Reading’s 19 year old Ben Sumner wins Virgin Active Road Race after putting in one of the most active rides of the day.
![]() |
Gordon Wiseman report/pics | Saturday 22 June ‘13
The ever strong Cranfield wind again played a major part in the proceedings in Saturday’s 50 mile Virgin Active Road Race but it was Reading’s 19 year old Ben Sumner (Beeline Bicycles RT) who picked up the race win after putting in one of the most active rides of the day.
Ben Sumner crosses the finishing line for his first road win of the year
Based on the short “tricky triangle†circuit that runs alongside the local airfield, the strong wind blew the riders up the testing climb before blowing the field apart on the exposed roads where riders can normally take a breath – and the wind was key to breaking the 70 strong field into small groups from the very early stages of the 22 lap race.
In the opening laps there were efforts to force the pace and Sumner showed his face at the front of the race from the early stages, including taking the first King of the Mountains points on lap 4.
But on lap 6 the first real significant move of the day pulled away as around six riders – including Sumner – broke away at the top of the climb. Their move was assisted by a crash at the bottom of the circuit on the next lap that saw one rider being taken away by ambulance with a suspected broken collar bone.
Sumner continued to attack and he was joined by Jamie Scott (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling) – fresh from his exploits racing in the Tour Series – with that pairing then dangling off the front of the race for a number of laps before they were pulled back into the chasing group.
The race had now completely blown apart with small groups scattered over the circuit with some riders being lapped. Up at the front the leaders were now nearly a dozen strong with Sumner still there but many saw the danger man as Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles) who was making his racing debut for the year.
With just five laps to the finish the leading riders were joined by the chasing pack of around 20 other competitors to form the main peloton left in the race but even then that larger grouping kept splintering and reforming until the final lap, when Sumner – who’d been hiding in the bunch to recover from his earlier efforts – broke away with AW Cycles Ken Buckley.
“To be quite honest, after being away for around 40 or 50 minutes I spent a few laps tucked in the bunch, just chilling, trying to recover†explained a breathless Sumner just minutes after crossing the finishing line, arms aloft in victory.
“As we started the final lap two of us were away and I thought I’d tuck in behind the other guy’ (Ken Buckley) ‘as he’s much bigger than me. I worked a little bit but I knew that if he pulled me along for a bit on the flats where he was stronger I’d have a chance as I was hoping he wouldn’t be able to stick with me on the hill where we were being push along by the tailwind.
“I caned it last time up the hill because I knew if it came down to a sprint he’d beat me so I had to give it everything I could. I’ve been injured for a good part of the season and have mainly been doing crits trying to build up my speed. I recently won a crit at Hog Hill but this is my first proper road win this year so I’m really happy. I’m hoping to get my 1st cat license this year so this win will really help towards thatâ€.
Result
1. Ben Sumner (Beeline Bicycles RT)
2. Ken Buckley (AW Cycles)
3. Jozef Metelka (Beeline Bicycles RT)
4. Ben Homa (Beeline Bicycles RT)
5. Luke Souter (Banbury Star CC)
6. Jez Honour (www.twenty3c.co.uk)
7. Lubomir Belak (St Ives CC)
8. Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park CC)
9. Andy Marriott (Spirit Racing)
10. Lee Desborough (St Ives CC)
King of the Mountains – Chris Palfreeman (45 Road Club)
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Evesham Velo Park Winter Races
- CX Result: NWCCA Season Finale
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Velopark) 14
- Crit Results: LVYCC Winter Races 2
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series #4
- Crit Result: Abingdon Race Team Winter Series 1
- CX Result: Western CX #11 (ShamCross)
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 12
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 4
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
Other News on VeloUK
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist