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Talkingshop: Natalie Creswick

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:06:40 +0000

Gordon Wiseman catches up with the winner of the Stoke round of the Women’s Tour Series event, Natalie Creswick

Johnsons Health Tech Grand Prix Series – Round 1 – Stoke

Standing on a cold Stoke train station platform on Tuesday night and thinking about the long, tiring train journey home she was about to undertake, racing winning Natalie Creswick (Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport) must have felt that the previous few hours had been a little surreal.

The first round of this year’s Johnsons Health Tech Grand Prix Series saw Natalie put in the race dominating performance of the evening that resulted in her – and her team’s – first ever win in what is the country’s premier race series for women.

And whilst many eyes, Natalie’s included, may have focussed on riders such as MG Maxifuel’s Hannah Barnes or Gabby Day (Matrix Fitness) to take that win, it was the current National Masters Women’s Road Race champion who mixes her racing on the road, track and cyclo-cross throughout the year who stamped her authority on the race from the very early stages.

“The race went pretty much as well as I could ever have dreamed” Natalie explained shortly after collecting the race winner’s trophy. “The plan with my team mate Louise Mahe was for us to stay near the front of the action. I knew who to watch; Hannah who is always very strong and her team mate Karla Boddy who I know is on very good form at the moment. And Matrix Fitness had a lot of riders out particularly Gabby Day”.

On first sprint lap Hannah Barnes and Lou Mahe went clear but they were chased down by the combined forces of the Matrix riders. “But with Lou in the break I could afford to just sit on their wheels and let them do the chasing. I knew that as soon as we caught them that’d be my chance and I’d have to take it”.

And that’s exactly what she did. Natalie was soon within the back markers but wasn’t worried about threading her way through them. “All the riders are experienced and having the motor bike in front of you they knew the lead riders were coming through so it was never a problem. Everyone kept over to their side of the road”.

Once on her way there seemed very little chance of anyone catching her as Natalie’s lead opened to close to a minute leaving her to a clear run to the chequered flag and all the plaudits associated with a televised race win.

Natalie admitted to not having raced that much so far this season. “That’s not been much at all really. I did a 25 mile time trial on Sunday, I’ve not done many of those before. But I’ve entered the National Time Trial Championships in June, that’s over about 15 miles I think. It’ll be interesting to see how I go in that”.

Like many of the other riders taking part in the Johnsons Series, Natalie had to get up early to work before she got the train to Stoke for the racing (she works for the charity ChildLine as a volunteer manger and counselling supervisor).

“I was up at 6am so it’s going to be a long journey home by train back to Surbiton. And I’m working again tomorrow as well. But now I’m going to enjoy my win. For me and the team it’s a Very Big Win so I’m as pleased as punch which is why I can’t stop smiling. I must ring my mum!”

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Report: Castle Combe Summer Series Week 4

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:45:08 +0000

Another low turn out by recent standards with only 33 riders in the E/1/2 race and 81 riders in the 3/4 race. The Presidents road race in South Wales and the Tour Series being the main reason.

Andy Cook | 23rd May

The expected damp conditions stayed away although it looked like rain all around as the racing started. The wind made conditions tough but it didn’t stop a break of 6 riders breaking clear in the E/1/2 event who were caught by a chasing group of 4 riders on the last lap of the race.

In the ¾ race Crispin Doyle managed to break clear and hold onto his advantage soloing to yet another Castle Combe win in front of a group of two riders who also held off the rampaging bunch. The Youth races attracted 41 riders and the Under 16 group had a larger than usual contingent of 15 riders. The enthusiasm of the U 10 and U8 riders continues to impress all who watch the racing and once again we would like to thank the volunteers on the night that helped oversee the judging and marshalling duties so important for the youth races. There were a number of key people absent last night and the offers to help stand in were very gratefully received.

It’s hard to believe that next week we will already be 1/3 of the way through this season’s series. A significant amount of bottles, jackets, even wheels get left behind each week so do please get in touch to reclaim lost property please.

Neil Davies is compiling an overall points table that will be published shortly on the website.

RESULTS

E, 1, 2
1 Tom Stockdale Spin Rotor Primal
2 James Phillips Severn Rc
3 Dan Mckimm Dream Cycling
4 Ben Stockdale Metaltek
5 Topt Eichler Team Diabetes Uk
6 Connor Ryan Equipe Cmi
7 Lee Davis Node 4
8 Michael Ward Ride 24/7
9 Wayne Coombs Winchcombe Cc
10 Richard Cleaver Leisure Lakes Bike .Com

Category 3,4
1 Crispin Doyle Hargroves Cycles
2 Sean Townsend Glos City Cc
3 Billy Osmond Vc Bristol
4 John Wilkinson Dream Cc
5 Ken Knight Pm
6 James Knight Cheltenham Cc
7 Lee Finch Glos City Cc
8 Paul Ferguson Vc Walcot
9 Ian Humble Glos City Cc
10 Geoff Ripley Bristol Rc
11 Spencer Robinson Newbury Rc
12 Ross Evans Radion Cycle Coaching
13 Owen Vince Cadence Rt
14 Matt Dale Vc Bristol

