Rapha’s Zak Dempster scored his fourth big victory of the year when he scored the required bonus seconds in the first hotspot of stage 3 to win the overall for the Tour DoonHame.
The Tour Doon Hame | Promoted by Wallacehill Cycling Club | Race Report by Carl J Lawrenson
| Stage 1 Report |Â Stage 2 Report |
Photos (Over 100 images from the race – more from Endura Racing)
Stage 3: Dumfries – Castle Douglas, 92 miles, Monday 25th April 2011
With just two seconds separating first and second places, and only 20 seconds covering the top eight riders on general classification, the third and final stage of The Tour Doon Hame looked set to be a cliff-hanger where every second would count, and so it turned out to be.
A field of 110 riders left Dumfries for the final time with the Scottish Power Renewables yellow jersey worn by Matt Cronshaw of Team Raleigh. In second place was man of the season so far, Zak Dempster of Rapha Condor Sharp. Following a string of victories – the most recent at Rutland-Melton just a week earlier – there was no question that the tall Australian was in top form, and Cronshaw’s slender two second advantage was going to be tough to defend. With Jack Bauer (Endura Racing) at twelve seconds and Ian Bibby (Motorpoint) at 13, both of whom had tasted success at the 2010 edition of the race, it was clear that the time bonuses available along the route at the hot spot sprints and also on the finish line would be the key to victory.
The peloton was active right from the moment the neutralised flag was pulled in and Dempster was ominously one of the members of an early breakaway that eased out a small advantage with 3 miles covered. Though it was quickly brought back, continued attacks up to the first intermediate sprint at Haugh of Urr featured Rapha men and was an early indication of the teams intent. This tactic bore fruit, although the peloton were all back together by the sprint line, Dempster crossed it first earning the 3 second time bonus and leapfrogging Cronshaw to become yellow jersey on the road.
Passing through the outskirts of Castle Douglas, which would be the scene of the race finish later in the day, it was Bibby’s turn to collect a time bonus at the sprint line, but shortly afterward an attack by four riders: Wouter Sybrandy (Sigmasport Specialized), Kevin Dawson (Sportscover), Peter Murdoch (Second Helpings) and Tom Barras (Cyclepremier-Metaltek) was quickly joined by Magnus Backstedt (Team UK Youth) and Peter Williams (Motorpoint).
With Dutchman Sybrandy the best placed on GC at 25th place, 1:10 behind the intial lead of Cronshaw, the move seemed opportunistic at best. However the gap grew to in excess of 1 minute as the race reached Mossdale with 31 miles gone, and shortly afterward it was the Sigmasport rider who became the virtual yellow jersey as the advantage exceeded his time deficit on GC. The group continued to work well and stretched the lead to a maximum of 2 minutes 22 seconds at Moniaive.
Although King of the Mountains leader Bauer was not in the lead group, the others were not in contention for the climbers prize so as the last climb – a third category ascent of Wether Hill – was completed, Bauer was confirmed as the outright winner of the J & B Print polka dot jersey he had held since the first stage. With Backstedt in the break he guaranteed his win in the Endura sprints competition with a first place at St Johns Town of Dalry.
As the race entered its final 30 miles the gap to the leaders was rapidly reducing as Rapha and Endura in particular were setting the pace at the head of the peloton. The 6 leaders were briefly reduced to 5 as Williams overshot a corner, but quickly regained the group. However the relentless pace behind saw their advantage stand at just 24 seconds with 20 miles to go. Further misfortune hit the breakaway as Barras punctured and Murdoch blew.
Matt Cronshaw, Zak Dempster and Jack Bauer, the top 3 in the 2011 DoonHame.
With the yellow jersey now back with Dempster, Sybrandy and Williams were the last of the breakaway to remain clear but the inevitable catch came with 6 miles to go and the stage was set for another bunch gallop.
Rounding the final corner into the main street at Castle Douglas, close to 50 riders filled the full width of the road as the uphill charge for the line gathered pace. Following his win at Dumfries on stage 2, Johnny McEvoy again proved to have the best sprint and took the victory.
But where were Dempster and Cronshaw? Both missed out on the final time bonuses with Dempster finishing fourth behind McEvoy, Chris Opie (Pendragon) and Marcin Bialoblocki (Motorpoint) while Cronshaw crossed the line in 13th place. With the first 47 finishers awarded the same time, the judges deliberations finally confirmed that Dempster’s win in the first hot spot sprint and the 3 seconds it carried was enough for him to take the overall victory by just 1 second from a clearly disappointed Cronshaw. Bauer secured third place overall closely followed by Bibby in fourth.
