Matt Holmes of Madison Genesis won the overall for the Totnes Vire whilst the final stage was won by Albert Torres of Raleigh GAC
Result – Totnes Vire Two Day (Day 2)
The top three overall after a tactical final stage in the rain and cold – L-R: Alex Paton (Pedal Heaven)(2nd), Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) (1st), Gruff Lewis (Madison Genesis) (3rd)
thanks to David Thomas for the report
DEVON’S FORMER Team Sky star Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Saint Piran) was pipped for Stage Three victory by Spaniard Albert Torres (Raleigh-GAC) in a gruelling finale to the Totnes-Vire Two-Day Race at Okehampton yesterday.
But it was Madison Genesis pro Matt Holmes, in second place overnight, who clinched the overall honours by finishing third behind Torres and Tiernan-Locke, making sure he lost no time to any of his serious rivals.
First racing in a month and new signing for Raleigh GAC won his second stage making the final selection and outsprinting Jon Tiernan-Locke and Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) for the victory.
Albert Torres (Raleigh GAC) happy with his second win ….
The final stage, over 112K of testing terrain between Okehampton, Sticklepath, Whiddon Down, North Tawton and back to Okehampton, was just coming to the boil, albeit in cold, wet and windy conditions, when the race had to be stopped on the third of four laps.
Raleigh-GAC, the team of overnight leader Adria Moreno Sala, had controlled the peloton until an unrelated accident resulted in a trailer-load of chickens in crates blocking the road between North Tawton and Okehampton, just before the penultimate climb of Appledore Hill.
Some riders sought shelter in supporters’ cars, while others were offered coats to keep warm, until the road was cleared and officials restarted the race after a 20-minute delay.
A three-man breakaway whose rider lineup changed during the race as riders were dropped and others came across. It escaped on lap 1 and  which included Devon’s Dexter Hurlock (Kibosh), Mitchell Webber (Pedal Heaven).
A spirited ride by 17-year-old junior Charlie Meredith (Giant CC-Halo Films), was finally chased down as the pace increased on the final lap.
A casualty of that pursuit was a fading Adria Moreno who said “I’m impressed and greatful for the work of my teammates, but sadly my legs failed at the most important moment.â€
Tiernan-Locke, sixth overnight and needing to make up half-a-minute, had been showing his best form since returning from a two-year ‘biological passport’ ban, and he was bang there when it counted.
But it was Torres, too far adrift overnight but a talented track rider, time trialist and sprinter, who beat him by barely a wheel in the final sprint.
Lap 1 and a break was off and away, Mitch Webber (Pedal Heaven), Robert Moore (Sigma Sport) and Luke Barfoot (Tri Uk).
Holmes was third, Oliver Maxwell (Neon-Velo CT) fourth, Gruff Lewis (Madison Genesis) fifth and Dexter Gardias (Pedal Heaven) sixth, all given the same time. It meant that Holmes won overall in six hours 11mins from Paton and Holme’s teammate Lewis.
Locke meanwhile was sixth, a frustrated man afterwards, and with good cause because he had lost 20 of those seconds during Saturday’s second stage, a 5K Time Trial at Halwill Junction.
“I was annoyed with myself for not winning the first road stage in the morning, and I didn’t do a good time trial on the back of that,” he said. “I was always confident that I could do a decent ride today. It would have been good to win the stage, although Torres is quick, and I haven’t finished far away overall in the end.”
Chased by Oscar Hutchings of Primera-TeamJobs
Raleigh GAC had Albert Torres and the team at the front behind the rider from PMR Toachim House.
Mitch Webber of Pedal Heaven was taking the bonuses
Raleigh GAC spent most of the race on the front with Steven Roach, Fraser Martin, and George Pym whilst Albert Torres looked after race leader Adria Moreno who said afterwards “Impressive and greatful for the work of my teammates, but sadly my legs failed in the most important moment.”
