to be done. Moving onto the next race fairly quickly as usual. The following weekend was the Halesowen academy RR. Internally I felt fired up for this event knowing that I can put in good rides at Regional A races I was aiming high. The first half of the race was a struggle for me. For whatever reason from a bad warmup to a bad nights sleep I just couldn't get going and couldn't pinpoint where I had gone wrong. Missing the wining break of about 13 riders. However, the back half was a complete turn around where I formed the chasing group with 3 other riders which stayed away from the bunch to the finish. I rolled in at 16th in a surprisingly attritional race as the course had a deceptive climb to the finish each lap. Looking back at this in hindsight I was capable of being in that front break, but ultimately the feelings on the day contributed to otherwise. A slight theme of this year with tactical errors and poor decisions but all to learn from.

Next up was back to the National B RCR Fatcreations - Goodwood road race. I knew going into this event that it was labelled as a tough circuit using part of the 1989 road world championships course. First few laps of this race I was feeling solid considering the calibre of the field. Somehow a lap or so later I found myself chasing attacks. What was I thinking! Getting a bit too ahead of myself on one of the long flat sections of this course trying to follow moves that I wasn't fully capable of following. As we turned onto the climb and the race got grippy I started to slide back and lose contact with the main bunch just before the crest. Chasing for the next few laps in a group we got pulled a lap or two before the finish but was given a finishing position. As with the Wally Gimber I was left looking at what I could've done differently and it was evident that I shouldn't have been so active so early on. Although the race may have still rode away from me eventually. I definitely would've lasted longer if I wasn't so naïve. All I could do was move on and keep trying to improve.

So, the best option for me to progress through the month of April and into the start of May was to hit some of the Regional A races hard. A good string of races in a 4 week block every weekend. As I mentioned earlier the theme of poor tactical decisions would follow me for a few of these races. Although I was at the pointy end I was missing out on the success through no fault but my own. I seemed to develop a pattern of either following the wrong move or following too many. Being too active at the front for too long and when the decisive move would finally go I would not be in it. Its easy to look back and point out the attacks that I should follow and where I should be resting and observing but in the heat of the moment it just doesn't play out like that, and that is racing. In these races I would go on to place anywhere in the top 15 eventually being in a chasing group or being highly placed in the bunch sprint. The main outcome from these races was honing my race craft. Understanding how these races play out, realising the aggressiveness, getting to know the riders and who will be strong enough to take it all the way and how to better control my efforts. Realistically I got just what I needed out of these races. That bit of improvement I was searching for both in physical and mental aspects.

On a bank holiday weekend in late April it was time to get back to the National B stuff. The GA bennett was next on the cards. A very good field, 90 mile race, I knew it would be a good one. Entering with my new outlook on racing I knew with the riders and distance of this race I had to keep my powder dry, preserve energy and see who was still there at the finish. Attacks were flying all race and it was strange not to get stuck in and have a go but I knew my plan would benefit me. The race was grippy for pretty much the whole duration with the usual climb up past the finish and some serious windy sections. I stayed in there and ultimately enjoyed being in that racing environment. Coming into the finish I was feeling it a bit as was expected really. There was a fast downhill section that slingshots you into the final climb. On the last lap it was rapid with everyone fighting for positions. I had noticed in the previous laps that I was spinning out on this particular part and not really able to put out much power. So on the final lap I was further back than where you would want to be. The climb was drawn out so I managed to pull back some places coming in 31st. Not a result to shout about but considering how the first to ended it was a sign of improvement and a sign to me of what needs to happen to make the final cut. After this race I instantly made the decision to opt for a bigger chainring a 52t just wasn't cutting it anymore as I had started to notice in some of the regionals earlier that month. Up against people on 54s and higher you could really notice the difference when the pace goes up.

