Joshua Jones just managed to hold of Ashley Martin (Bikeshed-UEX) to win the Venta road race held over the Stockbridge course just north of Winchester
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Report – VC Venta Summer Road Race
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Report/Pics by Graham Robins | Sunday 27th July
These two along with David Billings (VC St Raphael) and Andrew Pickett (VC Venta) were in a break after two laps and these four survived until the last climb through the finish line.
The 66 mile course is a demanding one as it rolls along with very little rest bite for the riders and soon there were gaps behind the four break away riders. The race was promoted by VC Venta with support from The Hambledon in Winchester and Hargroves Cycles.
The morning started with a minutes silence as the riders and official marked the sudden passing of local rider Daniel Walker of Fareham Wheelers earlier in the week. He was down to ride the race and as a mark of respect his number was left blank on the sign on sheet. Friend and team mate Doug Tandy rode through the neutralised section at the front flanked by riders from the organising club forming a guard on honour.
Once the racing got underway, it was David Billings who made the first attack and he soon built up a lead of over a minute on the first lap, he held this lead until lap two when three others got across to help him. Now with the four riders all working well together their lead went out to over two minutes and this was the deciding move of the race.
The four leaders held on for the remainder of the race and it all came down to the final climb up Witten Hill when first Joshua and Ashley attacked and distanced themselves from Andrew who in turn distanced a tired looking David who was now paying for his first lap exploits. It was Joshua who had just enough to hold of the strong challenge of Ashley to take the win right on the line.
Provisional Result
1 Joshua JONES Cambridge University CC
2 Ashley MARTIN Bikeshed – UEX
3 Andy PICKETT Velo Club Venta
4 David BILLINGS VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
5 James DAVEY Mid Devon CC
6 Ewan TUOHY Catford CC Equipe
7 Adam MOORE Team Dassi
8 Alistair BARNARD Gloucester City CC
9 Oscar HUTCHINGS Bikeshed – UEX
10 Matthew CRYER Army Cycling Union
11 Brook ELGIE Peter Hansford Racing
12 Stephen DAWES Guernsey Velo Club
13 Duncan LANCASHIRE Andover Wheelers
14 Dan BROCKLEBROOK London Dynamo
15 Thomas LEACH Gloucester City CC
16 Harry VEALE Cycleworls.co.uk
17 Jack ENGLISH Guernsey Velo Club
18 Thom HAYWARD VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
19 Chris MINTER Pedalon.co.uk
20 Peter WARNER Ridebike.co.uk
21 Steve DRING Team Echlon-Rotor
22 Doug TANDY Fareham Wheelers CC
23 Patrick MARTIN Wyndymilla
24 Rowan HORNER VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
25 Chris HUTCHINGS Velo Club Venta
26 James PECKHAM Sotonia CC
27 Theo WEBB Velo Club Venta
28 Tom STOCKER Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers CC
29 Micheal SMITH Cambridge University RT
30 Jex HART Sotonia CC
31 Stuart THOMPSON VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
32 Matthew HEATHCOTE Rock n Road Cycles
33 Peter HUMPHREYS Gillingham & District Wheelers
34 Gustavo VEGA HERNANDEZ Bournemouth Arrow CC-Hotel Collingwood
35 Charley BRADLEY-VEILANDS Dymag -T-1-D
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