Category: A
Result: 4th

Garry put in an appearance to give his refurbished track bike a shake-down cruise. Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to race, so departed after watching the first round of racing. Scott was also there, but PP wasn't, which left me without a partner for the final race, billed as a Madison by way of getting us in the swing of things for Friday's all-Madison evening. Pritpal, I hope you will be there!

My plan this evening, as detailed to Garry after the warm-up was to attack and use it as interval training given that there was a quality field in the slightly smaller than usual A group. Attack I did in our first race, a 10-lap scratch, spending a few laps off the front before the rest chased me down and paid me the huge compliment of slowing once they caught me which meant that they had been working to get me back. This meant I could jump back in and I finished in the field.

Next was a point-a-lap race. There were attempts to get a group off the front, but these really came to nothing. I was there or there abouts with most of the attacks. Third was a win-and-out and I tried at least one attack during this which was unsuccessful (things are a little blurry at this point), but I was able to get back in and though I was in a little difficulty at the first bell, I had recovered enough by the third that I was able to claim 5th and an omnium point.

In the break that followed, I teamed up with Dave McCook (ex-Prime Alliance) to ride the Madison. However, on the line due to time constraints, it was decided that we do a 20-lap points race instead. This was fun and I put in several attacks, one of which was good enough to claim 2nd place in the second sprint. After the third sprint, there was a group of 3 not far off the front. I decided to bridge across, but they had basically sat up, so I climbed the banking behind them for a little rest and launched myself from the back of their group with 4 laps remaining.

I was able to keep top speed going for around a lap and a half and then had to slow to cruise speed which was hard to maintain. I was surprised to see that I had a good gap and hoped that I would be able to hold on. Going into the final lap, I look back and there was only a single rider chasing and it didn't look like he was gaining. I stayed clear and claimed the double points at the end for the sprint win which were enough to give me the win for the event.

I am extremely pleased and surprised to pull off a win in the A's, but I did time my attack just right when everyone else was resting. My 8 omnium points were enough to get me 4th on the evening. The best thing? I won a cookie prime on that final sprint!

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