YOUTH

Under 16
1 Jack Mattock One And All
2 Jack Billyard Swindon Rc
3 Peter Kibble Cycology Bikes
4 Matt Witts Bcds
5 Christopher Rothwell Swindon Cycles/Race Academy
6 Taylor Rowe Swindon Cycles/Race Academy
7 Matt Fratesi Severn Rc
8 Nick Birch Bcds
9 Scott Pearce Newport Olympic
10 George Jones Clevedon Rc
11 Elliott Redfern Bcds
12 Jacob Payne Chippenham Wheelers
13 Josh Burt Bcds
14 Bethany Taylor Bcds
15 Josh Coward Chippenham Wheelers

Under 14
1 Matthew Burke Newport Olympic
2 William Crofts Performance Cycles
3 Elliott Lassiter Swindon Rc
4 Daniel Coombe Newport Olympic
5 Josh Price Chippenham Wheelers
6 Will Matthews Chippenham Wheelers
7 Sophie Taylor Bcds

Under 12
1 Aaron Payne Chippenham Wheelers
2 Lauren Booth Newport Velo
3 Emyr Thomas Newport Olympic
4 Lance Hutchison Vc St Raphael
5 Tom Price Chippenham Wheelers
6 Danielle Parker Towy Riders

Under 10
1 Scott Curtis Chippenham Wheelers
2 Keelan Tucker Chippenham Wheelers
3 Rufus Thomas Bcds
4 Eleri Thomas Newport Olympic
5 Will Parry Bcds
6 Harper Meadowcroft Chippenham Wheelers
7 Daniel Oxenham Chippenham Wheelers

Under 8
1 Bethany Bennett Towy Riders
2 Yusuf Morgan Maindy Flyers
3 Jake Parker Towy Riders
4 Jack Shuker Chippenham Wheelers
5 Lucy Curtis Chippenham Wheelers
6 Sophie Oxenham Chippenham Wheelers

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Results: Scunthorpe Track League

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:22:55 +0000

Results from the Dave Marsh UniversalCycleCentre Scunthorpe Track League on May 24

RESULTS

Senior A & B 8 lap block hcp
1st DAVID BOLLAND BIKEBOX
2nd DAVID BREARLEY CLAY CROSS RT
3rd RICHARD BALDWIN BIKEBOX

Senior A & B 15 laps double up points race
1st MARTIN SMITH CHESTERFIELD COUREURS
2nd DAVID BREARLEY CLAY CROSS RT
3rd RICHARD LAMBERT COTTINGHAM COURS

Senior A & B 10 mile scratch
1st RICHARD LAMBERT COTTINGHAM COURS
2nd DAVID BREARLEY CLAY CROSS RT
3rd RICHARD BALDWIN BIKEBOX

Senior A & B 10 lap scratch
1st RICHARD BALDWIN BIKEBOX
2nd DAVID BREARLEY CLAY CROSS RT
3rd DAVID BOLLAND BIKEBOX

Youth 4 lap Handicap
1st JAMES ARMSTRONG VC LINCOLN
2nd BEN TURNER DONCASTER WHS
3rd KIERAN-LEE SIMCOX DINNINGTON

Youth Hcp devil
1st CHARLIE RENSHAW DINNINGTON
2nd JAMES ARMSTRONG VC LINCOLN
3rd KIERAN-LEE SIMCOX DINNINGTON

Youth 4 lap Scratch
1st CHARLIE RENSHAW DINNINGTON
2nd KIERAN-LEE SIMCOX DINNINGTON
3rd BEN TURNER DONCASTER WHS

Youth 1 lap sprint 1
1st ANNA DOCHERTY CLIFTON CC
2nd MAX POOLE LINCSQUAD
3rd OWEN SPAVIN LINCSQUAD

Youth 1 lap sprint 2
1st JAMES ARMSTRONG VC LINCOLN
2nd BEN TURNER DONCASTER WHS
3rd CAITLIN BOWER LINCSQUAD

Youth 1 lap sprint 3
1st CHARLIE RENSHAW DINNINGTON
2nd KIERAN-LEE SIMCOX DINNINGTON
3rd ROBBIE STURDY LINCSQUAD

Event info tweets on twitter @ScunyPolyEvents

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Result: Penzance Wheelers Open 19 mile Sporting Time Trial

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:11:23 +0000

Alessandro Gourley of Penzance Wheelers wins his clubs Open 19 mile Sporting Time Trial on Thursday 23th May (Course S45/19S)

Awards

1st Alessandro Gourley Penzance Wheelers 00:44:55
2nd Martyn Lewis www.Cyclelogic.co.uk 00:45:47
3rd Matt Pullen Trizone 00:46:34

