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Sarah Storey blogs - Rudy Project Round 4

May 24, 2024

My last race prior to the National 10 mile TT Championships was held on May 9th just east of Doncaster. It’s a course I have done before, albeit with a different start and finish, but that was over 3 years ago and so it was good to refresh the memory with a course recap beforehand.

Sarah-StoreyThe howling wind of the recap day meant that fast times weren’t expected, especially as the previous race on that course had been one with perfect conditions.

It was a fairly interesting course as time trials go and with fast stretches, a 6% climb and some draggy parts; it was going to be more than a race which relied on pure power. Some fitnesse would be needed too!

Typically, on the morning of the race the wind had died down quite considerably, although it was still a pretty stiff north-easterly chill so not entirely different to the recap day and still meant the uphill’s would be tough and the downhill’s very fast.

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Read more from Horizon Fitness’ cycling blog – most recent post is at the top

Gabby Day blogs – A muddy weekend of racing in Bedford

Sarah Storey blogs – The Cheshire Classics

Sarah Storey blogs – Day Out in Dottignies!

Sarah Storey blogs – time trial time

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I had a plan to try and better my previous time on the course and hoped to get inside a minute quicker than the 31.52 I’d recorded in 2007.

After about 2 miles Barney was there indicating I had 20 seconds on Michelle King, who was expected to be my closest rival. Then the fun started with a tough climb up to the fabulously named, Gringley on the Hill.

It was a seated and on the tri-bars climb, in the 53” chain ring, but the extra power needed there, to keep the momentum going really did sap the strength in the legs. By the turn to the fast downhill section, I’d taken another 40 seconds out and was ready for a bit of a breather as the tail wind kept the speed just under 60kph!

Dropping through the next 6 miles was far easier than the first section, and the “rest” well needed ahead of the climb. I always opt for an “in the saddle legs pumping out a good cadence” style for TT climbs and tried to hold as close to 450watts for as long as possible.

The climb lasted for about 500m, pretty short, but not so sweet and the last push over the top was not very pleasurable. All thoughts of this course having an easy section had evaporated!!

The final 2 miles were rolling, just under 48kph in terms of speed and with the headwind very tough on the legs.

By this stage my knees were not my friend and I was just driving as hard as possible and trying not to let the cadence drop and keeping the power on full. Despite the windy conditions, I clipped almost 2 minutes off my previous time and just dipped under the magic 30 minute mark with a 29.56 time.

After a warm down and checking the results, it was time to head back across the Pennines and get to Old Trafford for the final game of the season. Sadly there was too much left to do for the boys in red and we lost the title to Chelsea, but another season will loom before too long and it will be great to sit in my seat in the north stand and watch another dramatic season unfold.

For now, I’m out in France putting the final block of hard work in and starting some specific time trial prep for the upcoming National 10 and National 25. J

Sarah Storey, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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