Preview: CiCLE Classic 2018

Early start list and preview for next weekends biggest race of the season so far, the 2018 CiCLE Classic – who will win the Bioracer winners jersey after 188km?

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Preview: CiCLE Classic 2018

When: Sunday, April 22
Distance: 188km
Start: 11am

Dan Fleeman provides himself the perfect retirement present – a win in the CiCLE Classic 2017 for a local Elite team, Metaltek Kuota

Having had the first big race over a proper distance on Sunday, the markers have been laid out as to which teams are in form as the British peloton heads to the CiCLE Classic, a step up in classification being a UCI 1.2. Leading the way are One Pro and Madison Genesis who both had numbers at the front at the end of 116 miles at Chorley with One Pro winning and Madison Genesis getting two on the podium.

Perhaps a key for Madison Genesis is that their DS is the same DS for the winner Dan Fleeman last year, Colin Sturgess. This year, the race will see ten foreign based teams on the start line, and in addition, will be the Irish registered Holdsworth-Campagnolo team, making this a record entry by foreign based riders.

With the race offering the only opportunity this year for smaller British teams and their aspiring riders to take on true continental opposition on British roads and tracks; the result of who will wear the Bioracer winner’s jersey afterwards is an unmistakable mix of uncertainty, challenge and blind ambition especially as the race limits the UCI teams and others to a maximum of six riders. Not the respecter of reputations, the CiCLE Classic puts Olympic and World Champions simply in the mix with lesser riders, and mere mortals. Who will win???

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Like the Continental Spring Classic races that the CiCLE Classic seeks to emulate, we will only know the answer to that question of who will win after 188 kms and nearly five hours of racing on Sunday 22nd April.

It is a race where luck will always play a big part in a rider’s pursuit of victory, and with visiting teams providing an unknown challenge, trying to predict a winner from the field for the 2018 Rutland -Melton CiCLE Classic appears even more difficult than ever with perhaps as many as 20 to 30 possible winners on the start line. The race is notoriously unpredictable where, neither prior ‘form’ in previous editions of the race, or in other races so far this year, has little bearing on the final outcome.

In Dan Fleeman’s absence in the race (he will be a VIP at the race), Haydon McCormack (ONEPro Cycling) the runner up to Fleeman 12 months ago in a controversial finish, will carry number 1 whilst only one former CiCLE Classic champion, Tom Moses (JLT-Condor) in 2014 is entered in the race.

One Pro and Madison Genesis were battling for the win at Chorley and are expected to be two of the teams at the sharp end on Sunday

The race’s only current double winner, Ian Wilkinson (2009 and 2013) will however also be on the race again this year, but as manager of the newly formed St Piran team to whom his experience will no doubt be invaluable. Both McCormack and Moses will be supported by strong teams with JLT-Condor fielding Multi Olympic Team Pursuit Champion Ed Clancy in their squad and ONE Pro including the solo winner of the Chorley GP on Sunday, Karol Domagalski in their six man team. Here are the teams in the race:

UCI Continental Teams
ONE ProCycling, GBR
JLT-Condor, GBR
Team Sauerland-NRW, GER
Madison-Genesis, GBR
Vitus Pro Cycling, GBR
Monkey Town, NED
Memil- CCN Pro Cycling, FIN
Canyon-Eijsberg, GBR
Holdsworth- Campagnolo, IRL
Dare-Gavina, ESP
Team Wiggins, GBR

Foreign Teams
Guerciotti – Kiwi Atlantica (Spain)
Aseg Douai (France)
Latvia National Team (Latvia)
Cotes A’mour (France)
V C Toucy (France)
WPG Amsterdam (Netherlands)

British regional teams
East Mids.-RDA
BC Central Region
Wales National Academy,

British Teams
Wheelbase-Castelli-MGB
Morvelo-Basso
Saint Piran
Ribble Pro Cycling
Spirit-Tifosi RT
Team KTM
Richardsons – Trek
Flamme Rouge RT
Team PB Performance
Leisure Lakes
Verulum- ReallyMoving
TBW23-Stuart Hall – Bottech
OVB
Team On Form
Cycling Sheffield
RAF CA

As ever, the foreign challenge to the British squads will be formidable. The recently resurrected Holdsworth-Campagnolo team which is Irish registered was in the mix at Chorley with Damien Shaw, who has previous expereince at the CiCLE Classic, in the early break at Chorley whilst Rus Downing will no doubt have benefited from a proper tough work out.