1st Lady Kim Homewood Penzance Wheelers 00:56:42
1st Veteran 40-49 Jeffrey Houghton www.Cyclelogic.co.uk 00:46:55
1st Veteran 50-59 Peter Blackshaw Penzance Wheelers 00:50:41
1st Veteran 60-69 Tony Farnell One & All Bike Chain Ricci 00:48:17

Result
1 Alessandro Gourley Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:44:55
2 Martyn Lewis www.Cyclelogic.co.uk M/S 00:45:47
3 Matt Pullen Trizone M/S 00:46:34
4 Jeffrey Houghton www.Cyclelogic.co.uk 40-49 M/V 00:46:55
5 Garry James Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:47:25
6 Damian Ayling Penzance Wheelers 40-49 M/V 00:47:37
7 Mark Hooper One & All Bike Chain Ricci 40-49 M/V 00:47:46
8 Neil Eddy www.Cyclelogic.co.uk M/S 00:47:54
9 Tony Farnell One & All Bike Chain Ricci 60+ M/V 00:48:17
10 John Fazakerley Penzance Wheelers 40-49 M/V 00:49:19
11 Martin Lenny Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:49:58
12 Garry Mccallum Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:50:22
13 Peter Blackshaw Penzance Wheelers 50-59 M/V 00:50:41
14 Hari Slade Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:52:27
15 Martin Page Penzance Wheelers 40-49 M/V 00:52:54
16 Richard Goulden Penzance Wheelers 50-59 M/V 00:55:22
17 Matt Berriman Penzance Wheelers M/S 00:56:17
18 Colin Campbell Penzance Wheelers 50-59 M/V 00:56:42
19 Kim Homewood Penzance Wheelers F 00:56:42
20 Ian Matthews Mounts Bay Harriers 40-49M/V 00:58:25
21 Chris Harper RNRMCA 50-59 M/V 00:59:23
22 Rebecca Campbell Tri-Logic F 01:02:35
23 Micheal Ringwood Mounts Bay Harriers 40-49 M/V 01:05:32
24 Martina Geraghty Penzance Wheelers F 01:05:59
25 Jennifer Powell One & All F 01:06:30

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Result: Oldham Century Mountain TT

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:58:10 +0000

David Kinloch of Ilkley CC wins the Oldham Century 18 mile Mountain Time Trial on Wednesday, May 22nd

THE IAN J CROSSLEY MEMORIAL MOUNTAIN TIME TRIAL ON WEDNESDAY 22nd MAY 2013
Course J8/7r | 18 miles

PRIZES WINNERS
1 David Kinloch – Club Ilkley CC 52m.04s
2nd Ian Stott – Blackburn& District CTC 52m.23s
3rd Ben Gillespie – Saddleworth Clarion 52m.45s
4th Sam Clarke – Sett Valley Cycles/Buxton CC 53m.30s
5th Philip Knupfer * – Manchester Wheelers 56m.27s

1st Vet Paul Greenhalgh * – Manchester Wheelers 56m.02s
2nd Vet Stuart Green – Oldham Century Road Club 56m.51s

1st Lady Emma Osenton – Kinesis Morvelo Project 59m.06s
2nd Lady Vanessa Whitfield – VC St Raphael 59m51s

1st Team. Manchester Wheelers – ( P Greenhalgh-P Knupfer-J Sanderson )
13th Richard Jervis – Leigh Premier Road Club 58m.33s

This years event was the 25th occasion since dedicating the race to the late Ian Crossley. Ian’s father Jim, made the journey from his home in Spain to ride, and finished with a creditable time of 1 hour 14minutes and 44 seconds.
The weather was thankfully dry, but with a cold, blustery wind to trouble the competitors, mainly on the return leg from Meltham.

The result was very close, with less than a minute covering the first three riders., victory going to David Kinloch of Club Ilkley CC in a time of 52minutes and 4 seconds. There were, as sometimes happens in these events, a few ‘hard luck’ stories. Sam Clarke, Sett Valley Cycles/Buxton CC was the winner two years ago, and looking likely for a repeat win, rode the last mile with a flat front tyre, after hitting a pot-hole and still managed to finish in fourth place. Paul Stitt, Glossop Kinder Velo, suffered three punctures on the start line before abandoning his attempt.

Fastest lady was Emma Osenton, Kinesis Morvelo Project ( 59mins.06secs ) and the team award went to Manchester Wheelers. Other riders from the promoting Oldham Century Road Club were, Stuart Green in seventh place ( 56mins.51secs ), Rob Wilkinson was fourteenth (58mins.36secs) and Ian Kenworthy, thirtieth (63mins.58secs) from a field of 53 entrants. Special mention goes to Mitchell Cross (Team Wheelguru), the youngest rider age 16 years, and Peter Knott (Ribble Valley CRC) the oldest, age 76 years.

