The Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race

March 11, 2007, Essex

Report and pictures from Brett Travers (www.Brett-Travers.com)

Prebble’s Perfect Plan

From a journalistic perspective, the late Jock Wadley had a rare skill of being able to read a race, so much so that during the 1970 Tour he received official recognition for his race report writing when he was awarded La Medaille de la Reconnaissance du Tour de France.

So it was a fitting tribute that the 25th edition of the race promoted by Colchester Rovers Cycling Club in Wadley’s memory, was won by Richard Prebble (Pinarello/Rudy Project), a classy rider who read the race to perfection.

Sixty-six riders set off from Birch village hall near Colchester, in north-east Essex, for the 138-kilometre event which was held in warm spring conditions. Although the field was not near the strength or depth of previous years (the race used to be a precursor to the now defunct Grand Prix of Essex), the riders, who had to contend with a strong south-westerly wind, were aggressive from the start.

First time past the finish line (half a lap in to the 12½ lap race), the field was strung out into three groups: a lead group of eight, chased by twelve riders, then the main pack – the difficult cross-wind sections over Abberton reservoir bring the determining factors in the splits.

The race soon settled down with a lead group that included Kevin Chambers (API/Metrow), Tim Bayley (Artic Shorter/Rochford RT), Andrew Griffiths (Glendene CC/Bike Trax), Dean Shannon (Heron Cyclesport RT), Mark Daly, Steve Skuse (Kingsnorth International Wheelers) and Chris Partlett (Wildside RT), chased by a group of twelve which included Prebble, the eventual winner.

On lap six, Prebble made his move to bridge across to the lead group; and this proved to be the catalyst for the two groups to merge, creating a lead group of 20 riders. Meanwhile, those riders back in the bunch with good early season form, managed to work together and keep the leaders’ gap to a manageable size.

Eventually, Skuse, Daly and Tim Bedingfield (awcycles.co.uk) took the initiative and were joined out in front by Prebble, Bayley, Darren Barclay (Artic Shorter/Rochford RT) and Dan Staite (Bike & Run London) but with the remnants of the bunch still chasing hard, led by a fit looking Mick Gray (API/Metrow), the win was still there for the taking.

Finally, with three (11 kilometre) laps remaining, Prebble and Daly came through the finish area twenty seconds ahead of their five former companions; the Artic Rochford pairing of Barclay and Bayley were desperately burying themselves to try to close the gap. One lap later, twelve riders were now chasing the lead duo, with the bunch at nearly three minutes.

On the final lap, the tall and lean looking Prebble jumped Daly, a man with a notable finish, on the approach to the chequered flag. A sizeable crowd applauded the winner home 15 seconds ahead of Daly. Five seconds later Bedingfield managed to stay ahead of a 10-man sprint which was won by Griffiths, the talented junior.

Back at the race headquarters Prebble stated that he was very pleased with his win. “I knew that my form was good and when I saw the start sheet I thought there was a chance that I could win it. The race preview in Cycling Weekly had me down as a marked man but the race went to plan.”

“Initially, there was a breakaway and I was in the second group, but we were losing time so I attacked them. I got across on my own, but then the front group slowed up so the two groups merged (to form a lead group of twenty). The group was too big then so I broke it up.”

Prebble then worked his way into a lead group of seven but it wasn’t working out well, “so I planned to attack with about two laps to go.” He did and took Daly with him.

Was Prebble aware that he was up the road with a rider who has a notable sprint? “It’s not hard to have a better sprint than me. He was only doing about 25% of the work and I could see myself towing him to the finish so I jumped him with about a kilometre to go. It was a do or die effort especially as I was pretty tired by then, but he was obviously a bit more fatigued than me.”

Prebble, the former multi-time trial champion, plans to ride more road races with his Pinarello/Rudy Project teammates this season until the National ten-mile time trial Championship, when he will then focus on races against the clock.

Runner-up, Mark Daly (Kingsnorth International Wheelers) also rode aggressively throughout the race. “We [Daly and team mate Steve Skuse] were up there all day really. But I will give Prebble his due, on the last lap he was doing the lion’s share of the work and he jumped me just before the last climb [at Layer de la Haye Church].”

“I couldn’t respond and he got a gap but I’m very pleased with my ride”. Daly, who works a 50-hour week and manages to be competitive on just 6 hours of training a week, plans to race frequently in Belgium this year. ”We like the kermesses out there” he enthused.

Race organiser Malcolm Hargreaves was honest in his prize presentation summary. He confirmed that this year’s race had not attracted the top-riders of previous years, but the fact that riders’ ability and fitness levels were much closer meant the race was more open and arguably more exciting.

RESULTS

1. Richard Prebble, Pinarello/Rudy Project, 3-46-18
2. Mark Daly, Kingsnorth International, 15"
3. Tim Bedingfield, Aw Cycles/Giant, 20"
4. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene Cc/Biketrax, S.T.
5. Tim Bayley, Arctic Shorter Rochford Rt, S.T.
6. Dan Staite, Bike & Run London, S.T.
7. Matthew Melville, Aw Cycles/Giant, S.T.
8. Michael Gray, Api/Metrow, S.T.
9. Jan Strapek, Interbike Rt/Boyer/Schils.Com, S.T.
10. Stephen Skuse, Kingsnorth International, S.T.
11. Darren Barclay, Arctic Shorter Rochford Rt, S.T.
12. Mark Sussex, Wild Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, S.T.
13. Jason Edwards, Wild Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, S.T.
14. Tom Smith, Aw Cycles/Giant, 4'-37"
15. Adam Broyad, Gs Invicta, S.T.
16. Toby Neave, Wild Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, 4'-45"
17. Chaz Hollosi, Gemini Bc, 4'-56"
18. Jamie Higgins, Wild Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, S.T.
19. Kevin Chambers, Api/Metrow, S.T.
20. Nigel Ling, Kingsnorth International, S.T.
21. Daniel Kogan, Glendene Cc/Biketrax, S.T.
22. Ed Graefe, Team Economic Energy, S.T.
23. Bryan Taylor, Vc Londres, S.T.
24. Ashley Holding, Wide Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, S.T.
25. Christopher Parlett, Wild Side Rt/Ewhurst Control, S.T.
26. Richard Whitehorn, Glade Cc/Ciclos Uno, S.T.
27. Nathan Miller, 53-12 Mulisports, S.T.
28. Matthew Holmes, Arctic/Shorter Rochford, S.T.
29. Lee Harvey, Colchester Rovers, S.T.
30. James Wilson, Rapha/Condor, S.T.
31. Simon Warren, Norwood Paragon, S.T.
32. Alistor Tulett, Arctic Shorter Rochford Rt, 5'-01"
33. Chris Negus, Heroncyclesport Rt, S.T.
34. Hugo Hocknell, Angliasport/Provision, 6'-43"
35. Tom Starmer, Angliasport/Provision, 8'-00"

Entry, 81 Riders, 
Starters, 66 Riders, 
Finishers, 35 Riders,