Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix

2nd of August, 2006; Report and photos by Ian McVety for British Cycling

Part of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series

Robin Sharman, Ben Greenwood and Ian Wilkinson.

Victory for Ben Greenwood.

Ben Greenwood of Recycling.co.uk leaves the UK to travel to Italy for the second half of his season, content with a nights work after the Clitheroe GP. What started out as a bit of show-boating for the crowd grew in to an unassailable lead for the former Under 23 Road champion.

In his own words, Ben said after the race how he thought he would put in a bit of an attack for the crowd, not expecting to win on his own. Listening to the PA, he was able to gauge where the chasing group were and getting encouragement from the time gaps he as given.

Recycling were there in numbers as were SIS, and Plowman Craven whilst there was also a good crowd who braved the threatening skies and were duly rewarded with a display in tenacity and determination by Greenwood whilst the rain held off for the main race of the evening.

The action started early on as expected with James Taylor and Malcolm Elliot (both Plowman Craven) and Warwick Spence (London Dynamo Cyclefit) making an attempt to break free, only to be caught by the dominant force of Recycling, spearheaded by Chris Newton and Robin Sharman.

Kristian House (Recycling.co.uk) counter attacked, with his attempt thwarted, Ian Wilkinson (SIS) then showed his hand only for him to be neutralised too. By lap six, this constant high speed had created a lead group of twelve riders with a smaller group of five chasing the main field.

Chase group behind Greenwood.

Clitheroe puts the banners out for a bike race.

On lap seven, Greenwood made his move and for several laps was held at only 11 seconds. The tight bends, the fast corner after the descent and the long dragging climb all seemed to play in to the hands of Greenwood as eventually he worked on his lead. The Recycling boys all played their part, mixing in with the chasers to disrupt any cohesion that may be gained by the chase group of Malcolm Elliott and James Taylor (both Plowman Craven), Spence, Wilkinson and Phil Dixon (SIS), Paul Oldham (Hope Cycles) and Adrian Timms (Pinarello RT).

The second group included Pete Williams (Kinesis), Craig Butland (Plowman Craven) and Nathan Fox (Fox's Cycles), all of whom worked well together to prevent any further slippage.

The first prime on lap eleven fell to Greenwood, as did the remaining two and by lap seventeen he had established a 30 second lead which grew to 46 seconds. By this point Recycling were feeling comfortable and House put in an attack of his own. He was however brought back by the remainder of the group who were, perhaps resigned to the fact that if they did chase hard then another Recycling team mate was liable to counter attack.

Not withstanding this, Greenwood worked hard and was soon breathing down the neck of the peloton, and on lap thirty he caught them. With three laps to go, Wilkinson attacked, taking Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk) with him, for the two to come in second and third place respectively behind a valiant Greenwood.

House has a dig in the latter stages of the race.

Ben Greenwood

Cornering at speed on wet roads.

RESULT

1. Ben Greenwood - Recycling.co.uk
2. Ian Wilkinson SIS
3. Robin Sharman, Recycling.co.uk
4. Chris Newton Reycycling.co.uk
5. Malcolm Elliott Plowman Craven
6. Dale Appleby - Recycling.co.uk
7. Warwick Spence - Lindon Dynamo Cyclefit
8. Adrian Timmis - Pinarello RT
9. Phil Dixon SIS
10. Paul Oldham - Hope Factory Racing
11. Rob Partridge - Recycling.co.uk
12. Kristian House - Recycling.co.uk
13. Craig Butland - Plowman Craven
14. Jack Woodward - SIS
15. James Moss - MTS Cyclesport
16. Pete Willams - Kinesis
17. Danny Shand - West Pennin RC
18. Mark Thwaite - Kinesis
19. Tom Smith - AW Cycles.co.uk
20. Karl Freeman - Team Milton Keynes

SUPPORT EVENT
Lune RCC dominated the Clitheroe Grand Prix Support Race placing three riders in the lead group of five riders on a damp and blustery evening in the shadows of Pendle Hill. Despite the gloomy weather and the earlier heavy down pours Jack Pullar, (Lune RCC) rode to victory to take a convincing win.

The twenty lap race opened up after lap five when initially seven riders, including Pullar, Matt Cronshaw and Ashley Finn (both Lune RCC), Mathew Greaves (Bronte Wheelers) and Nathan Harrison (Lancashire RC) eeked out a lead, gained during the ascent of the climb up to the finishing line beneath the ancient Clitheroe Castle.

A chasing group of six riders developed, including Greg Atkinson, (New Brighton), Ian Smith (Fox's Cycles), Matt Wallace (Ribble Valley CRC and David Haygarth (Wheelbase, Ron Hill) who was sandwiched between the two groups having lost contact with the lead group due to a crash.

Primes were held at both ten and twenty minutes and it was Cronshaw who took both of these, attacking with his fierce sprint on both occasions. Having established a comfortable lead the Lune riders put in a couple of attacks and on both occasions Harrison and Greaves valiantly held them in check so that on the approach of the final climb the five were still all together.

Pullars climbing ability however, made sure that when he rounded the bend after the final climb he was in front, for his team mate, Cronshaw to acknowledge his victory. All three Lune riders were only too pleased to later have their photograph taken with 2nd claim Lune rider, Ben Greenwood (Recycling.co.uk).

Results

1. Jack Pullar - Lune RCC
2. Matt Cronshaw - Lune RCC
3. Matt Greaves - Bronte Wheelers
4. Nathan Harrison - Lancashire RC
5. Ashley Finn - Lune RCC
6. David Haygarth - Wheelbase, Ron Hill
7. Greg Atkinson - New Brighton
8. Ian Smith - Fox's Cycles
9. Matt Wallace - Ribble Valley CRC
10. Shaun Farraday - BC PM
11. Kevin Shand - West Pennine RC
12. Eldon Garnett - Ribble Valley CRC