With Sigmasport-Specialized taking away a luxury hamper of Scottish delicacies as winners of the team competition the podium presentations were complete and the second edition of The Tour Doon Hame had proved a worthy opener to the 2011 Premier Calendar Competition.
The action now moves on to Lincoln on May 8th, but with Zak Dempster in his current form will anyone be able to better him there?
Stage winner Jonny McEvoy with the top 3 on stage 3, Marcin Bialoblocki and Chris Opie.
Magnus Backstedt, Points winner in DoonHame.
Team winners, Sigma Sport.
Stage 3
1 Johnny McEvoy* Motorpoint E  03:29:43
2 Chris Opie Pendragon – LeCol E  st
3 Marcin Bialoblocki Motorpoint E  st
4 Zak Dempster Rapha – Condor E  st
5 Yanto Barker Pendragon – LeCol E  st
6 Marcel Six Twenty3c – Orbea E  st
7 Rafa Rodriguez Twenty3c – Orbea 1  st
8 Steve Lampier Sigma Specialized E  st
9 Ian Bibby Motorpoint E  st
10 Will Bjergfelt Motorpoint E  st
11 Robert Hassan* Endura Pedal Power 1  st
12 Simon Gaywood Corley Cycles E  st
13 Matt Cronshaw Team Raleigh E  st
14 David McLean Pasta Montegrappa E  st
15 John Tanner Sportscover E  st
16 Ashley Brown Sportscover 1  st
17 Jack Adams Forme Sanlamere E  st
18 Dale Appleby CyclePremier.com E  st
19 Tom Last Sigma Specialized 1  st
20 David McGowan Team UK Youth 1  st
21 Jon Mozeley Pendragon – LeCol 1  st
22 Duncan Moralee Sportscover 2  st
23 Graham Briggs Rapha – Condor E  st
24 Richard Hepworth CyclePremier.com E  st
25 James Sampson Motorpoint E  st
26 Matt Higgins Corley Cycles 1  st
27 Paul Londors Anglo Scottish 1  st
28 Simon Richardson Sigma Specialized E  st
29 Dexter Gardias* Forme Sanlamere 1  st
30 Chris McNamara Corley Cycles E  st
31 Alex Coutts Giant Kenda Felt E  st
32 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh 1  st
33 Alex Wetterhall Endura Racing E  st
34 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Specialized E  st
35 Ashley Cox Corley Cycles E  st
36 Evan Oliphant Endura Racing E  st
37 Gael LeBellec Team Raleigh E  st
38 Pete Williams Motorpoint E  st
39 Andrew Griffiths* Twenty3c – Orbea 1  st
40 Jake Tanner* Sportscover 1  st
41 Maarten de Jonge Endura Racing E  st
42 Jack Bauer Endura Racing E  st
43 Matt Jones* Team Raleigh E  st
44 Robin Wilkins Velo Ecosse 1  st
45 Richard Handley* Team Raleigh E  st
46 Robert Smail CyclePremier.com 1  st
47Â James Gullen*Â Teamwallis CHHÂ EÂ Â st
48 Kit Gilham Sigma Specialized E at 00:16
49 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint E at 00:19
50 Wojciech Szlachta Pasta Montegrappa E at 00:22
51 Alistair Rutherford Anglo Scottish E at 00:53
52 Richard Mardle Giant Kenda Felt 1  st
53 J. Lowsley-Williams* Team UK Youth 2 at 00:55
54 Calum Wilkinson Endura Racing E at 00:58
55Â Jack Cousins*Â Teamwallis CHHÂ 1Â Â st
56 James Stewart Team UK Youth E at 00:59
57 Collin Humphrey Sportscover 1 at 01:07
58 James Sparling Team Raleigh E at 01:10
59 Simon Wilson CyclePremier.com E at 01:12
60 Matt Kipling Team Raleigh E at 01:20
61 James Williamson Sigma Specialized 1  st
62 Jack Anderson Endura Racing E  st
63 Dean Downing Rapha – Condor E  st
64 James McCallum Rapha – Condor E  st
65 Tom Barras CyclePremier.com E  st
66 Magnus Backstedt Team UK Youth E  st
67 Tom Murray Sigma Specialized E  st
68 Kevin Dawson Sportscover E  st
69 Jake Hales* Corley Cycles 1 at 02:47
70 Peter Murdoch Second Helpings 2 at 04:23
71 Mike Cuming* Twenty3c – Orbea E at 04:55
72 Scott McCrossan* Endura Pedal Power 2 at 08:28
