Thanks everyone!
Must say I was thrilled. Still walking on air today.
Almost didn't ride yesterday but thought it was the last NYERRL and it would be good to have done the whole series. I think my comment to Andy earlier in the week was "we'll ride round together for 3 laps and have a sprint at the end!". Didn't quite turn out like that.
Seemed reasonably spirited from the off. I had a go early on after a 2 or 3 went up the road. Attacked and worked to get across to the 3rd man up the road but the bunch came back to us pretty quickly. Absolutely buried myself to get across to a group that had formed on lap 2 and looked dangerous. Just after I got on everyone sat up and the bunch came back to us.
Into the last lap I attacked into Wheldrake just at the top of the little rise into the village. Initially I just wanted to get to the front through the village but no one reacted! Saw I had a gap and thought "well lets see what happens" and put my head down and went into TT mode. There was a guy from Malton just up the road who had gone ealier and I worked to get up to him. At this point I couldn't see the bunch so I just put a couple of massive turns in. After being caught by the bunch in the last km a few weeks back I just wanted to stay away. Must say I felt strong and just concentrated on keeping the speed up.
Once we got to the village I started to think we could do it. At 400 yards I just hammered it and sprinted at 200 keeping an eye on the Malton lad to see if he tried to come round. He couldn't and I I took the win.
My first road race win!
Great to win and from a break as well. Felt even better to hold off the bunch on a course that usually sees a bunch sprint!
Great to see Phil mixing it with the youngsters again
and another good classy ride from Andy.
Thanks again all
See some of you tomorrow when you can put me back in my place!
John