Rus Downing in attacking mode in 2018

Back in the 70’s and 80’s Holdsworth were the dominant team in British cycling with names such as the great Les West, and Colin Lewis forming the main stay of the team, and with former British Road Race Champion Russell Downing heading the newly formed team, they will certainly be out to show once again the Orange and blue colours which made the team name so famous in years gone by.

The Netherlands are well represented once again with Monkey Town RT and WGP Amsterdam both sending strong teams, with riders from the former having already won two semi classic races in their native country and determined to take home the winners spoils for the first time.

The biggest foreign contingent however comes in the shape of France who send three teams to this year’s race. Whilst Aseg-Douai have last year’s experience of the race to guide them, it is French Division One squad Cotes D’Amore who should pose a major challenge to their UCI Continental rivals. A Latvian National team, whose Professional team Reitumu-Riga Bank have been regular vistors to the CiCLE Classic in recent years, and who have provided several riders to British professional teams, complete the compliment of foreign squads alongside Dare-Gavira and Guerciotti-Kiwi Atlantico. The latter being regular visitors to the race in recent years.

Somerberg will again be a key element of the race with a couple of K of gravel roads and a berg as well

Of the smaller British teams given the opportunity of taking part in the race once again the local East Midlands Regional team, again sporting the name of the Mount Group RDA, the race’s chosen charity, will be representing local interest, whilst Wales has entered their Academy development squad for the first time.

Within their Centenary year the RAF Cycling Association team have been given their place in the race to commemorate their landmark, and although very much potential ‘underdogs’ to the many fully professional teams in the race, will no doubt be riding their hearts out for their service. All in all a true mix of talent from whom only one person, and one team can win. We will only learn who, just before 4.00 pm on Sunday 22nd April.

Course 2018
A tougher opening to the 14th Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic is assured with a minor revision to the race route, by reversing the direction that the opening two laps of Rutland water are to be ridden. The opening loops on good tarmac is where there is a lot of attacking but with fresh legs, the field rarely splits a lot – will 2018 be different?

This change however is the only change to the course ridden in 2017 which included for the first time two passages of Stapleford Park in its closing stages. “Although only a minor change, the prospect of the searing open road climb of Barnsdale Bank coming within the first two kilometres of the race proper will potentially present a daunting challenge to many after the usual opening 55 kilometres per hour charge that has been a hallmark of the previous 13 editions of the race”, said Race Director Colin Clews.
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RIDERS
Note: this list is changing on a daily basis says organiser Colin Clews

ONE Pro cycling
D.S:WINSTON, Matt
1 Hayden McCORMICK
2 Karol DOMAGALSKI
3 Emils LIEPINS
4 Jake KELLY
5 Jacob SCOTT
6 Peter WILLIAMS

Christopher LATHAM
Tom BAYLIS
Alexander RICHARDSON

JLT-Condor
D.S: HERETY, John
7 Thomas STEWART
8 Edward CLANCY
9 Matthew GIBSON
10 Alistair SLATER
11 Oliver WOOD
12 Tomas MOSES

Robert McCARTHY
Jonathan MOULD
Graham BRIGGS

Team Sauerland NRW p/b SKS
D.S: SCHERF, Jorg
13 Aaron GROSSER
14 Jonas HARTIG
15 Christoph SCHWEIZER
16 Louis LEINAU
17 Joann LEINAU
18 Victor MULLER

Felix INTRA
Jon KNOLLE
Pert Christian MUNSTERMANN

Madison-Genesis
D.S: STURGESS, Colin
19 Matthew Holmes
20 Connor Swift
21 Johnny McEVOY
22 Erick ROWSELL
23 Tobyn HORTON
24 Richard HANDLEY

Vitus Pro Cycling Team
D.S: PRIDHAM, Cherie
25 Deins KANEPEJS
26 Julio ALBERTO AMORES
27 Joshua HUNT
28 Harrison JONES
29 Adam KENWAY
30 Grant MARTIN

Tim TORRIE
Joe REILLY
Ben WALSH

Monkey Town
D.S: TABAC, Paul
31 Maarten de YONGE
32 Antonio SANTORO
33 Peter SCHULTING
34 Jordy BUSKERMOLEN
35 Jasper OCKELOEN
36 Sven van LUIJK

