World Masters Track II - Points Race & Team Pursuit (Cossavella 10 Mile)
Sprinting it out with Baxter Pereyra and Faris
The next day we have the Points Race so the same thing again, heats in the morning and finals later that evening. Even with the attrition of the previous day there were still enough riders for heats, one rider with a very black eye and a fair bit of skin lost in the Siberian wars! But only twelve to go through and with only three sprints (30 laps) only twelve lots of points available (5, 3, 2 & 1) so in theory one point enough to go through, unless riders got a lap (unlikely). In reality some riders would get more than one so it was possible to go through with zero if you were well up in the final sprint, this was still beyond the current British National Champion who went out without a point but I gleaned a single in the first sprint so I could afford to take it easy while the others sprinted and sweated it out (to be fair one of the S African riders did get a lap on his own!)
Points Final - Half way
The final would be an altogether different affair and require different tactics, I like to wait until the second half but its only a twenty minute race and with only six sprints (60 laps) these days its a game of Poker how long you leave it. Two sprint places (if one of those is a win) enough to get you a medal these days and with such a good field riders unlikely to gain a lap. Those first few sprints are always ferocious but the British rider Blair Buss (Swift) getting away from the gun and takes the first sprint so that means reduced points for all that effort but its the first three from the Scratch race Faris, Baxter and Rice in the frame for the rest of the points.
Unsurprisingly its Peter Ettles the fourth placed rider from the Scratch taking the second sprint from the other Argentinian Pereyra and that man Baxter again with previous World Scratch Race Champion Peter Toth (CAN) edged out for the single. I had a go at splitting the field before the previous sprint but with a rider away its not possible so I use my timing and I manage to clip off the front and overhaul him keeping the bunch at bay (2:55:00) to take the third sprint, five points on the board and second at half distance behind Peter Ettles who has scored in the second and the third behind me (8 Pt's.) Toth is also there again picking up two points this time but two consecutive efforts like that for so little return is almost too much to recover from and he does not score for the rest of the race. Buss who took the first sprint by staying away has gone straight out the back and lost a lap (eventually DNF) its 5 points that will not count in the overall so even less points needed to get a medal. For the next sprint an Argentinian and an Italians are away with Ian Greenstreet in the middle picking up three, the other Italian Dardi picking up the one remaining.
I could afford to gain my composure in the bunch but top road-man Mike Twelves (MI Racing) riding his first Masters goes away solo to win the next sprint just from Baxter and the Faris the first two in the Scratch close on his tail. The top six all separated by three points so it would all come down to the final sprint, the other Pereyra & Ettles leading with eight Twelves, Baxter and myself on five, Faris third in the middle with six.
Breakaway with Ian Greenstreet
50-54 Points race - Result
I attack at the first opportunity (3:02:50) while the others are still blowing, slipping between two riders to shake off any company, only Greenstreet gets up to me and I have to make a big effort to get on. We have a decent lead and press our advantage with six laps to go. Unfortunately we were the victim of a bit of teamwork from the Italians who kept the pace high and although Ian and I work well together we do not get the lead we need. We were caught with a lap and a half to go, its the first time I've been the victim of this type of partisan riding and the culprits were docked their points in the result but the 'leadout' not only took us out of the sprint but helped Faris and Baxter to first and second in the final sprint and in the overall result. Peter Ettles held onto the Bronze by virtue of being well up in the final sprint and Pereyra dropped from first to fourth so the biggest looser When you analyze the points scoring its the same riders in the points as were up there in the Scratch Race, The same Gold and Silver Medalists (as last year and the year before when I was Champion in the Scratch and Silver in the Points) It leaves very little but scraps for the others in the race My five points still good enough for Fifth place to go with my Silver and two Fourth places in the last four years but I was in the mix right up to the end was so close to taking a medal
The Points Podium Baxter (AUS) Faris (ARG) and Ettles (GBR)
Team GB1
We had a days break and then the Team Pursuit on the Saturday the final day of the Championships. I'd had to purchase a GB skin-suit for the performance so we all 'matched'. It was a little on the snug side! But then I guess a 'speedsuit' does what it says "On the can" It kept everything in place and a little unforgiving but I don't think I'll be using it for a '100' TT any time soon
Not being able to come up with a suitable name, some don't want it to be humorous or a pun and others not wanting it to be to serious or Po faced like 'The Apprentice' we settled on the hopeful and catchy GB1, it made us sound like a record speed attempt but at least we got in early and did not have to be GB2. Three Kilometres that's twelve laps of the track, only three efforts each on the front and then hang on in between.
The Team - Ian, Peter, Nigel and myself (and a nice bike)
We are a team who have all won medals at the World level (Two Gold, a Silver and five Bronze between us) so plenty of fire power, what we have not done is practice enough, not short of experience and speed but what you need for the TP is technique. We had sorted our order at the practise sessions and had Ian the slower of our more experienced riders going 'Man One' as he was the steady option as managing the start and the transition to speed the crucial thing you can only do under race conditions, Peter took the second part here with me third and Nigel tucking in at the back. The ride went as well as could be expected, we had Rachael (new '30' Competition Record holder) at track-side calling our numbers. We had no problems with the changes or splitting up, I think this being the last event of the week we were all pretty tired. Nigel did two turns and swung away leaving the three of us to finish, I did the final two lap stint as its negledgible if a change on the last 3/4 lap is worth doing as the front rider has to swing out on the final banking to let the other two inside and we finished nicely
We were half a second a lap off the pace to qualify with 4:31 for the ride-off (only four) and had to settle for 6th. Not bad for a team of all 50+ riders giving away quite a few years to the other teams. Baxter (AUS) and Tim Lawson (GB) the only 50+ riders in the teams that qualify. We have to look on it as good practise for two years time when we will all be in the 55-64 group for the TP. We were a little deflated as we did think we had a chance but like many of the other events the competition gets tougher every year and this time age and practice against us but we looked good and feel that we will go faster in the future
In the finals it went to form with the Welsh squad just holding on for
the Bronze and in the final the Champions for the last two years the USA
made it a triple crown with another World Record time (to go with
breaking it in the morning) The Aussies had to be content with the
Silver but they went inside the previous WR as well.........o7ò o7ò o7ò o7ò.......
10 mile Result
For the final event of the week there is the Brian Cossavella 10 mile, (Brian to organiser of the Masters for 10 years until his untimely death at 54) a race open to all competing during the week, Its always a good race and with the full age range from 35+ always a test for us in the upper reaches and I was the only 50+ finisher last two years in 13th and 11th place albeit a lap down. This year I try and do better. Amazingly fast from the gun to the sound of Rolling Stones music in the background (Brian's choice!) riders are already getting shelled out the back. I hang in there and at half distance the race splits apart and I manage to stay in the front half. By the time I get to the end I have no effort left for a sprint which goes to Matt Glanville (AUS) from Martin Van Wyk (RSA) and John Mc Clelland (GBR) I roll over in 8th place one behind Baxter (AUS) the only two 50+ finishers o7ò
Cossavella Winner with the Director of the Masters Ian Emmerson
A nice innovation this year the organisers (BC) had most of the
racing put on the UCI You Tube channel), I have put links below and
approx. time
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