G’day,

The next race on the Jittery Joe’s race calendar was the Captech Classic, in Richmond Virginia. It didn’t take me long to get to know the Richmond roads, and I actually got to know them too well. After only arriving an hour earlier, and an hour into our two hour training ride I kissed the pavement opening up my knee and having to get stitches. So with next to no movement I was out of the Captech classic without putting a pedal stroke in anger.

The race was 100km long around a brutal hilly circuit starting at 7.30pm. So the majority of the race was under lights. It didn’t take long for the 160 riders to string out and the riders faces grimace. I sat on the sideline with our DS, Jesse. Jesse reckons I’d be a harsh director myself and reminded me how easy it is to watch from the sidelines rather than ride the race.

The bunch was trimming down and a dangerous break went up the road. We had Phil Wong in the move and he was actually one of the initiators. Phil, sporting the foo man choo moustache and side burns was on firs and deffinately heading back to his usual good form.

I thought the break had a chance but they went too hard too early. They got caught and it wasn’t long before a group of five got away, and they got a big gap straight away. That was the bike race right there, and they stayed away to battle the win out.

Our sprinter/flat lander jeff Hopkins was looking great, obviously benefiting from training with a hill climber. The big fella even gave us a smile on a few laps and a torpedo bidon at the head. Even Elkin also looked good and his form is also on the rise.

The bunch tried to chance but in vain. All the effort did was split the bunch down to 20 riders, leaving more than 120 riders to watch the race from the sidelines.

Jittery Joes riders didn’t finish in the money in this one, but not many can say they did. Next up is the CSC Classic. Pete Hatton and I are sitting this one out to save the legs for the next day, Lancaster. With the form Hoppy has had, he’ll no doubt be fighting it out for the win there. While next week at Philli, we’ll bring some fresh legs in from Phenix, Austin King, hopefully and injury free Willo and with a team full of moral and form on the rise, it should be a good week.

Cheers Willo