2007 Circuit Race Championships (OTley)

PHOTOS BY LARRY HICKMOTT

2007 British Elite Men's Circuit Race Championships

A British Cycling Championship Event

Wednesday 20th June 2007; Otley Town Centre Cycle Races

Report and pictures by Larry Hickmott

Former Winners: British Cycling Championships: Circuit (Men)

20070620_Crit_Champs_400

Podium for the 2007 Circuit race championships, Matt Cronshaw (3rd), James McCallum (champion) and Ed Clancy (2nd). Photo galleries now available -- see the buttons at the top of the page.

Report
Scotland's James McCallum (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles) was the winner of the 2007 British Elite Men's Circuit Race Championship held in Otley (Yorkshire) on Wednesday night and joined a long and distinguished list of former champions.

20070620_Crit_Champs_4_Action Held on a sunny evening making conditions ideal for the riders on quite a tough circuit, McCallum was part of a small group that slipped away in the shadows on the back of the circuit with a few laps to go and in the sprint, crossed the line a worthy winner ahead of World Team Pursuit Champion Ed Clancy (Landbowkredit) and first year senior Matthew Cronshaw (SiS/Trek) who took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Right: Dave Collins was in a few breaks at the start including a lone one and also another break at the end to stamp his mark on the race in a big way.

The Race
From the side of the road, overall the race appeared quite 'tame' with the odd attack seemingly going here and there and behind them, a field which never really appeared to be lined out like we saw in 2005.

That isn't to say it wasn't lined out, only I didn't see it when they came past me. Perhaps it was just the quality of the field because the riders certainly explained afterwards it had been a hard race, especially up the hill every lap.

The first couple of laps went by without anything noticeable happening and the bunch appeared to be riding themselves into the race. Then Dean Downing and Luke Rowe came past with the bunch in sight behind them.

That break for freedom was pulled back but another took its place, this time Liam Holoham, Matt Cronshaw and a rider from Recycling.co.uk were trying to get away. A lap later, all change again as a three-up break with Russell Downing had a few seconds and you guessed it, the look of the race was different again next time round!

Dave Collins was next to appear, on his own, and the SiS rider at least managed to stay clear for more than a lap as he built up a good lead for a few laps. The bunch certainly didn't seem bothered and the sight of the field across the road said a lot for the speed of the race at that point. A chase soon got going though led by Graham Briggs, Ross Muir, Mark McNally, Tom Murray and eventual winner James McCallum.

20070620_Crit_Champs_6_Action

Before the start, everyone I spoke to was tipping Russell Downing for the win and although he got in the odd break, it never stuck and the break at the end dashed his hopes of victory.

Collins though held them at bay and it was then Matthew Higgins that led the charge after him through the finish area. The bunch though was unable to get across and soon another chase group were after Collins -- Neil Swithenbank, Ryan Bonser and Ed Clancy. They did manage to cross the gap to the SiS rider but the break for freedom was stopped in its tracks by a bunch not wanting to let anything go.

Even a big split with a large group gaining a few seconds on the bunch never came to anything and it wasn’t until the final five laps that just when we thought a mass gallop was the most likely outcome, a new twist in the race.

It was that man Collins who had another dig with Tom Diggle. A few seconds behind, Rapha Condor’s Ross Muir led a chase group with Matthew Cronshaw, Ed Clancy, James McCallum, Simon Holt and last years winner James Taylor with Ben Greenwood seeing the danger and crossing to the group as they started the climb.

Behind, the field were lined out of sorts, two and three across the road in a long line, but the favourites trapped in there were nowhere to be seen. Another lap, and the break had opened up a big gap and the bunch were not in sight as the break crossed the finish line with a lap to go, minus Dave Collins who had done what he could to help Matthew Cronshaw before falling away from the break.

As the bunch came around to get the bell, MTS rider and NE Regional champion Matthew Kipling came around a few lengths clear of the peloton chasing the break but with no hope now of closing the gap. And so it was that the leading group came into view for the final time, McCaullum already showing his sprint speed as he had plenty of time to raise his arms whilst Ed Clancy and Matthew Cronshaw, battled elbow to elbow for the minor placings.

Whilst the presentation was made for the running race, I spoke to the medal winners:

20070620_Crit_Champs_2_Sprint_400

Who's a happy boy then! James is well pleased with his first road Champions jersey.

James McCallum: “I rode this last year and it was really hard for the first 10 laps and so I thought it was best to be near the front. It is a hard hard course. That first bit of the climb really takes it out of you never mind the second bit. We just got lucky when we were going along the back straight in the dark and kind of disappeared, being as incognito as you can wearing pink!”

“JT shouted we’re away and it was like holy crap and coming round with a lap to go, it sunk in, we’re away and there was some panic going on. Ed had a big dig up the climb on the last lap and I got across to him and then the SiS boy (Cronshaw) had a go along the top. I was in second place going down towards the finish and Ben Greenwood was doing some ride for someone who’s not a crit rider. I followed him down and coming into the final bend, I was thinking ‘if I come round this corner in first or second, I’m winning this’ and next thing you know, the hands are in the air and you’ve won.”

Asked to rate the win, he said “the Commonwealth Games medal was a big surprise for me and a big step up and now to win a British championship is great. I’ve been trying for years to get this and now I have silver in the Derny championships and a circuit race jersey which I can wear a bit more than the one for the Derny champs if I’d won that.” James is now looking forward to showing off the champions jersey in Beverley in two weeks.

