Report: Banbury Star Men’s Road Race

Banbury Star CC hosted their annual category 3/4 road race at the weekend where in each race, the riders battled up the infamous climb called The Knowle at Edgehill three times.

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At 9:30am, the category 3/4 race was led out Steve Jefferies wearing his own race number and the race number of his close friend and Epic Cycle team mate Nick Rawlinson. Sadly Nick passed away in February from the genetic disorder, Brugada’s Syndrome.

Both riders had entered the race at the end of last year and looked forward to racing together through 2012. Before the race, Steve said his mum wants Nick’s memory to live on especially in the hobby he loved.”

The weather did nothing but encouraged the men to try and gain advantage over fellow riders in the race. As winner Dave Walker said “I really struggled on the climb, I had to start at the front then drift to the back and recover.”

He saw an opportunity open out for him at the finish which allowed him to slip through and ‘grind‘ his way to the finish. He said that the course is one of the best he has ridden, and that the King Of The Knowle award, for the fastest over the three climbs of Edgehill makes for an aggressive race. King Of The Knowle was awarded to Michael Ward, Velo Club Montpellier.

Banbury Star rider Luke Souter, who finished fourth said it was tough up the hill and that the wind made it hard for riders to break away. He noted that it was very enjoyable to ride on familiar roads.

After the race Steve Jefferies said “I drew solace from the fact that [Nick] would have loved the race, the course and the weather combined to make it a race to remember.”

RESULT

1 Dave Walker Army Cycling Union
2 Felix Loftus, Team Zappi’s
3 Jonathan Marchini Beeline Bicycles RT
4 Luke Souter Banbury Star CC
5 Jason Lazard Twenty3c
6 Jack Beezer Leighton Buzzard RCC
7 Will Houghton Hillingdon Cycling Club
8 Andrew Wearing Kenilworth Wheelers
9 Joe Atkins Coventry Road Club
10 Harry Walton Cheltenham & Country CC

KOM Michael Ward Velo Club Montpellier

1st Junior
Will Houghton, Hillingdon Cycling Club

1st Veteran
Jason Lazard, Twenty3c

 
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