In-Gear Junior Tour of Sussex

 

May 25-28, 2007; West Sussex

A Reynolds/Michelin Junior National Road Race Series Event

 

Podium for Sussex Junior Tour from Paul J Wright. Mark McNally (3rd), Luke Rowe (2nd) and Andrew Fenn (1st).

 

The In-Gear Junior Tour of Sussex was won by Andy Fenn. The race, part of the  Junior National Series, saw the best Juniors from around the country do battle in the lanes of Sussex with National Junior coach (Endurance men) Darren Tudor. The Olympic Development Endurance coach was there watching how his boys performed but was also looking at other riders who have aspirations of making  the Great Britain Cycling Team’s Olympic Development Programme squad. 

 

First year junior, Andrew Fenn, was the winner of the three day stage race in West Sussex. He made the decisive move on stage 2 and then when the race was slipping away on stage 3, crossed to a dangerous break, and did enough in the final sprint of the race to win the yellow jersey from Luke Rowe.

 

Stage 3 (Final)
In a battle between Liverpool Mercury and the riders from the Olympic Development Squad, Richard Meadows (pictured) (Liverpool Mercury) took full advantage to clip off the front of the break on the final lap and take the final stage of this Sussex stage race in a Liverpool Mercury 1-2-3.

 

Due to roadworks and treacherous conditions in the Ashdown forest area due to the heavy rain, it was decided on the morning of the final day that it was too dangerous to risk sending the riders over the proposed course. The decision was taken about an hour before the stage start to use the same course as the day before (Ardingly/Horsted Keynes / Sharpthorn).

 

At the beginning of the stage both Rowe and Fenn were level on time but Luke held the leaders jersey due to better stage placings.  Both riders were told that if the race came down to a decision between the two of them, then the first across the line would take overall victory.

 

Right: Richard Meadows wins the final stage. Photo Paul J Wright (pjw2409@tiscali.co.uk).

 

The race story then featured a break containing the first six overall which escaped after a lap and a half. First, a group of five got away with Adam Blythe, Erick Rowsell, Luke Rowe, Mark McNally, Richard and Meadows. Seeing the danger, Andy Fenn, rode across to it alone and the gap stayed steady at just over a minute until the final lap when the bunch gave up and the break pulled away.

 

With the numbers in their favour, Liverpool Mercury were able to dominate the break and it was in Richard Meadow’s favour as he escaped on his own while Fenn did enough to snatch the overall victory from Luke Rowe who has been on the podium of all the National Series stage races this year.

 

Another view of the race... This from Allan Webster who was also at the final stage of the race supporting his son, Sam who rides for Glendene CC/Biketrax ...

 

On the first lap, Richard Meadows made a break, which was immediately chased down by Sam Webster. Later on the same lap, four more riders jumped off the front of the peloton to join them (Blythe, Rowe, McNally and Rowsell). These riders opened up a gap of almost a minute. After the first lap (where Webster crossed the line first to take the KOH points), the peloton closed the gap to little over 20 seconds, at which point Fenn plus one other rider
attempted to jump across but only Fenn made it. 

 

This group of seven then worked together to stay away for the rest of the race, with the gap increasing to over two and a half minutes. Webster took the KOH sprints on laps two an three, with the five GC leaders having more important things to worry about. With the five GC leaders minds concentrating on overall glory, Webster and Meadows were likely to be left to go for the stage win, as neither could realistically make up the time for the overall. Unfortunately, on the last lap, Webster punctured, and was given an incompatible rear wheel, which also turned out to be badly buckled, such that he was effectively riding with the brakes on, ending his chance for the stage win.

