"Control or move?” Josh queried.

Good question, we’re still about ten K short of the feed, if we move its a longer effort, control it and we might miss the pre feed escape opportunity.

"Move.”

Decision made I gave the others our relevant hand signal, wish I knew what’s happened to Ron. It came down to Mand to fill her shoes so to speak, it was to de Vreen’s wheel I attached myself when Josh powered up the road. It was an all out effort, Mand did her best limpet impersonation, the Toon stayed at full gas and the gap closed quickly.

We were almost in contact when Josh suddenly sat up, what the?

Screeching brakes alerted me to get the anchors on, within seconds there were the sounds of at least one bike on the deck. Josh dived to the left, Mand on his inside road wise – I found myself left with nowhere to go. I reflexively pumped and hopped the obstruction, bumping Josh as I then struggled to complete the turn myself – not again!

"Shit!” Mand exclaimed as Josh physically pushed me around the remaining corner.
"I’m guessing that was the corner they warned us about,” the Toon calmly stated.
"What the F happened?” I managed to get out.

As you know I'm not one for expletives so you can tell how shaken I was.

"You okay, Amanda?” Josh asked.
"Just about, we racing or what?”
"You still up for it, Bond?”
"Er yeah.” I allowed still a little dazed.

The third escapee was still ahead but not racing, we quickly caught up to him, it was Innerthausen.

"You racing, man?” Josh asked.
"If you are.”
"Let’s do it,” the German agreed.
"Any of ours?” Dieter asked preparing to stop the bus.
"Can’t see any oh hang on there’s Gret.”

They pulled up and Dave jumped out armed with spare wheels.

"Back wheel, its jammed,” Gret panted out.
"What happened,” Dave enquired as he took charge of wheel removal.
"Came round the corner and there were bikes everywhere, I just jammed the brakes on and this,” she shrugged as the wheel finally dropped free.
"Others?”
"Up ahead, Josh and Gab went off the front.”
“Right, your go.”

Gret swung herself back on the bike and Dave gave her a sticky push to get going, Dieter moving the van forward so Dave could quickly re-board. They followed Gret as she returned to the remnants of the peloton where Tali and Roni were waiting.

"What's up?” I asked Mand seeing her looking at her rear wheel as we crossed, we’d started a rotation as soon as we cleared the Bad Kösen place.
"Something with my back wheel, feels lumpy.”
"Looks okay,” I opined.
"I'll keep going for now,” she decided.

We can’t really afford to lose her, I hope it’s nothing major.

Naumburg sprung up ahead of us, I recognised the church tower, but with the recent turn of events there was no need to prepare an attack on the climb. In fact as we reached the start of said climb the neutral service came up – we’ve got some road at least.

We climbed quickly but not aggressively and soon we could see the feed zone, at least we won’t be fighting for our musettes.

"Mand, go on ahead, Angela’s got a spare wheel, we’ll hang on for you.”
"Okay,” she agreed before sprinting ahead.
"What’s she up to?” Innerthausen asked.
"Wheel change,” I supplied, "Bashed it or something on that corner.”
"I'll wait for her,” Josh volunteered.
“Paul?” I queried.
"It’s still fifty K,” he allowed.

By the time we departed the town once more we were all back together and working well. I reckon we can get to the finish, all of us, I reckon I've got the legs on our German companion in a sprint but what about Mand? It’s a concern, she’s got the better of me more than once in training so I'm not being paranoid – am I?

"There’s someone coming up,” Mand advised.

I of course looked behind but my view was blocked by the service bike.

"Josh, behind.” I advised.

He nodded in understanding, no point in panicking over a single addition to our ranks, one that will be more fatigued than any of us having had to chase for maybe ten kilometres. In fact we were almost at the site of the first falling off episode before contact was made. The jersey suggested he was fairly local, well from Chemnitz at least, we exchanged nods and wordlessly he joined our rotation.

Wordlessly we turned onto the big climb, the pace barely changing but about halfway up Mand left a gap and the two of us found ourselves distanced.

"Sorry, Gab,” Mand gasped.
"We’ll get back on,” I promised as I watched the lads continue to ride away from us.

The pair of us kept going but by the top the service bike was clearly debating whether to pass us. I glanced behind, well at least there’s no one else in sight.

"Come on, Mand, let’s get ‘em!”

I dropped it into a higher gear as we started downhill, slow ‘em down Josh!

They have more gravity effect but we’re more aero which worked to our advantage rather than theirs, I'm sure Josh riding anchor was aiding our return too. By the time we reached the foot of the main descent we were almost back in contention. We made the connection on what I recognised as the approach to ‘that’ corner, I'm sure Paul at least was giving it more respect this time through.

