Race Day !

The 2004 season opened on Sunday 29 February with a circuit race on a 1.5km course around the parkland of Marina South. The circuit was completely flat and well sheltered, apart from a gentle head wind down the back section of the square shaped course.

The day kicked off with the Men's Open Cat , 50 mins plus 3 laps was the task ahead. Riding for Team Absolut/Treknology were Alex,Sam and Lippy. From the very start the pace the pace was brisk and the bunch full of attacks. It wasn't long before the bunch was split and a breakaway group was formed by 4 riders including Team Absolut's own Lippy. The breakaway group quickly settled down to business, with Lippy often dangling off the front,  and stretched their lead to a complete length of the start/finish straight. Unfortunately this saw them eventually lap some drop off riders resulting with the back markers retirements. During the closing laps the gap became unrecoverable by the main bunch, which Sam mostly lead , and resulted with Lippy placing a well respected 4th, Sam 5th and Alex retiring.

Men's Sport Cat was next to line up on the starting grid. Unfortunately we had no Sluts competing in this Cat ,but it still made for excellent entertainment with the normal shouting and abuse when cornering coming from the 50 plus strong bunch.

With the temperature rising by the minute ( or so I imagined ) the Masters Cat finally took to the course. As the racing had fallen behind schedule this race was reduced to 20 minutes plus 3 laps. Team Absolute were back in force sporting 3 riders OM, Beef and myself in this a 20 plus rider field. The pace quickly accelerated to a comfortable 38km per hour average and the bunch mostly stayed intact for the entire race. The last lap determined the result of the precession with the experienced riders positioning themselves for the finish on the second to last corner. At this stage  OM had just suffered mechanical fault and quickly drifted down the field, from where he was well positioned for a possible podium finish. ( the day that never was ) Beef had retired and myself, despite all the encouragement and shouting from Sluts on the course sidelines, showed my inexperience and only managed a , at best , a mid field placing. I found the experience , of this my first race, invaluable and am encouraged that with better planning and tactics I could add to Team Absolut becoming stronger  in the Masters Cat. Maybe we could match the results of the Open ! As OM says we still have a few secret weapons to unveil. ( no names just yet )

"Start your engines " the Super Masters Cat  was next and none other than our own Diesel lined up flying our Team colors. Diesel gave us a demonstration, from A to Z , how with a game plan, good tactics and positioning you can be a force to be reckoned with. Placing a credible 6th was a well deserved result. Well done Diesel !

And finally the MTB Cat. After what must have been an exhausting Open Race Sam took control of this large field setting the pace for most of race to finish 3rd and secure Team Absolutes fourth medal for the day. A first class result.

All in all it was a great day enjoyed by all and a well run event. Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers.. Also many thanks to all those who participated and a big encouragement to all Sluts that are considering the next event in April. ( rumored to be Choa Chu Kang ) It would be great to see the Team in full colors and force !