Another day another race.

Grand Prix de Millac




(Click on pics for larger image)

Seemingly lost in the middle of nowhere, the Grand Prix de Millac seemed like a small town race. But with riders from all over the region and the presence of the Estonian National team it wasn't just a village jaunt.

100km were on the menu in the form of 13 8km loops (or thereabouts). A few meters after the start finish line was a narrow and slightly sketchy descent, followed by 3 short but very steep climbs, before some flattish/gentle uphill all the way to the finish.

The Down Hill after the start in the trees was fast, furious and narrow

The pace from the gun was fast and furious, and on such a course staying near the front was very important. After being fairly active in the first 3 or 4 laps and none of the moves really sticking, a group went off the front without me in it. Most of the race was spent attacking and going off in small groups in pursuit of the front group.

In a 4 man group trying to get off the front.

The race was action packed with intermediate sprints and constant attacks. At one of the intermediate sprints I decided to partake in the sprint and go for a little money, as I was coming up on the outside left of the field, one of the Estonian riders somehow went over the bars and was projected a couple meters in the air. We were at full sprint pace and the road was rough. It was also in town and therefore was fairly narrow. As he landed he took another rider with him and they slid towards me. A second of hesitation went through my mind, do I brake hard and risk taking everyone down behind me, or do I try and go even faster and hope to get through the minute gap before they slide fully into my sprinting line. I accelerated and just made it through, still making second in the sprint and pocketing a little bit of cash on the way.

In the closing laps, sitting in and waiting for the finish

Come the end the race was split all over the course. Myself and one other guy leapt out of our group and joined the 1st chase group within 1 lap. Later I heard someone on the side of the road say how many rider were ahead of us, and I realized there were only 1 or maybe 2 spot available for points. I am in much need of ranking points at the moment and so I absolutely had to finish 1st of our group to take any points. As we came into the final few kms I expected someone to attack on the last little rise about 2k from the line. They did, another guy followed and I reacted as fast as I could (along with the rest of the group). As I got on their wheel I quickly countered and got off alone with 1k to go. at 58-60kph I was fairly confident they wouldn't catch me. I rounded the last corner and was about to pretty much drift the last few hundred meters to the line to take my few National Ranking points.

Not a great pic of me crossing the line ahead of the group for the last few National Ranking points available on the day

The race could have gone a lot better, but it was fun (sort of) and that's what matters.

The high point of the day however was on the drive home, where I drove past a sign to a town called "Arnac la Poste" which translates to "Con the Post office"... what a great name for a town. I wonder how that town got it's name? Maybe it was a town of mail frauders...

I'll be without internet from now on until about the end of the week, so... how I will cope I really don't know.:-)