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British Cycling National Circuit Race Championship

By Larry Hickmott.

Here is a round up of the British Cycling Circuit Race Championships held last Sunday at Llandudno in North Wales. The races were promoted by the Rhos-on-Sea Cycling Club

WOMENS NATIONAL CRITERIUM TITLE

Despite the small field, the Womens race proved to be a lively affair. Riders such as Lorna Webb (Right) and Jacqui Marshall (below right) launched quite a few attacks as did Emma Davies, and Charlotte Goldsmith. Of these riders, Emma and Charlotte are both members of the GB team while Lorna and Jacqui have guested for GB in internationals, and all had the ability to go clear and win the event but try as they may, no attack off the front ever got very far.

Sitting dangerously in there as well was local rider, Denise Hampson. The silver medallist from the Sprint and 500 Metre time trial events at the Track Championships only a few weeks ago, lives locally and has close ties with the promoting club. More importantly, she can sprint better than most in the UK and for many of us, it was looking ominous that no attacks were able to dislodge the rider more accustomed to doing a few laps of a track rather than loads of laps of a mile long circuit.

It was looking even more like a Hampson victory when she came round on the front of the group with a few laps to go, keeping a watchful eye on her rivals much the same as she would in a match sprint on the velodrome. The tension could be felt as the crowd waited nervously to see what happened next and then with a lap to go the field came over the line en-mass with no-one wanting to take up the leadout. There were no less than five riders across the road, Jacqui Marshall with Charlotte Goldsmith on her wheel, Helen Gutteridge, Lorna Webb, Angela Hunter (National Series winner) and Nina Davies who has ridden for Wales and Great Britain. Hampson was well back now though as the commentator Hugh Porter explained to the waiting crowd.

A few minutes later after their final lap of the circuit, the riders returned at full speed, with three riders thundering down the main street lengths clear of the rest. In the centre of the road, Gutteridge triumphantly crossed the line first, in front of Goldsmith making a late charge but frustratingly for her, unable to get past the Beeston rider and having to settle for a silver medal. A length or so back was another of the race favourites Angela Hunter, third and a bronze medal to add to her already large collection.

Behind them was Denise Hampson in 4th place, the sprint after such an attacking race perhaps just a little too long for her. Or may be it was the five hours she spent during the week in the Welsh hills, trying out for the BBC programme 'SAS: Are you tough enough' that blunted her sprint. Whatever the reasons for one of the favourites being beaten, it was a very emotional Helen Gutteridge who stepped up onto the top of the podium to a huge cheer from the crowd and receive the biggest prize of her cycling career.

After a lap to wind down, Helen's first words to me were "That was for my club president who died on Wednesday. I wanted to win for him. He got me into cycling when I was 7."

Asked about how she had managed to beat some of the best finishers in the country, Helen explained that "I came out of the last corner and said to myself 'I'll stay out of trouble on the front and see what happens'. And it worked out well. I knew I didn't have the speed to get around anyone and just couldn't believe it when I was still out front. I just went as hard as I could."

The new champion hasn't long been back racing after four years out of the sport after glandular fever and university. But the two years road racing have seen her quickly show her potential and the title was her second women's victory this year after winning one of the Team Series races in Bedford. The National Title though, was as she admitted "a big step up. This is definitely the highlight of my racing career and gives me good motivation for next year."

Asked how the race itself went, Helen said "I knew I was small enough to dip in and out of corners and my boyfriend has been working on the sprint with me. It was a very good circuit, lots of corners, quite high speed and that suited me. It was a well organised event, one of the best I've ridden. I wanted a medal of any description and had a lot of motivation to do that."

Finally, was she confident of victory or did the presence of sprinters like Hampson and Hunter worry her? "Denise was one, along with Angela Hunter that I expected to win it. I was expecting to see them come flying past me at the end because I knew I didn't have a pure sprint. To be honest, I just looked at the line and went for it. I knew after the track nationals I could do 500 metres hard so I thought I'd get an early jump and go for it and let them all fight it out between them behind me."

A big congratulations to the new champion who can ready her self for the next season knowing she will be able to wear the champion's jersey in circuit races in 2004.

