Goodwood, allowed to race up an age group today. Happy with ride, it looks like I’m on target. Trying to average 23mph for 11.7 miles. It was windy and a bit colder than the last time we went to Goodwood.
I came 3rd, riding in U16s. It was really good fun and have to thank the race organiser David Collard-Berry of 3crg for letting me race in an older age group and most importantly the same distance as i would need to ride in the National Championships in a few weeks time.
Thanks as ever to Stonham Barns Park, my sponsor for their SupportWarming up… It wasn’t as calm as it looked, we were a bit late to warm upGetting over taken by a much older boyWarming up became calmer once we were back on schedule. Its a learning experience and we are not normally late, so this was something to understand. It will happen again sometime.Eek.. concentrating and trying to picture the course we did a couple of weeks ago and how the effort for the first lap felt. At home I can use my power meter to help me, but not here. I have to push, but not too hard. I use negative splits if I find I am feeling better on lap two than I should be and push the effort up slightly for the 2nd half and then go for it flat out for the last mile or two. Its all about learning for me. My lap times were good today, so I got it roughly right and it was close to my FTP (in feeling) and that showed in close lap times.I was thinking if I could make the next lap shorter 🙂N dsk wheel today, so the ssshhhh noise wasn’t there. Disc wheels make yo go faster, but dad says its good for me to think like that, so I guess it doesn’t make as much difference as it feels like it does.pushing n he last lap. I got over 27mph, which I know means I wasn’t pushing enough on the earlier laps. Nice to sprint though… feels good.Driving to the line.Saw Mummy, Callum and Eva after the warm down lap.
Thanks to Angus for the loan of his wheels, they felt fast The winner was a boy 3 years older, so I couldn’t beat him. it was very good fun and I was fastest girlsigning on with Evagoing over the planExcited to race in 2020Checks and more checks 🙂Clipped in well this timeCan’t catch the motor bike 😉Into my pacePushing very hard for the lineI caught some riders and we had a good talk on the warm down lap, then saw mum, Callum and EvaCallum after the race talking t me
Saturday Ride – 1st of August 2020. Still no racing due to Corona Virus.
I went for a tail wind ride out for once, with a head wind home. I rode past my sponsors “Stonham Barns” which always brings a smile to my face and reminds me of when I first met Alan, his team and the residents of the holiday holes when I rode 121 miles to raise money for Great Ormond Street.
Whether Abbey ever repeats this years feat of being undefeated at home or in Europe is hard to know, but to do that again would be equally amazing. There are some very talented girls racing against Abbey who were so close to beating her on road and beat her in other disciplines, such as Orla and Melanie. In years to come the girls will battle away and all win, I am sure. New girls will come into the mix and make the races as exciting as they have been this year. A massive well-done to all of the girls.
Rather than go into detail of every one of Abbeys wins, here’s a montage of Photographs from this year.
A massive thank you to Stonham Barns for their support.
This years resultsWinning the Youth Paris RoubaixNational Age Group Time Trial ChampionWinning medal and Zwift bottle (Thanks Zwift)Time Trial MedalWinning the Farnham Grand PrixParis Roubaix StartLovely evening with Nigel Powley at Felixstowe RadioLovely evening with Nigel Powley at Felixstowe RadioA rather too robust a challenge, leading to Abbey fracturing her armThe look of a championRacing against the best riders in the countryFun on the podium at the Minehead Grand PrixPave at the Paris RoubaixNational Road Race ChampionNational Road Race ChampionWinning the Points Jersey in the Isle of ManNational Age Group Time Trial Champion National Road Race Champion ship racingWinning the Isle of Man Road Race. Note Melanie Rowe won both Hill ClimbsWinning at Castle Combe in her come back ride. Note Arm supportCastle Combe win sporting a baseball hat from Andrew EarlyPost National Championship fun with Team mate AaronAbbey and Cycling friend Orla
Abbey and some of her Suffolk Youth Race Team mates went down to Farnham in Surrey today in one of the last big races of the season. The races had strong fields and reasonably good numbers too.
Abbey had a reasonable start, at about 10th into the first corner. This is better than her normal position into the 1st corner, which is last. As the leaders finished the first lap, Abbey had forced herself into 2nd overall. She stormed the race and finished 1st by a very long way.
On a beautiful day in Hertfordshire Abbey travelled an hour and a half to the amazing Redbourn event. In many ways a traditional village green crit but catering for everyone with riders from Ipswich and surround areas in attendance. Below are some photos of Abbey. It has to be said we have seen larger fields at Fete Du Velo, but still the racing was amazing.
Abbey had a great race with a boy. He led from the start, Abbey reeled him on, worked out his strengths and weaknesses and did her thing for the last 2 laps to win be the length of the finishing straight.
Abbey podium – 1st placeAbbey in though on the 2nd rowMy favorite photo with Abbey realising whats going to happen as the race starts. Sharp girlFist lap with Abbey and Aaron chasing the leaderAbbey making the catchPassing to take the leadEventually Abbey won with a fair distance to 2nd place
Minehead is a fare way from Suffolk, but an undefeated in 2019 Abbey went to take on the best U10s in the country. The Minehead Grand Prix saw Sophia Bednarek and Lauren Oldfield enter from the midlands and North England. The course was a triangle around the ton centre with a power sapping dead turn at the top of the town centre,.
Abbey shadowed for three laps by eventual 2nd place and top rider
Abbey had a fairly good start using a reverse splits. The significantly more powerful boys got around 15 seconds on the 1st lap. Abbey reeled them in lap after lap until she was in 2nd overall for a few seconds. Then the boys broke away again, compounded by a slow rider accidently pushing Abbey into the barriers where she bounced into the air, but held it together,
Last lap, unlucky to meet the lad on a non-race bike the field lapped three times. Unfortunatly it took Abbey out of the sprint.
The commentator added a bit of excitement and confusion by stating Abbey was 1st with 2nd place still in the main peloton with her, but the girl that had been on Abbeys wheel had been long dropped. Calls to Abbey to be aware that one of the riders in the group was a girl meant Abbey had to push to the max to neutralise the threat, and reduce the threat of being out sprinted at the end. This brought forward lap times in excess of 21.6mph and top speeds heading towards 30mph. In he end it turned out that the commentator had seen Abbey lap the 3rd place girl. Abbey was proud to represent her club and again show everyone that Suffolk youth have what it takes to win. Abbey had a bit of drama tangling with a mountain bike and getting taken out before the sprint with the boys.
This was the first time Suffolk Youth Race Team had been to the Winchester Grand Prix. The town centre had been closed off and safety barriers erected around the course. There was a carnival atmosphere in the air with a lot of eager riders checking every thing and everyone out. The course went up the high Street, and around the back of the town close to the Abbey. The commentator from the Ovo Tour was there telling the substantial crowd what was going on, which made all the difference. Those looking on actually understood what was happening around them.
In the race with Abbey was Orla Willis a great rider from the South East. Abbey took to the start-line after the boys had started. Abbey had one of her worst starts, as can be seen below with Orla having a great start on the far right and Abbey so far back shes not visible in the photo.
Orla rode a great race that made the day.
Abbey slowly passing riders as Orla gets away Pushing lap after lapUntil Orla was just in sightAbbey Just of sight with Orla riding well. – Photo by Toby Willis
Abbey on the same straight pushing hard
2 laps to go, just insight of latching on to Orlas wheel and taking a short breatherThe bell rings and both girls are together to fight it out on the tight and twisty circuitWe haven’t got a photo, but Abbey just out sprinted Orla by half a bikes lengthOrla Willis (left) a rider with a great future, Abbey (centre, very proud) and Grace Upshall (right)
