Gruff Lewis made his Madison Genesis debut count as he finished seventh at round one of the 2016 National Road Series, the Chorley GP
![]() |
News – Good debut for Lewis at Chorley
Gruff Lewis made his Madison Genesis debut count as he joined the lead group and finished seventh at round one of the 2016 National Road Series, the Chorley GP.
Lewis praised his teammates for giving him the confidence to record his best ever Premier Calendar result. “I knew I was going quite well, so the plan was for the guys to look after me if I could get over the main climb” Lewis said, speaking after the race. “Ahead of the race Matt and Tobyn were telling me I can do it and get up there – that gave me a lot of confidence on the road and once I saw I could follow the climbers, I knew I was on a good day.”
Lewis’ result was the reward of a race-long effort by the team to bring back a flurry of attacks, which began after the first breakaway was reeled in at around the halfway point of the 187-kilometre race. A group of four were allowed to form at the front, but Lewis infiltrated an 11-man chase group, that made contact and formed a 15-strong band on the fifth and final lap over Rivington.
The group was whittled down to eight riders as the race entered its definitive stages, but with NFTO making up half of the number it was their race to lose. Making their numerical advantage count in the closing stages, NFTO set Ed Bradbury up for a solo escape to win the race.
Despite being exposed in the closing stages, the team took plenty of positives from the performance and look forward to round two of the series in the Isle of Man. “At the end of the race, when NFTO held all the cards it was a case of closing things down until I ran out of legs really. Craig Wallace (Raleigh GAC) and I sat on the front trying to bring it back but ultimately we were outnumbered”.
“Obviously we have some riders at the Tour de Normandie at the moment but I think that today has given us the confidence that, once we have our full squad in place, we can be challenging for the win at one of these events.”
Result
1. Ed Bradbury (NFTO) 04:52.45
2. Dale Appleby (NFTO) +00:00.42
3. Dexter Gardias (Pedal Heaven) ST
—–
7. Gruff Lewis +00:01.33
22. Matt Holmes +00:04.43
27. Matt Cronshaw +00:06.11
35. Joe Evans +00:09.29
DNF Tobyn Horton
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 13
- Result: RCR Goodwood Series #8
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits
- Result: Thank Crit it’s Friday 4
- Result: Swindon Summer Race Series 3
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 14
- Result: National Circuit Series – Guildford
- TT Result: Westerley Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 25
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 12.7m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs CC 25
- TT Result: Ferryhill Whs 25
- RESULT: Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 13 (Lune RCC)
- Result: A Bridge Too Far Road Race
- Result: Lichfield No Frills #3
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series Round 2
- Result: Seacroft Wheelers Summer Road Races
- Result: Junior Road Championships
- TT Result: Mid Devon Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: The Nifty Fifty
- TT Result: East Lancashire RC 10
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl Crit Series 10
- TT Result: VC Norwich 10
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 10
- TT Result: City RC (Hull) 10
- TT Result: Dan Ward Memorial TT
- TT Result: Bristol South Cycling Club 50
- Result: Banbury Star Festival of Racing
- Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers Severn Valley Youth Series
- Result: Fete du Velo (Redbourn)
- Result: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- HC Result: Winster Hill Climb
- Result: Mallory Park Youth Road Race League 4
- Result: RCR Goodwood Series #7
- Result: Schils Summer Circuit Races
- Result: Tameside Cycling Development League
- Result: West Thames League Circuit Race League 12
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series Round 1
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 13
Other News on VeloUK
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)
- News: Teams Revealed for the Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: CiCLE Classic International
- Sunday: CiCLE Classic UCI Road Race
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage Hosts
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day
- STARTLISTS: Cold Dark Capenwray Road Races
- News: CiCLE Classic – Volunteers Wanted
- Startlist: Danum Trophy 2025