House Wraps Up Series With Third Win

 

Tour of Pendle (sponsored by Pendle Borough Council)

Round 7, Premier Calendar Series
Pendle, Lancashire, August 13, 2006
Images & Report: Andrew Kennedy

 

Kristian House (Recycling.co.uk) - pictured right - rounded off an outstanding season in the Premier Calendar series with his third win in seven events in the final round, the Tour of Pendle.

 

House had already clinched the series, but he and his Recycling.co.uk team (which finished with six wins in the series) were in no mood to relax and dominated the event.

 

Chris Newton shrugged off his previous week's crash, in  the AA Brown race, to follow team-mate House over the line, whilst last week's winner and former series winner Mark Lovatt recorded his best finish in this year's series with third place.

 

The Race in Pictures and Words

 

Councillor George Adam, Mayor of Pendle waves off the race from Barnoldswick the town square

 

The day started cold and blustery, although heavy overnight rain had not affected the road conditions, which were dry and in excellent condition. The 80 starters set off into a strong headwind as they rode through the neutralised section. On reaching the main circuit the attacks began, and when the race passed through the small village of Padiham Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) was at the head of a group of 15 riders which had gained a 20 second lead.


Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) leads the Tour of Pendle past Padiham

 

At the start in Barnoldswick some riders had been talking about the climb out of Blacko, and they were about to find out for themselves just how difficult it was. The village of Blacko is at the foot of the 10km climb towards Rimington. A fierce headwind was blowing straight down the valley, and as the riders began the ascent they were strung out in a long line across the road. The Police motor cyclists from the Lancashire Constabulary, supported by British Cycling's National Escort Group did an excellent job in performing a rolling road closure, mainly as practice for the forthcoming Tour of Britain, and the Tour of Pendle riders took full advantage, echoloning across both carriageways of the road.

 

As the race passed through the second feed zone at Chatburn, Mark Lovatt (PlanetX RT) led the 15 man break, with Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) and Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) sharing the work at the front. Local man Ian Wilkinson (SIS) - who went on to win the King of the Mountains prize - was also in the break, and trailing off the back was Kristian House (Recycling).


Mark Lovatt (PlanetX RT) leads through the feed zone

Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk) was setting the pace up the second ascent of Blacko with a decisive break in the field. The lead group now whittled down to 12 riders, with the main field over 3 minutes in arrears and being policed by a trio of Recycling riders at the front.


Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk) controls the pace during the 2nd climb towards Rimington.

 
Left, Sharman working for team interests, whilst right, Mark Lovatt shows the pain on the climb

 

At the start of the final climb attacks by Mark Lovatt (Planet X RT) had reduced the lead group to four riders, Lovatt, Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk), James Williamson (Agisko-Dart) and Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk). They had a gap of 31 seconds on the next group of riders that contained Kristain House (Recycling.c.uk), Matt Stephens (Sigmasport), Alex Highman (Agisko-Dart), Duncan Urquhart (Agisko-Dart), Ian Wilkinson (SIS) and Matt Talbot (Glendene CC).


Aggressive riding by Lovatt whittled the lead group down to four on the final climb

 

On the relentless climb towards Rimington, House received instructions from team boss John Herety to attempt to bridge the gap to the leaders. 30 seconds up the road, and into a strong headwind it was going to be a very difficult task to get across. House launched his attack, and rode strongly up the climb, and caught the leaders near the summit.

As the leaders left the main circuit to begin the final 8km to the finish, team Recycling had again stamped their authority on the Premier Calendar series. Series leader Kristian House and team mate Chris Newton outnumbered the other teams in the group, with Lovatt, Williamson and Stephens, House was obviously on form and had shown his strength with the awesome lone climb of Blacko to catch the leaders.

The crowd of spectators had gathered outside the Rolls Royce sports ground on the outskirts of Barnoldswick as the leaders came into view, with Recycling jerseys leading the line. Kristain House took an easy win from Chris Newton with Mark Lovatt third.


Kristian House prepares to salute the crowd at The Tour of Pendle as Newton, Lovatt and Williamson come in behind

That winning feeling - all caught on camera by Cycling.tv


One photo too many for Mark Lovatt, perhaps, but winner House is happy to smile for the cameras. Tour of Pendle podium, 3rd place Mark Lovatt (PlanetX RT), winner Kristian House (Recycling), and 2nd place Chris Newton (Recycling)

 

Taking a maximum 100 points for the win at the Tour of Pendle gave House the overall win in the Premier Calendar series. During the post race interviews he told reporters he was pleased with his win, and delighted at winning the Premier Calendar series. He was also quick to acknowledge the efforts of his strong team, and said he was now looking forward to riding the Tour of Britain.

 

Speaking after the race, British Cycling's President, Brian Cookson, who was closely involved with the organisation of the race, said:

"It is a very difficult task to put together a Premier Calendar road race, but everything went exceptionally well, thanks to the efforts of a large number of people and organisations, not least Ivor Armstrong and Cycling Development North West. I'd like to thank all concerned. The organisers and sponsors would also like to thank the riders for an excellent race through the beautiful Pendle countryside. Police support from Lancashire Constabulary was absolutely superb, with 18 police motorcyclists working very effectively with BC's own National Escort Group of marshals. We hope to organise the event again next year, and those teams and riders who supported this year's race will be given priority when the field is selected."

Results

1 Kristian House Recycling.co.uk 3.30.41
2 Chris Newton Recycling.co.uk 3 secs
3 Mark Lovatt Planet X RT 7 secs
4 James Williamson Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 11 secs
5 Matthew Stephens Sigmasport 26 secs
6 Alex Highman Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 30 secs
7 Robin Sharman Recycling.co.uk 33 secs
8 Duncan Urquhart Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 37 secs
9 Matt Talbot Glendene CC 37 secs
10 Evan Oliphant Recycling.co.uk 2.50
11 Kevin Dawson Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 2.50
12 Dale Appleby Recycling.co.uk 4.12
13 Matthew Higgins JE James RT 4.12
14 Ian Wilkinson SIS 4.12
15 Gary Hand Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 4.12
16 Mark Wordsworth JE James RT 5.37
17 Mike Harrison Sigmasport RT 5.37
18 Dion Black Red Kite Cycles 5.37
19 Peter Bissell Artic-Shorter Rochford RT 5.41
20 James Stewart Le Coq Sportif - Dolan SIS 5.41
21 Chris Bartlett Gendene CC 5.44
22 Gary Adamson Kuota/Biemme 5.44
23 Stephen Feeney Chester RC 5.44
24 Not identified  
25 Richard Kent SIS 5.44
26 David Ebbrell Blackburn & Dist CTC 5.44
27 Richard Sykes-Popham Glendene CC 5.44
28 Ben Prochee Rapha Condor 5.44
29 Danny Axford Artic-Shorter Rochford RT 5.44
30 Shaun Snodden  Recycling.co.uk 5.44

Link: Our Coverage of the Premier Calendar Series, including Cycling.tv coverage >>>>