REVOLUTION 2 TRACK SERIES

MANCHESTER VELODROME, 24TH OF JANUARY 2004 (PREVIEW) | REVOLUTION 1 FEATURE |

Report by Phil Ingham, Photo Gallery Of all the Race

The second Revolution Track meeting saw another packed house enjoying some top-quality racing at the Manchester Velodrome. An array of British Olympic hopefuls, headed by world champion Bradley Wiggins, locked horns with some top Europeans, including the cream of the Greek endurance team, who have been in the UK this week training.

There was also more enthralling action from a very enthusiastic line up of Juniors dubbed the "Stars of Tomorrow". To the many in the crowd it was the quality and strength in depth of these younger riders which underpinned the optimism for the future of the sport which the Revolution series has engendered.

Credit must go to the team behind the Revolution for their hard work, commitment and above all, ability to provide and effectively market what the cycling public want to see. It remains a slightly perverse and rare pleasure to find one's self stuck in a traffic jam going to a domestic cycling event.

With Olympic success clearly a strong possibility in August, perhaps track racing has finally made the breakthrough as a spectator sport in the UK, with a string of successful promotions at Manchester and Newport in the last few months. With a World Cup event at the former over the Easter weekend, and a galaxy of foreign and domestic sprinters due at the next Revolution at the end of February, there's plenty more to look forward to in the run-up to Athens 2004. Long may the Revolution continue!

The racing itself got off to a spectacular start with a huge field contesting the 6km Motor Scratch race. The pace of the race as it wound into the last four laps was incredible and the GB stalwarts Tony Gibb, Chris Newton, Rob Hayles and Brad Wiggins were all at the front of the field, clearly determined to get things moving with a home win. On the line it was Wiggins who took a hugely popular win - his first in Credit Agricole colours - from Austria's Roland Garber, with Hayles third. However, it was interesting to see the Greek riders well placed and clearly keen to make a mark on the evening's proceedings.

In the Elite 1500m Time Trial, the Greeks duly made their mark with I Tamouridis storming round the six laps to record 1m 42.355s, almost two seconds quicker than Chris Newton is second, with a very fit and keen looking Tony Gibb third a further second back.

The Keirin produced some superb racing with the final just about bringing the house down as Jamie Staff rode round the entire field in the last lap to win by the narrowest of margins from national champion Barney Storey, who matched the GT rider superbly going into the final bend and only lost by the width of a tyre.

The Madison Time Trial allowed the riders to show off their hand-sling skills at the mid-point hand-over. Rob Hayles and James Taylor looked both slick and quick in recording 58.890 seconds, almost a second quicker than the second placed duo Chris Newton and Tony Gibb, the only other team to dip under a minute.

Bradley Wiggins picked up his second win of the night in the 3km derney paced pursuit, holding Steven DeNeef off with some ease and cruising to a win in the event in which he is European champion.

Chris Newton did his usual demolition job on the opposition in the Points race, showing tremendous leg speed and acceleration to take the opening two sprints and second in the third sprint after I Tsakouridis took the five point with a lone break. Roland Garber won the final sprint, but by then Newton had things wrapped up, though he scored again with a third place. Also going well in the race was Russell Downing, who scored in the first three sprints and took second overall.

The final elite race of the evening, the 10km Scratch, was a classic with numerous attacks. Brad Wiggns, Rob Hayles and Tony Gibb all made their moves in the last five laps, but they were swallowed up by the overseas contingent who dominated the last lap, the win going to Roland Garber by a tyre from V Anastopoulos of Greece, who, like all his team-mates, showed a determination to entertain as much as race, lifting his wheel as he crossed the line in an effort to hold off the Austrian. Third was another Greek rider, G Ninos, with Malcolm Ellliott fourth. Elliott was unlucky in that he was boxed in as he made his move at the start of the last lap, when he looked like he might have the legs to claim the win.