Congratulations to all prize winners, and thanks to all those taking part. Tony Lyons, (Event Organiser)

Result
1 David Kinloch 61 V40 Club Ilkley CC 52m.04s
2 Ian Stott 55 S Blackburn & District CTC 52m.23s
3 Ben Gillespie 65 S Saddleworth Clarion 52m.45s
4 Sam Clarke 67 S Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 53m.30s
5 Paul Greenhalgh 47 V40 Manchester Wheelers 56m.02s
6 Philip Knupfer 39 S Manchester Wheelers 56m.27s
7 Stuart Green 45 V40 Oldham Century Road Club 56m.51s
8 Darren Staniforth 28 S Condor RC (Calderdale) 56m.56s
9 Steve Wigglesworth 66 V50 Vegetarian C & A Club 56m.59s
10 Derek Schofield 57 V60 Rossendale Road Club 57m.33s
11 Nathan Turnbull 60 S Leigh Premier Road Club 58m.13s
12 John Sanderson 49 S Manchester Wheelers 58m.14s
13 Richard Jervis 46 S Leigh Premier Road Club 58m.33s
14 Rob Wilkinsom 54 V40 Oldham Century Road Club 58m.36s
15 Simon Cullen 40 V40 Saddleworth Clarion 58m.57s
16 William Belcher 58 V50 Clayton Velo 59m.00s
17 Emma Osenton 26 W Kinesis Morvelo Project 59m.06s
18 Josh Fear 18 S Taw Velo 59m.32s
19 Paul Talbot 21 V40 Glossop Kinder Velo 59m.39s
20 Vanessa Whitfield 41 W VC St Raphael 59m.51s
21 Rob Dickinson 63 V40 Vegetarian C & A Club 59m.54s
22 Mark Ferguson 52 V50 High Peak Cycles RT 1h.00m.06s
23 Simon Pateman 38 V40 Saddleworth Clarion 1h.00m.26s
24 Joanne Blakely 35 W Champ.Sys./MaxgearRT/Base 1h.00m.36s
25 Justin Howcutt 23 S Manchester Wheelers 1h.00m.58s
26 Darren O’Toole 36 V40 Glossop Kinder Velo 1h.01m.35s
27 Nikola Butler 30 W VC St Raphael 1h.02m.20s
28 Martin Oliver 62 V50 Kiveton Park CC 1h.02m.32s
29 David Shirley 44 V40 Glossop Kinder Velo 1h.03m.20s
30 Ian Kenworthy 32 S Oldham Century Road Club 1h.03m.58s
31 Geoff Robinson 42 V50 Glossop Kinder Velo 1h.05m.31s
32 Viv Slack 37 W Manchester Wheelers 1h.06m.01s
33 Phil Davies 51 V40 Saddleworth Clarion 1h.06m.46s
34 Mitchell Cross 22 J Team Wheelguru 1h.06m.47s
35 Jenny Brown 33 W Rochdale Tri Club 1h.07m.28s
36 Paul Manchester 17 V50 Saddleworth Clarion 1h.08m.02s
37 Neil Warner 34 V50 Saddleworth Clarion0 1h.08m.24s
38 Sarah Griffiths 19 W Manchester Wheelers 1h.09m.48s
39 Gareth Howard 56 S Leigh Premier Road Club 1h.11m.36s
40 Paul Smith 25 S Huddersfield Star Wheelers ** 1h.12m.12s
41 James Crossley 20 V60 Oldham Century Road Club 1h.14m.44s
42 Ali Mills 29 W Here Come The Belgians 1h.18m.08s
43 Steve Coote 24 V50 Vegetarian C & A Club 1h.20m.13s
44 Sian Lambert 16 W Manchester & District LCA 1h.21m.11s
45 Peter Knott 27 V70 Ribble Valley CRC 1h.28m.35s
46 Christopher Fisher 15 V60 Sowerby Brothers Cycles RT 1h.40m.40s

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Team News: Win for Rapha’s Ed Clancy

Larry Hickmott — Sat, 25 May 2013 08:17:16 +0000

Rapha Condor JLT’s Ed Clancy sprinted to victory last night in the fourth stage of Pearl Izumi Tour Series in Aberystwyth.

Full report, reactions from Clancy and more photos here

Clancy has now won in Wales two out of the three times he has raced there, making it three wins in four visits for the Men in Black in the coastal town.

The double Olympic Champion looked in brilliant form as he broke from the peloton early on, finding himself with three other riders. On a course which had been revised due to bad weather, the four strong group pulled out a nearly a minute on the peloton making it clear that there was every chance they were going to go the distance. Rapha Condor JLT’s team leader, Kristian House, who won the bunch sprint for fifth, said that the race could hardly have gone better.

“Things almost went perfectly tonight. Once Ed was away Jimmy (McCallum) and I got to the front of the bunch and made sure we controlled the race, because we knew that Ed would be the fastest of the four man break.”

At the business end Clancy showed no problems in answering the faith put in him by House. Despite attempts by second placed Chris Opie to drop others on a leg-busting final lap, Clancy was able to power out of the final corner and to victory. His exploits won him the Costa Express Fastest Lap with a time of one minute and ten seconds.