We descended into the village and Paul was clearly preparing for the finale, our nameless companion meanwhile was playing it cool. With road running out I still didn’t have a plan, Josh is supposed to try taking their sting by an effort on the climb but will that be enough to swing it? The decision, not for the first time today, was taken from our control as ‘Chemnitz’ went for a long, long one literally as we hit the name board.

Paul had to go, our Apollinaris trio following behind. At the kilo board we were still adrift but as the gradient started to bite he lost ground and the gap closed. Josh was giving it a hundred and ten percent, Innerthausen just keeping in contact, as we came alongside Josh blew. Mand took over but she’s nowhere near as useful as the Toon so as we made the last corner I jumped wheels to the resurgent local.

Two hundred, one eighty, launch! I hugged the roadside for a bit of shelter but by now I was lengths clear of the others, I eased off a tad and allowed myself a quick glance behind. They hadn’t given up but I had time to punch the air in a two handed victory celebration before collapsing and steering breathlessly towards Sonja Luchow.

‘And in third place, riding for Apollinaris, Amanda de Vreen,’ the PA announced to the small crowd watching the presentation. that’ll teach Innerthausen to pay attention, she came past him on the line, we all cheered enthusiastically as she stepped onto the podium.

‘Second place, riding for Chemnitz Radteam ‘02, John Degenbold.’

I reckon we need to watch out for him in future.

‘And in first place, cementing her lead in the series, for Apollinaris, Gabrielle Bond!’

I took my place on the podium, shaking hands with Degenbold on the way, milking the applause of course.

The mums had located a restaurant for our post race meal a couple of streets away from race HQ so after utilising the Hymer’s shower facilities the ten of us headed for some nutrition.

"You find out what was up with Mand’s wheel Dad?”
"A big lump of tread missing off the tyre.”
"Must’ve been on that corner, I nearly lost it.”
"I can’t believe you didn’t notice your leg,” Tali mentioned.
Mand shrugged, "It didn’t hurt.”

I bet it will though, she’s got a right slice on her calf, must’ve been from the crash barrier I guess.

"Yours on the other hand, Greta, not sure what happened, the rim has split, one of the spokes has pulled out completely.”
"Don’t know your own strength eh,” Tali opined nudging G on the shoulder.

Our food arrived, to be honest I didn’t feel too hungry so I'd gone for a baked tater with cheese and salad – what turned up was two huge tubers with about a kilo of cheese and half a field of green stuff!

Everyone had a stupidly big meal in front of them, I think Josh was the only one to clear his plate in the end.

"Before we head to our homes, I've got some news,” Dad announced as we sipped at our coffee.
Once he had our attention he went on, "You’ll recall George made an agreement to work with British Cycling this season, well it’s not come to much so far apart from sponsoring Amanda’s presence here but from the end of this month we’ll be running a combined training camp from Neuwied just south of us on the Rhein. Their riders will ride pretty much the same programme as Apollinaris.”
He paused to gauge the reaction, "Now what I'd like, but it’s not compulsory, is for Gret, Tali and Josh to be based with them for at least part of the summer. We can then monitor training better and work on some of your weak areas.”
"What about Ron?” Mand asked.
"I've already spoken to Ron, she’ll be riding as a stagiere with the senior team when she finishes college in a few weeks.”
"Cool!” I allowed.
"Congrats,” Gret added.
"So we’re gonna be down to five again like?” Josh asked.
"Well the plan is to ‘recruit’ one of the GB riders whilst they’re here.”
"So we stay in this Neu wotsit place?” Tal asked.
"We’ve got a house organised, there’ll be someone cleaning but essentially it’ll be self catering – and there will be adult supervision,” he finished.
"Ah guess ah’m in like,” Josh told us.
"I don’t need to know today, I'll send the details through to you in the morning Dieter, and to your parents Tali.”
"Okay,” she allowed.

"So do you know what races you’ll be doing,” Mand quizzed.
"Not yet,” Ron told us.

We were playing pontoon, the Hymer makes activity other than sleeping much easier.

"We shall miss you in the races,” I mentioned.
"You’ll miss Mums cake,” Ron suggested.
“Possibly,” I allowed.
"I'm sure we can organise Torte supplies,” she chuckled.

We were of course making the whole return trip essentially in one go, well a toilet stop at Kassel and a longer break for coffee and some of Angela’s baking at Mettmann. The light was fading by the time we rejoined the autobahn system.

"Why didn’t you say anything about Roni?”
"It wasn’t time to,” Dad suggested.
"So how long...”
“Has it been planned? We’ve been talking about it since Christmas.”
"Christmas?” I almost shrieked.
"Would it have made any difference if you’d known?”
"I guess not,” I allowed.

It’s gonna be weird not going up to Mettmann, not having her backing me up in races and yes, not being privy to Angela’s culinary skills. The end of another era, first the Angels, school and now Apollinaris, where will it end?
 

Maddy Bell © 06.04.17