The Future Stars racing was superb throughout. Ian Stannard was in great form early on winning two sprint on the way to taking the 8km points race and then showing strength and tactical awareness in taking an extremely fast and entertaining Devil. Andy Hill won the 10km Scratch with a well-timed attack going into the last lap, from Steven Burke and Andy Nightingale.

RESULTS (provisional)

6km Motor Scratch			
 1. Bradley Wiggins        Credit Agricole
 2. Roland Garber          Austria
 3. Rob Hayles             WCPP
 4. Ioannis Tamouridis     Greece
 5. Vasileios Anastopoulos Greece
 6. Jon Norfolk            Yasumitsu Schlapp
 7. Tony Gibb              Plowman Craven RT
 8. Russell Downing	
 9. Malcolm Elliott        Pinarello RT
10. Dean Downing           John Saey RT
11. Georgios Ninos         Greece
12. Steve Cummings         Sport & Publicity
13. Geraint Thomas         Cardiff Jif
14. Elpidoforos Potouridis Greece
15. Huw Pritchard          Angliasport
16. Kieran Page            SP Systems-Wightlink
17. Kristian House         PCA-Orbea
18. Ioannis Tsakouridis    Greece
19. Tom Smith              City of Edinburgh
20. Tom	Walters            Dataphonics RT
21. Steven Dechamps        Belgium
22. Ed Clancy              Wheelspin Cycles
23. Jerome Neuville        France
Time:	7.43.805		

1km Handicap Heats			
		
Heat 1			
1. Ray Clarke            Ireland
2. Vasileios Gianniosis  Greece
3. Matt Brammeier        BC PM
4. Miceal Concannon      Ireland
5. Matt Crampton         Sportcity Velo
6. Dean Downing          John Saey RT
			
			
Heat 2			
1. Geraint Thomas        Cardiff Jif
2. Kieran Page           SP Systems-Wightlink
3. Tom White             VC Des Londres
4. Kristian House        PCA-Orbea
5. Rob Hayles            WCPP
			
Heat 3			
1. James Taylor       City Of Edinburgh
2. Tom Smith          City of Edinburgh
3. John Blackwell     Ireland
4. Bruce Edgar        Dataphonics RT
5. Jon Norfolk        Yasumitsu Schlapp
6. Malcolm Goggin     Ireland
7. Eion Concannon     Ireland
			
Heat 4			
1. Huw Pritchard      Angliasport
2. Ed Clancy          Wheelspin Cycles *
3. Ian George         Yasumitsu Schlapp
4. Tom Walters        Dataphonics RT
5. Barney Storey      VC St Raphael
6. Russell Downing	
7. Tony Gibb          Plowman Craven RT

HANDICAP FINAL			
 1. Huw Pritchard	  Angliasport
 2. Ian George	          Yasumitsu Schlapp
 3. Ed Clancy	          Wheelspin Cycles
 4. Vasileios Gianniosis  Greece
 5. Geraint Thomas        Cardiff Jif
 6. Kieren Page           SP Systems-Wightlink
 7. Tom Smith             City of Edinburgh
 8. James Taylor          City Of Edinburgh
 9. Ray Clarke            Ireland
10. Tom White             VC Des Londres
11. Matt Brammeier        BC PM
12. John Blackwell        Ireland
Time: 1.08.129			


ELITE 1500M T

Heat 1
H Pritchard 1m 45.724s beat B Steel 1.50.474

Heat 2
T. Gibb 1.45.713 beat M Elliott 1.48.367

Heat 3
R. Hayles 1.46.019 beat R. Garber 1.46.355

Heat 4
I Tamouridis 1.42.355 beat P Manning 1.50.289

Heat 5 
C. Newton 1.44.062 beat J Neuville 1.51.269

OVERALL
 1. Ioannis Tamouridis    Greece
 2. Chris Newton          Corima RT
 3. Tony Gibb             Plowman Craven RT
 4. Huw Pritchard         Angliasport
 5. Rob Hayles            WCPP
 6. Roland Garber         Austria
 7. Malcolm Elliott       Pinarello RT
 8. Paul Manning          VC St Raphael
 9. Bryan Steel           Team Chilwell
10. Jerome Neuville       France


