Thames Velo Spring Road Races

Sunday 29 April 2007

Report: Mike Inder

E/1/2/3 Race - 117km

From 77 entered, 67 rolled out from the start at 2pm, in brightening conditions that improved as the race wore on. At the completion of the first lap it was altogether, but as the race turned left across the M40 and with the wind behind them, a group of 13 riders quickly got themselves organised with a 40 second gap at the next ascent of Clare hill. They were Jon Pain (Leisure Lakes), Grant Bayton (Team GWR), Keith Lilley (Team Certini), Tom Hemmant (London Dynamo), Steve Calland (Norwood Paragon), Nigel Williams (Python RT), Andrew Fenn (Liverpool Mercury), Joel Stewart (Agiskoviner), Adam Norris (Plowman Craven Evans RT), Colin Roshier (Team Quest), Luke Rowe (Recycling) and Rob Enslin (AW Cycles).

With each major team represented in the break there was little impetus to close things from behind. By penultimate lap the gap was put out to 3 minutes, which started to come down as riders started to miss turns. However, the bunch had eased off sufficiently for this not to matter. The group was reduced to 12 when Mike Wragg (Team Milton Keynes) punctured late on. On the Clare hill climb for the last time, Roshier put in a dig as did Stewart - but it all came back.

As the leaders came into the last 2km Grant Bayton (Team GWR) attacked the group with no immediate response. Biding his time, Roshier then cruised on his own across to the leader, waited, then jumped again giving it full gas for the last 800m. The group behind started to sprint to get across but it was too late with only Rowe and Norris managing to get in front of Bayton to claim 2nd and 3rd place in the gallop, with Roshier timing it just right. The winner said: "I managed to get across to Grant okay after his attack, but was conscious that I need to get a jump on him as soon as I could. The last 500m are always tough with the drag to the finish".

Results

1. Colin Roshier Team Quest 1 02:57:01
2. Luke Rowe Www.Recycling.Co.Uk 2 @3secs
3. Adam Norris Plowman Craven Evans Rt 3 @5secs
4. Grant Bayton Team Gwr 4 @7secs
5. Joel Stewart Www.Agiskoviner.Com 5 ST
6. Steve Calland Norwood Paragon 6 ST
7. Tom Hemmant London Dynamo/Cyclefit 7 ST
8. Nigel Williams Python Rt 8 ST
9. Keith Lilley Team Certini 9 ST
10. Rob Enslin Www.Awcycles.Co.Uk 10 ST

3/4/J Race - 68km

A field of 84 riders started the morning race for 3/4/J cats. in dry, but cool conditions at Great Milton, Oxon. The race stayed together until the mid point where Ed Summerwell (Team Quest) and Geoff Williams (Python RT) clipped off the front of the bunch and worked well to gain a maximum of a 35 second gap. They were later on joined by Chris Davis (Halesowen CC) who fought hard to get on but by the top of Clare Hill, the race came back together. A later group of 8 got a small gap of around 20 seconds but despite early signs of equal effort, this was not seen to be working well and so it came down to a bunch sprint, where Harry Bulstrode (Private) got the verdict.

Results

1. Harry Bulstrode Private Member 1 01:45:36
2. Mark Heath Echelon 2 ST
3. James Norris High Wycombe Cc 3 ST
4. Wayne Coombs Cheltenham & County Cc 4 ST
5. Phil Starr Python Racing Team 5 ST
6. Pete Connelly Team Quest - The Bike Shop 6 ST
7. Ben Carty Stratford Cc/Spiuk 7 ST
8. Dan Lewis Kingston Wheelers 8 ST
9. Steve Hubbard Cambridge Cc 9 ST
10. Stephen Shellard Oxonian Cc 10 ST

GWR Team Report

From the GWR Team Press Office

Grant Bayton notched up yet another top performance for the GWR Team as he raced to 4th place in Sundays Thames Velo Road Race. In warm sunny conditions 69 riders faced the starter as they commenced almost 5 laps of a 15 mile circuit, east of Oxford totalling 73 miles. Among the field were five riders from the GWR Team, with Bayton alongside Ben Luckwell, Nic Tilling, Dan Smith and Phil Bayton joined by guest rider Jon Pain (Leisure Lakes RT).

The speed was high from the off, with a tailwind assisting the riders as they headed along the A329 to Stadhampton, where they turned left. On the approach to the first of the five climbs of Clare Hill, concerns grew for the riders safety and before action could be taken, three men broke clear. On the descent approaching the A40 and the conclusion of the first lap, the race was halted and riders advised of the officials concerns, after instruction to take more care, on the narrow twisty roads, the race restarted. The pace continued to be high with several riders attempting to break clear of the peloton to join the lead group. As the race approached 20 miles a group of 13 men had formed. GWR man Grant Bayton was joined by GWR team guest Pain at the head of the race and the break worked well to quickly establish a lead of a minute at the 30 mile point. With all of the major teams represented, and despite some solitary efforts from riders in the peloton to bridge across, this lead had increased to 3 minutes after 41 miles, but with one rider dropping away the break was now down to 12 riders.

Now over half way, the next 15 miles saw the peloton close the gap to within 2minutes 30 seconds as a chase ensued. But with two riders representing the GWR Team up front, fellow teammates  Smith, Luckwell, Tilling and Phil Bayton ensured the deficit was not reduced further. On the fourth climb of Clare Hill several riders tried to attack the lead group, including Bayton, but they were quickly brought to heel, and the break was altogether as they entered its final 15 mile loop. Behind two riders, including GWR man Tilling, safe in the knowledge there was little chance of closing the near three minute gap, jumped clear and quickly built up a lead of a minute over the peloton, without closing in on the breakaway 12, but searching for a top 15 placing.

On the final climb of Clare Hill more attacks were nullified but on the undulating run to the line GWR guest Pain made a brave attempt to escape and built a small advantage. Colin Roshier (Team Quest) clipped off the front of the lead group to close rapidly on Pain and he forged onto take victory, as Pain was caught and passed by the remnants of the breakaway to eventually cross the line 12th, while Bayton fought out a closely contested finish just 7 seconds behind Roshier in 4th. Over three minutes later the peloton contested a mass sprint finish with Tilling only being caught in the closing metres but still in a creditable 18th with Luckwell 49th, Smith 51st and Phil Bayton 53rd all content with their efforts for the team.

"Another excellent team effort. The squad put the pressure on which led to the group getting away, and it proved the decisive move" commented Grant Bayton. Smith added "The guest rider Pain did some sterling work to ensure the break stayed away."

The squad, sponsored by Scott Wilson Railways, Steele Davis Building Contractors, Red Planet Bikes, Wilier Triestina/ATBSales.co.uk, Sport Beans, META Sports Performance & Training, TTI (UK) Ltd, Wiltshire's GWR FM, Diamond Health & Fitness and Continental Tyres, continue to move up the national rankings and will look to maintain their momentum in next weeks Toachim House Grand Prix in Kent where there is a £1000 first prize. For more information on the GWR Team please visit: www.gwrteam.com