 

Result -- Stage 3, 64 miles
1. Richard Meadows (Liverpool Mercury)
2. Andrew Fenn (Liverpool Mercury)
3. Mark McNally (Liverpool Mercury)
4. Adam Blythe (SiS/Trek)
5. Luke Rowe (Reccycling.co.uk)
6. Erick Rowsell  (Team Corridor)

 

FINAL OVERALL (to be updated when we get the full result)
1. Andy Fenn
2. Luke Rowe
3. Mark McNally

 

Stage 2: Feature
by Larry Hickmott (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk)

 

Left: Andy Fenn beats Luke Rowe to the line to win stage 2 whilst (right) Mark McNally beats Erick Rowsell and Adam Blythe for third place.

 

The forecast of heavy rain thankfully was wrong for stage 2 of the Junior Tour but it was still a wet and windy 80 miles that the riders in the Sussex Tour faced when they lined up in the picturesque grounds of  Ardingly College in Ardingly (West Sussex).

 

In Yellow was Adam Blythe who had won stage 1 whilst the King of the Mountains jersey was being worn by Sam Webster (Glendene CC/Biketrax). Both jerseys were presented to them by organiser Alan Denman at the start as the rain fell lightly out of the sky.

 

Right: After a meeting with the commissiare, the riders come out of the shelter of the Arch in Ardingly College in Ardingly (West Sussex) and get ready to start their second stage. 

 

The race didn't take long to get warm and in less than half a lap after the end of the neutralised section of the race, a break of three riders had a clear lead over the bunch controlled by the Glendene/Biketrax riders.

 

The break was made up of Solihull rider Adam Tranter, Kieran Friend (Torq/Colnago), and Richard Meadows (Liverpool Mercury/Dolan).

 

They had a good spell of freedom before the riders contesting the overall such as Adam Blythe, started to fire as they came past me near Horsted Keynes, and it was quite a sight as yellow jersey Adam Blythe was giving it full gas up the hill whilst behind him  the splits were opening up in a group lined out in pursuit of him. Nothing like a bike race in full flight!

 

Left: Adam Blythe all smiles in yellow at the start of stage 2. Right, Friend leads a break of three through Sharpthorne.

 

The pressure on that lap saw the first break come back and there was a regrouping for a while before Andrew Fenn escaped with Tom Copeland of the race sponsors In-Gear Development Squad. With only a handful of seconds, Luke Rowe saw the danger and joined the three which became two  as Copeland was dropped from the speeding duo.

 

Behind, the chase was on and it started fairly low key after a few digs came to nought. Then as the laps went by and the lead was over two minutes, the heat was turned up. With three laps to go, Erick Rowsell was off the front and behind the likes of Blythe, McNally and co were chasing hard.  From behind the bunch, we could see riders dropping off the back now in twos and threes such was the pace. The chase continued to intensify and Blythe and McNally were soon away and Rowsell quickly crossed the  gap to form a group of three chasers.

 

With three early leaders away, Adam Blythe goes on the attack with Webster, McNally and Rowsell never far away.

 

They managed to close the gap to just over a minute by the end where McNally won the sprint for third. The big prize though went to Fenn who had too much speed on the up hill finish for Rowe with the yellow jersey going to Rowe.

 

Adam Blythe wins a sprint in Ardingly after the three leaders had been caught.

 

Afterwards we spoke to a few of the riders:

Andrew Fenn, a first year junior who has had a lot of success on the track, has made the transition to the road with some success and the victory was his first in a National Series  Junior event. Despite coming from doing youth events the year before, Fenn handled the 80 miles well, outsprinting Luke Rowe for the stage. “I was pleased with how the race went for me today. I was going for the Points and took that as well as I didn’t feel the hill top finish was going to suit me.”

 

“I got away with Tom Copeland and Luke crossed to us after which Tom dropped back. I knew we had quite a big gap with a lap to go and we had a good pace on so I didn’t think we were going to be caught. The circuit today was pretty quick with the drag at the back of the course the hardest part.”

 

Adam Blythe “It was bloody horrible out there today but a good race. Everyone was making it hard and there was no rest for the wicked here. The break went over the top of a hill and I thought a couple of us might be able to bring them back up the drag but they opened the gap even more and stayed away. The three of us at the end were working really well and managed to bring it back a bit.”

