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51st Wally Gimber Dulwich Primevara

Story posted March 21, 2010; Report by Belinda Sinclair

Today’s calm, warm conditions with even a hint of early spring sunshine which prevailed over the 51st run out of the Wally Gimber trophy race, ensured a fast pace through out the seventy five mile course over rolling farmland in the far south eastern corner of Kent. Not even the wicked potholes which littered the course – reminders of the recent hard winter – were able to spoil the afternoon’s racing.

Marcel Six wins the 51st Wally Gimber. Photo: Belinda Sinclair

The fast pace was set from the start as riders cleared the neutralised zone about a mile out of Woodchurch, and then set off for the line,  determined to test their legs over six laps of the  twelve and a bit mile course. Two riders – Six and Chamberlain - attacked from the start but were kept in check by the main bunch who kept them well within their sites, eventually hauling them back  until the end of lap two when they eventually escaped, accompanied by two additional riders, Andy Lyons and Wouter Sybrandy.

From that point, Marcel Six, the eventual winner, plus team mate Andy Lyons, Roy Chamberlain and Wouter Sybrandy cranked up the pace further, eventually succeeding in riding away from the chasers, pushing all the way round the circuit until they were eventually clear of the bunch. Meanwhile, the bunch continued to ride  more or less as one, save a few stragglers who fell off the back or picked up a mechanical.

But with  Lyons and Six working well together as a team, the four escapees increased their lead until eventually they too split, with Six moving off the front followed by Chamberlain and Sybrandy, and then Andy Lyons.
With no crashes and no major incidents to report, (unlike last year’s major pile up 300m from the line) the event passed very smoothly, a credit to the organisational skills of Dulwich Paragon. Even the Ludovic Leroux from the French team which had been invited over from  Pas de Calais was suitably impressed:

”It  was a very good atmosphere, very relaxed, no stress, and a very good course. We were invited  by the Paragon, and it was our first time here. A nice route and some good, fast racing. We enjoyed it very much!”

The sentiments were echoed by winner Marcel Six of Orbea: “I found it an amazing race. Very well organised and very fast. This is the first time I’ve ridden here, and my second race of the season, so an early win is really good for me. I broke away with the Corley rider (Roy Chamberlain), then Andy Lyons – my team mate – and the Sigma rider (Wouter Sybrandy) came after us. I think that was about the end of lap two or so, and Andy did a lot of the work and set me up well, and I just kept pushing. I’m delighted with the result here today.”

Result
1. Marcel Six,  Orbea - For Goodness Shakes! 
2. Roy Chamberlain, Corley Cycles/Cervelo
3. Wouter Sybrandy, Sigma Sport/Specialized
4. Andy Lyons, Orbea/For Goodness Shakes
5. Justin Hoy, Felt/Colbournes
6. Gary Dodd, Sigma Sport/Specialized
7. Rudy Depecter, Team Nord Pas de Calais 
8. Kevin Knox, Dulwich Paragon CC
9. Gareth Montgomerie,  Sigma Sport   Specialized
10. Daniel Sanoni, Pearsons Cycles

East Yorkshire Classic winner Wouter Sybrandy leads Andy Lyons as they cross to the leaders. Photo: Belinda Sinclair