The Mens Circuit Race Championship
After having seen Russell Downing win titles on two different tracks in two weeks, and then the night before the Nationals, ride away from Julian Winn and Kieran Page as well as his brother Dean, to win the Shropshire Star Newport Nocture, I had a sneaky suspicion that Russell Downing may well triumph but it was by no means a certainity. As ever, there was the odd twist in the story line to keep us guessing right up until the end. Like the Nocture the night before, the race was on from the word go and no prisoners were being taken. I can't remember a lull in the race at any stage as riders attacked in turn to try and get a group away.

Having seen a number of the national Criterium series races, there were a number of familiar faces attacking off the front like George Richardson, Bryan Taylor and Justin Hoy to name but a few and some new faces like Ben Greenwood, Chris Doel and Steve Stoneman.

Right: Russell Downing on the start line -- shadow boxing Fonzy?

The Downing brothers were of course stirring things up as well but none of the breaks got very far although the constant attacking was thinning the once large peloton down as it started to splinter under the pressure. One break that did look promising had Dean Downing, Julian Winn, Steve Stoneman and Anthony Malarczyk in it but such was the pace, that within a lap, they were back in the fold and another counter was launched first by Dean Downing then followed by Evan Oliphant and all the time chased by Martin Ford and Steve Stoneman.

This was the pattern of the racing lap after lap, as the riders in the group took turns in having a go. And then with 8 laps to go, Russell Downing launched himself up the road chased by George Richardson. A few seconds later, Russell's brother Dean Downing joined in the fun and launched himself in pursuit.

Next lap and Russell was lapping riders and still being chased by Richardson with Tom White now chasing alone in 3rd. Chaos then followed as a call was made for the doctor and the "flying doctor" got on his mountain bike and headed for Trinity Square.

At the finish, little was known what had happened but a big clue came when next time round, a group of four lead by Julian Winn in full flight roared past. In the group were Winn, Richardson, White and Hoy with Graham Briggs and Anthony Malarczyk making contact as the group headed for the corner at the end of the finishing straight.

Then in the pits just up from the start/finish, Russell Downing suddenly appeared where team mechanic Bob Rouse tried to straighten his bike up. The commissaire then motioned to Russell to get ready to resume his race, 15 seconds ahead of the leaders. This he did although he almost came to grief again as he pulled his foot out of the pedal as he attempted to accelerate away past the commentator Hugh Porter.

With blood streaming down his right leg, we now knew that Downing had crashed and wondered if he would be able to hold his lead. What was certain was that had the crash happened a lap later, Downing would not have had the lap out and his race would have been over...

A couple of minutes went past before a lone Downing appeared again, still holding his lead but now chased by a lone Bryan Taylor with the bunch looking at each other as Kieran Page appeared at the front apparently seething with frustration at the lack of a chase. The tension was rising in the crowd as everyone wondered whether Downing could maintain the pace and stay away for what would be a glorious victory. Behind, Taylor still chased alone but only yards behind him hugging the barriers was Dean Downing, crossing the small gap and leaving Page and the rest behind.

Three laps to go, and Russell Downing was amazingly still leading but there were now two chasers in the same straight as Russell, his brother Dean and Bryan Taylor. Off the front of the bunch was Page, still trying to bring them back chased by Richardson and Oliphant. The pace was unrelenting but nothing was going to deny Russell Downing and with two laps to go, he still lead the race chased by his brother and Bryan Taylor.

Behind, in the wide open main street of this picturesque resort, the bunch was spread out across the road, everyone looking at each other and then down the barriers under the gaze of the judges that stood behind them, Julian Winn attacked hard chased by Matthew Larner (pictured above).

Back in view, the bell started to ring for the approaching rider, and Downing looked every bit the champion he was about to become as he hugged the barriers down the left hand side of the road while Dean Downing and Bryan Taylor followed a few seconds later, deciding to hug the barriers down the right hand side.

Next into view a few seconds later was Julian Winn, a former National Road Race champion who this year competed in his first Tour of Italy. His lead over the bunch lead by the remarkable James Taylor (Broken ribs/collarbone and still doing the business!) was slender but he had the bit well and truly between his teeth and wasn't about to give up his position on the road.

