Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race

 

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

 

Top three at the Soens today, Tony Gibb (3rd), Ian Stannard (1st) and Alex Dowsett (2nd).

 

In sunny, cold and windy conditions at the famous Aintree Race Course, it was the future of British cycling that took centre stage as Ian Stannard, riding for the 100% ME team that promotes drug free sport, who took a well earned victory ahead of teammate Alex Dowsett and three time winner Tony Gibb.

Sponsored for the 10th year by Silverbeck Rymer Solicitors, the race had well over 100 riders at the start line at 9.30 this morning. Run as a handicap, the race had some very high profile juniors in the front group including World Junior Champion Peter Kennaugh riding in Pinarello colours. With many fast juniors in that front group, the PCA riders were giving it full gas off the start line to try and prevent such a talented front group from getting on the back of the Elite group that started last.

 

The first group start the Eddie Soens Memorial for another year.

With PCA and other Elites such as Matthew Stephens on the front of the 'Scratch' group, they soon closed the gap on the leaders and it was all together well before halfway had even been reached. It was then that the serious stuff began as the 100% ME riders and others started to make moves off the front.

Soon a very select group of eight riders formed off the front including Gibb and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Gordon McCauley, Stannard, Dowsett, Newton, junior Mark McNally,a Kinesis rider and Cardiff's Tom Smith of Merlin. This group, despite a spirited chase from behind which held the gap to less than a minute for along time, soon broke the elastic and pulled away.

 

Gibb and McCauley drive the break as the sun shines and the wind blows at their backs.

Then, as the finish approached and with 100% ME piling on the pressure, the lead group split with two from PCA (Gibb & McCauley) and two from 100% ME, Stannard and Dowsett. The surprise omission was Chris Newton who the day before had admitted to feeling below par at his team's launch and perhaps it was that which saw him left in no-mans land behind the leaders.

Once the four leaders had a gap, they soon rode away from the chasers and then as the final few laps were counted down, the 100% ME riders were not shy to continue attacking with the final winning move being made down the back straight as Stannard went and Dowsett waited for the reaction from the PCA riders McCauley and Gibb. It was the three time winner Gibb who chased in vain with Dowsett on his wheel and then with still 50 metres to go, Dowsett sprinted past Gibb and caught his teammate on the line.

 

PCA mass at the front in the first two laps to chase down the leaders.

Reactions
Ian Stannard: The winner explained that after a bad start to his training, it has come right recently and after an easy week prior to the Soens, the 100% ME rider explained he was happy with where his form was. "I wasn't too worried about Gibby because he was suffering, and McCauley had done a few good strong turns but I knew I could have them. I could see McCauley had ridden quite a bit so I thought it was a good opportunity to go" he said of his last lap attack.

 Right: No celebration from Stannard as he cross the line a length ahead of teammate Dowsett.

Alex Dowsett "The plan was for us to stay together and for me to lead out Ian but he jumped away down the back and that was it. I was then able to sit on Tony Gibb. Gordon had done a lot of work working for Tony and so it was Tony who chased Ian. Getting past Tony was probably my hardest sprint yet but I was pleased how it worked out."

Tony Gibb: Not pleased with third after having won it three times, he explained "Making the break was pretty good. I knew Gordon was up there on his own so I went across to it and then the way we chopped it down to four was pretty good as well. When it split, it suited both of us and Alex and Ian but I don't think Chris was too happy with the way it went."

"It was looking good for us for a while and then Gordon told me he was suffering a bit and a win started to look a bit fragile. When Ian attacked with 500 to go, it was like we either let him go and settle for second or we chase it. I chased it but wasn't getting anywhere so I sat up. I'm never pleased unless I win."

