fotografic: Boane Goba Road Race

Copa Cilclismo's latest event was the Boane Goba race, held on the 19th of September 2010. We had a large and varied field for this race and it was a fast pace throughout, with wind playing a role in the second half. The race started from the Boane petrol station at 7:25, onto the Barragem road to Goba town, then back on the EN3 towards Boane. The course was flat to hilly, with only one longish climb late in the race. Simon Wright started setting the pace for the first 10kms and after that a succession of attacks were made by the likes of Kinha, Gustavo, Imran, Betinho and Dave (on his MTB!). The Peloton though stayed fairly compact till Goba town, where the change in direction meant a strong headwind. Carlos in anticipation of this forged ahead and split the field with 5 riders in the front group and the remaining 9 riders in behind. By this stage we'd already had 2 DNF's, but all the remaining riders were to finish the race.

Matt Singleton singlehandedly set the pace on the return leg keeping a high average speed and powering up the climbs. With him were Patrick Ventoux, Kinha, Mario and Carlos. This front group kept compact till just before pedreira hill where Mario attacked, but was quickly reeled back in, just before the climb. However the climb itself started taking prisoners with Patrick succombing first, then Kinha and finally Carlos, with Mario and Matt pushing till the top. On the final turn towards Boane Matt kept up a high pace on the climb with Mario shadowing him till the end, where both attacked with a few hundred metres to go. It was not to be Matt's day as his legs finally failed him and Mario was able to claw himself to victory. Meanwhile Carlos came in third and Kinha a respectable 4th, notwithstanding a flat tire a few kms before the finish. Patrick was in 5th, coming in at a leisurely pace. Old man Chico came in 6th in front of Fat and Furious Simon. Abilio unfortunately had a close encounter of the motorised kind and was knocked off his bike with a few kms to go in a hit and run. Fortunately he and his bike sustained minor injuries and will be back at the next race.

Cyclists assembing for the start