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“He got away with a good time triallist that time [Nick Frewin],” explainsMick. “He worked well with Frewin who was strong but was never ever going to get anything other than second place. It was odds on. He [Yates] had just come to prominence. I remember seeing him the year before in a race and thinking he was starting to go well and then he carried on through the winter and came out on top in Perfs.And of course he carried on getting better.”


As well as the many good times, like any race with a long and rich history, and despite Mick's detailed planning and long experience, Perfs Pedal Race has not always run according to plan. Poor weather has played its part, with a couple of editions having to be cancelled due to flooding or poor road surfaces after a harsh winter. Other years the race has had to move at short notice to alternative circuits. But only once was a race abandoned halfway through – in 1989.


“It was on the Newtown circuit,” explains Mick. “Residents had had some problems locally and so there was a police spotter plane in the air. The police in the plane spotted that some riders were using all of the road, particularly on the corners, and they weren't happy.Apoliceman then went up to the commissaire and told them to stop the race.


“The riders weren't at all happy. I think the police at the time didn't really understand we had a permit.We had a meeting afterwards and sorted it out.”


With so many years to look back on, the race has givenMick many fond memories. His favourite though is naturally the one that was won by home rider, Paul Richards, in 1991. That edition was severely hampered by snow which resulted in a change of circuit from Forestside to Racton. Thirty-five riders made it to the start but more importantly the first man over the finish line was wearing a VC St Raphael jersey. Richards remains the only VC St Raphael rider to have won the race. “We've had plenty of seconds and thirds mind,”Mick is quick to point out.


The future of Perfs


2012 will be the 47th year of the race. VC St Raphael team directorMickWaite has organised every single one. So where does he see the future of the race?


“I'd like to get to 50 years and then see what happens,” he tells the Cycling Post. “At the moment I don't see anyone


taking it on. I'd like to see someone younger take over but I just don't see it at the moment. Don't get me wrong I get an


awful lot of help, I couldn't do it [organise the race and team] without them. I've got so many good people helping me.As


long as I'm healthy and coping I'll be doing it. It's just that 50 is a kind of target for now.”


And so on to the 2012 edition. “I've managed to increase the field to 85 which is the absolute maximum,” saysMick. “It will be tough early on so we will lose a few riders. This year is a particularly good field. The top 20 riders are all really good riders.We're talking about Endura and UKYouth, strong teams.


“The course is looking really good at the moment.We keep our eyes on it. It's in good condition. Part of the course has been completely resurfaced, about a half mile stretch of road. From now until the race I'll probably be out there [on the course] every couple of days in case someone turns up and digs the road up or something and I don't know.”


VC St Raphael


As well as organising Perfs Pedal Race,MickWaite is the long term team director and sponsor of VC St Raphael. The


club has an intriguing history, starting as Velo ClubAquila in 1951 before changing name in 1958 when Bari Hooper approached the Société St. Raphaël of Paris, sponsors of the


French professional team St. Raphaël, the same team that the great JacquesAnguetil would go on to ride for in the early


1960s. The society were impressed by Hooper's approach and invited him to organise a large banquet for local cycling clubs. There the club was presented with kit and a large trophy.


Mick took on sponsorship in the 1970s and the club has


enjoyed a large degree of success since, both on the road and on the track.Mick tells me that he considers their best performances to be in the national team pursuit championships. “We took gold in 2000, in 2001 we got


silver, and then we won again in 2002 and 2003.We also won it in 2010.”


It must be like living on tenterhooks, I say. “Well it is very stressful these weeks leading up to the race...you've got to cover every eventuality,” agreesMick. “And then hope you get a day like today, cold but not freezing because that causes issues. If it's mild but raining heavily then that can also bring problems...but then that's penalty of promoting an early race.”


But its early season slot is really one of the things that has helped the race's appeal. “It used to be the first race of the year of any kind,” saysMick, “where people used to get together to see each other again after the winter. That's changed of course because of circuit races and everything but it's still the early race that everyone wants to win. It'll be an aggressive race because of that.”


And finally, the question everyone wants the answer to: the name.Why is it called Perfs Pedal Race? “It comes from my nickname,” saysMick. “I don't know why they ever called me that [Perf]. There's been so many versions over the years of why that I don't think anyone really knows. It's just when I was riding that was what they used to call me.”


The 47th Perfs Pedal Race took place on 12th February. Catch the Cycling Post's report on page 4


So there you have it.MickWaite is “Perf”. And make no mistake, Perfs Pedal Race is his race.


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