47km and 700m scratch race today, twice up a CAT3 finishing at the top second time.
Attacked after 2km and got a gap, nobody came with me unfortunately, I kept going but got caught after 11km. One guy flatted so we lost him.
Had a counter straight away and two guys went, had a couple of hundred then someone else jumped and got across. He must have been sat 5-10m off the back of the group as I was on the back having a break and he came past me doing 5-10kmh more than us so nobody had a chance to counter.
Came to the climb and one of the three leaders popped with the pace and we picked him up with a hard pace being set. Came over the climb second or third wheel having not gone full gas knowing it would be likely we would stay in the group. Took a gel after the steep descent and rolled some turns trying to bring the front two back. By the time we got to the climb second time it was maybe 20 seconds, I didn't think we would catch so missed a couple of turns before the climb.
Second time up the guy who was pace making the first time up the climb was on the front and I stuck with him, had a third guy who seemed to be just hanging on and we lost the rest of our group. There is a small descent, pinch and a false flat halfway up, I got a good slipstream and shot past the two others getting a small gap on the false flat, got into a hard pace and started to catch second place. I was keeping tabs on the guys behind and the one who I thought was going to blow had dropped the other guy and was trying to bridge to me. Just kept riding my pace, 500m from the top it kicks up to 12% and I got caught by the chaser. 3rd slipped from my grasp and I finished +5 seconds to 3rd place
Comparing my two times up the climb only 6 seconds between them over 16 minutes which I'm happy with.
Seem to be getting my nutrition right which I am pleased with too, small meal 3 hrs before, then a banana and bar 90 mins before. SIS GO carb drink and one gel every 40 mins.