Unfortunately though, behind, McCallum crashed out, leaving House with too much to do to ensure the overall targeted aim of a team victory. Even so, Clancy’s individual effort and House’s 5th place were enough to give the Men in Black 4th place in the overall standings.

House said it was a shame that such an opportunity has gone wanting. “It’s tough, we would have liked to have taken our first team win tonight, but it is good to take the win with Ed. We are more focused on taking the wins, and we will see where we are with the overall in a week’s time.”

Combined with House’s solo win in Durham, Clancy’s victory makes two stage wins for Rapha Condor JLT in four races. Clancy’s victory surely shows that with more of the same, the sought-after team victory is only around the corner.

The next race in the series is in Torquay on Tuesday 28th May, and highlights of Round Four in Aberystwyth can be seen on ITV4 at 10pm on Monday 27th May.

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Report-Photos-Results: Tour Series – Aberystwyth (Wales)

Larry Hickmott — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:48 +0000

Ed Clancy won the round at Aberystwyth for the second time while Alex Blain (Raleigh) won the Sprints jersey and UK Youth defended their lead in the overall…

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series, Round Four Aberystwyth, Clancy rules supreme - Team UK Youth take two point lead in Pearl Izumi Tour Series after Round Four

Ed Clancy sprinted to victory in Aberystwyth, heading Chris Opie home who ensured Team UK Youth pulled out a two point lead at the top of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series standings.

Clancy and Opie were in a four rider break, with Team Raleigh’s Alexandre Blain and Madison Genesis’ Andy Tennant that almost lapped the field on the Aberystwyth circuit.

After a bad start with a double puncture on the opening warmup laps, Olympic Champion Ed Clancy recovered, got in a break of four and then won the sprint to record his second win in Aberyswyth.

Opie has now finished as the runner-up in Aberystwyth for three consecutive years, while Clancy has now won twice from his three visits to Wales in the Series.
Organisers overcame inclement weather in the Welsh coastal resort with a revised circuit in the town centre to ensure the event went ahead, with the biggest crowds The Pearl Izumi Tour Series has seen in its three years in Aberystwyth.

The low key celebration from Clancy as he crosses the line to win the race on Friday night.

Spectators were entertained by an attacking display of riding from the leading quartet who took flight early on in the race and pulled out a lead of almost one minute on the field, putting the peloton in a very real danger of being lapped.

Tobyn Horton and Alex Peters made a valiant attempt to bridge the gap to the leaders, but were reeled back in by the leaders. Blain tried to launch a winning attack with two to go but couldn’t escape the pace of his three compatriots and while Opie put in another, rapidly becoming trademark, massive turn on the final lap it was the Rapha Condor JLT rider that powered out of the final corner.

Kristian House, a former British RR Champion, can ride a mean crit and wins the bunch kick for fifth ahead of Dean Downing while the red jerseys of UK Youth can be seen sprinting to a team win, four in the top 10.

Consolation for Blain was the IG Sprints jersey, which he took over from teammate Tom Scully, while Clancy’s final lap was enough to give him the Costa Express Fastest Lap, breaking UK Youth’s run of straight victories in the new competition.

Madison Genesis took second on the night with Dean Downing and Liam Holohan’s top ten’s helping them to the runner-up spot ahead of Team Raleigh. Following their impressive result in Stoke-on-Trent Metaltek – Knights of Old continued their fine run of form with fifth in Aberystwyth, ensuring they sit comfortably in sixth in the standings.

Spin Rotor – Primal – C-Originals enjoyed their best Pearl Izumi Tour Series result of their debut season with a ninth, while MG Maxifuel’s youngster Joe Fox made his own personal Series debut, on a good night for the Fox family, as young brother Danny took a podium finish in the supporting 2/3/4 race.

Race gets underway with the start finish in the town centre after being moved away from the seafront battered by strong wins in the morning. In the end it was a gorgeous evening in the Welsh town.

Ed Clancy talking after the race said “It was a relatively uneventful race for me. Once that group was established, the four of us, everyone was doing lap turns lap after lap. Everyone was happier to work, some happier than others. I was trying to pull good turns because I was quite happy for it to come down to a sprint between the four of us and stay away from the bunch”.

“Two laps out was where it really kicked off. I missed a turn about four laps to go and Blain and Opie are both stronger than me aerobically so they had to get rid of me on the last two laps and they did.”

The race is strung out into a snaking line along the sea front into a strong headwind.

“Blain went and that was hard following him so I left a bit of a gap and I was waiting for Opie to go or Tennant (a teammate of Eds in the GB Team Pursuit), surprised he didn’t try something. It was hard following Chris (Opie). He’s been going well and we saw that in Stoke and I tried to hold him at a gap, something I could sprint into but unfortunately Blain filled that gap on that corner.”

