Simon Baxter wins the Glasgow Nightingale Cycling Club’s Sam Robinson Memorial Road Race on May 26
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The 38th edition of the Sam Robinson Memorial Road Race hosted by Glasgow Nightingale Cycling Club and race sponsors Solid Rock Cycles, got under way under glorious blues skies and bright sunshine. Following the classic Sam Robinson route – a demanding 79 mile course – the 2012 field refelected the race’s “classic status” in the Scottish Road Racing Calendar with 70 riders in the roll out.
Gusty conditions led to strong headwinds and cross winds at various points on the course and when the wind dropped the riders had the heat to contend with. The combination of a such a demanding course and the weather conditions meant that significant breaks could not be established and the field was gradually whittled down to leave the strongest riders to contest the finish.
An early break saw a group of thirteen riders open a 37 second gap which was gradually stretched to 55 seconds. The main field was made of two large groups separated by 5 seconds. The gap was reduced to 45 seconds as the riders approached the most testing climb of the race – The Dukes Pass – which reduced it still further to 25 seconds.
The small lead group of six riders had a 37 second lead at the 50 mile mark which they worked hard to maintain as they tackled another of the race’s testing climbs the “Top of the World”. Simon Baxter (Herbalife – Leisure Lakes Bikes) finished strongly and gapped his breakaway companions by 48 seconds in the closing hilly 10 mile circuit to finish with a time of 2:43:23. Edward Addis (Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers) was second and Gary Hand (Pedal Power-Endura-Forme Racing) took third place.
1. Simon Baxter (Herbalife – Leisure Lakes Bikes) 2:43:23
2. Edward Addis (Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers) 2:44:11
3. Gary Hand (Pedal Power-Endura-Forme Racing) 2:44:11
