Report – Harris wins Tour of Mining Valleys

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Cwmcarn Paragon’s Richard Harris won this year’s Tour of the Mining Valleys road race near Aberystwyth

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Report – Harris wins Tour of Mining Valleys

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Cwmcarn Paragon’s Richard Harris won this year’s Tour of the Mining Valleys road race near Aberystwyth, having come close numerous times over the past 15 years.

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Photo Keith Morris

The 41 year old won in a sprint from a group of five who had spent over half the race with a lead of between two and three minutes over the bunch. Second over the line was Joshua Burns of the Starley Primal Pro Cycle Club with three time Milk Race stage winner Ben Luckwell (Ride 24/7) in third.

A group of seven had broken away on lap three of a testing 13 mile circuit, which included a one kilometre climb which featured three steps, each steeper than the previous, up to the prime line. After a fast descent, the second half of the circuit involved two flat miles followed by a gradual climb up to the base of the prime climb, making it a course which caused a fragmented peloton.

This year, the peloton did stick together largely although they failed to make much headway in narrowing the gap to the leaders and by the final lap, the gap was still over two minutes and the bunch were racing for eighth place. Stunning scenery amongst the old lead & zinc mines of Ceredigion.

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Photo Keith Morris

Primes on lap 1,2 & 3 were taken by Wayne Crombie  (East London Velo) , Mark Perry (Ride 24/7) & Glyndwr Griffiths (Artic Tacx RT) respectively. Prior to the final climb, the seven strong lead group were reduced to six, losing Mark Perry. On the climb itself, Glyndwr Griffiths was dispensed as the five strongest riders ramped it up. The final kilometre was 1km beyond the prime line on a plateux and Harris took a long sprint which nobody could match. Matthew Cartlidge (Stone Wheelers) and Wayne Crombie  were 4th & 5th respectively.

Alex O’Sullivan (Achieve-Skinnergate Racing) and Gareth McGuinness (Clwb Egni) clipped off the front of the bunch for 8th & 9th, with Alexandre Touche (Cwmcarn Paragon) in 10th.

First third cat was Dave Thomas (unattached) and Mark Hannifan, first 4th Cat. Kristian Bond (Clwb Beicio Ystwyth) was first local rider with Touche as fastest junior.

Prizes were provided by club sponsors Cambrian Tyres and Summit Cycles.

Result :
1st Richard Harris (Cwmcarn Paragon) 2hrs 38 mins
2nd Joshua Burns (Starley Primal Pro Cycle Club) st
3rd Ben Luckwell (Ride 24/7) st
4th Matthew Cartlidge (Stone Wheelers) st
5th Wayne Crombie  (East London Velo) st
6th Glyndwr Griffiths (Artic Tacx RT) @ 24 secs
7th Mark Perry (Ride 24/7) @ 2 min 05 secs
8th Alex O’Sullivan (Achieve-Skinnergate Racing) @2 min 41 secs
9th Gareth McGuinness (Clwb Egni) st
10th Alexandre Touche (Cwmcarn Paragon) st

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