Report: Chitterne Road Races 2018

On a very tough course for the Chitterne Road Races, there were wins for Jessica Finney and Michael Mottram

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Report: Chitterne Road Races 2018
Sunday 29th April | by Graham Robins 

On a very tough course there were wins for Jessica Finney (Cycle Team OnForm) and Michael Mottram (Morvelo Basso RT).

The course for today’s races was based in the village of Chitterne nestled within Salisbury Plain and surrounded by the military training areas. It was very windy for both races in the exposed sections and towards the end of the men’s race the temperature’s dropped dramatically. Our hosts for the two races were Avid Sport and they managed to put on some excellent racing.

WOMEN’S RACE

The morning’s races got underway with a 75km women’s race which meant they would transverse the course in four laps. A gentle roll away from the HQ lead the riders up the climb and on towards Shrewton, before the flag was dropped and racing got underway.

Once the riders reached to outskirts of Shrewton they turned onto the main road heading into Tilshead before turning left and onto the track leading through the tank crossing points and onto the finish line before dropping back past the HQ again.

As the women completed the first lap seven had pulled out a gap of 20secs and these seven were to become our lead group all race. The five were Jessica Finney, Meg Dickerson (Forever Pedalling), Jenny Corser (Mid Devon CC), Tina Hartwright (Dulwich Paragon CC), Madeline Howden (Team Vision Innovative Leisure) and Bethan Stubbs (Bianchi Dama).

With a couple of laps to go the lead group of five held a lead of 1min 22secs, and on the final lap with the wind picking up and riders getting tired their lead was extended out to1min 51secs.

As the group came through Tilshead for the final time the group attacked each other with Finney and Dickerson pulling clear to contest the sprint which Finney won by 17secs. Tina Hartwright finished third 2mins down. Corser and Stubbs finished the race with only ten riders making it around full distance.

Provisional Result
1st Jessica Finney Cycle Team OnForm 2hrs 10mins 56secs
2nd Meg Dickerson Forever Pedalling @17secs
3rd Tina Hartwright Dulwich Paragon CC @2mins
4th Jenny Corser Mid Devon CC
5th Bethan Stubbs Bianchi Dama
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MENS RACE
The men’s race followed after lunch time and they were going to do seven laps in much windy conditions. After riders completed the opening lap Mottram lead the field past the HQ and onto the climb. The race quickly settled down as a lead group of five formed on the front and opened a gap of 52secs.

The leaders after two laps were Mottram, Ashley Towey (Team Tor 2000 Kalas), Andrew Williams (Steele Davis Via Roma RT), Lee Frost (Tri UK) and Matthew Alder (Zero BC). As the race continued the lead group did extend their lead to1min 40secs from four chasers and the peloton a few seconds further down.

At mid race distance we now have a lead group of seven and its all change within the group. Mottram is still there as is Towey and Frost, but now it’s Marcin Bialoblocki (Steele Davis via Roma RT), Frederik Scheske (Team Tor 2000 Kalas), Aled Jones (VC Equipe) and Daniel Maclean-Howell (Cardiff Ajax).

This group remained together and then with two laps to go they were joined by Sam Qulverwell (Guernsey Velo). With the wind picking up again around the exposed sections of the course gaps started to appear and at the bell we had three clear. Mottram, Bialoblocki and Frost lead Liam Walsh (VC St Raphael) and Dante Carpenter (Morvelo Basso) by 1min 38secs, followed by a group of three at 2mins 16secs with the remains of the bunch at 2mins 40secs.

As the race headed up the final climb to the finish line Mottram had enough to hold off Bialoblocki on the line with Frost coming in at 42secs to complete the podium.

Provisional Result
1st Michael Mottram Morvelo Basso 3hrs 15mins
2nd Marcin Bialoblocki Steele Davis Via Roma RT @st
3rd Lee Frost Tri UK @42secs
4th Liam Walsh VC St Raphael
5th Dante Carpenter Morvelo Basso
6th Charles Walker

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