Report: Sheffrec Spring Road Race

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Breaking clear from a leading group of eight riders with two laps to go, Tom Bustard (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes) solo’d to victory in Sheffrec CC’s 62-mile road race.

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His win completed a hatrick of wins in this event for the Herbalife-Leisure Lakes team. A field of 68 riders departed the Ruddle Centre in Braithwell to tackle 18 laps of the Stainton circuit in near gale force winds. The wind was so strong that event warning signs and even the lap board were destroyed by the force of the winds.

Tommy_Bustard

Racing started from the first lap with Tom Bustard, Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com joining forces team mate, Harry Tanfield with Benjamin Kellett, Team Hope Factory Racing and Matt Holmes, Team Raleigh. This quartet soon forged out a 25 second lead and by lap 4 were joined by Julian Gromett of Squadra RT and Tom Murray, Metaltek – Knights of Old Racing Team. This looked likely to be a race winning move but the lead was soon swallowed up by a 15 strong chasing pack which included Elite riders, Ben Ives, Sportscover, Pete Williams, Sigma Sport and local rider, Dean Downing, Madison Genesis. Downing bridged the 25 second gap solo with ease and looked very impressive all day.

With 11 laps remaining both groups came back together and with no let up on the gale force winds the peloton was now broken up into 3 groups. Many strong riders climbed off and called it a day as the wind was simply too much to handle on the exposed South Yorkshire circuit. With just over half of the race left, 8 riders slipped clear and worked well together to draw clear.

These 8 riders would stay ahead for the remaining 9 laps. In this group were original escapees, Downing, Bustard, Murray, Williams, Ives and Holmes were joined by Matthew Kipling, Velo29-Blackhawk and William Haynes, Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com. The moved soon established a 40 second lead and by lap 16 the lead group had a gap of 1.58 over the fragmenting chasers.

With 2 laps to go, Bustard broke free on the home straight and powered away leaving the rest of the bunch looking at each other to pull him back. Amazingly the Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com rider put 35 seconds into the rest by the line to claim the win comfortably. Madison Genesis rider, Dean Downing slipped away in the closing stages to claim 2nd to the delight of Daughter Lily watching.

Downing topped off a great weekend having won on the previous day at Darley Moor. Further back Tom Murray, Metaltek-Knights of Old RT easily won the bunch sprint for 3rd ahead of Pete Williams, Sigma Sport, Velo29-Blackhawk rider Matthew Kipling and team mate of Bustard, William Haynes just beating Ben Ives, Sportscover to take 6th. Raleigh rider Matt Homes came in a further 8 seconds back.

Rob Carter, TS Racing Team-Vankru lead home the chasers with RST junior rider Gabriel Cullaigh riding home to an impressive 10th place. A special mention must go to junior Dirtwheels rider, William Staveley for riding solo for most of the race but battled on to complete the distance. All riders deserve a medal for finishing.
The organisers would like to thank the commissaires Julie Rodman and Rich Mellen, NEG riders and members of Sheffrec Cycling Club for marshaling and helping set up.

1. Thomas Bustard Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Elite 62 miles in 2:27:10
2. Dean Downing Madison Genesis @45 seconds
3. Tom Murray Metaltek-Knights of Old RT @ 50 seconds
4. Pete Williams IG Sigma Sport
5. Matthew Kipling Velo29-Blackhawk
6. William Haynes Herbalife-Leisure Lakes
7. Ben Ives Sportscover
8. Matt Holmes Team Raleigh
9. Rob Carter TS Racing Team-Vankru @ 3:01
10. Gabriel Cullaigh RST Racing Team
11. Ashley Brown Team Sportscover
12. Matt Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles @ 3:10
13. Julian Gromett Squadra RT @ 3:17
14. Tom Barras Wheelbase Altura MG @ 5:10
15. David Shackleton Wilsons Wheels Race Team
16. Adam Duggleby Wheelbase Altura MGD
17. Alastair Hepworth Clay Cross Road Team
18. Harry Tanfield Herbalife-Leisure Lakes
19. Martin Ford Herbalife-Leisure Lakes
20. Stephen Swindley PMR@Toachim House
21. Joseph Moses Team Sportscover
22. Sam Boast Team Sportscover @ 8:58
23. Lee Allen Beeston RC
24. Jack Rees Achieve-Skinnergate Racing
25. Simon Maudsley Dirtwheels Cycles
26. Andrew Nichols Ciclos Uno
27. Jordan Hargreaves Team Hope Factory Racing
28. William Staveley Dirtwheels Cycles @ 2 laps

 

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