Report: Bath RC’s Junior Road Race

Tao Geoghegan Hart won the Bath RC Junior Road Race at Cublington in a two up sprint against Hugh Carthy in what wasthe penultimate round of the Peter Buckley national series for Juniors.

Tao and Hugh were part of a small group that was away with a lap to go and the two of them went clear of the rest during the final lap with Tao winning the uphill sprint to add his name to those of Tom Southam, Alex Dowsett, Geraint Thomas and others.

Tao, a first year junior explained after he’d got his breathe back, “it was good that the finish was uphill as that suited me. It was a good race and I liked the course. It’s nice to be on lanes rather than on big roads like the last race. The first two times up the climb was real hard but people go backwards as the race goes on and you had to be patient.”

“I had a mechanical all day that when I pressed on, the chain was jumping so I couldn’t get out of the saddle much but maybe I should do that more often! The final climb is quite steep which suites me and Hugh was super strong at the end. Hats off to him, we worked well together and I was hurting at the end.”

“Fairplay to them boys, they rode a real good race and showed what it’s like to be a team rather than some of the others. On the long straight, it was a cross wind and it was good racing. I was moaning the other week how we’d not had a windy or sunny race all season so it was nice to have bit of both.”

Looking ahead, “We’ll see how the Tour of Wales go. It will be even harder with teams and hopefully I’ll get selected for Wales, that’s a big aim.

Report in pictures

Lap 1 and all together on the steep climb into Cublington.

Two laps down and a break was neutralised after a horse got in the way of the race and the event was stopped for a short period. Peloton here led by Matt Flynn of Mountivation Academy.

Lap 3 and a small break including Oliver Wood, Luc Hall, Chris Latham, & Tao Geoghan-Hart plus a few others.

Germaine Burton leads the chase just ahead of Alex Peters

Four laps down and Jacob Regan and Adam Lewis had a few seconds on the peloton

Four down and Joe Kirkkam (Hargroves Cycles) leads the peloton up the climb through the finish area and feed zone.

The break that included Peter Hale, Will Stephenson, Alex Peters, Joe Kirkham, Hugh Carthy, Jacob Regan & Tao Geoghegan Hart take on drinks for the final lap of the race.

Sam Lowe (Hargroves Cycles) attacks out of the bunch to chase the break.

Tao Geoghegan Hart 0f CC Hackney wins the uphill sprint to win the Bath RC Junior Road Race at Cublington.

BATH ROAD CLUB ETR JUNIOR ROAD RACE
1. Tao Geoghegan Hart CC Hackney 115 k in 2.49.48
2. Hugh Carthy Champion Systems/Maxgear @ 6s
3 . Will Stephenson Primera – Specialised @ 17s
4. Joe Kirkham Hargroves Cycles @ 21s
5. Peter Hale Scotland @ 27s
6. Jacob Ragan Champion Systems/Maxgear @ 29s
7. Alex Peters Mosquito Bikes @ 37s
8. Samuel Lowe Hargroves Cycles @ 42s
9. Germain Burton Team De Ver st
10. George Pym South West st
11. Henry Tanfield Teamwallis/CHH Racing Team st
12. Jacob Scott Planet X st
13. Ashley Procter Sportscover/Altura RT st
14. Alistair Hepworth Batley CC st
15 . Sam Williams NFTO st
16. Jake Kelly Team Microgaming IOM st
17. Adam Lewis Wolverhampton Wheelers st
18. William Thomas Velocity RT st
19. Matt Flynn Mountivation Development st
20. Dan Pearson Wilier/Live to ride st