//RACE REPORT: CHILLY CRITS #1
First race of 2024, and after three months of grass and mud in the fields of Kent, it was time for a different challenge… Round 1 of The Chilly Crits series, a three race event hosted by Lee Valley Youth CC which is a road race series and is hosted at Lee Valley's velopark, a road circuit in the Olympic park in East London.
A sizeable Green Machine team made the effort on a very cold Saturday morning, and thanks to the Velopark having to stay open to the public right up until race time, warm up was restricted to the small area beside the track. Rollers required if you wanted to get your heart rate up before this one!
Again due to the short time that the track could be closed to the public, the U8/U10 race was held at the same time as the U12 race, but on different parts of the circuit. This unfortunately meant Lucas didn't get the usual backing of his U12 team mates on the sidelines for his race.
UNDER 8s / UNDER 10s
U8/U10 were in together and after a rushed sight lap, they were randomly gridded and then let go for the race start. Not all competitors realising the start was official led to some sluggish starts, but the course was immediately into a hairpin turn then a large climb so not too much damage done if you weren’t quick off the mark.
In road races, size and age has a much more telling effect than in the more technical world of cross, and so the big kids were soon stringing out the group as lots of little legs struggled behind! Woody bravely hung on for a couple of laps but the bitter cold and the daunting prospect of the U10's whizzing past him was a little too much. Given he still qualifies for Under 6, just getting to the start line was an achievement, and he’ll no doubt bounce back for the next race which is amongst the other Under 6's at our own Winter Series.
Lola and Enyo were the only Under 8 girls and possibly the only others without full size wheels, but never the less they rode their own race, putting in lap after lap to make sure they took the flag and guarantee a 1-2 for LEC in their category.
U8 boys we had Kasper, one of the many kids who were christening a Santa delivery in this race. Now on the same size wheels as the hot favourite, Harrison Northover, Kasper overcame a slow start to get very quickly into his stride. He looked very comfortable on the track, and managed to bring home 2nd place to ensure another podium for LEC. All eyes on him next week at the Winter Series!
Back over in the girls category, U10 this time, and no green machine rider has been looking forward to road season more than Victoria. She loves the tarmac as much as she hates the mud! This was her first chance since upgrading her wheels to show us all just how fast she can be when the ground is smooth! Despite being a 1st year in this category she bagged a great 2nd place behind Sophia of VCL.
U10 boys was the biggest field of the Under 12 Cat, and of the 13 riders, 5 of them were green! Again the favourite was a Northover from Southborough, Oscar this time, and he didn't give the rest a chance as he flew into an unassailable lead. Behind him though there was a spirited battle. Tejus was giving it everything to try and stay on the tails of the lead group. Every time it looked like he was about to blow, he found another reserve to give. A really cracking spirited ride to take 5th spot overall.
“Every time it looked like he was about to blow, he found another reserve to give.”
Daniel and Kien both rode together from home to the race, an impressive 16km or thereabouts! They clearly bonded well as teammates during that, as they were also inseparable during this race! Coming in behind Tejus to take 6th and 7th respectively. I reckon the 16km back home might have been a little slower than race pace :-)
Elias was a couple of places behind, and showed great determination as he tried gamely to hang on behind Tejus for the first part of the race. While he faded a bit near the end, he is also a first year Under 10 so this was a great effort and will stand him in good stead as the season goes on. Vicente rounded off the U10's for LEC, bringing up the rear, but looking like he had nothing left to give, which is all you can you ask.
UNDER 12s
Over at the other end of the track, Lucas was riding in the U12 Cat C race. his race number was 11, which coincidentally was what age he was on the day. Celebrating his birthday with a race on his preferred surface. Similar to the U8/10's the race started late, and again some confusion about what was warm up and what was the actual race ensued, resulting in Lucas starting the race with his warm up jacket on (given the freezing temperature, this might have been a lucky accident!) 17 riders started, the usual faster riders went at the front, two laps on, the big group then split in three groups.
Lucas stayed at the back and worked nicely throughout most of the race with Ben from Woolwich, they both managed to catch Gabriel Allet from Dagenham with half of the race to go, so it became a pack of three working together, really good effort from the trio, Lucas finished 13th, he felt good and was very happy to be back to road racing.
To round off a good morning's racing (even if it was a bit chilly) and in the true spirit of the Green Machine, Lucas treated the team to birthday cupcakes! Round 2 is in February, but next up it's the LEC's own road race as The Winter Series round 2 comes to the Gravesend Cyclopark. Layer up, grab your Green Machine big bobble hat and we'll see you there!
Coach G