Two reports on the Rapha SuperCross in London, the second act in a double header of cross in London this weekend plus pictures from Cheryl King (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckingimages/)
L-R: Kenta Gallagher, Jody Crawforth, Paul Oldham and Lee Williams. Photo: Cheryl King (www.ckingimages.co.uk & http://ckingimages.wordpress.com/)
Paul Burgoine Report
The next instalment of the cyclo-cross invasion of London this weekend was at Alexandra Palace, the final race of the Rapha Super Cross Series which was run on almost the same format as the Knog Muddy Hell event. It was lovely weather again in London, not the sort of conditions you would associate with Cyclo-Cross, but it did bring the crowds out again.
I didn’t walk the course but from what I could see it looked pretty tough. Again, there were all the things you associate with this discipline mostly beer, frites and cowbells … I found it quite difficult to follow the races due to the lack of a programme or rider list but the organisers did take this point on board and said they was new to this type of event so the whole experience was a bit of a learning curve.
Apart from the Elite riders, it was great to see so many children and club racers willing to give it a go; many for the first time. I think when people tell you it’s only 50 minutes, you automatically think that’s not too bad, but the thing is from start to finish you get no rest, there is no sitting in a bunch and getting pulled along. I did feel that the Rapha event lacked the atmosphere of the Rollapaluza one but both have been instrumental in raising the profile of Cyclo-Cross.
The Elite race saw the return of Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles) after missing the Muddy hell race to attend a wedding. It wasn’t long before National Cyclo-Cross champion Paul Oldham (Hope Technology) took control of the race and immediately pulled out a commanding lead. Oldham extended his lead on the final laps over Jody Crawford (Hargroves Cycles) in second place and Lee Williams (Wiggle) winning a tough battle with Nick Craig (Scott) for third place.
After the race, Paul told me he got a pretty good start but spent a lot of the race with one shoe hanging off; he was appreciative of the support on route describing the crowds as “awesome†and was impressed by professionalism of the whole series. The fact the profile of the sport had been highlighted, he described the Alexandra Palace course as different to what they are used to being quite hilly. There was only one thing missing … ‘Mr Blobby’
Mr Blobby was missing but there were plenty of treates on offer to help any aspiring Blobby’s to get tot he required racing weight! Photo: Cheryl King (www.ckingimages.co.uk & http://ckingimages.wordpress.com/)
Race Series Press Release
Just one point separated the top two teams in the final round of the Rapha Super Cross at Alexandra Palace but Hope Technology clung on for the overall victory from final round winners Scott UK. In the third and final sun-soaked day of action, following last weekend’s Windermere and Huddersfield openers, Hope team captain and National Champion Paul Oldham led by example, crossing the line first ahead of Hargroves’ Jody Crawforth, with Lee Williams (Wiggle) in third spot.
The tightly packed Scott UK trio of Nick Craig, Kenta Gallagher and Luke Grivell-Mellor tackled the gruelling ascent to Alexandra Palace with style to land the day’s team award, but it was not enough to topple the Hope squad of Oldham, Dave Collins, Dan Booth, Lee Westwood and Keith Murray.
The day was not all about the Elite racing, however, with a crowd of several thousand encouraging everybody from toddlers on balance bikes to novices on mountain bikes whilst enjoying beer, pies, frites, cowbells and coffee at this spectacular London venue.
The course also featured a tequila shortcut for the brave-hearted, a popular option in the novice event. “It’s better than most of the ‘cross races I’ve been to in Belgium this year,†said team boss Peter Hargroves.
The Rapha Super Cross Series will return in 2012.
Paul Oldham’s second win of the weekend. Photo: Cheryl King (www.ckingimages.co.uk & http://ckingimages.wordpress.com/)
Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles) on his Specialized cross bike. Photo: Cheryl King (www.ckingimages.co.uk & http://ckingimages.wordpress.com/)
Claire Beamont adds a touch of class to her helmet …Â Photo: Cheryl King (www.ckingimages.co.uk & http://ckingimages.wordpress.com/)
Round 3 Alexandra Palace London, 23rd October
Elite Men
1. Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing)
2. Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
3. Lee Williams (Team Wiggle)
4. Nick Craig (Scott UK)
5. Stephen Adams (Sigma Sport-Specialized)
6. Kenta Gallagher (Scott UK)
7. Dave Collins (Hope Factory Racing)
8. Luke Grivell-Mellor (Scott UK)
9. Steven James (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
10. Seb Batchelor (Team Wiggle)
11. Dan Booth (Hope Factory Racing)
12. Steve Lampier (Sigma Sport-Specialized)
13. Lee Westwood (Hope Factory Racing)
14. Jack Clarkson (Rapha/Great Britain)
15. Joe Kirkham (Rapha/Great Britain)
16. Chris Metcalfe (Charge Bikes)
17. Rob Watson (Rapha/ Great Britain)
18. Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle)
19. Harry Franklin (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
20. Andrew Nichols (Scott UK)
21. William Worral (Team Wiggle)
22. Lee Shunburne (Charge Bikes)
23. Bruce Dalton (Charge Bikes)
24. Dan Arblaster (Sigma Sport-Specialized)
25. Joe Fox (Rapha/Great Britain)
26. Matthew Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
27. James Whatling (Scott UK)
28. Kevin Knox (Vicious Velo)
29. Jon Watson (Charge Bikes)
30. Paul Sheers (Vicious Velo)
31. Simon Bird (Vicious Velo)
32. Ben Spurrier (Vicious Velo)
33. Andy Waterman (Vicious Velo)
34. Martin Eadon (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
Condor Cycles Under-23’s
1. Kenta Gallagher (Scott UK)
2. Luke Grivell-Mellor (Scott UK)
3. Steven James (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
4. Seb Batchelor (Team Wiggle)
5. Lee Westwood (Hope Factory Racing)
Veteran – Jim Bryan (Zepnat RT)
Women – Delia Beddis (Vicious Velo)
Team – Round 3, Alexandra Palace
1. Scott UK 10pts
2. Hope Factory Racing 9pts
3. Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized 8pts
4. Team Wiggle 7pts
5. Sigma Sport-Specialized 6pts
6. Rapha/GB 5pts
7. Charge Bikes 4pts
RAPHA SUPER CROSS SERIES
OVERALL RESULTS
1st Hope Factory Racing 29pts
2nd. Scott UK 28pts
3rd. Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized 22pts
4th. Team Wiggle 21pts
5th. Rapha/Great Britain Development Team 19pts
6th. Sigma Sport-Specialized 16pts
7th. Charge Bikes 12pts
Condor Cycles sponsored Under-23’s Award
U23 CHAMPION – Luke Grivell-Mellor (Scott UK)
2nd. Kenta Gallagher (Scott UK)
3rd. Steven James (Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialized)
4th. Seb Batchelor (Team Wiggle)
5th. Rob Watson (Rapha/Great Britain)
6th. Jack Clarkson (Rapha/Great Britain)
7th. Joe Moses (Rapha/Great Britain)
8th. Lee Westwood (Hope Factory Racing)