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Albert Torres – Raleigh GAC – Stage winner
Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) – GC Winner
Alex Paton of Pedal Heaven (2nd overall)
Gruff Lewis of Madison Genesis (3rd)
STAGE 3 (Provisional)
1. Albert Torres Raleigh GAC
2. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Saint Piran
3. Matt Holmes Madison Genesis
4. Oliver Maxwell Neon-Velo Cycling Team
5. Gruffydd Lewis Madison Genesis
6. Dexter Gardias Pedal Heaven
7. George Fowler NFTO
8. Charlie Meredith Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
9. Alex Patton Pedal Heaven
10. Dante Carpenter Richardsons-Trek RT
11. Max Stedman Pedal Heaven
12. Lee Frost Team Tor 2000 Kalas Sportswear
13. Adria Moreno Raleigh GAC
14. Joe Harris Spirit Bikes Racing Team
15. William Bjergfelt Neon-Velo Cycling Team
16. Lawrence Carpenter Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT
17. Chris McNamara Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT
18. Mitchell Webber Pedal Heaven
19. Lloyd Chapman Pedal Heaven
20. Steven Roach Raleigh GAC
21. Glyndwr Griffiths 73Degrees CC
22. Ben Lockett Tri UK
23. Matt Cronshaw Madison Genesis
24. Felix English Madison Genesis
25. Henry Latimer PMR@Toachim House
26. Will Fox Pedal Heaven
27. Dexter Hurlock Kibosh
28. Oscar Hutchings Primera-TeamJobs
29. George Pym Raleigh GAC
30. Daniel Mcquillan Tri UK
31. Andrew Critchlow WyndyMilla
32. Anthony Moye Spirit Bikes Racing Team
33. Charlie Revell Team Tor 2000 Kalas Sportswear
OVERALL
1 Matt Holmes Madison Genesis 06:11:22
2 Alex Patton Pedal Heaven 06:11:26
3 Gruffydd Lewis Madison Genesis 06:11:31
4 Dante Carpenter Richardsons-Trek RT 06:11:33
5 Dexter Gardias Pedal Heaven 06:11:40
6 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Saint Piran 06:11:44
7 Adria Moreno Raleigh GAC 06:12:31
8 Albert Torres Raleigh GAC 06:12:43
9 George Fowler NFTO 06:13:02
10 Charlie Meredith Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films 06:13:06
11 Max Stedman Pedal Heaven 06:13:08
12 Oliver Maxwell Neon-Velo Cycling Team 06:13:23
13 Ben Lockett Tri UK 06:13:52
14 Lee Frost Team Tor 2000 Kalas Sportswear 06:14:10
15 Mitchell Webber Pedal Heaven 06:14:51
16 Joe Harris Spirit Bikes Racing Team 06:14:54
17 Lawrence Carpenter Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT 06:15:00
18 Lloyd Chapman Pedal Heaven 06:15:09
18 Steven Roach Raleigh GAC 06:15:09
20 Chris McNamara Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT 06:15:36
21 Henry Latimer PMR@Toachim House 06:15:44
21 Felix English Madison Genesis 06:15:44
23 Matt Cronshaw Madison Genesis 06:15:50
24 Dexter Hurlock Kibosh 06:16:43
25 George Pym Raleigh GAC 06:16:53
26 Will Fox Pedal Heaven 06:17:02
27 Anthony Moye Spirit Bikes Racing Team 06:18:22
28 Daniel Mcquillan Tri UK 06:18:23
29 Andrew Critchlow WyndyMilla 06:19:06
30 Fraser Martin Raleigh GAC 06:20:39
31 Taylor Gunman Madison Genesis 06:21:02
32 Joe Evans Madison Genesis 06:21:03
33 Daniel Nieto TBW Bottecchia Wigmore RT 06:21:13
34 Anthony Morris Spirit Bikes Racing Team 06:21:50
35 Oscar Hutchings Primera-TeamJobs 06:29:55
36 Charlie Revell Team Tor 2000 Kalas Sportswear 06:33:34
37 Tom Hargreaves Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT 06:34:14
38 William Bjergfelt Neon-Velo Cycling Team 06:37:37
39 Glyndwr Griffiths 73Degrees CC 06:41:05
40 Joshua Croxton Exeter Wheelers 06:51:51
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