Two Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team Riders travelled to Portsmouth for the 11th round of the Omega Circuits on Wednesday.
Competing in the 3rd category race was Kev Foster. In the blistering heat, Foster started the 40 minute plus 3 lap race in a bunch with 31 other riders. After 20 minutes of racing a group of 8 slipped off the front of the bunch and started working together, they soon had a commanding lead over the peloton despite Foster putting in some long turns on the front of the bunch.
A few minutes before the finish, the breakaway lapped the field. Coming into the bunch sprint Foster stayed near to the front, using his racing experience well to take 4th on the line and 12th overall.
In the 50 minute plus 5 lap Elite race was James Ebdon. From the start the pace was relentlessly fast and the bunch of 27 riders were soon rolling around the track at over 30mph. 4 riders attacked after 15 minutes, catching Ebdon off guard. They soon had half a lap lead on the bunch, which Ebdon and 3 other riders chased hard to catch.
Realising that the escapees weren’t going to be caught, Ebdon saved himself for the sprint finish. With 5 minutes of racing left, Ebdon found himself in the ideal position and attacked off the front of the peloton with 2 other riders. They worked well together, sharing turns at the front and soon gained three quarters of a lap on the bunch. On the last lap Ebdon took the lead to keep the pace high so that the fast moving bunch didn’t catch them. With 150 metres to go he attacked and used his sprinting skills to beat the other two and take 5th position. This gives Ebdon 5 valuable points towards keeping his 2nd category license next year.
