3Fidi colours came close to taking out the A-grade Vets race today, only to be beaten on the line – well, perhaps a little before that – at Lookout Hill. 

The absence of 3Fidi founder, and agent provocateur, saw a most gentlemanly start to the race.  Cups of tea and scones with jam were passed between riders as they sauntered downroad to the turnaround above Tharwa.  But it couldn’t last, not with hills to be had.

At the first, 3Fidi moved to the front, picking up the tempo.  A bit of luck on the downside saw one of the faster boys taken out by a pothole-induced flat.  At the next hill, 3Fidi, this time joined by two other riders, turned the screws forcing the bunch to work harder than a gentleman should.  And so it continued out to the tracking station and back – tightening the screws at each hill.

At Birrigai, 3Fidi struck again and with support from the two others, formed a breakaway.  And away we stayed.  At the Point Hut turnaround, we had a few hundred metres.  But the bunch had been withered by the chase.  We would stay away.  As luck would have it, in the final sprint for the line, 3Fidi discovered that the legs had become noodles.  For today, third would have to suffice.

The missus thinks she managed top ten amid the chaos of her ride.  Suffice to say, she’ll try B grade next time.