National Denry Championships Report - Luke Rowe 

Luke looking comfortable during the event.

 

I finished in 3rd place in the 2007 National Derny Championships. That year I had made a few mistakes. Principally I had not practiced behind the Derny out doors - my gear was a bit too small (96”) and I spent all race chasing the eventual winner Tony Gibb (Gibby – Plowman Cravens) but never got on terms.

 

This year, I have not ridden behind a Derny out doors since last years championships - therefore I am not sure what gear to use and how to predict the race. Also, Saturday night my neighbours are having an all night party....

 

Simple answer, sleep down my Grandmothers Saturday night and put my gear up to 98” and see what happens.

 

Sunday morning - breakfast, shower and drive to Maindy to sign on by 10.15. Back home for another breakfast and a bit of time on the x-box and its time to put my kit on and ride back to Maindy for 12.00. It’s 4 miles and mainly downhill.

 

A gentle warm up while I watch the first heat. It’s 4 riders through to the final from 7 starters. Just after 1 o’clock and it’s my turn in the second heat. There are eight riders and I draw number eight so I start dead last. The race is 44 laps (20k). My game plan is to sit in and just cruise around on the back. I plan one 5 lap effort just to see how fast I can go and how the gear feels. Anyway, I qualify second and have learned two things; firstly I can hold 67kph for a good few laps and 98” gear is to small.

 

For the final (30k - 66 laps) I put my gear up to 102” (53x14) and draw my lot. Number 8 again, so I’m dead last on the start line. The luck is not going my way today! The only saving grace is Gibby drew 7. I had told my pacer what I wanted so all that was left was to get pedaling and see what happens...

 

Bang, we are off just like 8 tandems going around the track. Two laps in and Andrew Magnier (Brooks Cycles) is on the front and I’m still in last place. Gibby moves out to overtake and moves up to 5th place. We don’t let an inch go, so we fall in at 6th. A few laps later and its still Magnier draging us around. Then with 58 on the board Graham opens up the throttle on his Derny and takes Gibby over the top and into the lead. We do like wise and fall into 2nd place. Magnier copies the move as does Robert Peart (Bristol Cycling Development).

Tony Gibb followed closely by Luke Rowe

 

Its fast - 34mph into the wind down the back straight and 36mph on the home straight. So far so good. This is exactly how we thought the race would go. 4 laps in and Peart looses contact with the front group.

 

There is nothing for me to do. My plan is to just follow Gibby through to half way. Not sure when but somewhere before half way Magnier drops back. Andrew is a good rider and a mate - he has a lap lead on the rest so baring an accident he is on the podium.

 

With about 30 laps to go, my pacer pulls his Derny next to Gibbys. There is no intention of over taking. Its just to remind them we are here and hopefully they will ‘take the bate’ and push the pace up even more.

 

The ‘bate’ is taken and I can feel the pressure mounting on my legs. 24 laps to go and Gibby puts a big effort in. I still feel good. 2 laps later and the speed has dropped.  I shout “Allez Allez” - this is it, for the 1st time I am now taking the race to Gibby. As practiced in the heats its back to 67kph for 5 laps. I think this about 42mph. Our pre-race plan was to throttle off at this point unless we had cracked the rest. I had a 30m gap, not enough, so we stick to the game plan and drop the spead. The lap board was now showing 14 laps to go. I had nearly 2 laps on Magnier and over 2 on the rest except for Gibby who was stuck to my back wheel. We spent the next few laps varying the speed between 35 and 55 kph -just quick bursts. Gibby never knew if I was going for it or not. Every time we moved he had to follow suit. His monster big gear was always going to be harder to get going, so this would have been taking more out of him than me.

 

Then with 5 laps on the board we did another one of our accelorations,  this time I shouted “Allez Allez” and this took us back to 67kph. This time I knew I could take this to the finish and a bit more on the last lap if I had to. My driver spent more time looking back than forward. I just focused on the red bumper only ocassionaly having a peep over my shoulder.

 

I was told afterwards that we never really caught him cold and he reacted quickly and was at 3 bike lengths with 4 to go. The thing is, he was still at 3 lengths with 2 to go. Oh dear, this is it. I was expecting him to come around me. “Allez” down the back straight for the last but one time. This must have been our max speed. We ended up with 68.43kph max. ‘Ding ding’ - last lap. 27 seconds away from gold or silver. Down the back straight and into the final bend, I allow my self a good look back. No one is coming around the out side at this speed. Its a glorious sight. Gibby swinging up as he looses his bike!

All over. 20m was my advantage in the end.  Not a lot but enough.

Luke crossing the line with Tony Gibb finishing second in the back ground

Luke with his pacer and father Cortney Rowe

 

Well done to Alex Wharton and his crew for putting on the days racing. The podium was a bit empty with me and my dad (pacer) on the top and Andrew Magnier and Chris Pyatt on 3rd. Graham Bristow stood alone in 2nd place. Gibby had to dash. Not sure he would have left if he had beaten me ;-)

 

Ciao, Luke.