Lucy Gadd journal #02: triumphs, turbulence and team transitions

Our 2024 journal contributor Lucy Gadd began 2024 as an independent rider with Le Col Race Team after a rollercoaster 2023, but has recently joined Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting. In her second journal entry, recounts her eventful start to the 2024 season, including a challenging race at ANEXO CAMS CiCLE Classic and her success at Peaks 2 Day. She also shares her decision to join a new team mid-season.

We’ve got a lot to catch up on.

Since my last journal, there has been bad luck (negative emotion), success (positive emotion), and a change of team (a mixture of emotions). Without boring you, I’m going to attempt to condense the past two months into the main highlights, and a couple of the lowlights!

ANEXO CAMS CiCLE Classic

I went through a right rollercoaster during this race. Though relatively short at 105km, there was plenty of action packed in. I felt prepared and excited to get stuck in. I’ve only finished this race once before but have good memories of the off-road sectors. My first attempt involved flying over the handlebars into a stinging nettle field during the neutral section. My race was over before it began! Thankfully the route has changed since then. 

The obnoxious ticking of freehubs, squeal of damp disc brakes, and shrieks coming from other riders were soon getting to me. Truthfully, I was terrified

I was parked second row on the start line, but quickly found myself sliding backwards. I was not prepared for the fight I had to put in to stay at the front – usually something I am very good at. The car sped away and we picked up pace, tightly packed together. Being my first time back in a bunch since the events of last year, I swiftly became very overwhelmed. The obnoxious ticking of freehubs, squeal of damp disc brakes, and shrieks coming from other riders were soon getting to me. Truthfully, I was terrified. 

At the start of the race, I really struggled with positioning. The lanes are narrow, and moving about the peloton is tricky. Fast forward to the first QOM point and the race splintered. I was quite surprised, but I felt strong and raced past everyone to finally reach the front of the race. Once I was there, I never looked back: sector after sector, climb after climb. We exited the final passage of the Somerberg and there were 12 of us left. No one had attacked as such; it was a race out the back.

All I had to do at this point was conserve energy and prepare for either a late attack or get my sprint legs on. But disaster struck. I hit a rock and bam, immediate flat tyre. I was a solo rider with no team support, and I’ve heard stories of neutral service getting lost on this course.

One after another, team cars went by, groups of riders went by, and I was angry

My immediate thoughts were ‘Damn, that’s not supposed to happen. Deep breath, put my hand up and hope someone nice will help me’, One after another, team cars went by, groups of riders went by, and I was angry. I had prepared so hard for this, got myself mentally in a fit state to race, and put myself in a race-winning position. My partner and parents had been at every sector with spare wheels for me, but I go and puncture on the lovely, smooth tarmac.

Eventually, after 10km of riding on the rim and a few sketchy moments, a lovely team car helped me and provided a wheel. I rolled round in a small group and finished 6 minutes down in 22^nd position. Gutted. Yet the confidence I took from this race was immense.

Peaks 2 Day

A stage race struck by the weather. The stage 1 time trial was cancelled, the stage 2 road race shortened. I was disappointed to find out the TT was cancelled because this was the main reason I’d travelled up to the Peak District for this race. I love a TT, and they’re hard to come by in stage racing at this level. 

The first road stage was shortened, despite the men completing a three-hour race in worse conditions. That resulted in a flat out kermesse-style race with crazy crosswinds and a steep climb. Somehow, I found some climbing legs and managed to get myself in a break of four. We worked hard to grow the gap, and I got bullied on the climb each lap. My only chance of winning the stage, and therefore taking the lead of the race, was to have an advantage into the bottom of the final ascent to the line. I nailed that – I had at least a 100-metre head-start on the two riders chasing… but I had 24 seconds put into me by the time I crossed the line. Third on the stage with it all to play for on stage 3.