Wim KLEIMAN
Mel van der VEEKENS
Martin PLUTO

Memil -CCN Pro Cycling
37 Robert ORR
38 Jacob TIPPER
39 Ben HETHERINGTON
40 Antti SIZKO
41 Pierre MONCORGE
42 Joni KANERVA

Hiski KANERVA
Roy EEFTING
Sam VOLKERS

Canyon- Eisberg
D.S:ELVERSON, Tim
43 Chris OPIE
44 Harry TANFIELD
45 Rory TOWNSEND
46 Andy TENNANT
47 Alex PATON
48 Charles PAGE

Matt NOWELLS
Joe FRY
James LOWSLEY-WILLIAMS

Wheelbase Castelli MGD
D.S:
49 Alex ORRELL-TURNER
50 Jordan DOIG
51 Stuart REID
52 Mark McGUIRE
53 Barrie LINES
54 Matthew CLARKE

George FOWLER
Angus CLAXTON
Ryan FENWICK

Team Guerciotti-Kiwi Atlantico
D.S: SALGUEIRO ALONSO, Enrique
55 Lons ROODRIGUEZ RECUNA
56 Kamil BIALONCZYK
57 Andreas MILITIADIS
58 Michal PUSTULA
59 Fernado FINKKLER
60 Fernado LOPES GONZALEZ

Daniel GONZALEZ OTERO

Holdsworth- Campagnolo
D.S: DOWNING, Dean
61 Russell DOWNING
62 Seid LIDZE
63 Sean McKENNA
64 Mattia VIEL
65 Damien SHAW
66 Jake WORMERSLEY

Bjorn THURAU
Dermot TRULOCK
Conn McDUNPHY
Tom MAZZONE

Eseg-Douai Origine
D.S: PILLON, Laurent
67 Doron WIGGINS
68 Matthias Van BEETHOVEN
69 Clement GABISSON
70 Kevin AVOINE
71 Maxime HUYGENS
72 Clement GABISSON

Florent FACHE
Mattias BIGO
Florian Van ELSANDER

Morvelo-Basso
D.S: MOORE, Adam
73 Benjamin MARKS
74 Mikey MOTTRAM
75 Stephen BRADBURY
76 Ken BUCKLEY
77 Will RANOE
78 Ben MANFIELD

Dante CARPENTER
Adam MOORE

Saint Piran
D.S: WILKINSON, Ian
79 Steve LAMPIER
80 Fraser MARTIN
82 Cameron JEFFERS
81 Jake ALDERMAN
83 Will HARPER
84 Matt LANGWORTHY

Joe EVANS
Sam WILLIAMS
Alex FANSHAWE

DARE-Gaviota
D.S:ORTUNO, Jose Antonio
85 Hector GONZALES BAEZA
86 Leon KOCH
87 Jonas ORSET
88 Oscar SANCHEZ
89 Odin FOLDVIK
90 Edwardo GARCIA

Latvian National Team
D.S:FLAKIS, Toms
91 Toms Eriks GAVARS
92 Klave RUBENIS
93 Andris VOSEKALNS
94 Marcis KALNINS
95 Kristers ANSONS
96 Kristaps PELCERS

Kaspars SERGIS
Uldis ALTIS
Maris BOGDANOVICS

Team Wiggins
D.S: LILLEYWITE, Chris.

97 Etienne Georgi
98 Gabriel Cullaigh
99 Tom Pidcock
100 Joey Walker
101 Dylan Kerfoot-Robson
102 Jacques Sauvagnargues

Reserve
Jesse Yates

Ribble Pro Cycling
D.S:CRONSHAW, Matt
103 Daniel BIGHAM
104 John ARCHIBALD
105 Will BROWN
106 Matt CRONSHAW
107 Richard JONES
108 Simon WILSON

Alex LUHRS
Will CORBETT
David HEWITT
Gruffudd LEWIS
Jack REES

Cotes d’Amor Marie Moran Veranda Rideau
D.S: LEVEAU, Mickael
109 Stuart BALFOUR
110 Lewis BULLEY
111 Quentin GUICHETEAU
112 Antoine BENOIST
113 Alexis ROCHE
114 Jules ROLLAND