“I thought, that’s fine, it was a clean move but it made it a bit more difficult because I had to come round both of them so I went to the opposite side of the road and tried to get some shelter from the barriers from the wind.”

“Once I was in front of Chris, I was confident going into the last corner providing I kept it upright and it was a good race. The first week of the Tour Series is hard and I felt pretty crap but felt more like myself at Stoke and today was good.”

About the changed circuit, he says “when I got here, I had a look around the circuit and I thought this is going to be hard work but it was going to be one for me because it’s quite technical & stop start. Once we got in the break, there was less of the stop start and it was quite smooth and all of four of us are competent bike riders.”

“If you can make the corners a few k an hour faster, it is so much easier.”

“Blain in particular was going round the corners like he was on rails, he was hardly using his brakes, even on that hairpin and that makes the effort smooth and almost like riding a team time trial. Tour Series is a great series and everyone enjoys getting a win!”

After some short lived breaks, a four up move of Chris Opie (UK Youth), Andy tennant, Ed Clancy and Alex Blain (Raleigh) got away and whilst it got close to lapping the second group on the road, it never managed to close the gap on the circuit which took a little over a minute to cover.

Tom Scully (Team Raleigh) “The one straight we had on this circuit, was into a roaring headwind where it was hard to move up. The circuit was pretty tight and a hard course to ride but a good course. The form is good, it’s only round four so there’s a long way to go and it’s good fast exciting racing”.

“I’m enjoying racing here in Britain. There is a lot of passion in the UK racing, its hard and fast from the start and they give it everything so that is what makes the racing good.”

Asked if they have anything like this in New Zealand , he replied “every year we have a festival of cycling and they have a criterium and a one day road race around the bay and hills of Christchurch and it’s probably as close as it gets to this”.

“It’s always good to have a crowd to race in front of and good to go to a different town each night and see a bit of the country while we are here.”

In the second half of the race, Tobyn Horton (UK Youth) went clear by a few seconds with Alex Peters but despite holding the chasers at bay for quite a few laps, they were caught.

TEAM WIN FOR UK YOUTH

Chris Opie (UK Youth, Second): Speaking afterwards and asked was it fun like he said it might be before the race, Chris replied “Yes, it was fun! I got to be honest, to have so many people cheering for us – come on Chris, come on UK Youth – that was pretty special”.

“The break rode away, not sure how it happened and at one point we were convinced that we were going to lap everyone and started to lap the smaller groups. The bunch must have accelerated though and we had to accelerate as well and it was harder for the last twenty minutes.”

Asked if his attack a lap to go was too early, he replied “ultimately, it probably was too early. I thought if I went early, I might be able to get a gap through the corners and build on it. As it was, I got a gap, but couldn’t build on it and it stayed there until 100 metres before the pits (on the final corner) and they kept passing me.”

I thought I was going to get back at them but not quite so second for the third year in a row!”

Talking about the hairpin where there were a lot of crashes, he said “I took it rather gingerly though that corner remembering that I have fallen off in the Tour Series before and it’s crucial to stay upright to get the points and ultimately, the team result is more important than the individual result. Playing safe but not sorry.”

“The hairpin was definitely the hot spot on the corner, off camber, a big old corner but I got to be honest, that was a real fun circuit. Years ago I would have hated it but now, I really enjoyed it with my sticky tyres and fast corners; good fun.”

The peloton makes its way around the sweeping hairpin with the castle, church and university in the background.

Tobyn Horton (UK Youth): The Guernsey rider had tried to put pressure on his rivals in the second half of the race and then at the end, did a massive turn at the front to set up his teammates for the bunch sprint. “I felt good out there tonight” he explained.

“Once the break was gone, everyone had someone up there so it was a bit cat and mouse in the peloton. No-one was going to chase it to bring it back and a few riders put attacks in and I got a gap for four or five laps. I just kept the pressure on to make Raleigh chase.”

“I wasn’t too much into the red and then coming into the finish having been caught, I thought it would be best for me to lead it out. I took it up for the last six or seven laps because I knew I was going to be tired having been out there in the break and it worked out well.”

“On the final laps, I was on the front and the circuit is so tight, that you are pretty much working as hard at the front as you are in second, third and so on down the line so I was kicking hard out of the bends into the headwind so the elastic band effect got harder and harder for those behind.”

“I’d then recover down the hill and do the same again so it was alright. On the last lap, I nailed it coming out of the second to last corner onto the flat and Deano (Dean Downing) and Kristian (House) came round us and Jon (Mould) and Niklas (Gustavsson) were up there for UK Youth so it was perfect for the team.”

There were some quite spectacular crashes on the sweeping right hander. Here Hugh Wilson somersaults over James McCallum.

A lap out and Chris Opie (UK Youth) gaps Ed Clancy but the Olympic champion managed to hold the gap and get to the final corner first to win the race and relegate Opie into second for the third time in a row in this event.

Winner of the IG Sprints on the night was Alex Blain who took the Gold jersey off his Raleigh teammate Tom Scully

Team winners on the night were UK Youth who opened up a two point lead on Team Raleigh in second.