KEIRIN HEATS			
Heat 1			
1. Kieren Page      SP Systems-Wightlink
2. Ian George       Yasumitsu Schlapp
3. Tom Smith        City of Edinburgh
4. Matt Crampton    Sportcity Velo
5. Russell Downing 	
6. Jon Norfolk	    Yasumitsu Schlapp
			
Heat 2			
1. Jamie Staff	    Team GT Bikes
2. Barney Storey    VC St Raphael/Waite Contracts
3. James Taylor     City Of Edinburgh
4. Ed Clancy        Wheelspin Cycles
5. Ray Clarke       Ireland
6. Dean Downing     John Saey RT


KEIRIN FINAL			
1. Jamie Staff       GT Bikes	
2. Barney Storey     VC St Raphael
3. James Taylor      City Of Edinburgh
4. Kieran Page       SP Systems-Wightlink
5. Tom Smith         City of Edinburgh
6. Ian George        Yasumitsu Schlapp


1KM MADISON TIME TRIAL			
1.   Rob Hayles        WCPP                 58.890
     James Taylor      City Of Edinburgh
			
2.   Tony Gibb         Plowman Craven RT    59.860
     Chris Newton      Corima RT
			
3.   Barney Storey      VC St Raphael       1.00.447
4.   James Notley       VC St Raphael
			
4.   Vasileios Anastopoulos    Greece       1.00.560
     Ioannis Tamouridis        Greece
			
5.   Russell Downing	                    1.00.765
     Dean Downing        John Saey RT
			
6.   Jerome Neuville     France             1.01.310
     Roland Garber       Austria
			
7.   Geraint Thomas.     Cardiff Jif        1.02.492
     Tom Smith           City Of Edinburgh
			
8.   Jon Norfolk         Yasumitsu Schlapp  1.02.694
     Ian George          Yasumitsu Schlapp
			
9.   Paul Manning        VC St Raphael      1.04.158
     Bryan Steel         Team Childwell
			
10.  Ray Clarke          Ireland            1m 13.817
     Malcolm Goggin      Ireland



3KM DERNY PACED PURSUIT	CHALLENGE
1. Bradley Wiggins      Credit Agricole   3.18.719
2. Steven  Deneef       Belgium           3.19.400
			


ELITE 15KM POINTS RACE			
 1. Chris Newton           Corima RT     15
 2. Russell Downing                      7
 3. Roland Garber          Austria       5
 4. Ioannis Tsakouridis    Greece        5
 5. Ioannis Tamouridis     Greece
 6. Kristian House         PCA-Orbea
 7. Malcolm Elliott        Pinarello RT
 8. Steven Deneef          Belgium
 9. Vasileios Anastopoulos Greece
10. Elpidoforos Potouridis Greece
11. Bradley Wiggins        Credit Agricole
12. Paul Manning           VC St Raphael
13. Geraint Thomas         Cardiff Jif
14. Tom Walters            Dataphonics RT
15. Georgios Ninos         Greece
16. Kieran Page            SP Systems-Wightlink
17. Bruce Edgar            Dataphonics RT
18. Bryan Steel            Team Chilwell
19. Rob Hayles             WCPP
20. Ed Clancy              Wheelspin Cycles
21. Tom Smith              City of Edinburgh
22. James Notley           VC St Raphael

Sprint 1 C Newton
Sprint 2 C Newton
Sprint 3 I Taskouridis
Sprint 4 R Garber

ELITE 10KM SCRATCH RACE			
1. Roland Garber              Austria
2. Vasileios Anastopoulos     Greece
3. Georgios Ninos             Greece
4. Malcolm Elliott            Pinarello RT
5. Chris Newton               Corima RT
6. Elpidoforos Potouridis     Greece
7. Ioannis Tsakouridis        Greece
8. Kieren Page                SP Systems-Wightlink
9. Tom White                  VC Des Londres
Time: 11.50.085			



