Last few laps of the heat.

From the event website

Nella importante prova dietro Derny (alla prima edizione in un Campionato Europeo Masters) in finale erano presenti ben 4 rappresentanti della Nazionale Italiana e gli atleti azzurri si sono piazzati al primo e al terzo posto grazie a Luca Salvadeo (guidato da Fabio Perego) e Giuseppe Ravasio (guidato da Andrea Costa).

Which, according to Google, means:

In the major test behind derny (the first edition in a European Championship Masters) in the final 4 were well representatives of the Italian national athletes and they are placed on the first and third place thanks to Luca Salvadeo (led by Fabio Perego) and Joseph Ravasio (led by Andrea Costa).

Yess!!

I had pretty hard time in the Derny heat. I got stuck behind a Russian who had asked to be in the second heat so he can see how it is done... I think he was on about a 90" gear. (I was on 103") When he blew after 10 laps he swung up just as we were trying to come past. By the time that got sorted out the field was almost half a lap away. My Derny driver did a great job getting me back very steadily - it took about 10 laps. I got third (and a place in the finals) going past the rider in front of me in the back straight. A bit close, but third is good enough to get to the final.

The final was a lot steadier. Fast, but fewer surges. And 100 laps after the 60 lap heat. I was second wheel for almost all of the race. All the time just counting down the laps and concentrating on saving as much energy as possible, sitting right on the motorbike's wheel. Right in the end I tried to get past to take first, but just did not have the legs. Got the second though.

This easily the hardest thing you can do on a bike.

I had some great support from the GB contingent. I have a video on which you can hear them shouting - not that I heard much with 6 twostrokes buzzing away. I'll try and upload the video.

Day 2

Chris did a great ride in the 55-64 2k pursuit to win gold. 2:25 in the heats and 2:26 in the gold medal ride. I rode the points. Very hard race. I got a third in the first sprint and then got away with another rider, through the second sprint where I got second. We got caught. I managed to hang on after that but did not have enough in me to get away again. At one point I was dangling and David Jack gave me a tow back up to the bunch. I owe him for that. Ended up 7th with 5 points. Need to work on the speed endurance a bit more....

Tomorrow is the Derny race. Heats are only at 5 pm, so a fairly leisurely morning. No races for Chris. Derny will be interesting. We are not allowed to provide our own drivers, so it is pot luck with an Italian driver .... Looking forward to that though. Should be fast.

Day 1: Monday

It is very hot and humid here. 10 minutes on the rollers is enough to raise a big sweat. The pursuit did not go as planned. From the power I was able to manage for 3min30 in training I was expecting to take 2 or 3 seconds of my time from 6 weeks ago. Instead I took a second longer. Nor sure why. I could not have pushed any harder. It might have been the humidity, or maybe I was just not on a good day. Stephen McNally from Ireland took a very impressive win with 3:33.8 in the qualification, beating Trevor Burke in the medal ride.

Tomorrow evening is my points race. Chance to make amends. Chris is up for his pursuit at 10, so we need to get going earlier than today.

Courtney got a bronze in the combined 50-59 points race. It looked very hard. The winner got away to take a lap and two sprints along the way. There was an Italian with a very fast sprint who took all the sprints when the bunch was together to take the silver.