Photo Albums & Report: Halfords Tour Series Canary Wharf

Jonny McEvoy and Motorpoint take final round honours in Canary Wharf

Overall winners, Rapha Condor Sharp celebrate their first series victory

After their early round dominance wore off, Rapha Condor Sharp finally did enough to clinch their much sought after Halfords Tour Series title at Canary Wharf in the final round of the 2011 Series.

Having come third overall for each of the past two seasons of the unique team based Series, the men of John Herety’s team finally came good, to take a popular and hard fought victory. Defending Halfords Tour Series Champions Motorpoint Pro Cycling went out with a bang, thanks to Jonny McEvoy soloing to victory in the world famous business and shopping district, leading his squad to the team win on the night, their first of 2011.

Behind Endura Racing came second on the night, to ensure the final deficit to Rapha Condor Sharp was just five points. Lower down the standings CyclePremier.com – Metaltek used a final evening fifth place to overtake Team Raleigh in the standings for sixth overall, while Twenty3c Orbea leapfrogged the Pendragon Le Col Colnago team to come eighth.

The Photo Album

 
The winning move on the night evolved from a strong five rider break, containing Dean Downing, Scott Thwaites, Wouter Sybrandy and eventual winner McEvoy that formed half way into a fast paced race.  Having lost out in the sprint from a small group in Woking, McEvoy attacked his breakaway companions with two laps to go, confirming that the race would not come down to the expected bunch sprint.

Approaching the line with two to go, McEvoy powered clear, and despite the efforts of Tour de France stage winner Backstedt, the other escapees couldn’t quite close the gap, which McEvoy slowly but surely extended. Over the final two tours of the one kilometre Canary Wharf circuit, McEvoy held off his four colleagues, crossing the line arms aloft ahead of Downing, Thwaites, Backstedt and Sybrandy.

In a thrilling finish to the series, Jonny McEvoy manages  to hold on for a great solo victory in London.

From the bunch Paul Voss leapt clear on the run to the line to take sixth as Endura Racing sought to do everything they could in one last bid to overhaul Rapha Condor Sharp in the standings. The German’s move helped Endura take second on the night, behind a rampant Motorpoint who placed McEvoy, Horton and Bialoblocki in the top ten for their first team win of 2011.  That win helped the reigning Champions secure third in the Series ahead of Sigma Sport – Specialized.

Support Photo Album

There was success for Sigma Sport – Specialized though, as Steve Lampier picked up enough points in the Boardman Bikes Sprint competition to finally overhaul long term leader Kristian House at the top of the standings. Rapha Condor Sharp though take the honours and the plaudits, with Ed Clancy and Andy Tennant maintaining their incredible record of having won the Series in each of its three seasons – with Team Halfords Bikehut in 2009, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta in 2010 and now the men in black in 2011.

In the curtain raising Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix, the team from Thomson Reuters took the win in the ProAm relay, helped on their way to victory by the CyclePremier.com – Metaltek team.  Thomson Reuters headed off the challenge of teams from among others Clifford Chance, Saxo Bank, BP and Canary Wharf Group.

Highlights of the final round of The Halfords Tour Series from Canary Wharf will be shown on ITV4 at 20.00 on Friday 17th June, with a repeat on Saturday 18th June at 09.40

Top-class professional cycling returns to central London in September with the final stage of The Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest cycle race and the country’s largest free-to-spectate live sporting event.  The Tour reaches its climax on Whitehall on Sunday 18th September as part of a day of cycling festivities which includes The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride London.

First team victory for Motorpoint in the 2011 series as they just pipped Endura Racing for the top honours on the night.

Jason White (Cycle Premier Metaltek) gets his hands in the air after helping his corporate team to victory in the support race.

Raleigh’s Matt Cronshaw on the attack early on.

Steve Lampier (Sigma Sport Specialized) attacked the first sprint and got the points he needed to keep the Boardman Bikes yellow jersey.

Magnus Backsted of Team UK Youth, has his best race of the series while watched by team principle Nigel Mansell.

Bell lap and the race to the line is on in a pursuit between McEvoy, Backstedt and the trio of Scott Thwaites (Endura  Racing), Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport Specialized).

The cheerleaders were back for the Canary Wharf round of the series.

Surrounded by skycrapers, the location for the final round in Canary Wharf was certainly spectacular!


After showering each other in bubbly, the Rapha Condor Sharp team were clearly delighted with winning their first Halfords Tour Series.

Round Eight, Canary Wharf, Results

Team Results
1. Motorpoint Pro Cycling
2. Endura Racing
3. Rapha Condor Sharp
4. Sigma Sport – Specialized
5. CyclePremier.com – Metaltek
6. Team UK Youth
7. Twenty3c Orbea
8. Team Raleigh
9. Pendragon Le Col Colnago
10. Wilier GoSelfDrive.com

Individual Results
1. Jonny McEvoy Motorpoint Pro Cycling
2. Dean Downing Rapha Condor Sharp
3. Scott Thwaites Endura Racing
4. Magnus Backstedt Team UK Youth
5. Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport – Specialized
6. Paul Voss Endura Racing
7. Tobyn Horton Motorpoint Pro Cycling
8. James McCallum Rapha Condor Sharp
9. Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing
10. Marcin Bialoblocki Motorpoint Pro Cycling

Boardman Bikes Sprints winner
Jonny McEvoy Motorpoint Pro Cycling

Final Team Standings, after Round Eight
1. Rapha Condor Sharp 75pts
2. Endura Racing 70pts
3. Motorpoint Pro Cycling 56pts
4. Sigma Sport – Specialized 49pts
5. Team UK Youth 41pts
6. CyclePremier.com – Metaltek 38pts
7. Team Raleigh 37pts
8. Twenty3c Orbea 33pts
9. Pendragon Le Col Colnago 31pts
10. Wilier GoSelfDrive.com 10pts

Final Boardman Bikes Sprints standings, after Round Eight
1. Steve Lampier Sigma Sport – Specialized 32pts
2. Kristian House Rapha Condor Sharp 27pts
3. Dean Downing Rapha Condor Sharp 24pts

For more information on The Halfords Tour Series, please visit: www.tourseries.co.uk.

The Halfords Tour Series is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. For your chance to ride a Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride, replicating a stage of The Tour of Britain, please visit www.tourride.co.uk

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