 

Left: McNally, Blythe and Webster go in pursuit of Rowsell (right) who in turn is trying to get up to the leaders. Another Rowsell, Under 23 Women's RR Champion, Jo, was also seen putting in the hours, five hours, in the wind and rain as she prepares for the European Championships in July.

 

Luke Rowe: “That was a tough stage today, the longest race I have ever done. We, Andy and I, gave it 100% in the break and with a lap to go I said to him, lets nail it to the finish and race the last 200 metres. Yesterday I don’t know what was wrong with me but I really did suffer but today I felt good.”

 

Left: Luke Rowe slips off the front of the chasing group and goes in pursuit of Fenn and Copeland. Right: Sam Webster in the King of the Mountains jersey.

 

Erick Rowsell: The youngster who came into racing after his sister Jo (Olympic Academy Rider, Womens Endurance and Under 23 Road Race champion for Women), started racing bikes, was in impressive form. The Londoner had come down to the circuit to look over the course and told us after stage 2, “I felt good today and a lot better than yesterday.”

 

“The rain made it pretty horrible but I felt strong up the hills. I was having a few digs to try and make sure we didn’t lose any time to the front two. So I was always trying to get across to them. I was hope the course would be a bit more hilly but that’s to come tomorrow. Overall though I’m pleased with my ride.”

 

Stage Photos

 

The start of the final lap and Mark McNally takes Yellow jersey Adam Blythe away with Erick Rowsell in hot pursuit.

 

Stage 1, 64 miles
The Junior Tour of Sussex finally got under way on day 2 with a 64 mile stage won by Adam Blythe (SiS-Trek). Held on a five mile circuit, the race, says the winner Adam Blythe, was active the whole way through.

One of the most dangerous breaks was one that included Andrew Fenn and Andrew Griffiths but it wasn't until with two laps to go that Richard Meadows took flight and after a spell alone, seeing the danger, Adam Blythe gave chase with Mark McNally and Matt Jones.

 

The trio got across as did Erik Rowsell and in the sprint for the line, Blythe started as he finished in Holland recently, winning the stage comfortably.

Note: For photos of the Prologue and Stage 2,  see the Gallery buttons at the top of the page. For official results of both races, see the Road Results button in the left menu for the Road home page.

 

 

PROLOGUE
(Belinda Sinclair report & photos)

 

The Sussex Tour started with a prologue on Friday evening but ended in disappointment for the Juniors as the light slipped away and the stage had to be abandoned. An album of images from the stage can be seen by clicking the Gallery 1 button at the top of the page.

 

It is always disappointing when a race doesn’t go to plan, and that is exactly what happened this evening when the four mile time trial that started the In Gear Junior Tour of Sussex had to be abandoned just over half way through, due to poor light. “It just got too dark” said organiser Alan Denman “ It looked like we might be lucky and it would hold until everybody had ridden, but the light fell very quickly, and it would have been dangerous to continue. Some parts of the course are very dark anyway because of the trees, but with poor light, we had to call it off.”

 

That meant that there was no jersey presentation for what should have been the first stage, and the Tour will resume tomorrow with stage two. However, that will be without World  Junior Champion Peter Kennaugh, who currently leads the Junior  National Road Race Series, and  who is suffering from a bout of laryngitis.

Meanwhile, amongst the riders who did beat the light, there were some fast times recorded. Although relatively short, the course undulates and twists through a section of rural Sussex near Ardingly, and also contains several difficult hills, including one long drag up to the finish outside Ardingly College, plus a very tight turn at the far end of the course.

 

Erik Rowsell (Team Corridori) was fastest of those who did ride (although the time will not stand) in 9mins 06, with Ben Stockdale (MJS Racing) on 9mins18, Toby Meadows (Glendene Biketrax) , and winner in the U16 criterium race at Crawley last Sunday, on 9mis.32, Andrew Fenn (Liverpool Mercury Dolan) 9.34 and Oliver Graham (Wyre Forset CRC) on 9.38.

