Talkingshop: Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic

2013_Cambrian_Conti_banner

Talking with Rob Partridge of UK Youth about racing the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

After hearing manager Dave Povall talk to his team before the race, I watched from the motorbike as the riders given the task of trying to get in the early break had a go alongside many of the pro conti riders from Europe.

2013_RideLondonClassic_UKYouth_01

They didn’t manage to make the final break that went but it was for a lack of trying! It was down to plan B then, to support Chris Opie for the sprint. After the race, I spoke to Rob Partridge about how the race had gone for them.

Rob said “that was a proper bike race! It was pretty crazy at the start with the breaks going and every man and his dog wanting to get in the move.”

“It could have been any of the moves that went but the one that did went round some corners and suddenly it had 50 metres. They had the force to keep it going and that was it. Sky and Argos then went to the front and blocked it a bit and obviously wanted to ride for a bunch sprint.”

2013_RideLondonClassic_UKYouth_02

Rob has the pre-race massage from Amy working with the team for this massive race for British teams.

“The climbs were really hard and the final time up Leith Hill was really tough. I was probably one of the last guys to make the front group there. I had to go really really deep. From that point onwards, it was full gas.”

“Box Hill was full gas and there was a bit of a fight to the foot of it as well and there was a bit of carnage at that point and that created a bit of a selection. You go over the brow of Box Hill and that was probably the hardest part where you can just see groups in front and have to chase them down.”

“We had a good run in though. We had Yanto in the front with Marcin, Opie and me in the second chase group and me and Marcin rode along with others from Node 4 and we told Opie to sit in. That was the plan for the day, for Opie to be there for the sprint. We just kept rotating over the last 25k keeping Opie in a good position and then Yanto took over the final 10k before the big scrap for the finish.”

2013_RideLondonClassic_UKYouth_05

Niklas Gustavsson from UK Youth gets in an early move with Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport), Roman van Uden (Node 4) and Luke Grivell-Mellor (Rapha Condor JLT) but alas, the peloton would not let them go.

“It was real fast and a tailwind all the way in and the average for the five hours was 43k an hour. It was totally different to a Prem but not alien for us. We have done races like this before and it is similar to a really hard Tour of Britain stage. Everybody leaves everything on the road though as it’s a one day as well so that makes it tougher”.

“We showed we’re not out of our depth in races like this and we did over 230k today and it went so fast!”

2013_RideLondonClassic_UKYouth_03

Pre-race photo op on the podium for UK Youth

1 DEMARE, Arnaud (FRA) FDJ.Fr 05:07:44

18 OPIE, Chris (GBR) Team UK Youth 05:07:46
19 BARKER, Yanto (GBR) Team UK Youth 05:07:46
49 PARTRIDGE, Rob (GBR) Team UK Youth 05:07:53
52 BIALOBLOCKI, Marcin (POL) Team UK Youth 05:07:53
109 GUSTARVSSON, Niklas (SWE) Team UK Youth 05:15:20
121 MOULD, Jonathan (GBR) Team UK Youth 05:17:06

 

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: , ,