Last month saw the return of the BMCC Team Time Trial at the legendary Silverstone race track and Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club were invited to enter this prestigious event.
The fledgling team has had a series of good results in both time trialling and road racing this season but this was an event like no other.
The race would cover three laps of the world famous Grand Prix circuit.
The most effective way of riding team time trials is to have the team of nine riders sticking together, as the first five riders across the line counting towards the winning time.
This was the first time for some of the riders from Leighton Buzzard on the Grand Prix circuit and the opportunity to ride on the glass-like surface was not one to be missed.
Prior to the race though, the team was given a pit garage for its preparation and use of a smaller circuit to practice and warm up.
At the appointed time, the team was held on the start line and rode up the pit lane onto the world famous circuit.
The track was busy, with other teams both faster and slower.
Given the relative inexperience of the LBRCC team, racing against teams such as Phil Corley cycles, Spirit racing and Twenty3C, it was an opportunity to work as a team and be proud of wearing the jersey for Leighton Buzzard.
As the team started its second lap of the circuit, it had settled and at times was averaging over 30 miles per hour.
Each member of the team did their bit by taking their turn on the front and pulling the others through.
The final time for the 10 miles was 25 minutes exactly.
While not as fast as some individual members could achieve, it was a time for all the team to be proud of and a moment to remember set in a very exciting backdrop.
Elsewhere, new team member Toby Maloy admitted he was feeling the effects of riding four tough races in quick succession.
His fourth race, the BMCC event at Weston on the Green, came just two days after he competed in the popular Ride London 100.
“Deciding to do my fourth race of the season two days after the Ride London 100 didn’t feel like a great idea as I rolled around my warm up laps of the BMCC 4th CAT road race at Weston on the Green airfield.
“As we lined up, a big field of 50 riders with good showings from Zappi’s and HWCC, made me wonder if my lone LBRCC showing was going to be fruitless.”
And as the lone LBRCC rider taking part, so had to do much of the battling and positioning work for himself.
“A relatively uneventful race started with no breakaways forming, it became obvious pretty quick that the narrow track and high proportion of new riders meant keeping your nose clean was going to be very important.
“The race wore on and using my experience from other races tried to stay in the top 10.
But heading into the final lap, he found himself at the front as huge chaos began to unfold behind him.
He said: “Things were looking good as we hit the final lap bell and I shared the lead, but the sound of a crash behind made me realise I was right to sit at the front.
“The next two miles were frantic, my pace was perhaps too high and I could feel a lack of power going into the sprint.
“BMCC red flagged the race with a few hundred meters to go.
“The crash I heard at the bell was a poor cyclist from the Zappi’s team who didn’t look good.
“The race was neutralised for half a lap before we went again.
“This time my positioning was better, sitting in behind a good lead out.
“With 300m to go my lead outs were finished, it was up to me.
“Unfortunately the tank was pretty empty and it was apparent very quickly that any lead would be short lived and damage limitation began.
“I managed to hold on for a photo finish between fifth and seventh, so a few more points in the bag for LBRCC.”
>> Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club are always keen to give new riders the opportunity to try out for the team.
If you’re interested in giving it a try, the club meet on Sunday mornings at Leighton Town’s Bell Close home.
The group begin at 8.30am, with paces set for riders of varying abilities. For more information, visit www.lbrcc.co.uk