 

Category 3-4 Race
The earlier race for 3rd and 4th cat senior riders over the same course was completed, and was won by  Adam Page (Kingston Wheelers) in 9 mins 29 secs, and  Jeremy Ponting (Ride Venture) and Richard Newey (Agiskoviner.com) both recording 9 mins 30 secs. Ruth Manley (Rapha Condor) only woman in the event, recorded 10 mins 18 secs.

 

Results

 

Prologue (Friday, May 25)

Stage for Juniors was cancelled after light faded towards the end.

 

Stage 1, Saturday 26th May 2007
1. Adam Blyth, SIS - Trek 
2. Mark McNally, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
3. Matt Jones, In Gear Development Squad 
4. Richard Meadows, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
5. Erick Rowsell, Team Corridori 
6. Luke Rowe, ReCycling.co.uk 
7. Andrew Williams, Cwmcam Paragon RC 
8. Sam Freeman, Team KLR/ Parkers 
9. Mike Webb, Cardiff Ajax CC 
10. Sam Patrick, i-Team.co.uk 
11. Andrew Fenn, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
12. Edward Griffin, Bournemouth Arrow CC/ Hotel Collingwood 
13. Jack Kirk, Wyre Forest CRC 
14. Sam Webster, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
15. Toby Meadows, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
16. Ashley Finn, Lune RCC 
17. Ben Stockdale, MJS Racing 
18. Kieran Friend, Torq/Colnago 
19. Daniel Kogan, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
20. Oliver Graham, Wyre Forest CRC 

Stage 2 Sunday 27th May 2,
1. Andrew Fenn, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
2. Luke Rowe, ReCycling.co.uk 
3. Mark McNally, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
4. Erick Rowsell, Team Corridori 
5. Adam Blyth, SIS - Trek 
6. Edward Griffin, Bournemouth Arrow CC/ Hotel Collingwood 
7. Ashley Finn, Lune RCC 
8. Sam Webster, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
9. Daniel Kogan, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
10. Tom Copeland, In Gear Development Squad  
11. Andrew Williams, Cwmcam Paragon RC 
12. Matt Jones, In Gear Development Squad 
13. Richard Meadows, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
14. Billy-Joe Whenman, Marin UK 
15. Toby Meadows, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
16. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
17. Doug Dewey, Team Tor 2000 
18. Jake Eddy, Bristol Cycling Development Squad 
19. Jack Kirk, Wyre Forest CRC 
20. Ben Stockdale, MJS Racing 

 

Stage 3, Monday 28th May 2007
1. Richard Meadows, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
2. Andrew Fenn, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
3. Mark McNally, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 
4. Adam Blyth, SIS - Trek 
5. Luke Rowe, ReCycling.co.uk 
6. Erick Rowsell, Team Corridori 
7. Sam Webster, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
8. Daniel Kogan, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
9. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
10. Mike Webb, Cardiff Ajax CC 
11. Billy-Joe Whenman, Marin UK 
12. Edward Griffin, Bournemouth Arrow CC/ Hotel Collingwood 
13. Andrew Williams, Cwmcam Paragon RC 
14. Ashley Finn, Lune RCC 
15. Tom Copeland, In Gear Development Squad  
16. Toby Meadows, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 
17. Jack Kirk, Wyre Forest CRC 
18. Sam Patrick, i-Team.co.uk 
19. Doug Dewey, Team Tor 2000 
20. Ben Stockdale, MJS Racing 

