Shortly after the team returned to the UK the riders received their race bikes (Forme Zenith) and clothing for the season (race clothing provided by Impsport, Limar and Lake, casual clothing provided by SueMe), with a team presentation taking place at Forme Bikes HQ in Derby later that week. The following day the team raced together for the first time, taking 1st and 2nd at the Darley Moor (National B) in Derby before travelling south for the Severn Bridge Road Race (National B) on the Sunday. Despite very much being in the thick of the early action, a move established itself at precisely the wrong moment for the team as they gathered together to help Adam Rayner rejoin the race following a small crash. Without a rider representing the team in the break the riders forced a counter attack late on though it was to prove unsuccessful.
Three days after the Severn Bridge Road Race the team flew to Croatia for a period of UCI races based in the region of Istria. Represented by Robert Orr, Will Fox, Dexter Gardias, Jack Adams, Adam Rayner and Stephen Gallagher, with Tom Kirk (D.S) and John Southern (Mechanic) in support the team raced the UCI 1.2 Porec Trophy on 13th March. Known as a race that often sees a large group contest the finish, this years’ edition saw very strong winds and rain rip the race to pieces early on. A break of 15 riders established itself at the head of the race after 30km with Jack Adams in attendance for Forme Procycliste SanLamere. This move was caught later in the race by another group before splitting again, with 25 riders going to contest the finish and the remaining riders including Jack Adams being pulled back by the peloton. After 147km of conditions similar to those often seen in the early season classics in Belgium and France Jack Adams finished 49th for Forme Procycliste SanLamere, with Stephen Gallagher nursing a punctured tub to the finish in 51st place. Of the 180 riders that started the race, 93 riders abandoned in difficult conditions.
With the teams next race being the UCI 2.2 Istrian Spring Trophy (four day stage race from 17th to 20th March) the team did a recon’ of the stage 2 finishing climb to Montuvun (shown below). The 157km stage finishes with a 3km climb at an average gradient of 8%, with the final 300m being raced on at a gradient of more than 10% and on pavé similar to that seen at Paris Roubaix! With former Tour de France yellow jersey and controversial character Michael Rasmussen due to be in attendance as well as numerous major European teams Forme Procycliste SanLamere will be in good company!