Winner of the 2/3/4 support race was Jack Sadler (Junior) who rides for valued sponsor of VeloUK, VanillaBikes.com. Danny Fox of another valued sponsor of VeloUK, RST Clothing/Trigon Bikes, was third and his brother Joe rode well later for MG-Maxifuel later in the pro race. We’ll bring you results when we get them.

Provisional Results

Round Four Aberystwyth, Individual Result

1) Ed Clancy, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
2) Chris Opie, GBR, Team UK Youth
3) Alexandre Blain, FRA, Team Raleigh
4) Andy Tennant, GBR, Madison Genesis
5) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
6) Dean Downing, GBR, Madison Genesis
7) Jon Mould, GBR, Team UK Youth
8) Niklas Gustavsson, SWE, Team UK Youth
9) Tobyn Horton, GBR, Team UK Youth
10) Liam Holohan, GBR, Madison Genesis

Round Four Aberystwyth, Team Result

1) Team UK Youth
2) Madison Genesis
3) Team Raleigh
4) Rapha Condor JLT
5) Metaltek – Knights of Old
6) Team IG Sigma Sport
7) Node4 Giordana Racing
8) MG Maxifuel
9) Spin Rotor – Primal – C-Originals
10) Team Hope Factory Racing

Team Standings, post-Round Four
1) Team UK Youth, 36pts
2) Team Raleigh, 34pts
3) Madison Genesis, 33pts
4) Rapha Condor JLT, 29pts
5) Node4 Giordana Racing, 24pts
6) Metaltek – Knights of Old, 20pts
7) MG Maxifuel, 13pts
8) Team IG Sigma Sport, 13pts
9) Team Hope Factory Racing, 12pts
10) Spin Rotor – Primal – C-Originals, 5pts

IG Sprints winner Round Four Aberystwyth: Alexandre Blain, FRA, Team Raleigh

Costa Express Fastest Lap Aberystwyth: Ed Clancy, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 1:10

IG Sprints standings, post-Round Four

1) Alexandre Blain, FRA, 26pts
2) Tom Scully, NZL, 24pts
3) Kristian House, GBR, 20pts
4) Felix English, IRL, 12pts
5) Chris Opie, GBR, 11pts

You can also catch the action on ITV4 – click here to find out when its on the box …

Click here to read about last year’s event won by Kristian House

Live Photos (internet permitting)

Live Text Updates

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series takes place at the following dates & locations:
1 – Round One Tuesday 14th May Kirkcaldy, Fife

2 – Round Two Thursday 16th May Durham, County Durham

3 -Round Three Tuesday 21st May Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
(includes women’s Johnson Health Tech GP Series)

4 -Round Four Friday 24th May Aberystwyth, Ceredigion

5 -Round Five Tuesday 28th May Torquay, Devon

6 -Round Six Thursday 30th May Colchester, Essex
(includes women’s Johnson Health Tech GP Series)

7 -Round Seven Tuesday 4th June Redditch, Worcestershire
(includes women’s Johnson Health Tech GP Series)

8 -Round Eight Thursday 6th June Canary Wharf, London

9 -Round Nine Tuesday 11th June Woking, Surrey
(includes women’s Johnson Health Tech GP Series)

10 – Round Ten Thursday 13th June Aylsham, Norfolk
(includes women’s Johnson Health Tech GP Series)

Round Eleven Friday 14th June Ipswich, Suffolk

The Teams for 2013 doing all ten rounds are: (click for rider list)
– Rapha Condor JLT,
– Team UK Youth,
– Team Raleigh,
– NODE 4 Giordana Racing,
– MG – Maxifuel Pro Cycling,
– IG Sigma Sport,
– Metaltek – Knights of Old Racing Team,
– Team Hope Factory Racing,
– Madison Genesis,
– Spin Rotor – Primal – Coriginals

Note: each round will have a guest team or two. (click for rider list)

Past winners of this unique competition include Team Halfords Bikehut (2009), Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta (2010), Rapha Condor Sharp (2011) and Endura Racing (2012).

Related Link: A look back at the 2012 Tour Series here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

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Photo Special: Circuit Change for Aberyswyth Tour Series

Larry Hickmott — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:16:10 +0000

Due to the potential of continued inclement weather, the Aber Cycle Fest organisers in conjunction with Pearl Izumi Tour Series organisers have amended the circuit for this evening’s Round Four.

UK Youth’s Chris Opie, who has twice been second on the old circuit said after a ride around “It’s tight and twisty. I think it will be a lot of fun. The finish has moved and we’re going clockwise and you still have some of the seafront on the route.”

UK Youth look at the new circuit, Ian Wilkinson, Chris Opie, Tobyn Horton, Niklas Gustavsson and Welshman Jon Mould.