Official Result
1. Ian Stannard Team 100% Me E 1:45.42
2. Alex Dowsett Team 100% Me E st
3. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E st
4. Gordon McCauley Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E @0:06
5. Chris Newton Recycling.co.uk E @0:29
6. Pete Williams Kinesis UK E st
7. Mark McNally Liverpool Mercury-Dolan J @0:51
8. Tom Smith Merlin Racing Team E @0:59
9. Malcolm Elliott Pinarello RT EM @1:13
10. Graham Briggs Recycling.co.uk E st
11. Jon Mozley Merlin Racing Team E st
12. Tom Barras Merlin Racing Team E st
13. Gary Adamson FP Mailing 1 st
14. Liam Holohan Merlin Racing Team 1 st
15. Dane Percival Cardiff Ajax CC J st
16. Johnny McEvoy Kinesis UK J st
17. Giles Pidcock Fensham Howes CRT 2 st
18. Daniel Fox Fox's Cycles 2 st
19. Matthew Cronshaw Science In Sport - Trek 1 st
20. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles E st
21. Luke Rowe Recycling.co.uk J st
22. Rob Pugh Liverpool Century RC 3 st
23. Richard Kent Science In Sport - Trek 1 st
24. Sam Freeman BC PM J st
25. James McCullum Plowman Craven - Evans CRT 1 st
26. Tom Skubala JE James RT J st
27. Jimmy Wright Preston Wheelers 2 st
28. Steve Jolley Onimpex Bioracer ?M st
29. Ashley Finn Lune RCC J st
30. Andy Tinsley Bioracer-Billato 2M st
31. Steve Clark Southport CC 3 st
32. Tristan Barnes Wills Wheels CC 3 st
33. Phil Bayton GWR 2 st
34. Ryan Bonser Recycling.co.uk E st
35. Jack Pullar Kinesis UK J st
36. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles 1 st
37. Matt Bottrill De Rosa RT 1 st
38. Mark Jones Alf Jones Cycles 4 st
39. Alex Tinsley Wyre Forest CC YA st
40. Steven Dunn Wyre Forest CC 2 st
41. Dominic Jelfs MJS Racing 2 st
42. Jonathon Watson Fensham Howes CRT 2 st
43. Chris Siepen Wills Wheels 1 st
44. Martin Freeman Alpha RC - Team Corley Cycles 2 st
45. Stephen Rudkin FP Mailing Cycle Team 1 st
46. Stuart McManus Science In Sport.com RT 2 st
47. John Cosgrove Onimpex Bioracer 3 st
48. Mark Thwaites Kinesis UK 2 st
49. Chris Prior RAF CC 2 st
50. Jack Kirk Wyre Forest CC J st
51. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E st
52. Matthew Stephens Sigma Sport E st
53. Simon Owens Ystwyth CC 3 st
54. James Taylor Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E st
55. James Rushton Aire Valley RT 2 st
56. Kevin Barclay Plowman Craven - Evans CRT 1 st
57. Paul Bridgen Clifton CC York 2 @1:23
58. Peter Kennaugh Pinarello RT J st
59. Liam Wild MK Cycles 3 st
60. John Watchman ABC Centreville 3M st
61. Daniel Drake Lancashire RC 3 st
62. Neil Swithenbank ABC Centreville 1 st
63. Dean Hitchings FP Mailing Cycle Team 3 st
64. David Christian Liverpool Century RC 2 st
65. Kieran Hand Torq-Colnago J st
66. Adam Norris Plowman Craven - Evans CRT 1 st
67. Jonny Cawley Rhos on Sea CC 3 @1:31
68. Paul Standen Comedy Superteam E st
69. Mike Harrison Sigma RT 1M st
70. John Guy BC PM 3 st
71. Karl Freeman Alpha RC - Team Corley Cycles E st
72. Phil Leigh Lune RCC 3M @1:55
73. Richard Sale Horwich CC 3 st
74. Gary Spencely Lakes RC 3M st
75. James Millard Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E @2:39
76. Fred Johannssen Plowman Craven - Evans CRT E st
77. Ben Hallam Bike & Run London 1 @2:45
78. Cherie Pridham Merlin Racing Team EW @5 laps

Category Awards
2nd Giles Pidcock Fensham Howes CRT 2
3rd Rob Pugh Liverpool Century RC 3
4th Mark Jones Alf Jones Cycles 4
Junior Mark McNally Liverpool Mercury-Dolan J
Woman Cherie Pridham Merlin Racing Team EW
Master C+ Malcolm Elliott Pinarello RT EM

 

MORE PHOTOS (Gallery to come)

Dowsett attacks with Junior World Champion Peter Kennaugh on his wheel and McCauley getting a little help pro style down the right.

 

The eventual lead group starts to form with Stannard, Dowsett, McCauley and a rider from Kinesis.

 

Dowsett applies the pressure through the finish area.

 

Malcolm Elliott wins the bunch sprint.