News
WEEK BEGINNING APRIL 4th 2005
- Martyn Ashfield Classic Junior Road Race
- The opening round of the British Junior Road Race Series proved a success, run on behalf of Welsh Cycling on the Gwernyfedd course, South Wales. Organisers experienced a headache on race day when overnight roadwork's appeared on the circuit, but an alternative 9.5 mile route was quickly found which proved favourable to the riders. The hill in the new course was a little shorter and failed to split the majority of the bunch; there was a breakaway early in the race for a couple of the seven laps, featuring Dafydd Dylan of Wales and three other riders, which at one point gained two minutes on the bunch. They were reeled in eventually and no further attacks were allowed to go � resulting in a blanket sprint finish � apart from Alex Atkins who rode away from the bunch in the very final stages of the race to cross the line 9 seconds clear of Chris Opie and Ian Stannard. Provisional results are available HERE (External Link)
- Wales at the Archer Grand Prix
- Expectations for the Welsh team proved high at the Archer Grand Prix after Julian Winn's sprint victory last year, but after making much of the early action, Winn's efforts proved fruitless. An early group of 25 went clear, with Winn, Rob Partridge and Jamie Norfolk in attendance. As the event progressed Winn attacked tirelessly, continually being marked out of the action before rolling across the line in ninth position, one behind Jamie Norfolk. Rob Partridge proved unfortunate to miss the leading break, getting caught out on the last climb before the finishing circuits, but completed the event. Of the other Welsh riders, Paul Sheppard and Dale Appleby both withdrew after fulfilling their team duties - both riders are focusing their efforts on the track as part of the Elite Endurance programme. Other Welsh rides of note include an exceptional performance from Gareth Jones, on this occasion riding in his Team Fuji colours rather than for the National Team, who sprinted to fifth, while another Welsh International Yanto Barker rode into thirteenth. Full results from the Archer can be found HERE (External Link)
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