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Vinnie Gets A Win

The Winter Series was now over but here I was again at the ‘DON’ competing at the Magic Holmes Masters Crit. The pre-race hype was massive with riders keen to tell me I was the favourite to win. Thanks no pressure there then. There was the small matter of the promoting club Finchley RT fielding six riders in a small field of some 30 riders.

From the start it was clear that I was being marked very closely by Finchley RT, who were controlling the race. I made several attempts to breakaway but was rapidly chased down. I therefore resorted to plan B which was to get across to a break consisting of Finchley Riders.

When a break of 6 riders went away with three Finchley’s this seemed like the time to make my move. I sprinted off in pursuit with Paul Anderson, who I kept calling ‘Phil Anderson’, after Aussie Tour Legend! We caught them but brought up the rest of the bunch in tow.

There were a few solo attacks during the race, but these came to nothing. Until with 3 laps remaining an attack by Desmond looked like it might go all the way. I looked around at the Finchley guys hoping they would chase but they didn’t seem to keen. Eventually, I had to take up the chase with the race now going away from me. Luckily, I was aided by another rider and we caught him in the final lap.

There was little time to recover as the sorting out of positions for the bunch sprint started. With 300m to go I hit the front, with a tail wind I was confident in leading out the sprint. But from so far out I didn’t give it 100%, but kept pace with riders up to the chicane bends where I gave it full gas and was able to hold on to the line to take my first win of the season, and the second for the AW team in as many weeks!