73Â Jacob Tipper*Â Teamwallis CHHÂ 1Â Â st
74 Dave Henderson Giant Kenda Felt 1  st
75 Will Fox Forme Sanlamere E  st
76 Eddie Addis Velo Ecosse 2  st
77 Alan Thomson Glasgow Couriers 2  st
78 Gruff Lewis Team UK Youth 2  st
79 Rob Orr Forme Sanlamere 2  st
80 Kristian Downs Twenty3c – Orbea 1  st
81 James McLaughlin* Pendragon – LeCol 2  st
82 Richard Meadows* Pendragon – LeCol 1  st
83 Andy Lyons Twenty3c – Orbea E  st
84 Steve Adams Sigma Specialized 1  st
85 Ben Greenwood Rapha – Condor E  st
86 Liam Cowie* Endura Pedal Power 2 at 16:20
87 Michael Smith Corley Cycles 2 at 20:06
88 Felix English* Anglo Scottish E at 20:09
89 Alexander Ray* Pasta Montegrappa E at 21:58
90 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers 2 at 34:54:00
91 Craig Adams Second Helpings 2  st
92 Tim Lawson Anglo Scottish 1  st
93 Jordan Stokes* Endura Pedal Power 2  st
FINAL OVERALL
1 Zak Dempster Rapha – Condor E  09:58:52
2 Matt Cronshaw Team Raleigh E at 00:01
3 Jack Bauer Endura Racing E at 00:12
4 Ian Bibby Motorpoint E at 00:13
5 Yanto Barker Pendragon – LeCol E at 00:16
6 Steve Lampier Sigma Specialized E  st
7 Matt Higgins Corley Cycles 1  st
8 Simon Richardson Sigma Specialized E at 00:21
9 Marcin Bialoblocki Motorpoint E at 01:06
10 Alex Wetterhall Endura Racing E at 01:08
11 Johnny McEvoy* Motorpoint E at 01:09
12 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh 1  st
13 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Specialized E  st
14 Maarten de Jonge Endura Racing E at 01:10
15 Marcel Six Twenty3c – Orbea E at 01:11
16 Simon Gaywood Corley Cycles E  st
17 David McLean Pasta Montegrappa E  st
18 Will Bjergfelt Motorpoint E  st
19 Robert Hassan* Endura Pedal Power 1  st
20 Ashley Cox Corley Cycles E  st
21 Alex Coutts Giant Kenda Felt E  st
22 Gael LeBellec Team Raleigh E  st
23 Matt Jones* Team Raleigh E  st
24 Pete Williams Motorpoint E at 01:26
25 Evan Oliphant Endura Racing E at 01:27
26 Rafa Rodriguez Twenty3c – Orbea 1 at 01:29
27 Graham Briggs Rapha – Condor E  st
28 Jack Adams Forme Sanlamere E  st
29 Jon Mozeley Pendragon – LeCol 1  st
30 Dale Appleby CyclePremier.com E  st
31 Richard Hepworth CyclePremier.com E  st
32 James Sampson Motorpoint E  st
33 Dexter Gardias* Forme Sanlamere 1  st
34 Andrew Griffiths* Twenty3c – Orbea 1  st
35 Richard Handley* Team Raleigh E  st
36 Tom Last Sigma Specialized 1 at 01:57
37 J. Lowsley-Williams* Team UK Youth 2 at 02:24
38 Dean Downing Rapha – Condor E at 02:30
39 James Williamson Sigma Specialized 1 at 02:31
40 Magnus Backstedt Team UK Youth E at 02:36
41 Collin Humphrey Sportscover 1  st
42 James Sparling Team Raleigh E at 02:39
43 Simon Wilson CyclePremier.com E at 02:41
44 Tom Barras CyclePremier.com E at 02:46
45 Matt Kipling Team Raleigh E at 02:49
46 James McCallum Rapha – Condor E  st
47 Tom Murray Sigma Specialized E at 05:00
48 Richard Mardle Giant Kenda Felt 1 at 07:06
49 Chris Opie Pendragon – LeCol E at 07:37
50 Paul Londors Anglo Scottish 1 at 07:38
51 Duncan Moralee Sportscover 2 at 07:40
52 Chris McNamara Corley Cycles E at 07:43
53 Kit Gilham Sigma Specialized E at 07:59
54 Wojciech Szlachta Pasta Montegrappa E at 08:05
55 Robin Wilkins Velo Ecosse 1 at 08:23
56 Calum Wilkinson Endura Racing E at 08:38
57 James Gullen* Teamwallis CHH E at 08:50
58 Jack Anderson Endura Racing E at 09:00
59 Kevin Dawson Sportscover E at 09:03
60 James Stewart Team UK Youth E at 09:27
61 Gruff Lewis Team UK Youth 2 at 09:55
62 Scott McCrossan* Endura Pedal Power 2 at 09:57
