British Crit Champs – George Atkins

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Reaction from One Pro Cycling’s George Atkins who was third in the British Circuit Race Championship on Wednesday, his first podium for the title race

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British Crit Champs – George Atkins

Despite getting on the podium for the first time in the British Championships, the former Elite Circuit Series winner wanted more saying straight after “I am really disappointed as everyone wants to win a champion’s jersey and wear the stripes”.

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Right – George gets his first Crit champs medal (Bronze) and more should come if his history in circuit racing is anything to go by

“I was looking at my results the other day and I have always been up there. Even when I was 17, I was in the top ten (9th, one place behind Graham Briggs in 2008), so I always pick myself up and go well in the race but its gutting to be so close. Second or third, it doesn’t matter and I didn’t ask Graham to give me a turn for the last lap and bit because I just wanted to win and was prepared to put it all on the line.”

“Ian (Bibby) went on the finish line here and I hesitated a bit, and thought that was the moment I should have gone but if I’d gone after him, I’d be dragging the others along then. So, I waited to the top corner when I think Dale (Appleby, Ian’sNFTO teammate) was on the front slowing it down, so I kicked past him and Briggsy got on my wheel.”

“I just rode as hard as I could then and it was just me and Graham. It is great to be on the podium though”.

“It was a tough circuit in the rain and I only had 80 I think in the tyres and that was perfect but it was one of the races. In a normal circuit race, you’d probably only have five or so riders in the front group but with the nationals, the form book goes out the window.”

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Photo finish for George in the sprint for second and third

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George buries himself for a two kilometre chase of the leader Ian Bibby

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Let the champagne fly! 

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