Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic
A British Cycling Premier Calendar Event
Sunday, 14th of May; Premier Calendar Hub Page
Oakham-Melton Mowbray, 155km | Website: www.cicleclassic.co.uk |
report & photos by Larry Hickmott (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk),
Photos also from Richard Robotham
LATEST NEWS: Cycling.tv Coverage:
http://player.narrowstep.tv/?player=cycling&void=15791
L-R: King of the Mountains, Malcolm Elliott, winner Robin Sharman, 2nd Chris Newton and 3rd, Jon Dayus. Picture Richard Robotham.
Photo Galleries: We have five picture galleries (see the buttons at the top of your page) with photos from Richard Robotham (Galleries 1 & 2) and Larry Hickmott (Galleries 4, 5, & 6).
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The winner of the 2nd Rutland to Melton classic road race, part of British Cycling's Premier Calendar series was Team Recycling.co.uk's Robin Sharman. The Premier Calendar winner last year, helped create the final break and despite being distanced in the final few kilometres, he managed to claw his way back to the leaders, surprise them with a late attack and hold to win the event. Behind, one of the strongest riders in the race, Isle of Man's Andrew Roche, crashed on the run to the finish when chasing down Sharman whilst Chris Newton made it a 1-2 for Recycling by out sprinting Jonathon Dayus (Arctic Shorter Rochford).
The morning started with light rain but that soon cleared for the start in Oakham which was preceded by a presentation by Commonwealth Games champion Chris Newton to the local council. Then Alan Duncan MP and the mayor of Oakham let the riders go on their way to doing two laps of Rutland Water. First sighting of them and Matt Stephens, who was to later have a heavy fall, was away with one of the Australian riders. It didn't last and half a lap later, Peter Williams (Kinesis) was away with James Williamson of Agisko-Dart. Again, the bunch were not giving them a lot of room.
Chris Newton presents a 'show plate' to the Oakham council.
Matt Stephens and one of the Aussies tries to get a break going on lap 1 of Rutland Waters.
Standing at Cold Overton, we heard over race radio of a break of around nine riders getting a handful of seconds but that too was doomed to failure as many early breaks often are whilst the riders have relatively fresh legs. Looking fresh too was Malcolm Elliott (PCA) who was first across the line at the KOM sprint at Cold Overton on is way to winning that competition. Before the start, Malcolm had explained that he had been round the course on the Wednesday, and the first sector he rode, sector 1 (the final one), he punctured which gives an indication of how there was going to be a strong element of luck in the race as many will no doubt testify after the race.
Into the feeding zone, and one of Colin Clew's special sectors, and the field was largely together but not for long as when they returned half an hour or so later and Mark Lovatt was leading a break of three across the names painted on the road including that of Lovatts'. This break though didn't last although the increase in pace did see the field start to splinter and with the race well into the second half, Evan Oliphant of Recycling.co.uk was away on his own, chased by Lovatt and around fourteen other riders.
Mark Lovatt on the attack through Owston.
Riders in this group included Mark Lovatt, Kristain House, Rob Hayles, Phil Dixon, Ian Wilkinson, Dan Booth, Jonathon Dayus, Robin Sharman, Euan Adams, and Dale Appleby. The final time round the Owston circuit, the group was still away and as they came into the village, there was little urgency, much like there is when riders sit up after an attack has been nullified.
Attacks though continued right up until the final run in into Melton. It was here that Robin Sharman won the race by not giving up even after being dropped and his last minute attack after rejoining the leaders was a classic piece of text book riding from the Recycling rider. Talking to British Cycling later he was pleased and surprised with the victory.
"We had Evan away which was a real good move for us because we could afford to sit back and let the others race for a bit which put us into a good position. When Evan came back, I put in an attack and got away with Phil Dixon just before the Somerberg section which was tough. I wasn't feeling too good at all but we stayed away and then a few riders came across, Kristain (House), Jon Dayus, Andrew Roche, Dale Appleby and Chris Newton, so the team was in a really good position."
With only 2 kilometres to go, Jonathon Dayus forces the pace across the final sector. He was to finish the race third after pulling his foot from the pedal in the sprint. Picture, Richard Robotham.
"Then with 10 k to go, we started to put in some attacks to try and soften up the other riders but Jon Dayus and Andrew Roche were really strong. My legs were completely gone and I was trying to set it up for the other guys who put in some really strong attacks in the last few k. I was just swinging, getting dropped and then just getting back on. Then with 500 metres to go, I managed to get back on and put one in straight away and I think they hesitated and that's all you need."
Asked how the race went and whether he had any mishaps like those that befell many including Rob Hayles (broken bars), Matt Stephens (heavy fall) and countless punctures to many of the riders. "We had a good choice of tyres, Michelin Carbon and they were really good."
Giving his perspective on this type of race, he replied laughing "it's a mans race! Seriously though, it's really exciting, different and well run. If everyone is sensible on the sectors as most were, its fine. It was kind of a strange race because everyone was only racing the sectors hard but it was good still. The team worked so well together too, with everyone supporting each other -- there are no egos".
Congratulations to Robin and all the riders on making it an exciting race for the many spectators.
Other Pictures (British Cycling unless noted)
One of the Milton Keynes riders attacks coming up to the turn off for Rutland Water in the very early stages of the race. Picture Richard Robotham.
Jon Dayus leading a small group clear of the rest through Somerberg. Picture Richard Robotham.
Chaos on Somerberg as a motorbike crashes on the mud.... Picture Richard Robotham.
Start at Oakham where 140 plus riders assembled for the off.
Matt Stephens in his early break. He fell later and we hope he's okay.
Last year's Junior RR champion, Adam Norris, rides tempo in pursuit of Stephens and co.
Peter Williams and James Williamson are filmed by Cycling.tv on lap two of Rutland Water.
Malcolm Elliott wins a KOM sprint at Cold Overton.
The peloton is all together as it goes through the feedzone.
Evan Oliphant in his lone break.
Mark Lovatt leads the chase after Oliphant.
Final time through Owston and the barbeque is still sizzling and people eager to see the race.
Winner of the Rutland-Melton Road Race, Robin Sharman.
RESULT:
1. Robin Sharman, Recycling.co.uk
2. Chris Newton, Recycling.co.uk
3. Jonathon Dayus, Arctic Shorter Rochford
4. Phil Dixon, Science in Sport
5. Kristain House, Recycling.co.uk
6. Dale Appley, Recycling.co.uk
7. Daniel Booth,Magura
8. Peter McDonald, Team FRF
9. Joshua Marden, Team FRF
10. Mark McKay, Glendene CC
11. Mark Lovatt, Planet-X
12. David Clarke, Team Nippo
13. Ian Wilkinson, Science in Sport
14. Rob Partidge, Recycling.co.uk
15. Malcolm Elliott, PCA
16. Evan Oliphant, Recycling.co.uk
17. Mark Wordsworth, JE James
18. Ross Adams, Red Kite Cycles
19. Peter Herzig, Team FRF
20. Roy Chamberlain, Team Milton Keynes
21. Greg Roche, Team Nippo
22. Rob Hayles, Team KLR
23. Cody Stevenson, Team FRF
24. Nick Craig, Scott UK
25. Matt Talbot, Glendene CC
26. Rob Enslin, Agisko Dart
27. Michael Brodwith, Arctic Shorter Rochford
28. Dave Collins, Scott UK
29. Joe McDonnell, Team FRF
30. Erik Van Lakerveld, LWV Swift
31. Sean Polson, VC Azzuri
32. Chris Bartlett, Glendene CC
33. Thomas Gardner, Heron Cyclesport
34. Graeme Hatcher, Isle of Man
35. Adam Broyad, Climb on Bikes
36. Gary Hand, Agisko-Dart
37. Steven Kenny, Kuota
38. James Dobbin, Arctic Shorter Rochford
39. Ian Legg, Red Kite Cycles
40. Richard Cartland, Team Milton Keynes
41. Ryan Henry, PM
42. Jack Woodward, SIS
43. Tim Bayley, Arctic
44. Karl Freeman, Team Milton Keynes
45. Henry Furniss, Ride Beyond
46. Guy Andrews, Rapha Condor
47. Jonathon Pain, Leisure Lakes
48. Sam Humpherson, London Dynamo
49. Steve Gibson, VC Briganti
50. Neil Beasley, Ashfield RC
51. Allister Tulett, Arctic Shorter
52. Matt Jennings, Websters Cycles
53. Andy Profitt, Arctic Shorter
54. Andrew Stuart, Ashfield RC
55. Daniel Burt, Team LLoyds
56. James Meurig, Citihub
57. Chris Parlett, Wildside RT
58. James Sampson, Stilton RT
59. Peter Williams, Kinesis
60. Adam Weaver, Doncaster Wheelers
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