Ed Clancy (World Team Pursuit Champion): “It wasn’t bad out there. A lot better than getting your head kicked in in Belgium. It's worthwhile when you come here and the racing seems easy. It wasn’t an easy race though and although there were plenty of attacks, there was always a team to chase it down. It was quite fun really.”

Admitting that he has no idea how the final move actually managed to go clear, he was hoping for a move like that and says “I was away in two or three little moves which I was quite happy about as I have no teammates. I just looked round with two laps to go and we were off the front. It wasn’t a forced thing. I think one of the teams was happy to let it roll away.”

Talking about his time in Europe, he says there aren’t really any highlights although he does admit, it was good when his team had the yellow jersey in the Four Days of Dunkirk to be riding on the front of a Pro peloton. His next goal is the National Road Race Championship and then moving into a new house in Warrington which will be well placed for access to Manchester and going back and forth to Europe.

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_11 20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_12

Left: Matthew Cronshaw and right Ed Clancy

Matthew Cronshaw: This SiS rider is a newcomer to the sport hailing from Lancashire and in the Crit champs, made a name for himself in what was a real quality field. Not bad for a rider who has his A levels at the moment which restricts his training time.

“I’m a first year senior so I couldn’t ask for anything better. I got in that group and tried my hardest, had a couple of goes and it worked out perfect almost. It was a bit weird at first and I was struggling to stay near the front it went off so hard. Towards the end though, I regained my confidence and Wilkinson told me to get in the mix and I got in that group with a couple of laps to go. He had told me if I get in such a move, don’t look back, just go for it so I did and I’m still quite shocked really.”

“Last year was my first year racing as a last year junior and I moved up to the senior ranks this year. I have always been into cycling but only started racing last year.”

Senior Race (3/4/W/J)

Prior to the big race, there were two supporting races. No results of the Youth race were available after the presentation but in the senior event, a powerful sprint from Damian Sharp saw him clinch the victory in a race marred by a crash on the final lap. Results for that race are below.

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_17

The race had started with Women's Circuit Race Champion from 2006, Lizzie Armitstead (above), resplendent in her National Champions skinsuit, getting a little excited and breaking away on the opening lap, which was the perfect way to show off those champions colours in front of family and friends cheering long and loud for her. Afterwards we spoke to her about the race.

She told us it was only the second time she has had the chance to wear the National Champions colours and is hoping to regain them in the Women’s National Circuit Race Championship in Horwich coming up this weekend on the 24th. “The race today was good. I got too excited at the beginning with my friends and family watching so I put in a few digs when I really should have let the men do that.”

“It was really good kicking up that climb though and hearing my sister shouting my name. After I was caught, I was near the front all the time but on the last lap though, it was so hairy, it was unbelievable. I just thought my life is worth more than getting involved in that. I did try to move up to the front and was near the front when there was this big crash on the final corner and that’s when I lost my nerve a bit.”

Lizzie also has her eyes on two big goals after the National Crit Championships for Women, and that’s the European championships where she is expecting to do the Points and Scratch on the track and then race the Road event which she is really looking forward to. It all comes after a good season where she has won National series Road Race events and also had her first European road race win as well.

“I’m really enjoying my racing at the moment, its going really good. My coach is really pleased, and I also feel really happy to have finished my exams at school. Nowl I can concentrate on riding my bike and getting the recovery which is going to make it so much better”.

First Photos

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_10

It was surprising to see the bunch looking like this at times...

Ross Muir (Rapha Condor) leads the break.

20070620_Crit_Champs_5_Action

Graham Briggs (Recycling.co.uk) has a dig off the front.

20070620_Crit_Champs_7_Action

Dean Downing (Rapha Condor) too got in a break with first year junior Luke Rowe (Recycling.co.uk) but nothing was going anywhere.

20070620_Crit_Champs_8_Action

Flag is up and the race is underway...

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_14

When a chain breaks there is no coming back for Jon Mozely...

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_13

Ben Greenwood -- in impressive form according to the winner...

Senior 3/4/J/W Race

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_15

Making room for the lead car to well, err, lead...

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_16

Senior race gets underway in bright sunshine...

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_18

Talent Team coach Phil West shows how its done by leading a break during the race.

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_19

Lone break had a few laps of freedom before being swallowed up by the bunch.

The pace was high in the 3/4 race and most of the action was at the back with riders losing their grip on the bunch up the long climb.

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_21

Lizzie Armitstead looking very polished in the crit as she should being the Women's National Champion!

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_22

Damian Sharp (West Yorkshire Police) celebrates a sprint win in front of a growing crowd.

Youth Race

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_23

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_24

20070620_Otley_Crit_Champs_25

Result (Provisional)
1. James McCallum (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles) 59.47
2. Ed Clancy (Landbowkredit)
3. Matt Cronshaw (SiS/Trek)
4. Simon Holt (Recycling.co.uk)
5. Ross Muir (Rapha Condor)
6. Tom Diggle (Recycling.co.uk)
7. James Taylor (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles)
8. Ben Greenwood (Bedogni)
9. Ian Bibby (SiS/Trek) @15 seconds
10. Adam Blythe (SiS/Trek) @st
11. Tom Barras (Merlin)
12. Russell Downing (Healthnet-Maxxis
13. Ian WIlkinson (SiS/Trek)
14. Dean Downing (Rapha Condor)
15. John Tanner (Sportscover Planetx)
16. Adam Bonser (Recycling.co.uk
17. James Millard (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles)
18. Tom Murray, (Kinesis)
19. Alistair Rutherford (Wills Wheels)
20. James Sampson (Kinesis)
21. Graham Baxter (Team Aqualia)