2006 Tour of Britain Support Races

 

Sunday, 3rd of September, 2006

Note: Photo Gallery buttons are at the top of the page.
By Larry Hickmott

After managing to off load my luggage into the Media bus driven by, Mike 'my body is a temple' McGarry who is a keen randonee rider, I got back on Graham Harper's BMW motorbike which had been my steed all week, and we rode into the Mall to see what was happening in the Tour of Britain support events. We arrived just before the Junior and Women's races were about to start.

 

Right: Winner of the Junior race, Russell Hampton.

Both events were being run at the same time, with the Juniors off first and in this were many of the riders I had accompanied to the Junior Europeans and Worlds. Winner of the race was one of those riders, Russell Hampton (Glendene CC/Biketax) who escaped with Rhys Lloyd (Merlin Development) and the two were not seen again.

As they approached the finish, they came round to lap the women's field but found plenty of road to get past the ladies where Russell was able to find time in the sprint to raise his arms in victory wearing the British Cycling Champion's jersey for Juniors.

A large field of Juniors and Women were on the line for their race.

 

An early break for freedom.

 

Eventual winner Hampton leads Rhys Lloyd.

 

RESULT
1. Russell Hampton, Glendene CC/Biketax
2. Rhys Lloyd, Merlin Development
3. Matthew Rowe, Glendene CC/Biketax
4. Andrew Fenn, Le Coq Sportif
5. Alex Aldham-Breary, PCA/Ciclos Uno
6. Mark Christian, Manx RC/Team Scottish Provident
7. Simon Lewis, VC Londres
8. Dane Percival, Cardiff Ajax
9. Alec Lowe, Twickenham CC
10. Simon Holt, Merlin Development

Womens Race
In the Women's race, Nikki Harris had many a dig off the front of the group, choosing to try and go it alone instead of waiting for the sprint. Try as she may though, Nikki was unable to get away from the bunch over such a short distance and in the sprint for the line, Masters champion, Janet Birkmyre, had too much speed for the young GB rider.

 

Nikki Harris trying to get away.

 

Stunning backdrop for a bike race!

 

Janet Birkmyer leads the gallop for the line.

 

Note: Lots more images are in the gallery (links at the top of the page).

Transport for London Women's GP
1. Janet Birkmyre, Planet X
2. Nikki Harris, Trek - SIS
3. Katie Colclough, Sleaford Whls CC
4. Lyndsey Clark,
5. Kimberley Blythe, Raleigh
6. Louise Mahe, Sutton Cycling Club
7. Sarah Reynolds, Evans Cycles
8. Laura Trott, Welwyn Whls CC
9. Gundula Henning,
10. Melissa O'Reilly, Twickenham CC


Bob Chicken Grand Prix
The final race we had time to see before we headed off for the half hour ride to Greenwich for the start of the final stage of the Tour of Britain was the main support race of the day. After his 'win' in Glasgow (Glasgow GP Report) where he was the first British rider, Malcolm Elliot completed the double by winning the London Elite Circuit Series event to gain maximum points on his rivals.

The event saw the biggest field assembled so far in the series with the lined out peloton stretching most of the way down the finishing straight. As well as the British stars of the series, the race also had many a clubman looking to race in front of the Palace, a rare opportunity for anybody.

It didn't take long for the riders to start having a go in front of a growing crowd with Ben Luckwell, Joel Stewart and Matt Talbot one of the most promising of the early breaks for freedom. They however did not have the power and speed to get far and after they were brought back, more tried their luck like Aussie Brett Perez. He didn't last long and others too had a go but in the final half dozen laps, the winning break formed and with Elliott in it, the race was shutdown by Plowman Craven and it was race over for the rest.

In the finale, World Junior Scratch race champion Peter Kennaugh showed just how good he is as he made the break with a group of the countries top senior riders, Malcolm Elliott, Rob Hayles, Ben Luckwell and Ross Muir.

It was however going to be a battle between Elliott and Hayles for the victory and so it proved with the Sheffield man Elliott defeating his near neighbour in Rob Hayles to increase his points tally in the Elite Circuit series, a major target for his Plowman Craven team. To help the team further, Tony Gibb easily won the bunch sprint.

 

A huge field lined up for the Bob Chicken Grand Prix.

 

The break at speed past Buckingham Palace.

 

Malcolm Elliott defeats Rob Hayles in the sprint for the line.

 

Note: Over a hundred images are in the gallery.  (links at the top of the page)

 

Result
1. Malcolm Elliott Plowman Craven
2. Robert Hayles Science In Sport.com
3. Peter Kennaugh Glendene CC / Bike Trax
4. Benjamin Luckwell GWR Team/Total Bike
5. Ross Muir Evans Cycles Race
6. Anthony Gibb Plowman Craven
7. Gary Adamson Kuota Biemme
8. Thomas Smith Plowman Craven
9. James Taylor Plowman Craven
10. James McCallum www.TheBicycleWorks.com


Sport England Youth Girls Race
1. Laura Trott ,Welwyn Whls
2. Corrine Hall, VC Londres
3. Lucy Chittenden, Farnborough & Camberley CC

Sport England Youth GP
1. Mark Christian, Team Scottish Provident Isle Of Man
2. Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3. Tomas Skubala, Interbike RT
4. Joseph Perrett, Glendene CC / Bike Trax
5. William Penn, Interbike RT
6. Christopher Legg, Palmer Park Velo
7. Ben Atkinson, VC Londres
8. Andrew Williams, Cwmcarn Paragon RC
9. Andrew Fenn, Le Coq Sportif - Dolan - SIS
10. Oliver Newlan, Twickenham CC