Because of heavy overnight rain the course was flooded in places leading to a shortened kermesse style of race – 18 laps of a 3 course.
Almost immediately three riders went off the front, but after 5 laps, were brought back. After that attack the race settled down until with 7 laps go a group of 7 attacked and got a gap of 20 secs.
I managed to bridge across with 3 other riders to form a break of 11 riders that would stay away to the finish. One rider, Ed Bishop of VC Meudon attacked the lead group and soloed to the win, leaving the rest of us to sprint it out for second on a slight uphill finish. I got pipped by a tyre width for 4th but pretty happy with 5th.
Race report by Toby Perry
Posted by Rob Milnes