Second by second, everyone waited with baited breath, wondering would Russell hold on or would the win go to his brother or the masterful Bryan Taylor. Could Winn catch them? The answer came soon enough as Russell Downing, hands aloft from a 100 metres or more out from the line, lapped up the applause from the crowd, turning to acknowledge the crowd on both sides of the road before crossing the line to become the 2003 circuit champion.

Then as Russell slowed to a halt, his brother Dean made it a Downing 1-2 as he out sprinted Bryan Taylor for the silver medal. Winn held on for fourth with George Richardson winning the bunch sprint for 5th place only a second or two behind Winn. It had been some race but the undoubted star was Russell Downing.

Whilst we waited for the new champion to make his way to the podium, I grabbed a few words with the out going champion, Dean Downing. "It was fast, it was hard" he said straight away. "Lots of people were watching me and it is always hard to retain your title" he explained, no doubt disappointed that he hadn't won but also pleased for his younger brother who had taken the jersey from him.

"I was going very well today and in the end, I got across to Bryan Taylor, and we worked well together but Russell was strong today. I think he had a lot of adrenaline from the crash. I was on the front of the peloton and when we came around he was in the crowd."

And once Russell had restarted 15 seconds ahead of the bunch, did he expect to catch Russell when chasing with Bryan Taylor? "I was going hard but I didn't want to go too hard to take Bryan across because Bryan is a good sprinter and he could have always taken the title. It's a fantastic result for Life Repair. I'd like to thank Phil Leigh and Bob Rouse for helping me and giving me the opportunity for next year as well".

And then down the main street with the crowd applauding long and loud, came not only a talented rider but one who has shown all the guts and determination of a true champion, Russell Downing. After receiving his third gold medal and champions jersey for 2003, he said "its absolutely brilliant. Two in two nights, it's just amazing really." Asked whether this meant any more or less than the other titles he has won, he said "Each title gets better and better. I know I have good form and every day you get up and you think 'I can win it'."

Talking about the pattern of the race, he explained that "there were a few attacks with various laps to go and I thought, I've not attacked for a while, so I put in a really hard one and I got away. I could see George Richardson coming across and I thought I'm not waiting, I want to win it on my own."

But then disaster! Down he went unbeknown to us at the finish. "I'm not sure if I was taking one too many risks around the corners but what ever happened to me, it felt like I lost the line and the back end locked up. When the wheel came down, it punctured the latex tube in the back as it hit the ground. I then went straight into the barriers and I thought I was out of there. I was down for a few seconds. One of the guys from Scunthorpe Poly (Chris Richardson) said how are you, how are you, you can have my wheel if you want and all of a sudden I thought I'm going to get back in there."

Talking to Chris via email later, he gave his version of the event. "I had the dubious honour of having Fonzy blow his rear tyre out right in front of me at Llandudno just after I had been lapped with about 10 to go. After scraping him off of the road, shoving my back wheel onto his bike and straightening his bars out, he climbed back on and managed to hang on for the win! My main concern when he crashed so hard was to make sure that he was okay, and apart from a few scrapes and a bit of a dazed expression thankfully he was fine."

Fine he certainly was as he went around to get his bike checked and await a restart with his 15 second lead. Russell takes up the story. "I thought I had better get back round to the finish but I wasn't quite sure of the rules. I thought 'I hope they do give me the 15 or 20 seconds I had', and they did. When I got back into it, I couldn't get my foot in, because when I got out of the saddle, my foot came out and I thought its not my day."

Asked if the crash and subsequent stopping made it difficult to get up to speed quickly. Russell said "The legs were really dead at first and I was having to use a smaller gear. Earlier, when I was away, I was really rolling it but after the crash I was a bit stoppy and starty for a lap or so, but when I saw there was only four laps to go, I thought to myself, just bury yourself."

"So I did and started to get on top of the gears. I got back on top of my cornering as well because for the first few laps I was really off and then that last lap, I went even harder."

