Kennaugh's Last Gasp Win

 

2007 Reynolds / Michelin Junior Road Race Series

24th June 2007, Harworth, Notts

Report & Images: Richard Robotham

Rain all day - the picture says it all!

Round 8 of the 10 round Junior Series was The Tom Simpson National Junior Road Race promoted by the Dinnington RC. The race started from the Harworth & Bircotes Sports Pavilion which contains the much celebrated shrine to one of British Cycling's most famous Riders - Tom Simpson who passed away on the Climb of Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour of France.

The rain came down for the majority of the race but it wasn't to dampen the enthusiasm of the Junior Riders. 51 Riders started the 11 laps of a six mile circuit and immediately following the dropping of the Neutralised Flag the pace lifted and the race was on.

Peter Kennaugh, chasing an early break

On the first lap the Series Leader Luke Rowe (Recycling.co.uk/Pinarrello/Mich) punctured. He was quickly given a new wheel from the Neutral Service but had to fight hard to regain the Peleton.

The second lap saw the first break of the race with three Riders. Rhys Lloyd (Liverpool Mercury - Dolan Bikes), Erick Rowsell (Team Corridori / Specialized) & Andrew Griffiths (Glendene Bike Track) had quickly gained a 40 second advantage over the peleton. By the end of the lap they had increased the gap a further 10 seconds. This early high pace and the continuous downpours were to have its toll as Riders began to suffer and drop from the Peleton.

Alex Paton attacks on the climb

During the third lap the gap was pulled back to 40 seconds as the World Junior Scratch Race Champion Peter Kennaugh (Pinarello RT Rudy Projects / DMT / Corima) took control at the front of the Peleton. Further round the circuit, another time check revealed that the gap had come down again and now down to 30 seconds.

Just before the start of the fourth lap and on the climb to the finish area, Alex Paton (VC Deal Hammonds / Activ) took the opportunity and broke away from the Peleton and soon breached the gap to the three leading Riders.

With an hour of racing covered the fresh impetus from Alex Paton (VC Deal Hammonds / Activ) had managed to increase the gap to 42 seconds. But the chase was on as James Wagstaff (Obri Coaching RT SIS / Planets X) leapt out of the Peleton took up the chase and had gained a small gap. David Fletcher (Sherwood Pines / Polaris) quickly followed suit and started to chase down Wagstaff. A further four Riders broke away from the Peleton. They were Matthew Fostun (Sherwood CC), Philip Graves (BC PM), Daniel Kogan (Glendene Bike Track) and Sebastian Batchelor (York Cycleworks). But these attempts at breaching the gap which was now 50 seconds again were short-lived as Peter Kennaugh (Pinarello RT Rudy Projects / DMT / Corima) took to the front forcing the pace. Once again the gap had dropped and was down to 35 seconds with 6 laps to go.

More determined chasing by Kennaugh

With 5 laps on the board the gap had diminished and the inevitable catch took place with the four leaders now reeled in by the Peleton.

With 4 laps on the board Andrew Griffiths (Glendene Bike Track) and Kennaugh were forcing the pace but Kennaugh unfortunately suffered a puncture. With a new wheel, Kennaugh had lost almost 45 seconds on the Peleton but by the end of the lap he had managed to regain the Peleton and take some control. But in the mean time Ben Stockdale (MJS Racing / MJ Section / Kwik travel) and Andrew Williams (Cwmcarn Paragon) had managed to escape from the Peleton.

With 3 laps to go Williams had given Stockdale the slip on the hill and gained a 15 second advantage over Stockdale. Stockdale in the mean time had been joined by his Team Mate Dominic Jelfs (MJS Racing / MJ Section / Kwik travel) and Richard Meadows (Liverpool Mercury - Dolan Bikes) The bunch were suffering and were splintering on the climb to the finish area and were now one minute down on the Leaders. But the chasing trio of Jelfs, Stockdale and Meadows closed the gap and joined the leader Williams.

Kirk senior shouts instructions to Kirk Junior

During the same lap five Riders managed to get clear of the Peleton to form a strong chasing group. This group caught with two laps to go making a nine Rider break. The Riders joining Williams, Stockdale, Meadows & Jelfs were Philip Graves (BC PM), Jack Pullar (Kinesis UK), David Fletcher (Sherwood Pines / Polaris), Mark McNally (Liverpool Mercury - Dolan Bikes) and Peter Kennaugh (Pinarello RT Rudy Projects / DMT / Corima).

 

Not much in it - Kennaugh gets the verdict from McNally

At the bell the leading group had a 30 second advantage over Peleton. This was to increase just over the minute but on the final climb this group splintered leaving Kennaugh and McNally to sprint it out to the finish. On the climb Kennaugh took to the front but was suffering from his earlier efforts to regain the Peleton. With this McNally jumped and it looked as though he was going to take the win. But Kennaugh managed to dig deep and found the energy to get back up to McNally. As the climb flattened out Kennaugh and McNally were neck and neck all the way to the finish with Kennaugh lunging for the line to just take the win.

 

Pre Race Quotes

Mark McNally- 2nd in the series standings
"In view of the weather conditions the plan for today's race is just to get round. I've not been around the whole of the course yet, just up the finish climb, the plan will be to try and put pressure on the other riders from the start."

Peter Kennaugh - 3rd in the series standings
"The plan for today is to win, but that is easier said than done. I aiming for a win as I won't be here for the Bath RR cause the top three are in Bulgaria, but if I can finish above Luke Rowe that would be good."

 

Luke Rowe - Leading the series standings
"I going too keep an eye on the top guns, as Maca and Pete are on my tail, but I am just going to race the race rather than concentrate on the series"

Post Race Quotes

Peter Kennaugh - 1st
"Hardest race I have done all season! About half way through the race I punctured, and it took a while to get back to the bunch and a few hard turns to get back to the leading group. I went at the bottom of the hill, Richard Meadows packed so I knew Mark McNally wouldn't do anything, so I decided to go and hit them with everything I got. I was getting tired towards the top and McNally passed me, but I glanced quickly at his face, he was breathing dead hard, so I got on his wheel and managed to recover for about 10 seconds and then it was just a drag race to the end"

Mark McNally - 2nd
"It was unreal, Peter went too early, and I was coming up fast on him, so I put my head down and got round him, then Pete got on my wheel and tried to get round me then it was just like a drag race to the finish, I was tearing myself inside out to try to get across to him, it was horrible, but he is a strong rider and a deserved winner.

Luke Rowe - 13th
"I've had a cold on the run up too the event, I felt OK but not great after a little spin this morning, but with such a small points margin, I thought I would give it a go. But I punctured after a mile, which just sums up my race! I'm looking forward to Bulgaria and the Junior Tour of Wales.

Results

1st  Peter Kennaugh (Pinarello RT Rudy Projects / DMT / Corima)
2nd  Mark McNally  (Liverpool Mercury - Dolan Bikes)   s/t
3rd Philip Graves  (BC PM)      6 sec
4th Ben Stockdale (MJS Racing / MJ Section / Kwik travel)  s/t
5th Andrew Williams (Cwmcarn Paragon)     11 sec
6th Richard Meadows (Liverpool Mercury - Dolan Bikes)   15 sec