Exeter Uni Early Season Crits

Lucy and Lewis raced the Exeter University Early Season Crits at the Westpoint Arena showground today. A dry, sunny and breezy day brought out quiet a lot of racers for the start of the season. Good entry levels in all the Open Cats and the Female Cats had enough riders to run, rather than cancelling them or merging them with the Open cats which was good to see.

Lewis said:

2026 season kicked off this weekend.

Season goals get enough points to get into cat 3.

Race goals top 10 and get my first points.

Race started fast as most crits do and I tried to stay near the front and follow some wheels. After 5mins it calmed down slightly and I was feeling like I had diamonds in the legs.

Throughout the race I tried several times to get away but unfortunately no one was willing to work and if we did manage to get any sort of gap not everyone was willing to pull and eventually just kept getting pulled back by the bunch.

Half way through the race I was becoming frustrated and really wanted to make something stick.

After half an hour I spoke to a couple of riders and we agreed just to keep the pressure on and make the front of the race hard enough to hopefully thin out the group.

This plan did eventually work and the group had thinned out and we took the bell.

With half a lap to go I made my move attacking hard knowing I didn't have a sprint leading into the last corner I was in perfect position for a podium spot.

Achieving my race goal and coming in 8th.

Super happy with the result and I know I need to work on my sprint! A massive confidence boost for the season and motivation to know the training I'm doing to working.

Onto the next one.