Dartmoor Classic Medio: Rider 4512

Two years ago, the 67 mile Dartmoor Classic was the first real sportive I had entered and I earned a Bronze medal with a finish time of 5h:09m missing silver by just 3 minutes. I gave last year's event a miss as I was in France at the time climbing Mont Ventoux but I was determined this year to return to the event with the objective of securing at least that silver medal.

While I rode under my good friend, Andy's tutorship on my first Dartmoor Classic, I was planning to go solo this year and just do my own thing. I had worked out the average pace I'd need to set to reach my goal so felt I could draft along with others as needed. Then, while driving the clear empty Devon roads that one finds at 6 am on a Sunday morning, who should I pass but Andy!

I knew I'd never keep pace with him and his 2 riding pals, he's moved to a new level since 2014 but I tucked in behind their 'Sky Train' for a very frantic 10 miles or so .. just as Froomies' amazing domestiques although here any association I may have with Froome ends. This gave me a terrific lead out towards my goal for that silver medal that was until a late pre ride addition of a pump bracket to my bottle cage led to a disappointing mechanical when the whole fitting came adrift and I had to pull over else lose the lot in the gutter. Here I left the 'Sky Train' to fade away into the distance. A fellow AVP rider checked on me as I fought against time to get back on the road but there was little he could do to help. I never saw another pedaller after that, well not until the finish at least. The moral to this tale, is never make last minute pre event changes!

Despite now being a sole rider, there are so many entrants on this event that you are never really alone and I was able to jump between groups of riders; sheltering for a few miles behind one until another train passed and I could draft in behind. Towards the end I did team up with another rider who was travelling at my speed and we took turns up front in true pro cycling style.

I made sure my feed station stop was kept as short as possible and bar a bit of cramp towards the end which slowed me a little I made good progress, clawing back some of the valuable time lost on the drinks bottle cage. I finally crossed the line in a time of 4h:42m, half an hour quicker than my first attempt to secure my silver medal. Frustratingly, I was just 5 minutes off the gold medal time of 4h:37m .. if only I'd not had that mechanical .. some people are never satisfied!  Bring on 2018!