Damien POISSON
Alexis RENARD
Maertens GAUTHIER

Spirit-Tifosi RT
D.S: ROWLES, Russell
115 Ed CLEMENS
116 Tommy BUSTARD
117 Jake HALES
118 Jordan PEACOCK
119 Chris DREDGE
120 Rupert GRAHAM

Marcus BURNETT
Francis CARR
Anthony MOVE

VC Toucy
D.S:TERRIER, Gregoire.
121 Jordan LEVASSEUR
122 Scott AULD
123 Jake GRAY
124 Slim KISKONEN
125 Wilfried CANALES
126 Damien WILD

Matthieu URBAIN
Aurelien PHILLIBERT
Loic FORESTIER

Team KTM
D.S: LAMB, Paul
127 Will Fox
128 Peter BARUSEVICUS –
129 Fraser ROUNDS –
130 Kieran BRADY –
131 Andy TURNER –
132 Callum Ferguson

WPGA Amsterdam
D.S: VAN DAM, Arthur
133 Koos-Jeroen KERS
134 Jelmer ASJES
135 Kevin WILMSEN
136 Jorgos SCHRIJVER
137 Jasper BUGTER
138 Teun MOURIS

Nils WOLFFENBUTTEL
Mike APPELMAN
Thimo KROEZE

Richardsons-Trek RT
D.S:SHANNON, Dean
139 Ollie MAXWELL
140 George WOOD
141 Mathew CLEMENTS
142 Peter COCKER
143 Tommy POWER

James RIX
Tobias DAHLHAUS
Josh OUTRAM
Luke RYAN

East Mids – RDA
144 Daniel PATTEN
145 George SEWELL
146 Sam SMITH
147 Karl BAILLIE
148 Will BJERGFELT

Flamme Rouge CT
149 Matthew WEBSTER
150 Matthew EXLEY
151 Jack STEEL-JESSOP
152 Oliver TAYLOR

William SCOTT
Elliot HAIGH

Team PB Performance
D.S: BENNETT, Paul
153 Tristan ROBBINS
154 George KIMBER
155 Bradley SYMONDS
156 Joe CHARLEY

James HILL

BC Central Region RT
D.S: HOOPER, Sarah
157 Lawrence CARPENTER
158 Henry LATIMER
159 Oliver BATES
160 Max HALE

Ashley COX

Leisure Lakes
D.S:ANDERSON, Richard
161 Joe PERKINS
162 Elliot HARRISON
163 Jonathan HORNBLOW
164 Andrew MAGNIER

Verulum-ReallyMoving
D.S: SIX, Marcel
165 Michael PARRY
166 Luke HOUGHTON
167 Clay DAVIES
168 Paul McGRATH

James HEDLEY
Marcel SIX
Ryan ALLEN

TBW Bottechia Wigmore RT
169 Daniel NIETO
170 Oliver CLIFF
171 James AMBROSE-PARISH
172 Fabian HORROCKS

James McKAY
David REECE
James O’CONNELL

OVB
D.S: HAMILTON, Paul
173 Michael BURKE
174 Andrew BRINKLEY
175 Josh ROWE
176 Steve TAIT

Andrew SHERET
Alex PRITCHARD

Cycle Team On Form
D.S: OBRIEN, Neil
177 Oliver JONES
178 Buauna BALL
179 Tom ELWOOD
180 Jamie WIMBORNE

Bailey WILMOT
Kieran JARVIS
Oliver SMEE

Cycling Sheffield
D.S: COULSON, Dave
181 Jake TANNER
182 Charlie RENSHAW
183 Harry YATES
184 Louis SZYMANSKO

Kieran SAVAGE
Dan PULLEN
Joe CLARK

Welsh National Academy Team
D.S: PARTRIDGE, Rob
185 James TILLETT
186 William ROBERTS
187 Daniel COOMBE
188 Peter KIBBLE

Zachary MAY
Line OWEN
Sam TILLETT

RAF Cycling Assoc.
189 Anthony RICHARDSON
190 Ian LEE
191 Daniel WATTS
192 Ryan MORLEY

Robert WILLCOCKS

FORMER WINNERS
2005 Scott Gamble
2006 Robin Sharman
2007 Malcolm Elliott
2008 Kieren Power
2009 Ian Wikinson
2010 Michael Berling
2011 Zak Dempster
2012 Alexander Blain
2013 Ian Wilkinson
2014 Tom Moses
2015 Steele Von Hoff
2016 Connor Dunne
2017 Dan Fleeman
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