Future Stars 8km Points Race				
 1. Ian Stannard       Team Luciano	10 pts
 2. Joe Liversidge     Stevenage CC	6 pts
 3. Kristian Downs     API Resprays	5 pts
 3. Steven Burke       Sportcity Velo	5 pts
 5. Adam Blyth         Sheffield Phoe   4 pts
 6. Pete Williams      Ellan Vannin CC	3 pts
 7. Jon Mozley         Dataphonics RT	3 pts
 8. Brad Raynor        Welland Valley	2 pts
 9. Pete Bissell       Team Welwyn	2 pts
10. Adam Thompson      Swindon RC	2 pts
11. Jason Kenny        Sportcity Velo	1 pt
12. Andrew Nightingale James Hey RT	1 pt

Future Stars Devil Take the Hindmost			
 1. Ian Stannard        Team Luciano
 2. Joe Liversidge      Stevenage CC
 3. Adam Blyth          Sheffield Phoenix CC
 4. Andy Hill           ABC Centreville
 5. Tom Murray          Batley CC – Hargreaves
 6. Jon Mozley          Dataphonics RT
 7. Jonny Kennedy       Team Chevin
 8. Pete Williams       Ellan Vannin CC
 9. Steven Burke        Sportcity Velo
10. Josh Hargreaves     Sportcity Velo
11. Andy Tennant        Wolverhampton Wheelers
12. Pete Bissell        Team Welwyn
13. Adam Thompson       Swindon RC
14. Shane Charlton      Kingdom RT
15. Andrew Nightingale  James Hey RT
16. Steven Harrison     Cleveland Wheelers
17. Steven Guymer       Manx RC
18. Kirk Jenns          PCA-Orbea
19. Kristian Downs      API Resprays
20. Brad Raynor         Welland Valley CC
21. Sam Thorne          Matlock CC
22. Scott Elliott       PCA Ciclos Uno
23. Chris Opie          Cyclelogic
24. Simon Whitfield     Stockton Whls CC
25. Pete Wright         Ashfield RC
26. Kevin Barclay       Edinburgh Racers
27. Matt Gregory        Royal Sutton CC
Time: 9.11.040			


FUTURE STARS TEAM SPRINT CHALLENGE HEATS
YORKSHIRE           Eliminated
Adam Blyth          Sheffield Phoenix CC
Steven Harrison     Cleveland Wheelers
Andrew Nightingale  James Hey RT
			
LONDON              54.136	
Kristian Downs	 API Resprays
Pete Bissell     Team Welwyn
Joe Liversidge   Stevenage CC
			
MANCHESTER          51.211	
Jason Kenny      Sportcity Velo
Steven Burke     Sportcity Velo
Josh Hargreaves  Sportcity Velo
			
BIRMINGHAM         54.82	
Andy Tennant     Wolverhampton Wheelers
Matt Gregory     Royal Sutton CC
Jon Mozley       Dataphonics RT


FUTURE STARS 10KM SCRATCH RACE			
1. Andy Hill           ABC Centreville
2. Steven Burke        Sportcity Velo
3. Andrew Nightingale  James Hey RT
4. Pete Williams       Ellan Vannin CC
5. Andy Tennant        Wolverhampton Wheelers
6. Adam Blyth          Sheffield Phoenix CC
7. Chris Opie          Cyclelogic
8. Pete Bissell        Team Welwyn
Time: 12.58.262			
			

FUTURE STARS TEAM SPRINT CHALLENGE			
Ride off for 1st & 2nd			

Manchester  51.242	
1. Jason Kenny       Sportcity Velo
   Steven Burke      Sportcity Velo
   Josh Hargreaves   Sportcity Velo
			
London     54.075	
2. Kristian Downs    API Resprays
   Pete Bissell      Team Welwyn
   Joe Liversidge    Stevenage CC