Race at Rockingham Forest ends in a pile-up - Simon Rinaldo

We were to be blessed with some very pleasant weather for round 2 of the NCRA Handicap Road Race.  The race would be 30 miles, three laps around the Middleton circuit and was split into four handicap groups.  This is a circuit that I remember from my earlier racing exploits.  It is an excellent course with a few lumps and some long exhilarating fast sections.  The finish line is metres from the Rockingham Forest Wheelers club house.  I remembered the finish straight to be particularly difficult for bunch sprints as it is slightly downhill and generally fast.   Only ever won by excellent form or a great deal of luck. 

Group 2 set off what seemed to be an age after group 1.  The second group contained Team SNCC riders Adrian ‘Bomber’ Lancaster, Tim Pennell, new rider to our club Mat Van Den Bos and Simon Murphy riding his first road race.

A few minutes later group 3 was to leave.  Somehow I had been granted a place in this group (apparently thanks to Gareth Smith – ‘riding for Peterborough CC & 2nd Claim member of SNCC’ who must have told the organisers that I am a bit old and not very fast anymore); with it being my first race of the season I wasn’t going to complain about it. The scratch group contained SNCC strong men Joe Finucane and Dave Palmer.

It took group 3 a few miles to get going but soon enough we had two lines going through and off consistently.  It wasn’t until the last lap that we caught group 2 which I believe had already caught most of group 1 with the scratch group not quite managing the catch…. But a lone rider R Simpson had managed to break free of group 1 and was clearly riding strong enough to take it to the finish line for the eventual win.  The Peloton was flying down the finishing straight at a pace over 30MPH and I must admit it felt a little uneasy, so I took to the right gutter for safety…. just in time….. a switch of wheels from a rider brings down a large portion of the bunch.  It’s never nice to hear the sound of screeching brakes and cracking carbon, especially if you know some of your mates and fellow riders are involved.
Because of the crash I found myself sprinting for a minor placing, which ended up being 12th.  Impressively, Mat Van Den Bos was just behind in 14th  on what I believe to be his second road race.

Casualties of the crash were strewn across the road about 150 metres from the line, sadly some lads were still laying in the road awaiting medical attention.   Simon Murphy unfortunately got caught up in it all but only suffered bruises and a little superficial bike damage.  Bomber managed to stay upright but was hindered and Tim was lucky enough to be close behind the bunch when it happened.  Walking down the road clutching a bandaged arm comes Gareth Smith with what has been found to be a broken collarbone.  

Well done to all SNCC riders & thanks to Wayne Tunnah (lead car), Rockingham Forest Wheelers and all the organisers, marshals and medics.  Another excellent event, tarnished only by an unfortunate pile-up.  Let’s hope for a safer and more fruitful race next week.