The final Super6 of the year took place on a wet wet Sunday in Grangemouth.  The course, which both 'A' (elite-3rd cat riders) and 'B' (4th cat, women, vets, juniors), rode comprised a 15 mile circuit - flat in the main, but with a nasty sting in the tail, with a remarkably steep ascent about 2/3rds of the way round.

A race:

Neil Taylor was in all the moves, and indeed initiated many of them! I tried a few times in the first couple of laps to chase down some moves - but my lack of 'top end bite' was showing, and it usually took someone else to finish the job off!  In lap 3 a group of strong riders made the move, and I managed to summon all my energies to break across to them - with the thought that perhaps I could help Neil out.  Not that he needed it.  Our break formed a fast-paced chaingang for the next several miles, steadily increasing its lead from the peleton.  Neil was looking very strong.  I was on the limit, but did my turns. There was a distinct headwind in the stretch preceding the climb, and I just wasn't able to quite keep the pace on the hill. Despite creating over a minute gap on the bunch, with a strong endura chase, the bunch almost came together again in the last lap. Despite all his work in the break, Neil still managed to work with a few riders, incl a few Endura to create a last break away in the final few miles, and despite getting stuck behind a crash on the roundabout, around 50 yards from the finish, still came 10th in the sprint. Great result amongst such high competition.

Amusing - if contentious story of the day - Davie Lines finished the race after a lap out on a ladies race bike, after a v nasty meeting of wheel and rear mech (v close to me - no idea how they stayed upright!) Did lots of the work to help Endura get back into contention having missed the break.

B race:

I didn't see much of this, inevitably,  but it seemed to stay together the entire race. The nature of the course reduced the chances of breaks staying away, and as a result, no real attacks seemed to be made - but  the pace was fairly highthroughout.   Despite the best laid plans, our team got a little boxed in to the run in to the finish  -  spectators witnessed amobile barricade of riders (note to English police forces if they're looking for fast moving crowd control measures - this was certainly not something to get tangled up in).  Nonetheless, Georges finished our top-placed ERC rider - and to 2nd V50 in the series.  Jenny won the women's race and the series.  Alexa was third in the race, and Ayrton was 3rd junior. 

Nasty nasty finish - congrats to everyone for completing -  and in one piece!