As usual the racing and training carried on in some nice weather. Going through the motions and ultimately enjoying riding the bike. I hit a week or so period in June where I had a cold. Typical! took that week of rest and headed to the Bikestow 3 day the following week. Initially this was a big goal of mine throughout the season a remarkable regional A event with some fantastic stages, good riders and not stupidly far from home. Its pretty much a one of a kind event for regional level in the area and it lived up to the standard. 3 days, 4 stages. Each stage different with a crit on the Friday night, TT Saturday morning, Rolling stage Saturday afternoon and a summit finish on Sunday. Right from the go it was evident to me that I was still feeling the repercussions of the illness. A get round mission on the Friday night wasn't filling me with much hope for the weekend as I would usually be aiming to have a good ride in that based off the previous results in similar races that year. Onto the Saturday not much had change a shocking time in the time trial was the indicator. Not being able to get the most of of myself at all. Being optimistic I started the afternoon stage getting round about 90% of the stage before retiring on the last lap as I wasn't getting any better. It was a shame to be halted by lingering illness at one of my season goals but that's how it goes. Once I got into the next week after a few recovery days I was getting back to it.

The next event on the calendar was the Swindon wheelers RR. What I thought would be a nice return to regional racing after working back from that spout of illness turned out to be quite the opposite. Coming down in a nasty high speed crash on the start of the second lap put a quick end to that. Luckily nothing broken in terms of bones but lots of road rash and a few uncomfortable nights. As It was mainly road rash I knew the recovery period wouldn't be too long however I also couldn't really rush back into anything as the damage was quite severe in that respect. I believe it took roughly about 2-3 weeks before it was comfortable for me to be able to ride the bike again as sliding down the road at 30mph on your backside takes a surprising amount of skin off your bum and back.

Once it was somewhat comfortable I was back into the swing of things. I had about a week and a half of proper training before I got the ludicrous idea that a crit race would be a good way to rebuild the form. Which believe it or not wasn't a bad idea. It seemed after an accidental "taper" being off the bike my legs were in good condition the only thing I was lacking was the ability to shift lactic acid and that top end anaerobic stuff. There was an event on at MK bowl which I thought would be fitting for a return. I did many races round there as a youth so I was well versed with the course so no surprises on the day, or so I thought... I had heard that they used an adapted course for the midweek events but wasn't fully sure on how it would look. As I rolled out the winter bike (due to my race bike being sent of for repairs following the crash) I recced what I thought would be the additional part of the course. However, when the race started we took a completely different turning so my idea was completely gone. As we progressed into the race the overcast that was sitting above completely opened up and soaked us to the bone. Making the corners that were sheltered by trees and on a change of surface somewhat slippery which slightly got the nerves going but nothing drastic happened so all was good. Rolling in for 8th in the bunch sprint. It was somewhere to start and something to work from. I came for the workout and that's what I got. That exposure back to racing was good for the mental aspect too. There is always an element of fear and uncertainty after a crash, and the way I like to overcome that is by simply exposing myself to the elements.

Into the back half of the season now it was really a case of building and trying to salvage whatever was left really. I missed a few good races whilst I was out with the crash and it left me in a position where I wasn't really at a strong enough level to compete at anything big. Plans for a week racing in Belgium were scrapped and it was just a battle against the clock to race more before the season come to a close. I had a good month of building fitness and some races entered to work towards. I had two main regional races entered were I placed 5th in both. After the course of the recent months it was something to take and be happy with. In the final race and towards the end of that training period I started to find the form I had around April time again so I was happy with the level I managed to get myself back to.

Following on from that I made a last minute decision to race the Welsh time trial championships that had originally been cancelled from earlier in the year. a near 15 mile effort on roads that I knew well. All was going good as I set off on the fast A40 bypass which is used for my local R10/17 10 mile TT. The course that was used for this event turned onto the back road and followed alongside the bypass finishing almost adjacent to the start. I put in a good effort for the most part. Unfortunately coming into the last 2 mile I was held up by a tractor that had pulled onto the course. Coming to a complete stop and then following behind for a while cost be the best part of a minute. However, I managed to win the senior event and claim the title. My second official Welsh championship jersey so something to be very proud of to round out the season.

As I write this I am just into winter training starting the gradual build, and all is going well so far. I have some very exciting opportunities to share in the coming weeks and a major change for the 2025 season. Keep an eye out for updates of my blog and all will be revealed. ;)