News – 50th Clayton Spring Classic

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The 50th Clayton Spring Classic hits the roads in 2016 with the now familiar handicap format.

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News – 50th Clayton Spring Classic

The 50th Clayton Spring Classic hits the roads in 2016 with the now familiar handicap format. It’s not always been that way; the race ran for many years on the now unused Barnoldswick circuit attracting the North’s top amateurs and then Pro riders when the race became ProAm in the 80s.

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Recent winners include Ian Stannard in 2007 now of Sky and the Orica Greenedge twins Adam and Simon Yates almost holding off the scratch group as juniors in 2010. The podium positions reads like and who’s who’ of the best in the UK, Ian Wilkinson, Graham Briggs, Mark McNally, Tom Barras, Dan Craven, Rob Hayles, Dean Downing and dozens more.

Last year’s winner Pete Williams will ply his trade next year with new Pro Continental team Onepro and unlikely to defend his title so wearing number one is likely to be local rider Simon Wilson, 2014 winner.

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Present organisers Alan Roper and Peter Boast have both officiated or ridden the race on many occasions, Alan, well known and respected on the NW scene has been involved in every edition, either riding it, judging it, lead car, Commissaire even tea boy.

Peter said, Alan deserves much credit for keeping the race going along with the Clayton Velo old boys! One of the North’s top clubs back in the day. The handicap format came about to simply boost numbers a dozen years or more ago and now we have the opposite problem!

The format works really well on the Bashall circuit which is only 3.9 miles and there’s action from the word go. The scratch group get a really good workout and the front runners a taste of riding with the best, at least for a short time before the race hits the closing stages.

 

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