Hillingdon GP 2007

PHOTOS BY LARRY HICKMOTT

Hillingdon Grand Prix

June 9, 2007; Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, London

British Cycling Elite Circuit Series Event (RD2)

Larry Hickmott report and photos

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Photographs from British Cycling photographer Larry Hickmott of the three events are now available of the events held on the day of the Hillingdon Grand Prix on Saturday, June 9.

At the top of the page are a series of Gallery buttons. Click one of these to display a gallery of photos. Gallery buttons 1 to 3 are the Elite race, Gallery buttons 4 & 5 are the photos of the Category 2-3-4 circuit race and Gallery buttons 6 & 7 are images of the Youth race.

There is also an album of photographs from the Brentwood Town Centre Circuit Races held the following day -- click here to view them

RACE REPORTS

Elite Circuit Series Event

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Tony Gibb (3rd), Rob Hayles (1st) and Adam Blythe (2nd) on the British Cycling podium truck which was custom built by cycle team sponsor KFS Special Vehicles.

Round 2 of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series at the Hillingdon Cycle circuit in West London was won by Rob Hayles (KLR) who crossed the line ahead of Adam Blythe (SiS/Trek) and Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles) after 80 kilometres of fast and attacking racing at the purpose built circuit.

It was the biggest field yet to line up for the Hillingdon GP and there many fine performances in a very attacking race. From the off, the attacks came with Gordon McCauley having a dig but like so many attacks, the moves lasted less than a lap as the bunch pounced on the riders. Dave Collins from SiS/Trek was certainly one of the most prominent early on as was Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor) who seemed to get in all the early moves off the front (and the ones at the end as well!) and as ever, Gordon McCauley was never far from the front except when he was on the back recovering!

There were many young riders, juniors and first year under 23's who were not afraid to take on their more experienced rivals. One of the early attacks came from Yorkshire's Liam Holoham but there were many more young riders also having a go. Like Holoham's Merlin teammate Stephen Adams who impressed, as did Alex Dowsett, Jon Mozley, Luke Rowe, Adam Blythe, Simon Holt, Mark McNally and Peter Kennaugh.

Others that caught the eye are Tom Barras (Merlin) and Dave Clarke, still riding unsponsored and certainly worth some investment from a team looking for a rider who has many a proven result in his CV. But after a race full of attacks that never stuck, a large group of around 13 did manage to get away but there was no commitment to it from the riders in it as many preferred to attack on their own to slim it down whilst others just bided their time to see if it would stay away. It almost did but it was caught on the last lap as the sprint was just round the corner, and in what was a mass gallop, Hayles was the quickest in the dash to line.

Post Race Reactions

Rob Hayles (KLR): “It is one of those circuits where you start feeling sick at the end of the race because its like riding the rollers. That was one of the reasons I stayed in the wheels because on this circuit you can ride as hard as you want for as along as you want and you just can’t get rid of anyone. You’re wasting energy. Fortunately it turned into a proper race at the end but apart from that its just like being on a big chain gang this place.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic facility and at least we can race on it and its off the roads long may it continue.”

“I made sure I followed the moves I had too and did literally follow. I had a couple of digs just to keep it going but at the end of the day, I was happy for it to come back to being a bunch sprint which it kind of did in away. I wasn’t going to waste energy trying to keep it away because I know I’m faster than anyone.”

“There were a lot of riders in the gallop and I knew I had to leave it late because of the headwind. I was following Dean who was looking after Rus and that was on the left. In the end it was just a stampede and I made sure I was out of trouble 200 to go and then hit out”.

Adam Blythe (Science in Sport/Trek): “Through out the race, riders were jumping away but it was such a big bunch there was a lot of team work going on so nothing was getting away. I didn’t go into the race with a plan. I knew if I did too much early on, I’d tire a bit so I sat in for the first half and then got stuck after that but sadly missed the move at the end.”

Talking about the sprint, Adam says “as we caught the group, I tried to get to the front as soon as possible and got to the front. At the bottom corner, Dean Downing went and Russell got on his wheel and I was behind Russell and then started sprinting and Rob just rolled me on the line. I’m still very pleased with it as I knew I had the speed”.

The Days Racing

Youth Race

The day began with the sun trying to break though the light cloud, which it did many times and for everyone at the circuit, it was a long hot afternoon. First off were the Youth races and a healthy field of different age groups battled it out for half an hour with Joe Perret getting away in the closing laps and managing to hold off the rest for a good victory with many more battles going on behind him for victories in the different age groups. Results and photos below.

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Bye, bye Joe as Perrett attacks and the rest have to say goodbye as he was never caught.

Category 2-3-4 Race

e, a very large field of over 100 riders gathered for the 2/3/4 race won in a mass gallop by Paul Crook. Like the Elite race that followed, many a break got clear of the peloton but with many strong legs in the bunch, each time a break got away, they were chased down. With a big bunch finish looming, and a technical problem with the Hillingdon Photo Finish camera, there were some worried officials but all was put right in the end with both the camera and many a judge on hand to take numbers. Results and photos below.

Sprint for the line won by Paul Crook.

First Race Pictures

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Doug Collins, one of many very special volunteers in British cycling, is presented with the regions Gold badge by Stuart Benstead. Congratulations to Doug....

The biggest field for this event at Hillingdon starts their event at 3pm.

Gordon McCauley has the first dig but it lasted less than a lap.

Throughout the 80 kilometres, the peloton had willing attackers firing off the front but none managed to stay away.

The races young riders, like Simon Holt and mark McNally to name but two, were part of the group happy to attack off the front.

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It was easy enough work in the bunch though and here round 1 winner Simon Gaywood and Adam Blythe (2nd in this event) have a laugh during the early stages.

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Alex Dowsett as ever was a willing attacker.

Tom Barras was yet again in the thick of the moves off the front.

Russell Downing, stuck in the UK due to the VISA problems getting back to the USA, was part of many a move and finished 6th.

At one stage, the peloton split into two and this group was clear for a short time.

Rob Hayles, ducked and dived, and gave it full gas when required showing he was the fastest in the big bunch gallop.

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The evergreen Colin Roshier attacks with Gordon McCauley from the break of around 13 riders which was caught in the closing lap.

Alex Dowsett in the closing few laps tries to get away as the break is faltering and the bunch closing in.

Matt Rowe and an AW Cycles rider try to close the gap to the break.

As the bunch is about to catch the break, Stephen Adams attacks, a fine performance from the youngster.

It wasn't as a tame finish as it looks here as the bunch comes thundering over the line with Rob Hayles nonchalant about it all.

Youth Race Photos (many more to come)

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The youngsters in the Youth race get a head start.

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The older youth riders start their race.

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Winner Joe Perret piles on the pace and the bunch starts to split.

Tim Kennaugh from the Isle of Man racing in the under 16 race where he was one of the main attackers.

Sprint for the minor placings.

Category 2/3/4 Race Photos (many more to come)

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Left, winner Paul Crook having a dig during the race and right, Jo Rowsell had a good workout in her first criterium for quite a while. Jo, almost managed to stay with one of the breaks that went away but a lack of speed work in this sort of racing took its toll.