Final Overall
1. Andrew Fenn, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 8.45.10
2. Luke Rowe, ReCycling.co.uk 8.45.10
3. Mark McNally, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 8.45.52
4. Adam Blyth, SIS - Trek 8.45.53
5. Erick Rowsell, Team Corridori 8.46.06
6. Sam Webster, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 8.49.43
7. Daniel Kogan, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 8.50.47
8. Edward Griffin, Bournemouth Arrow CC/ Hotel Collingwood 8.50.47
9. Ashley Finn, Lune RCC 8.50.47
10. Tom Copeland, In Gear Development Squad  8.50.49
11. Richard Meadows, Liverpool Mercury Dolan 8.56.28
12. Andrew Williams, Cwmcam Paragon RC 8.57.02
13. Billy-Joe Whenman, Marin UK 9.01.40
14. Toby Meadows, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 9.02.49
15. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene CC/Biketrax – Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim 9.02.51
16. Doug Dewey, Team Tor 2000 9.12.52
17. Jack Kirk, Wyre Forest CRC 9.14.55
18. Mike Webb, Cardiff Ajax CC 9.27.59
19. Ben Stockdale, MJS Racing 9.28.01
20. Sam Patrick, i-Team.co.uk 9.28.01

 

 

CATEGORY 3-4 TOUR RESULTS

Stage 1
1. Adam Page, Kingston Wheelers CC, 9.29
2. Jeremy Ponting, Ride Venture, 1”
3. Richard Newey, Agiskoviner.com, 1”
4. George Higgs , Brighton Excelsior, 5”
5. Douglas Fox, Crawley Wheelers, 13”
6. Mark Newton, Sydenham Wheelers, 15”
7. Mark Winton, Lewes Wanderers CC, 17”
8. Richard Vail, Sigma Sport, 25”
9. Lawrence Oldershaw, CC Ashwell, 27”
10. Mark Perryman, V.C. Etoile, 29”

 

Stage 2
1., Chris Lockyer, Manchester Wheelers, 2:26:54
2., Jeremy Ponting, Ride Venture, 19”
3., Richard Vail, Sigma Sport, 46”
4., Craig Stevenson, Boneshakers RT, 46”
5., Rapael Deinhart, Loughborough Students CC, 46”
6., Richard Newey, Agiskoviner.com, 46”
7., Daniel Clark, Brighton Mitre CC  , 46”
8., Philip Murrell, Finsbury Park, 46”
9., Steven Saunders, Kingston Wheelers CC, 46”
10., Tim Moorhouse, Boneshakers RT, 46”

 

Stage 3
1., Rapael Deinhart, Loughborough Students CC, 1.55.10
2., Jeremy Ponting, Ride Venture, 4”
3., Craig Stevenson, Boneshakers RT, 8”
4., Chris Lockyer, Manchester Wheelers, 8”
5., Steven Saunders, Kingston Wheelers CC, 20”
6., Mark Newton, Sydenham Wheelers, 22”
7., George Higgs , Brighton Excelsior, 27”
8., Mark Perryman, V.C. Etoile, 33”
9., Charlie Sayer, Brighton Mitre CC  , 33”
10., Philip Herborn, Brighton Mitre CC  , 47”

 

