BMCR Result: Tour of Breedon Road Race

Mark Greenwood, Antony Wallis and Rob O’Connor race winners at BMCR’s Tour of Breedon Road Race at Griffydam (Leicestershire)

BMCR Result: Tour of Breedon Road Race — Mark Greenwood, Antony Wallis and Rob O’Connor race winners at BMCR’s Tour of Breedon Road Race at Griffydam (Leicestershire)

Here’s a race report from the modest Rob O’Connor, the current National Road Race Champion F category and leader of the Stallard Series. He makes chasing down breaks and winning sound so easy and matter of fact, oh how we all wish that was true! Many thanks Rob.

Tour of Breedon — F/G/H/W: The penultimate round of BMCR National Percy Stallard Series headed to Griffydam, Leicestershire promoted by Coalville Wheelers and organised by Alan Vallance and his excellent team of helpers. This was a demonstration of how a Masters Race should be run. It was friendly and organised with plenty of attention to detail. Great prizes, first class catering, super safe circuit, that has something for every rider’s characteristics.

The 65 year old + race had a good quality field of 33 riders from all over the country, plus six women. The pace was fast from the start with a tailwind all the way to the climb into Breedon. It wasn’t long before breakaway specialist Nick Giles was on the move. The bunch wasn’t having any of it, quickly closing him down. I decided to wait and have a dig on the rise into the wind on the other side of the circuit. I too was closed down with Stallard contender; Roland Elsdon of the promoting club being very attentive.

Many more attacks by Nick Giles and myself again came to nothing.

On the fifth and final lap of the 45mile race, it looked like being a bunch finish. I drifted towards the back to assess who was still there and then suddenly eight or so riders clipped off the front on the tailwind section. The gap looked like it was growing, so I bridged across just as they were starting to climb into Breedon, but found that three riders had already broken away going into Breedon. These were Pete Middleton VC Lincoln, currently 2nd overall in the series, Brian Pearson Lakes RC, a regular contender and Graham Wilson of Cheltenham. I managed to catch them, and as we left Breedon, it was full gas into the head wind – through and off.

There was a small regrouping with Steve Wilkinson bridging over with Martin Fisher as we started the road back to the finish and the infamous 8% climb of Vinegar Hill. I moved to the front out of danger. I wanted to be on the front up the hill, so that as we turned into the tailwind finish with 300mtrs to go, I was in prime position. All I had to do then was hold the inside line and wait for the sprint to start before I started my sprint, which was about 200mtrs to go, managing to hold off Steve Wilkinson in second and Martin Fisher in third.
A great event with fun balloon trophies awarded to the three race winners.

Lots more on the BMCR FB page (private group) like the pictures above and many more https://www.facebook.com/groups/BMCR2020

A/B/C
1. Mark Greenwood, Lungs 2 Legs C
2. Christopher Quin, Bioracer uk RT C
3. Ray Bell, Liverpool Braveheart C
4. Matt Holmes, Arctic Aircon RT B
5. Carl Dyson, Aerologic RT A
6. Graham Waller, Team bottrill A
7. david tate, Destination Bike RT C
8. Steven Fidler, Velo 6 Racing A
9. Richard King, VC Briganti B
10. Paul Foster, Chorlton Velo RT B
11. Dean Haden, Dynamic Rides CC A
12. Paul Allen, Casp RT B
13. Adrian Bird, Worcester St John’s CC C
14. Paul Dring, Team Echelon C
15. Paul Wheeler, Dynamic Rides CC C
16. Richard Cartland, Hunt Bike Wheels B
17. Angelo Derosa, Graham Weigh RT C
18. Darren Farr, CC Luton B
19. Dumitru Aunianu, Coalville Wheelers CC B
20. Steve Hewing, BMCR C
21. Simon Hill, Casp RT C
22. Jamie Murray, Peterborough Cycling Club B
23. Sean Dines, Team MK C
24. Paul Westwood, Brereford Wheelers C
25. Martin Rigby, BMCR C
26. Mike Jackson, CC Luton C
27. Andrew Prince, Aerologic RT C
28. Rowan Horner, VC St Raphael C
29. Adrian Bloor, BMCR C
30. Kevin OShea, BMCR A
31. Paul Foreman, Corley Cycles RC C
32. Mark Astles, G&B Cycle Team B

D/E
1. Antony Wallis, Born to Bike RT D
2. Richard Moore, Cliff Pratt Racing D
3. Steve Noel, Paradigm Cycles D
4. karl Smith, Bott Cycle Team D
5. Roy Chamberlain, Corley Cycles RC E
6. Tom Begg, Cambridge CC E
7. Rob Muzio, Team Ohten Aveas E
8. steve gibson, Peak Road Club D
9. John Davidson, REIFEN RACING E
10. Kieron Lewis, CC Luton D
11. chris spence, Casp RT D
12. Deano Sibthorpe, Team Echelon E
13. john watson, Hitchin Nomads CC E
14. Andy Bathe, Cambridge Vets E
15. Simon Dighton, Beacon RCC E
16. Michael Bell, New Brighton CC E
17. Michael D’Arcy, CC Luton D
18. Mark Wiffen, Brooks Cycles – Cronshaw coaching E
19. jason hopkins, Solihull CC D
20. Paul Molloy, Dolan ellesse D
21. sean kilroy, ELSR E
22. Martin Tolley, Stafford RC E
23. david cole, Weaver valley cc D
24. paul green, Areologic RT D
25. Paul Stewart, API-Angliasport E
26. Michael Weaver, Rockingham Forest Wheelers D
27. David Smith, Solihull CC E
28. Paul Mann, Solihull CC E
29. James Boardley, Peterborough Cycling Club D
30. Carl Dee, Team Echelon D
31. Andy Reed, Coalville Wheelers CC D
32. Rob Raynard, Aberdeen Wheelers Cycling Club E
33. Steve Davies, Bioracer uk RT E
34. Paul Thursfield, Graham Weigh RT D
35. Anthony Matthews, Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic E
36. ANDREW TURNER, ELEMENT CYCLING TEAM D

F/G/H/W
1. Rob O’ CONNOR, Born to Bike RT F
2. Stephen Wilkinson, Team Wheelguru F
3. Martin Fisher, BMCR F
4. Keith Middleton, Velo Club Lincoln F
5. Graham Wilson, Cheltenham & County CC F
6. Alison Fovargue, Team Empella W40
7. Brian Pearson, Lakes RC F
8. Bill Olver, Cheltenham & County CC F
9. Mark Wood, Velo 6 Racing D
10. Roland Elsdon, BMCR F
11. Andrew Donaldson, BMCR G
12. Tony Carter, BMCR G
13. Steven Wade-Jones, Bath CC G
14. Geoff Rawlinson, Manchester Bicycle Club F
15. Robert Tillott, St.Ives CC F
16. david broadbent, Moda RT F
17. ralph keeler, St.Ives CC G
18. Iain Turnbull, REIFEN RACING F
19. Mark Smith, Wahoo Le Col F
20. Phil Evans, Ruthin Cycling Club F
21. Paul Mason, Velo 6 Racing G
22. Vince Ellis, Schils – Doltcini RT F
23. Laura O’Shea, Swindon Wheelers W40
24. Andrew Simpkins, Team Echelon G
25. DAVE BURTON, Sussex nomads cc H
26. Ken Bradbury, Team Echelon G
27. Liz Halliday, Sussex nomads cc W60
28. Reka Gay, Huddersfield Star Wheelers W40
29. John Duckett, Bath CC H
30. Howard Brown, Coalville Wheelers CC G