63 James McLaughlin* Pendragon – LeCol 2  st
64 Andy Lyons Twenty3c – Orbea E  st
65 David McGowan Team UK Youth 1 at 11:05
66 Alistair Rutherford Anglo Scottish E at 11:58
67 Peter Murdoch Second Helpings 2 at 12:06
68 Ben Greenwood Rapha – Condor E at 12:16
69 Dave Henderson Giant Kenda Felt 1 at 14:38
70 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint E at 15:06
71 Steve Adams Sigma Specialized 1 at 16:11
72 Alan Thomson Glasgow Couriers 2  st
73 Will Fox Forme Sanlamere E  st
74 Jake Hales* Corley Cycles 1 at 17:30
75 Ashley Brown Sportscover 1 at 18:32
76 Kristian Downs Twenty3c – Orbea 1 at 23:11
77 Robert Smail CyclePremier.com 1 at 24:13:00
78 Michael Smith Corley Cycles 2 at 27:49:00
79 Richard Meadows* Pendragon – LeCol 1 at 28:31:00
80 Alexander Ray* Pasta Montegrappa E at 29:33:00
81 John Tanner Sportscover E at 32:21:00
82 Jake Tanner* Sportscover 1  st
83 Jack Cousins* Teamwallis CHH 1 at 33:19:00
84 Eddie Addis Velo Ecosse 2 at 40:49:00
85 Jacob Tipper* Teamwallis CHH 1 at 40:58:00
86 Craig Adams Second Helpings 2 at 42:37:00
87 Mike Cuming* Twenty3c – Orbea E at 43:59:00
88 Rob Orr Forme Sanlamere 2 at 45:27:00
89 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Couriers 2 at 45:52:00
90 Felix English* Anglo Scottish E at 46:13:00
91 Liam Cowie* Endura Pedal Power 2 at 53:08:00
92 Jordan Stokes* Endura Pedal Power 2 at 01:11:24
93 Tim Lawson Anglo Scottish 1 at 01:32:08
Points
1 Magnus Backstedt    Team UK Youth    13
2 Matt Cronshaw    Team Raleigh    7
3 Zak Dempster    Rapha – Condor    6
4 Tom Barras    CyclePremier.com    5
5 Ian Bibby    Motorpoint    4
6 Alex Wetterhall    Endura Racing    4
7 Pete Williams    Motorpoint    4
8 Alexander Ray*    Pasta Montegrappa    4
9 Liam Holohan    Team Raleigh    3
10 Wouter Sybrandy    Sigma Specialized    3
11 Evan Oliphant    Endura Racing    3
12 Gruff Lewis    Team UK Youth    3
13 Marcin Bialoblocki    Motorpoint    2
14 Maarten de Jonge    Endura Racing    2
15 Dean Downing    Rapha – Condor    2
16 James Stewart    Team UK Youth
KOM
1 Jack Bauer    Endura Racing    29
2 Will Bjergfelt    Motorpoint    19
3 Richard Handley*    Team Raleigh    16
4 Wouter Sybrandy    Sigma Specialized    11
5 Simon Richardson    Sigma Specialized    10
6 Robert Hassan*    Endura Pedal Power    9
7 Magnus Backstedt    Team UK Youth    8
8 Kevin Dawson    Sportscover    7
9 Steve Lampier    Sigma Specialized    7
10 Pete Williams    Motorpoint    7
11 David McGowan    Team UK Youth    7
12 Marcin Bialoblocki    Motorpoint    6
13 Tom Barras    CyclePremier.com    6
14 Dean Downing    Rapha – Condor    5
15 James Sampson    Motorpoint    5
16 Zak Dempster    Rapha – Condor    4
17 James Williamson    Sigma Specialized    4
18 Ben Greenwood    Rapha – Condor    4
19 Ian Bibby    Motorpoint    3
20 Liam Holohan    Team Raleigh    2
TEAM
1    Sigma Specialized       29:58:24
2    Motorpoint    at    00:50
3    Endura Racing       st
4    Corley Cycles       st
5    Team Raleigh       st
6    Pendragon – LeCol    at    01:26
7    Rapha – Condor    at    02:10
8    Twenty3c – Orbea    at    02:21
9    CyclePremier.com    at    02:39
10    Team UK Youth    at    04:33
11    Sportscover    at    15:04
12    Giant Kenda Felt    at    16:20
13    Forme Sanlamere    at    17:21
14    Endura Pedal Power    at    33:23:00
15    Pasta Montegrappa    at    35:31:00
16    Anglo Scottish    at    01:04:01
17    Teamwallis CHH    at    01:21:19
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