Stage 4
1., Rapael Deinhart, Loughborough Students CC, 1.59.19
2., Jeremy Ponting, Ride Venture, 7”
3., Craig Stevenson, Boneshakers RT, 7”
4., Steven Saunders, Kingston Wheelers CC, 7”
5., Chris Lockyer, Manchester Wheelers, 7”
6., Philip Herborn, Brighton Mitre CC  , 37”
7., George Higgs , Brighton Excelsior, 37”
8., Lawrence Oldershaw, CC Ashwell, 37”
9., Mark Newton, Sydenham Wheelers, 37”
10., Doug Baldock, Edgware RC, 1’ 08”
11., Tim Moorhouse, Boneshakers RT, 1’ 08”
12., Charlie Sayer, Brighton Mitre CC  , 1’ 08”
13., Paul Richards, Mosquito Bikes racing team, 1’ 08”
14., Mark Perryman, V.C. Etoile, 1’ 08”
15., Richard Vail, Sigma Sport, 1’ 24”
16., Daniel Clark, Brighton Mitre CC  , 1’ 33”
17., Vaughn Luff, Team DeVer / Neovite, 1’ 35”
18., Lawrence Smith, Kingston Wheelers CC, 1’ 36”
19., Douglas Fox, Crawley Wheelers, 3’ 26”
20., Philip Murrell, Finsbury Park, 3’ 53”
21., Howard Radcliffe, i-Team, 3’ 53”
22., Jeremy Cooper, SP systems/WightlinkFerries mobile cycle sevice, 3’ 53”
23., Dominic Coughlin, SP systems/WightlinkFerries mobile cycle sevice, 3’ 53”
24., Gavin Spiers, Reading CC, 4’ 09”
25., Tony Reeves, G.S. Stella, 4’ 09”
26., Stuart Nisbett , Crawley Wheelers, 4’ 09”
27., Stephen Trott, G.S. Stella, 4’ 09”
28., Julian Clark , Odls,com Racing, 4’ 30”
29., Edward Sneddon, Agiskoviner.com, 4’ 36”
30., Peter Barling, Lewes Wanderers CC, 6’ 47”
31., Justin Browne, Easterley RC, 11’ 06”
32., Clive Copeland, In Gear Quickvit RT, 11’ 06”
33., Andrew Fowkes, Thames Velo, 11’ 06”
34., Matt Hawcroft, BC Private member, 13’ 42”
35., James Northway, Metropolitan Police CC, 13’ 42”
36., John Coolahan, Kingston Wheelers CC, 40’ 00”
37., John Powell, Velo Club In Gear, 40’ 00”
38., Jon Johnston, VC Meuden, 40’ 00”
39., Martyn Potter, Brighton Mitre CC  , 40’ 00”
40., Bruce Samuel, Brighton Mitre CC, 40’ 00”

 

Final Overall
1. Jeremy Ponting, Ride Venture
2. Chris Lockyer, Manchester Wheelers
3. Rapael Deinhart, Loughborough Students CC
4. George Higgs , Brighton Excelsior
5. Steven Saunders, Kingston Wheelers CC
6. Mark Newton, Sydenham Wheelers
7. Mark Perryman, V.C. Etoile
8. Charlie Sayer, Brighton Mitre CC 
9. Lawrence Smith, Kingston Wheelers CC
10. Philip Herborn, Brighton Mitre CC 
11. Daniel Clark, Brighton Mitre CC 
12. Tim Moorhouse, Boneshakers RT
13. Richard Vail, Sigma Sport
14. Paul Richards, Mosquito Bikes racing team
15. Craig Stevenson, Boneshakers RT
16. Vaughn Luff, Team DeVer / Neovite
17. Philip Murrell, Finsbury Park
18. Howard Radcliffe, i-Team
19. Douglas Fox, Crawley Wheelers
20. Jeremy Cooper, SP systems/WightlinkFerries mobile cycle sevice
21. Stuart Nisbett , Crawley Wheelers
22. Tony Reeves, G.S. Stella
23. Dominic Coughlin, SP systems/WightlinkFerries mobile cycle sevice
24. Edward Sneddon, Agiskoviner.com
25. Andrew Fowkes, Thames Velo
26. Lawrence Oldershaw, CC Ashwell
27. Doug Baldock, Edgware RC
28. James Northway, Metropolitan Police CC
29. Gavin Spiers, Reading CC
30. Clive Copeland, In Gear Quickvit RT
31. Peter Barling, Lewes Wanderers CC
32. Stephen Trott, G.S. Stella
33. Justin Browne, Easterley RC
34. Matt Hawcroft, BC Private member
35. Jon Johnston, VC Meuden
36. Martyn Potter, Brighton Mitre CC 
37. John Powell, Velo Club In Gear
38. John Coolahan, Kingston Wheelers CC
39. Bruce Samuel, Brighton Mitre CC
40. Julian Clark , Odls,com Racing