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17th CIRCUIT DES PLAGES VENDENNES SERIES
La Garnache, 22nd February 2003

The second event in a series of races for the GB men�s endurance squad was as manager John Herety described, "a good day" with the team getting yet another good workout in the 17th Circuit Des Plages Vendennes Series. Great Britain had riders at the front of the race all day, and then, two (Kristian House and Bryan Steel) managed to make the 40 odd strong front group at the finish. Also there was a British rider competing for a French club, Andrew Jackson.

In a quality event where most of the riders were from French Division 1 teams, 180 riders assembled on the start line including from Great Britain Bryan Steel, Steve Cummings, Tony Gibb, Kristian House, Russell Anderson, Owyn Wallace and Tom White. Held over a very flat course, the riders had to complete three laps of a big circuit and then a number of smaller laps to be done on the finishing circuit. On such a flat course, the riders were constantly forming echelons to keep out of the wind and towards the end, a major crash decimated the field, stopping a number of the GB riders making the front group. Tony Gibb was also hampered by the crash when after puncturing, he was held up with the following cars blocking the road.

I asked John how young Tom White is handling the big step up from the track to the road. Tom is a new face on the mens endurance squad this year and although he has had a great success on the track, he hasn't done a lot on the road in the past, especially at this level. John however said Tom has handled the transition "brilliantly" and added he was more than happy with the way he rode today. The plan for Tom was to ride 'correctly' for two hours (two laps of the big circuit, 90km). Afterwards, both Bryan Steel and Kristain House said that Tom hand ridden superbly, managing to stand up to riders trying to push him off wheels and the manager says he's making fantasic progress.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the team have another race, St-Jean de Monts, on a flat course the team have trained on and with no travelling to the race required, the riders are looking for a good race. John is expecting it to be a windy event, one where echelons will form and a possible race winning break could come from.

BRITISH RESULTS

 1. PERQUE Franck     France Track 3 h 15'54" 

35. HOUSE Kristian  Great Britain
40. STEEL Bryan     Great Britain
52. JACKSON Andrew   EC St-Etienne Loire 

RIDERS (note - max seven riders to ride in each event)
Bryan Steel
Steve Cummings
Tony Gibb
Kristian House
Russell Anderson
Owyn Wallace
Tom Southam
Tom White
Kieran Page

SUPPORT TEAM
John Herety (Team Manager)
Robyn Taylor (Team Masseur)
Mark Ingham (Team Mechanic)
Rod Ellingworth (Coach)
Gavin King (Physiotherapist)
Nigel Mitchell (Nutrition)

RACE PROGRAM
Feb 20, Givrand-Givrand (VENDENNES SERIES)
Feb 22, La Garnache (VENDENNES SERIES)
Feb 23, St-Jean de Monts (VENDENNES SERIES)
Feb 25, Chantonay (VENDENNES SERIES)
Feb 27, St-Gilles Croix de Vie (VENDENNES SERIES)
March 2, Circuit de la Vall�e de la Loire

� British Cycling 2002/2003