In temperatures of 0, complemented by a cool breeze which must have seen the wind-chill factor reach about -2, I rocked up to the line in my skin-suit in the hope that the racing would be furious to keep me warm. Everyone else was in tights and hard-shells. Inevitably, I could barely feel my digits by the time we were away from the line, so I attacked without much hesitation.
After about half a lap, I had 10 seconds and a single straggler on my wheel. (By now, I could move my fingers enough to shift down to get over the hill). And that was that. I increased my lead to 1min50secs and my first points of 2013 were scored. Without concerted response from the bunch, a solo-effort cutting every corner and pressing-on into the headwind will always stay away. Or put another way, a shivering bunch thinking 'what the hell has he been doing all winter' will never chase.
I don't think the shock effect will work again this season.
Now for the conversation with Andy the Team Manager about 'what the hell I'm doing racing in January..'