Asked whether he knew Deano was chasing him, the rider known by many as "Fonzy" replied "I didn't know what was happening. I crossed the line and heard them say Dean Downing is sprinting for 2nd so I was looking back to see if he had got it and he did. It has been an amazing weekend."

Finally we spoke about the future because the past has been full of bad luck for him and he certainly deserves a change in fortunes after being let down by a number of pro teams over the last three years. "The future is brilliant. Team Life Repair are going pro next year so that will mean some more continental rides there, and me and Dean have got a ride in the Europeans (Madison) in Amsterdam and hopefully if we do a ride there that will help us get into some World Cups next year and represent the country as brothers. Who knows but the last month has just been amazing for my career."

"Christmas time last year was not a good time. My head was off, no sponsors were coming in. Then later this year Team Life Repair said they would give me a chance, gave me a Litespeed that felt brilliant today and lots of support. They have been brilliant."

Standing alongside Russell on the podium was a Masters champion Bryan Taylor who had just returned from the Masters World Championships where he had won the prestigious Muratti Cup. Harking back to the World Championships, Bryan explained that winning the Muratti cup, "made up for not having such a good week. I did a PB in the pursuit, and I can't really do any better than that but I was a little bit low after the points race and yesterday made up for it. Then I come here for something to do on the way home and I have a medal."

Talking about the race, Bryan said that "as the race went on, I started to get stronger and stronger. We were coming along here at 34 mph (Dean's computer said they averaged 44kph) and we were hammering along the top. The medal is brilliant. I've never had one in the crit champs and it was just my sort of circuit. It was just like a Belgium kermesse. I'm used to hanging on for grim death over there and I was hanging on for grim death here and then took my chance."

I asked about the chase behind them (Dean and Bryan). "I think they came a bit too late after us. When I went, I knew I just had to go. There wasn't a lot of thought about it. I just put my head down and went and then saw Dean come across and worked with him. I tied up towards the end and so was well happy with the bronze. Silver and bronze didn't make any odds to me. The medal was just brilliant."

As for what Bryan does now with the season end is fast approaching for most, he says "For now, I start to look at taking the kids (young riders like Tom Smith) to Gent and try and sort all that out. So this is a great way to finish the season."

Finally, I caught up with the 4th placed rider, Julian Winn, before he left for home just down the road in Abergavenny. Well, just down the road compared to how far I had to go!

"It was good fun, a good circuit" he said first. "I gave it some but Rus, the Downing brothers, they ride well like. You don't give them any rope and I gave them some rope. They get on with it and are good honest riders. Russell pulled it out of the bag again."

"I wasn't actually sure he was away at first because I saw him crash and then I gave it a bit at the end to catch Dean and Bryan and just left it a little bit too late really. I felt good though and enjoyed it. It was a good weekend for me."

Asked whether he felt he was over his illness that would leave him drained some days but not others, Julian explained "I felt fine on both days but I've only been racing for an hour but I think now the season has ended so it's not a problem now. A few beers and in a month I'll be right as reign and will be back on the road and training for next year."

I then asked about next year. His pro team this year are disbanding and after a good year where he got his first pro win and rode a Grand Tour (Giro), Julian needs to find new team for 2004.

Standing next to Julian was Phil Leigh, the Life Repair team manager so I asked can I start a rumour you're talking to Life Repair! "Its no rumour, I am talking to Life Repair for sure" he said with a smile. "I am waiting on a couple of things at the moment but they have made a good offer and we'll just wait and see. The ball is in my court at the moment."

"I'll definitely be racing no matter what. Even if I wasn't paid I'd be racing because I like racing but its just at what level. The higher the level, the better for me. To be honest, I can't wait for the season to end so I can get into next year so there's keenness. I haven't been able to show my strength this year after getting ill after the Giro. And I've gone up another level for sure and I'm looking forward to showing it next year."

Finally, I asked about the Nocturne the night before. "It was awesome. I like crit racing especially towards the end of the season when you can't be bothered riding those long road races, and it was good hard racing and the best guy won. He (Rus) deserves it."

Thanks to everyone for a great days racing and we look forward to returning to North Wales (Llandudno) for a day out at the sea side with some bike racing to keep us entertained!