Team News: Metaltek-Kuota at Klondike GP

Success for Metaltek Kuota in first Prem of 2017, the Klondike Grand Prix as Fleeman gets in race long break and Pym is 5th

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Team News: Metaltek-Kuota at Klondike GP

Klondike GP – 149kms Guisborough North Yorks Round 1 British Cycling Spring Cup

Team Press Release
This was the first time this year all the UK teams focused their attention at the same event and the location was a new event to the calendar, the Klondike GP.

Dan Fleeman powers his Kuota Khan up the 1 in 4 slopes of Saltburn Bank

The local people of Redcar and Cleveland embraced the event and came and spectated en masse. New Directeur Sportif this year at Metaltek-Kuota, former track pursuit World Champion Colin Sturgess picked an eight strong man team for the Melton based squad; Tom Chandler, Dan Fleeman, Liam Holohan, Rhys Lloyd, Zach May, Tom Mazzone, Tom Neale and George Pym.

The team sported a healthy mix of climbing ability and sprinters with also experience and youth. After a nervous start with a crash stopping the race after just 5kms, the race restarted with enthusiasm and two riders moved clear from the 150 rider peloton after approx 16kms.

Realising an opportunity to take the pressure off the team, Dan Fleeman jumped across to the duo of Sam Harrison and Charlie Tanfield. Fleeman took the first King of the Mountains points at Saltburn but then changed his focus to building on the lead as Matt Holmes from Madison Genesis joined the trio and added some needed firepower.

George Pym (left of the winner) is 5th 

The distance to the peloton grew to nearly five minutes after 100kms covered. The peloton had now woken up to the danger with JLT Condor and One Pro Cycling taking up the chase. Both these teams were burning matches but the result was the gap to the leaders was tumbling. A couple of youngsters in the break were paying for their initial enthusiasm and Holmes attacked solo as the gap reduced. With JLT and One Pro not easing up, the race was all back together with just 25kms to go.

Fleeman, who incidentally had been ill the previous week, was now running on empty after 3.5hrs out front, his job accomplished as the others in the team had had a protected ride. With 15kms to go both Liam Holohan and George Pym tried to escape in a six man move, but the large peloton sensing a bunch sprint were not easing up and approaching the finish line in Guisborough at 60kph!

Zach May with his trophy

A crash with just 1km to go to took out the chances of Rhys Lloyd, but Zach May, Holohan and Pym positioned themselves well and found themselves in the first third of the now reduced group as teams tried to find their sprinters.

Pym crossed the line in 5th – his best Premier Calendar result to date with May just behind in 8th and Holohan 14th. Winner was the hugely talented Team Wiggins Chris Latham.

May’s high placing saw him also take the best ‘under 23’ award and a trip to the podium. All the team’s riders rode superbly with Tom Neale shining in a support role this week with Tom Mazzone getting over the hills well and Tom Chandler impressively finishing his first ever senior Premier Calendar.

These excellent results see the team sit in second position behind Bike Channel Canyon and ahead of One Pro Cycling and Team Wiggins in the series Team Rankings.

See the TV highlights here | Watch in full on Eurosport UK tomorrow (Weds) at 16.30

Team mechanic ‘Rooster’ prepares the Kuota Khan bikes for the race with their Edco wheels

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