Report: Orwell Velo Road Race

Patrick Biel was the winner of the regional A Orwell Velo Road Race near Ipswich on September 8 after going solo with 10 miles to go

Report: Orwell Velo Road Race
From Fergus Muir

Patrick Biel (Zero BC) took the win in the Orwell Velo Road Race after striking out on his own with about 10 miles to go. Held in bright conditions on a six mile circuit with one short sharp hill, the race proved remarkably fast, in part due to the tailwind leg being more exposed while the headwind sections around Helmingham ran between hedges full leaf.

Forty-five minutes in, the race split, for reasons that were not at all clear. The gap was not large to start with, but it never closed, though several crossed the gap. This made a group 20 in front, who in spite of an apparently unwieldy numbers worked well together and stayed away..

Beil, a Polish rider from Leighton Buzzard, attacked near the gates of Helmingham Hall with a lap and a half to go and opened a 30 second gap before the race reached Ashbocking, three miles later. Stephen Fuller (Cambridge CC) and Martin Smith (London Phoenix) also made lone bids to take second and third places while Harrison Mayo (Lee Valley Youth) won the sprint for fourth spot.

The bunch near Pearl Farm

The lead group with eventual winner Biel (far left)

The main field at Ashbocking

Result
1. Patrick Biel (Zero BC)
2. Stephen Fuller (Cambridge CC)
3. Martin Smith (London Phoenix)
4. Harrison Mayo (Lee Valley Youth)
5. James O’Connell (Regents Park Rouleurs)
6. James Dent (Team PB Performance)
7. Oliver Wood (Strada Sport)
8. Liam Fenner (API)
9. Simon Robinson (FietsenTempo)
10. Leighton Oxley-Crisp (Velo Schils)
11. Paul Miller (Maldon & District)
12. Matthew Carter (Velo Schils)
13. Benjamin Beynon (Strada Sport)
14. James Sherwood (Orwell Velo)
15. Jake Towler (Strada Sport)
16. Colin Peck (Chelmer CC)
17. Tom Andrews (B38)
18. Tim Allen (Team LDN)
19. Louis Julian (DAP CC)
20. Michael Bell (Fast Test)