Icknield Compomotive Road Race

Three from Team MK turned out at the Icknield Compomotive Road Race on Sunday, held on the Old Warden circuit near Bedford. Early dark clouds cleared up to leave a bright sunny, but very windy day.

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Mike Wragg went with the first attack of the day, made inside the first 5km. After a lap (18km) alone, the three riders were caught by a group including Paul Londors and Niall Frost, to make 14 at the head of the race. The group worked together well to make the most of the head- and cross-winds, to put the rest of the race out of contention. Drama unfolded on one exposed corner, where a rider towards the back of the string was blown into the gutter and went down into a patch of nettles, nearly taking Niall with him. The pace was hot at that point, and once he had collected himself Niall was unable to re-join the group. Unfortunately, Paul and Mike were unaware of what had happened behind them.

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With two laps to go, Mike Jackson from CC Luton attacked over the finish hill, taking a rider from Oxford University with him. This leading pair stayed visible in the distance, with around a minute's lead. Half a lap later more attacks started coming, first from James Flanagan and then from Mike, neither of which worked. Coming through the finish with one lap to go James Flanagan attacked again and this time no-one had any response. The group regrouped and chased for a few kilometres before it became a game of cat and mouse, and Mike attacked with 10km to go. Paul sat on the wheels of the chase group as Mike gave it death, hanging in front with no more than 30 seconds. First Mike, then the group caught and passed Flanagan, who had blown spectacularly. Into the final kilometre Mike's lead was 20 seconds and he dug in to finish 3rd, with Paul charging across the line shortly afterwards in 5th, having been worked over by two riders from Loughborough University towards the line. Niall rounded out the successful day for the team by finishing strongly from the bunch, taking 16th.