Result: Revo Road Race

Ben Hoopell wins the 3/4 Revo Road Race at Rockbeare on Sunday

A delayed start of 30 minutes because of cars lining the race route, due to a wedding in the local church, did not blunt the enthusiasm of the riders for a good afternoons racing in the second running of the Revo Road Race at Rockbeare near Exeter.

The bunch, however, seemed determined not to allow any serious move off the front closing down anything which gained more than a handful of seconds. A series of climbs and false flats put a few riders in difficulty early on as each move off the front was quickly shut down. The strength of the group coupled with the rolling terrain stopped any attacks from sticking and as a result many riders were caught out and dropped off the back.

The race seemed destined to stay together for the duration when on lap three a touching of wheels saw nearly a dozen riders hit the tarmac as the peloton crossed a bridge over the A30. With the knowledge of the chaos behind them the remaining front end of the field took advantage and upped the pace immediately, leaving half the field to chase in ones and twos.

The race stayed in this format, albeit with more riders being dropped off the lead group, for the remainder of the race. The chase group was unable to break it’s 20 second barrier and after 2 laps of hard chasing was left resigned to their fates.

Andrew Feather, unattached, succeeded in denying prime lap prizes to others by taking all three but his efforts were to dull his legs in the final sprint. With dust raised by the lead vehicles the inevitable bunch sprint was convincingly won by Ben Hooppell of Exeter Wheelers with Feather second and Hooppell’s teammate Steven Birch third.

Photos by Kind permission of Richard and Ann Owens

Slideshow of Pictures

RESULT
1. Ben Hooppell Exeter Wheelers
2. Andrew Feather
3. Steven Birch Exeter Wheelers
4. Myles Gerrard Southfork Racing.co.uk
5. Callum Deakin Mid Devon CC
6. Tim McEvoy Newquay Velo
7. Jeff Stevenson YOGi Cycling
8. Jason Poore Mid Devon CC
9. Theo Brumhead University of Exeter Cycling Club
10. Simon Ogden North Devon Wheelers – South Fork