English
Location: Aberystwyth
19th June 2010
The Aberystwyth Seafront Criterium is a new addition to the 2010 calendar but this race goes way back before I was born. I love racing town centre and seafront crits as it attracts great crowds and usually means the circuit is going to have a good few corners in it. Thankfully the weather was fantastic as it was a tight course and wouldn’t of fancied racing round the circuit in the wet. The circuit contained a short sharp climb which suited me along with the twisty corners and long drag to the finish line.
From previous experience I knew that if I started at the front I word stay at the front and true to form this was the case as I hugged the motorbike for the first neutralised lap. Then a rider rolled his tub on one of the hairpin corners which left a gap between the bunch and four riders which included myself.
I started pushing the pace and increasing the gap, I then won the first 3 primes. The other three riders were moaning and wanted to share the primes so I let one of the riders take the 4th prime and the following lap attacked the three riders to ride the rest of the race solo. This was at the half way point and I managed to increase the gap to them every lap whilst winning the remaining primes and lapping most of the field.
I crossed the line to a well deserved win with a great crowd watching and shouting throughout the whole race. So taking the win and winning 8 out of 9 primes left with a good wad of prize money and a place on the top step of the podium! It was then a long journey home to get ready for the Original Source Mountain Mayhem 100km Sportive which I rode with Wiggle Team Mates Richard Pearman and Carolyn Hewett. Caroline Managed to get the fastest women’s time of the day which is fantastic and it was also great to see the Wiggle Team doing so well in the 24hour mountain bike race! Top weekend of riding for me!
Follow me on www.twitter.com/BenSimmons
Ben
good work benny boy