“Starting with where the original finish was, you turn around 180 degrees and head in the other direction. The final corner is still the final corner but in the other direction. You then have a slight false flat for the finish 120 metres from the corner. 50 metres after that is the next corner, a right hander on paving for about 80 metres to the next right hand corner.”

“You then go down a narrow lane into a sharp left hand corner and along past the University and then you have the coolest part of the circuit potentially as long as its not too gusty. You have a nice sweeping downhill bend onto the sea front again and towards the final corner (pits just before).”

“Its going to be a bit of blur and will be a really fast lap.”

Andy Hawes from the Tour Series explains to Tom Scull (Raleigh), one of the riders of the series, about the circuit for this evening.

Organisers have considered the safety of spectators, staff and competitors in all events and as a consequence have adjusted the circuit. The revised Aberystwyth circuit runs clockwise from a start/finish location on Pier Street, turning right onto Great Darkgate Street and then right into Castle Street.

The route then turns left onto King Street outside the Old College onto King Street before turning right back onto the New Promenade. The final corner will be the right hander from the New Promenade on to the now uphill drag to the finish line on Pier Street at the junction with New Street.

The riders come down the slope beneath the castle and into the back straight along the season front.

At just under one kilometre the circuit will be now be focussed on the sheltered town centre.

Due to the forecasted high tide this evening the start time of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series Round Four will also be brought forward to 6.30pm.

The Aber Cycle Festival continues over Saturday and Sunday with downhill mountain biking making its debut in Aberystwyth on what is possibly the perfect setting for such a race – Constitution Hill.

The finish being constructed away from the wind on the sea front.

Sunday sees the new Welsh Wild West Sportive, with a choice of three routes in the beautiful Ceredigion countryside.

For more information, please visit www.abercyclefest.com

Below – The revised Pearl Izumi Tour Series Aberystwyth circuit

Riders turn right into this before …

… going down (hill) this narrow lane into a left hander at the bottom.

The race for the first time goes down both sides of the University

Barrier man has been busy with the changes to the circuit.

Chris Opie demonstrates how light the UK Youth Cervelo bike is as he lets the wind blow it upwards

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

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Report: Eastwood Strikes at Moreton Race Rd 3

Larry Hickmott — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:41:46 +0000

Normal service was resumed at the midweek Moreton RR Series in the South with a win for Jay Eastwood

Thanks to Eamonn Deane ... Prolific winner Jason Eastwood (Primera-sport) chalked up his first win in the 2013 evening series. Eastwood won a clean sprint, half a wheel ahead a fast improving Jordan Wade (VC ST Raphael).

Wade in turn held off Daryl Price (Poole Wh), coming fast on his inside. The fourteen strong scratch group lacked cohesion to start with but as the numbers thinned, things started to gel and the time gaps tumbled.

It was just 20 seconds at the bell and the catch was a formality. Once again a full field of 60 signed on with heavy showers leaving the roads wet and by the end riders were complaining of the cold.

More photos from Eamonn Deane here

Result

1, JAY EASTWOOD (PRIMERA-SPORT.COM)
2, JORDAN WADE (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS)
3, DARYL PRICE (POOLE WH)
4, STEVE DRING (ECHELON-ROTOR)
5, LUKE GRAY (TREK UK)
6, MATT MILDON (MUD,SWEAT’N GEARS)
7, KIM ABBOT (OFF CAMBER)
8, VINCE AVERY (PURBECK PELETON)
9, ROLAND TILLEY (RIDEBIKE.CO.UK)
10, ASHLEY DALE (BUCC)

Message from UK-BIKING
We are overwhelmed by the number of riders turning up to our first 2 events. For safety reasons we are only allowed to race with 60 riders, and unfortunately, for the first time in the 9 years of the event, we had to turn riders away last Thursday.

We would like to say thank you to the unfortunate riders for their understanding and accepting this obvious disappointment. As a result, we are now looking into setting up an online entry system in time for the 4th event on 30th May. Although it doesn’t change the problem of the rider cap, it does give everyone a fair chance of entering races and also avoids the queues and turning people away on the night.

We are planning to allow riders to enter any of the remaining 9 events and pay online. This system will only be available to current TLI card holders and entry fees will be non-refundable. The rider list will be viewable and if there are spaces you can still enter on the line.

We hope to have something up and running by Friday.

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Result: President’s Trophy Handicap Road Race 2013

Larry Hickmott — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:30:10 +0000

James Lewis leads a 1-2 for NFTO in the President’s Trophy Handicap Road Race at Neath, West Glamorgan

Photo Album from Huw Fairclough

Photo: Huw Fairclough

Result
1. James Lewis – NFTO
2. Hugh Wilson – NFTO
3. Rhys Lloyd – Metaltek Scott
4. Owen James – County Cycles
5. John Holt – County Cyles
6. Rupert Denney – Dream Cycles
7. Graeme Boswell – Cardiff Ajax CC
8. Dan Davies – Team Wallis
9. Adam King – Cardiff Jif
10. Paul Bennett – Cardiff Jif

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

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