TORQ Track Team’s Mel talks about recording a massive PB in the pursuit at the National Omnium Series…
The hard work is paying off for TORQ Track Team member Mel, who recorded a massive PB in the pursuit at the Newport round of the National Omnium Series…
As I had not ridden in a bunch race for about nine years, I decided it would be safer for everyone (myself included), if I only rode the 500 TT and the pursuit at the Newport Omnium (the second round of the National Omnium Series). However, my teammates and coach tried to persuade me otherwise! With the National Masters Track Championships coming up, this was the ideal chance to put my training into practise, as it was on an indoor track and under race conditions.
Being a diesel engine, the 500 TT doesn’t suit me. However, it is very useful for standing-start practise and I was pleased to record my fastest start lap ever, even if I did finish half way down the leader board.
To address the balance, I rode the pursuit to record a new PB by 2 seconds of 2.36, which left me in 3rd position and just 1.4 seconds from the winner. Pacing as ever, is an issue and something that is very hard to get right for a 2k pursuit. Looking at the split laps afterwards, it was clear that I went out far too quickly, clocking my first and second laps at least a second quicker than they should have been and as a result, I suffered in the last three laps.
Needless to say, I then sat and watched my team mates ride beautifully in the points race and keirin and regretted my decision not to ride in the bunch races. Easier said than done whilst sat watching from the stands!
Thank you so much to Kay Ball and her team for organising a great event.
Thanks also to those that support me:
