British Cycling
Elite Circuit Series: Beverley Town Centre Race
Friday 23rd June: East Riding of Yorkshire
Part of the Yorkshire Festival of Cycling
Event Website: >>>Go there
Previous rounds so far: >>> Go There
PHOTO GALLERIES: Now available. Click the Gallery 1 (or 2) button at the top of the page.
Rob Hayles wins his second round of the Elite Circuit Series
REPORT
Kicking off a big weekend of cycling in picturesque Beverley (near Hull) was the latest round in the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series. Held in the centre of the town in front of a large crowd, the biggest so far, the riders raced around the narrow and twisty historic streets at speed but the fastest of them all in a bunch sprint on the night was Rob Hayles (KLR) who sprinted clear of Russell Downing and Warwick Spence to take maximum points in the series.
New national champion, James Taylor of PCA at the front of the race on the start line.
The Race
The best yet -- that was how one rider described the round of the Elite Circuit Series at Beverly tonight (Friday, June 23rd) where the sun shone, the surroundings were very picturesque and there were lots of top names in there that have been missing from other rounds.
It all combined to make it a great night where the VIPs and spectators enjoyed a great mix of activities including running events, Go-Ride for young riders and even a truck pulling competition. It was however the last event that saw the crowds come out and line the barriers all the way up and down the finishing straight and there is nothing quite like having a big crowd at a bike race to give it the right atmosphere.
Above: Starting the race on Friday night were Councillor Hilary Saynor, Chairman, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Matt Snowden, the Mayor of Beverley and Lydia Meredith, winner of the Beverley Guardian's competition to say why she wanted to start the race.
The riders helped of course as they provided a non-stop race which in the closing stages was especially exciting. From the word go, the riders attacked the race and one of the first was Kristian House joined by British Cycling road race champion Russell Downing. Alistair Kay was looking in good form as he chased and joined them as did Evan Oliphant. It was a strong break but the chasers were stronger and it was brought back only for others to try their luck.
Dean Downing, former Criterium champion and last years Elite Circuit Race Series winner had a little bit of freedom, long enough for us to notice his long hair flowing out from under his helmet where as Russell's was still as short as ever - now we know how to tell them apart!
Following Dean came one of the strongest looking breaks with Rob Hayles, Evan Oliphant, Karl Freeman, Malcolm Elliot, and Warwick Spence. It was a break that soon had a gap - not a lot but certainly more than anyone else had managed. And lap after lap it kept its lead and then the first nail in its coffin as the ever active Ian Wilkinson (SiS) lead a chase group after it. They crossed the gap but then so did the rest of the bunch and with seven laps to go it was all together.
The attacks kept coming though and Ian Wilkinson and Kristian House were next to try and after that failed, Ian Wilkinson tried again but this time with Rob Hayles. Even with the form that Hayles has though, the bunch brought them back only for Kristian House to try a solo effort. Hugging the barriers, and his face a picture of the effort being made, the RAS winner opened up a gap and as the race was coming to a close, the spectators cheered him on.
It was an effort made too soon though, and in his own words, he blew big time as the board signalled two laps to go. Was there going to be a late attack - in a word no as the bunch was now moving rapidly and gearing up for a bunch sprint from which Rob Hayles emerged the victor. Victory number 2 for last years Double World Champion.
Reactions
Afterwards, Rob was, of course happy with his victory but admitted though that he felt tired. "It would have been good for that group to have stayed away and I couldn't believe it when we were got brought back."
And the sprint I queried? "That was easy. I let other people work for me - I had to because I didn't have the legs tonight - I just rode off everyone else. Dean was away and took the sprint on and I kind of let him drift off the front the way I used Malcolm in Crawley (which Rob won as well). I used Dean as a run up and there was no way anyone was going to get past me - not the way I am going."
And the course? "It was difficult. The cobbles were no problem, it was the other bits. The second last bend was difficult and I lost my front wheel there with four to go."
Then I spoke to a rider who will be defending his Road Race champion's jersey in two days, Russell Downing. The sprint between him and Warwick Spence was so close it was almost a dead heat but Russell after a stage win in Canada recently is obviously in good form. "I think my legs were still on the plane to be honest" he said first.
"It was a bit more hairy than I wanted it to be especially with Sunday coming, so coming into the final, Dean was there helping me out on the front when I was third wheel. Then I got baulked and dropped to eight or ninth and it was a bit scary with people getting close to barriers and I didn't want to go down. Then I got a good run on the bottom corner where it is smooth and came up to 4th or 5th and Warwick went."
"I just managed to get on his wheel but once Rob had a gap on us it was over - it was a perfect sprint for Rob, a sat down power sprint. I like to throw the bike about and I wasn't getting any power through. It was a good win for Rob though."
Russell Downing, Rob Hayles and Warwick Spence.
One of the many groups to get a handful of seconds before the bunch pulled them back. This one contains both Downings -- Russell and Dean as well as Ian Wilkinson and Robin Sharman.
The strongest break of the race led by Evan Oliphant.
Ian Wilkinson leads Rob Hayles with the bunch not too far away.
Kristian House flying around the final few laps trying to win the race solo.
The bunch pull Kristian back with a few laps to go.
Beverley put on a good show for the Elite Circuit series.
Results (Provisional)
1. Rob Hayles, Team KLR
2. Russell Downing, DFL
3. Warwick Spence London Dynamo
4. Ian Wilkinson, SIS
5. James Taylor, Plowman Craven RT
6. Adam Blythe, Pinarello
7. Malcolm Elliot, Plowman Craven RT
8. Ross Muir, Evans Cycles
9. Dale Appleby, Recycling.co.uk
10. Tim Lawson, SIS
11. Karl Freeman, Team Milton Keynes
12. Simon Gaywood, Luton CC
13. Pete Williams, Kinesis
14. Adam Duggleby, Obricoaching
15. Dean Downing, DFL
16. Rob Partridge, Recyucling.co.uk
17. Ian Holt, Evans Cycles
18. Alistair Kay, York Cycle Works
19. Mike Moss, Cottingham Coureurs
20. Robin Sharman, Recycling.co.uk
21. Brett Perez, Rapha Condor,
22. Daniel Davies, www.agiskoviner.com
23. Shaun Snodden, Recycling.co.uk
24. Craig Butland, Plowman Craven RT
25. Evan Oliphant, Recycling.co.uk
26. James Sampson, Stilton RT
RELATED LINKS
The evening saw lots of runners take to the streets before the Elite cyclists held centre stage.
Truck pulling.. even the women got into the action with this ...