I was keen to make it a hard race and picked my moment a quarter of the way through

The sun was shining, though a biting wind still blew. This was a longer lap with a couple of climbs and a long, rolling headwind section. I was keen to make it a hard race and picked my moment a quarter of the way through (still quite early!). I took one other rider with me [Imogen Wolff], and we just made the next 60km hard for ourselves. Each lap, our gap grew by a minute, and we finished 6 minutes ahead of the chase. 

I never really considered the stage win or overall win – Imogen is super strong and wins a lot! Not until about 5km to go did I start to think about the potential. I thought that it was at least a good exercise to think about it, even if I didn’t believe I could achieve it. 

She was 24 seconds ahead for the overall, so I needed to put time into her – basically, I don’t want a sprint. I attacked her… soon realised I was empty and turned around to watch her fighting to close the gap. Okay so that didn’t work. Sprint it is!

It was a weird sprint – slightly downhill and a whopping tailwind. I was on the front ramping up the speed. I knew that if I got the speed high enough, she would have a hard time getting round me. I did it! What the heck! I couldn’t believe it. 

Joining a team

These first races of the year prompted teams to approach me. I knew I wasn’t mentally ready to join a team over the winter and start of the season. But the bad luck at CiCLE with no team support and winning a bike race showed me that perhaps I can still do this and deserve to give myself the chance. I never want to have regrets. 

After intense thought, a hand-written pros and cons list, and countless conversations, I signed the contract

I had a chat with Rick from Pro-Noctis – 200 degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting and the first thing he asked me was “how are you?”. I knew immediately that he was someone who understood and cared. After intense thought, a hand-written pros and cons list, and countless conversations, I signed the contract. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those involved with Le Col Race Team who provided me with the opportunity and time I needed to get myself back on track. I will always see my time in the navy colours as a period of finding confidence, progression, and regaining a sincere love for the sport.

It’s uncommon to join a team mid-season, so I thought it would be interesting to unpack my experience. I’m sure most understand that there are lots of factors that make a team. From the team manager to the rider, via the sponsors, and the volunteers – it is a machine with lots of moving parts. Below are a few specific aspects that are challenged by joining mid-year.

Missing the pre-season camp

Teams have a pre-season camp, usually somewhere warm and sunny. This is not only an opportunity to support the riders’ physical progression on the bike but importantly the perfect time for team bonding. Building strong team foundations and relationships between riders and staff early on will pay dividends in the race season. This is certainly an aspect that I missed when joining the team at the start of April. 

I met some riders and volunteers for the first time at the East Cleveland Classic National Series round. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming, and I felt like I fit into the family straight away. Usually, I would go to a race with full focus on the race, but for me, that weekend was about more than that. It was about meeting everyone, seeing how I fit into the set up, and understanding how this team does things – all the things a pre-season meet-up would iron out.

Kit and Equipment

Every team has different sponsors, therefore uses different equipment, race nutrition, and wears different kit brands. These are all things to get used to before you start racing, but not for me! 

Another aspect that may not cross your mind is the access of this equipment. Discussions with sponsors happens in the off season, and equipment is sorted usually in time for the beginning of the contract year. When I joined the team in April, we had to work hard to source my equipment. The only bike available in my size was in Belgium! 

Racing Dynamics

Finally, and possibly the most important, is the change of mindset I must have. I have spent the first few races completely isolated. This means conserving energy as much as possible, having only a couple of chances to follow the ‘right’ attacks – essentially, all the of the pressure that’s on an entire team, falls directly on me. Though I didn’t take it too seriously, so it didn’t feel like pressure.

There is certainly something magical about being within such a close-knit group and working for a common goal

At the East Cleveland Classic, I had to suddenly race very differently. Admittedly, I didn’t do a very good job of my role in the race, but learning the art of team riding will take some time. I am excited to experience this team moving forward and helping my teammates to success. There is certainly something magical about being within such a close-knit group and working for a common goal. 

Up next is the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – another opportunity to learn and progress as a unit.

Featured image: SWPix.com

Find out more

Lucy Gadd #01: managing expectation and overcoming self-doubt

Journals 2024: introducing Lucy Gadd

Follow Lucy on X.

Follow Lucy on Instagram.