Team News: Hargroves Cycles RT National Trophy

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This weekend saw the first round of the British national trophy series in Derby. With there being little rain so far this season the conditions were extremely fast, very different to the recent years at Derby!

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Team News: Hargroves Cycles RT National Trophy

National Trophy Round 1 – Derby

This weekend bought the first round of the British national trophy series in Derby. With there being little rain so far this season the conditions were extremely fast, very different to the recent years at Derby!

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The Elite men’s race saw an influx of Belgian riders making the race even faster than normal! Very early in the race Ian Field attacked with Yorben Van Tichelt and the 2 of them were never seen by the chase group again.

The 2 were inseparable for the whole race until Yorben bunny hopped the barriers and got enough of a gap to hold Fieldy to the line. In the large group behind it all stayed together throughout the race. A Belgian rider got away just before the end to secure 3rd place but Nick Barnes won the sprint for 4th place. A fantastic result! Michael Butler followed in the group behind to put 3 Hargroves Cycles Ridley RT riders in the top 10! Read what the guys had to say below.

Michael Butler – Race Report

Sunday was the first round of the trophy series and a fast one at that! Taking the first lap easier not knowing where I was going to find myself, I soon found that I needed to bridge across to the main chasing group. A couple laps to go and a lot of fighting to stay near the front of the group, I went with the two Belgian guys in our group in what looked to be the move to break away. Unfortunately it didn’t stick and we got caught. I didn’t quite have the legs to hold the same positioning coming towards the end of the final lap and came in 9th towards the back of the group. Nice start to the season though!

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Nick Barnes – Race Report

Once we arrived at the gridding all prepared and ready to go I was shocked to get a front row position, considering the high quality of riders that were in attendance. Yorben van Tichelt, Angelo de Clerq and fellow Hargroves rider Ian Field to name a few. Once the race began I managed to get a decent start and decided to lead the bunch around to and into the first wooded section to give myself some space.

I then let Yorben van Tichelt and Ian come by to have their race. Shortly after those two broke away and left a group of about 7 or so with 6 chasing behind. They joined us about 3 laps in. Because of the conditions the racing was very much bunch based. The racing was tactical and close knit as you always needed to stay near the front in case it split.

The stakes were even higher today as the bunch ranged from 3rd all the way t 15th. About 45 minutes in the bunch started to whittle down, slowly dropping riders that couldn’t quite deal with the Belgian rider’s accelerations. Coming into the closing quarter of the race I was feeling OK, although I was sceptical as this was the first big race of the yea, So I tried to keep myself towards the front of the bunch.

On the last lap Angelo attacked after the woods, naturally nobody wanted to chase to blow the chance of a good finish (In hindsight I was possibly strong enough to close the gap) he got a decent lead on the bunch about 10 seconds. The last lap cat and mouse game had began giving him his podium spot. In the last half of a lap Billy Harding decided to put himself on the front to ensure he had a strong finish.

As we came into the home straight it was a drag race between me and Billy for 4th which I just claimed by about a wheels length. Jack Clarkson was also very close behind as all 3 of us got the same finish time. Michael Butler was also doing some really good strong work throughout the race and managed to hold on for 9th place.

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Earlier in the day Harry Yates lined up in the junior race despite being ill came away with 5th place and a confirmation of good early season form! In the veteran’s race Steve Davies finished in 5th place in the rainbow jersey. Ruby Miller put in a strong performance to finish 13th in the womens race.

Next up for the guys is Abergavenny on the 23rd of October.

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