Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team rider Pete Moore travelled over to Portsmouth for a closed circuit race last Wednesday.
Moore sat in the bunch, and despite this being only his second race in three years, his experience showed through when yet another crash on this usually safe and predictable circuit caused the loss of position, but not a loss of balance and he rolled safely to the finish.
Later that week, on Saturday 24th August, three Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team riders travelled to Storrington in West Sussex to race in their final Surrey League race of the season.
Sam Baker, James Ebdon and Tim Wiggins lined up with 45 other riders to race on the Perham Park circuit; a 50 mile course well known for its rough road surfaces and tight corners.
The field was plagued by punctures, and unfortunately Baker was one of the first to fall victim to the flints that covered the course.
Ebdon and Wiggins fought on with the attrition rate remaining high. In a superbly timed move, with Ebdon tactically slowing the pace on the front, Wiggins launched an attack on the most technical part of the circuit. The move worked, and with two riders who bridged across to him, Wiggins held off the main field for three and a half of the twelve laps.
However, with some of the big mainland teams suddenly working together on the front of the main field when they realised the danger, the breakaway was painfully reeled back in. The field was back together for the final four laps.
Struck with more poor fortune, Wiggins suffered a puncture on his front wheel soon after being caught by the main field. In a split second Ebdon took a captain’s decision and selflessly sacrificed his race and gave Wiggins his front wheel. Wiggins now thirty seconds behind the main field chased relentlessly, pushing right to his limit. However, with his earlier efforts still apparent in his legs he was unable to get back across to the greatly depleted main field in the remaining three laps.
Wiggins ended up crossing the line 16th, just behind the small main field. The race was an exciting, furious finale to the series.
