Jason Fitchew and Gunther Zechmann winners at the East London velo winter series race on January 11
![]() |
Thanks to Graham Galvin
A big field of over 40 4th category riders lined up for the first senior race of the year at Redbridge Cycle Circuit, the East London Velo Winter Series. A bright sunny day was balanced out by a stiff, cold breeze blowing riders in the face as they scaled the Hoggenberg on each lap.
The conditions soon told with the selections being made from the back on each lap, thinning the field significantly as the hour long race progressed. In the end just 10 riders remained in what was left of the bunch, neatly divvying up the points between them. Cleverly, Jason Fitchew (Ford CC) took a chance and jumped early forging a gap at the foot of the Hoggenberg as other riders hesitated. Straining every sinew, Jason held off a fast closing bunch with Chris Thomas winning the kick from Pete Dyson (both unattached).
4ths (45 minutes + 5 laps)
1 Jason Fitchew Ford CC
2 Chris Thomas Private Member
3 Pete Dyson Private Member
4 Andrew Holmes VC Revolution
5 Christopher Hezelgrave  CC Hackney
6 Jamie Batten De Laune
7 Rob Milton Hackney GT
8 Tom Haines ELV
9 Francis Fox  London Dynamo
10 John Bull London Dynamo
11 Mitchell Blain London Dynamo
12 Laurence King Welwyn Wheelers
13 K Willers Run & Ride
14 Tony Collins Athlong Sport
15 D Ross Team Fig
16 C Ross Team Fig
17 Graham Rudd Day Licence
18 Chris Gore  Beckenham Rugby Cyclists
19 John Sellars Private Member
20 Arnav Kapur Dulwich Paragon
21 William Brassington Dulwich Paragon
22 Peter Dalton london Dynamo
2/3 Race
An even larger field of 52 riders were at the start line for the higher category race which featured a number of attacks. The first serious break featured Roger Maidment (East London Velo), Johnnie Blackman (BRC) and Gunther Zechmann (London Phoenix) – the latter having punctured and had rejoined but with Junior gears. Blackman dropped back, leaving the other two to forge on, keeping an advantage for a number of laps until succumbing to the chasing pack.
Almost immediately Wayne Crombie and Sam Humpheson forced the pace up the Hoggenberg, detaching themselves but being re absorbed after a lap or so. Will Haytor (London Dynamo) was the next to chance his arm, gaining an advantage on the bunch with the irrepressible Gunther Zachmann twiddling across the gap. These two soon formed a solid pact, with a lead of over 30 seconds at the bunch at one point.
With three to go a couple of riders didn’t want to wait for the sprint, with only Joel Natale (Dulwich Paragon) managing to fully escape the clutches of the Peleton. Meanwhile, Zachmann confirmed his status as strongest rider in the race, putting a dig in as the bell rang and detaching Haytor.
Rounding the final corner up to the finish it was the lone figure of Zachmann who took the chequered flag, with Natale powering past the fading Haytor just in sight of the line as he held on to third with a rampant bunch snapping at his heels.
2/3 (1 hour + 5 laps)
1 Gunther Zechmann  London Phoenix
2 Joel Natale Dulwich
3 Will Hayter  London Dynamo
4 Luke Merrilees Wyndymilla
5 Colin Bailey North Road CC
6 Jack Finch PMR
7 Rhys Keepence Dulwich
8 James Freeman Dulwich
9 Patrick Martin Wyndymilla
10 Iain Palmer Twickenham
11 Adam Capes Finchley
12 Frank Rowlins North Road CC
13 Sam Homphenson  LMNH
14 Simon Bromley  London Dynamo
15 Daniel Maynard Welwyn Wheelers
16 Charles Pearson Private Member
17 Michael Williams Dulwich
18 Wayne Van Ry Big Foot
19 Kieran Direer Amersham
20 Stuart Clapp Vicious Velo
21 Oliver Craig  London Dynamo
22 Chris Herring ELV
23 Steve James High Wycombe CC
24 Jordan Mooney Welwyn Wheelers
25 Richard Price London Phoenix
26 Leo Lerner VO2 Development Team
27 Phil Hargreaves VC Norwich
28 Matt Bridges Strada Sport
29 Wayne Crombie ELV
30 Will Hunt  Norwood Paragon
31 Josh Maynard Welwyn Wheelers
32 Craig Joy PMR
33 Mark Hale VC Revolution
34 Duncan Rimmer Morden CRC
35 David Webborn London Dynamo
36 Charles Batho Dulwich
37 Roger Maidment ELV
38 Ian Goodey PMR
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Startlists: Junior Road Championships 2022
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Goodwood Summer Series 5
- Result: Wyre Forest Challenge Cup Criterium
- Result: BCSE Regional Youth Circuit Series
- Result: Solihull No Frills Circuit Race 3
- News: Brother UK Sponsors Biggest UK Races
- Scottish Team for Commonwealth Games
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 3
- Result: RBL Circuit Race Series 3
- Result: Holt Racing Pembrey Crits 7
- Result: Lancashire RC 10m TT
- Result: Medway Velo Club 25m TT
- Result: North Devon Wheelers Sporting TT
- Result: Tyneside Vagabonds Mountain TT
- Result: Spring In The Park 4
- Result: VC Venta Summer Road Race
- Result: Cadence Junior Road Race
- Result: Cornish Summer Series 2
- Result: NW Youth League Round 2
- Result: West Thames League 9
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Series 7
- Result: Lotus Cars Cycle Race League 4
- Events: BikeStow Three-Day
- Tour Series: Manchester (Final)
- Result: Banbury Star Road Races
- Result: BUCS Road Races
- Result: Eastern Counties Cycling Festival
- Result: High Wycombe CC 25m TT
- Result: Poole Wheelers 25m TT
- Result: Coalville Wheelers Circuit Races
- Result: Omega Track Open
- Result: A3crg 30m TT
- Results: Fullarton Whs 10m TT
- Result: Omega Portsmouth Circuits 2
- Result: FTP Racing 25m TT
- Result: Inter-Service TT Championships 25m TT
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits
- Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 3
- Result: Hartlepool CC 10m TT
- Result: Sportzmad 25m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Brother UK Sponsors Biggest UK Races
- Scottish Team for Commonwealth Games
- Events: BikeStow Three-Day
- Startlists: Junior Road Championships 2022
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy
- News: UCI Track Nations Cup Day 1
- News: The Pedal Club April Lunch
- Startlists: BUCS 10m TT Championship
- News: Entries open for Handicap League
- News: Tour Series 2022
- CiCLE Classic StartList 2022
- News:2022 CiCLE Classic Returns this weekend
- News: Crowd Funding for Women’s CiCLE Classic
- News: Special Santini Collection for Roubaix
- News: Teams for the Women’s Tour Revealed
- News: Sponsors Needed for Womens/Junior CiCLE Classic
- 2022 Tour of Britain Route Revealed
- Entries needed: Hell of the North Runway
- News: GB for Nations Cup
- News: Road Champs head to Scotland
- News: Tour Series to Race Stranraer
- News: Tour Series heading for Clacton on Sea
- News: Tour Series/Tour of Britain
- News: 16th CiCLE Classic
- Feature: Moda Bikes Vivo Review
- News: Women’s Tour Finishes in Oxfordshire
- Startlist: RCR FatCreations Road Race