2014 has been a turbulent season to say the very least says Jake Martin who had more than his fair share of ‘get downs’
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Blog – Jake Martin Assumes the Bracing Position
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
In the event of an emergency, please assume the bracing position ..
After finishing last year on a high after maintaining my Elite license with ease, winning a fair few races, bunched with some other decent results and being ranked 1st Under 23, I was ready to take 2014 by the horns and do the business. Bring home the bacon. All of that.
Starting with four weeks in Majorca, after a short campaign of winter racing, I racked up nearly 3,000 miles, a lap record and some good cake eating. The numbers were there, the weight was good, the mind in gear.
My first main aim of the season was the Jock Wadley, a tough early season ‘classic’ road race. I somehow initiated the break and was joined by four of the strongest riders in the UK, National champions, soon to be World Tour rider etc. Good company.
After averaging 30mph for 60 miles, I was dropped. Caught by the chase. Dropped by the chase. Caught by the bunch. Dropped by the bunch. But at the finish there was a glimpse of what could be. Not so disappointed.
Then the physical set backs began. At the Lincoln GP, I was taken out by a team car, not at speed but enough for my whole right hand side to turn into a bruise. Landing on pavè is not the best. Bruised lungs. Two weeks off.
I started training again once I could breathe. The Tour Series was the next big goal for the team. I’ve never really thrived on crits and it has always taken me a few rounds to get into the swing of things. Three races done, placings getting better with each, then on an easy cafe ride between rounds, I was taken out by a wandering pedestrian.
Dislocated shoulder. Three weeks off.
I should’ve rested more and allowed myself to fix properly but I didn’t want to let the team down for the races they’d entered me for. I raced a few races including the Hillingdon GP and Jersey Tour series round, had a big mechanical and a moment. Frustrating as I think my form was at some of its best that week. The bad luck was getting to me.
Focus quickly changed to the National TT champs. I’d been training hard all season for it. New bike. Borrowed wheels. The lot. Only to crash heavily and ruin any chance of doing well two days before the event. But I rode. Through agony. Through suffering. With pride. Soft tissue damage to elbow & knee. Muscles in lower back immobilised.
Three weeks off. Back damage currently affecting me still.
With a few big races remaining, I tried to cram in some training, yeah, that thing they tell you to never do, panic training. But it seemed, well at least in training, to work. But to the disappointment of myself and the team, I just wasn’t ready to jump back into one of the hardest road races and finish let alone be competitive and if anything, more of a mental setback than physical at this stage of affairs.
I none the less gave everything I could and wasn’t greeted with much support. But I carried on trucking. Racing and training as much as possible, trying to salvage an awful year. Trying to scrape together the 300 points needed to stay ‘elite’.
I’ve often had good end of season form and I’d planned to get my remaining points in the last few months of the season. Again, not everything went to plan. After the Ottershaw races, I was left with 23 points to get. More than I had hoped I’d need. With two races left, I needed 21 points, with 20 remaining to win. Frustrating and disappointing.
Elite will elude me this year. But next year, maybe if I have a better time of it, and better luck, then I’ll have that ‘E’ back on my licence. And most importantly actually enjoy racing my bike.
Focuses move towards a more time trial based season next year. With the insane idea, the National 24 hour championships in June being up there as one…
And of course Palace. Always Palace.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Crit Result: Loughborough Cycling Festival
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: East Anglian VTTA 10m TT
- Crit Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits (May 31)
- TT Result: Blaydon CC M12S TT
- Crit Result: CCA Spring into Summer Crits 6
- Crit Races: The Cycling Academy Crits
- Crit Result: Goodwood Summer Series #5
- Crit Result: Holt Racing Crit series 5
- Crit Result: CDPP Sport Crit Series 7
- TT Result: Exeter Wheelers 10m TT
- Crit Result: King&Queen of the Bowl Series 7
- RR Result: SSSCCRRL (June 1)
- Crit Result: Santini Bovingdon Bomber Criterium Series 3
- Crit Result: Harvey Hadden Crit Series 1
- Crit Result: Rowe & King ‘Maindy Classics’ #8
- Crit Result: Crystal Palace Crits 5
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Series #5
- Startlist: 3rd Owen Blower Memorial RR
- RR Result: Northboats Road Race
- Crit Result: Litherland Circuit League 5
- Crit Result: West Thames Circuit Race League 7
- Crit Result: BMCR Hare and Hounds Race
- RR Result: BMCR 60 Plus Road Race Champs
- TT Result: East Bradford CC 15m TT
- TT Result: FTP Racing 25m TT
- Crit Result: Tameside Circuit Race Series (6 & 7)
- Crit Result: Solihull CC No Frills 4
- TT Result: Bynea CC 10m TT
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 7
- TT Result: Richmond CC 23.5m TT
- TT Result: ECCA 50m Time Trial
- TT Result: North Hampshire RC 10m TT
- TT Result: Icknield RC 10m TT
- TT Result: Southborough & District Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & Dist CC 50m TT
- TT Result: Sunderland Clarion 25m TT
- TT Result: Fife Century RC Scottish 50m Championship
- TT Result: Bynea CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Brighton Mitre CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Merlin Cycles Classic Series (rd 5)
- TT Result: Anfield Bicycle Club 100m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Startlist: 3rd Owen Blower Memorial RR
- News: Transgender and Non-Binary Participation
- Events: West Midland’s Regional RR Championships
- Startlist: GT Ellingworth & GA Bennett Road Races
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (May)
- Startlist: Blaydon CC Road Races
- National Road Series Calendar – Senior Riders
- Sunday: 2023 MAS Design Yorkshire Classic Road Races
- Startlist: Olveston GP Road Race
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- Press Release: Local team’s Robyn Clay triumphant at Lincoln Grand Prix
- Entry List: Banbury Star Road Race
- Startlist: BUCS Road Race Championships
- News: Another Circuit Series Round Added to Calendar
- Cycling Club Isle of Man announce Rás Tailteann roster
- Lizzie Deignan to race RideLondon Classique
- News: Ribble Rides with The Tour 21
- Startlist: Totnes Vire 2023
- Team News: Saint Piran Cycling Teams
- Startlist: Yorkshire Under 23 Classic
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- Startlist (Women’s): 2023 Lincoln Grand Prix
- Startlist: 2023 Lincoln Grand Prix
- Startlist: PNE Road Race (National B)
- Startlist: Proper Northern Road Race Series
- News: Tour of Britain Host Cities
- TT Startlist: Merlin Cycles Classic Series 3
- Startlist: 70th Sloan Trophy Start List (April 30)
- British Road Championships: The Race Routes!
- History: CiCLE Classic Top 10s
- Startlist/Preview 2023 CiCLE Classic
- News: Fusion Media to support West Mids road racing
- Event News: Entries Needed for West Midland’s Events
- Startlist: PB Performance Espoirs Road Race
- News: BMCR (British Masters Cycle Racing)
- News: West Midlands RR League
- Startlists: Bourne Wheelers Road Races
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- News: Saint Ives CC Development Squad
- Startlist: 2023 Danum Trophy Road Race