Colne Grand Prix Circuit Race

 

Wednesday 18th July 2007

Round 6 of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series

Report and photographs: Andrew Kennedy for British Cycling

 

Above: Just part of the jubilant 10 man PlowmanCraven-Evans squad at the finish in Colne. Winner Simon Gaywood 2nd from left.

 

Current leader of the Elite Circuit series Simon Gaywood (PlowmanCraven-Evans) won the 2007 Colne Grand Prix with a convincing sprint in front of a large crowd on Market Street to extend his lead in the season long British Cycling series.

 

Gaywood benefited from another strong team performance by the PlowmanCraven-Evans team which included National Circuit Race Champion James McCallum, winner of the Blackpool GP circuit race Gordon McCauley, and top sprinter Tony Gibb who won last Sunday’s Premier Calendar Blackpool GP ahead of Magnus Backstedt.  The ever present pink and blue riders are dominating the mid season elite races and have top quality riders willing to sacrifice personal ambition for team objectives.

 

The Colne Grand Prix Elite Circuit race follows the winning formula that has developed with town centre bike racing. The organisers Cycling Development North West have established strong partnerships with local authorities, the Police and commercial organisations. CDNW have a committed group of individuals who’ve gained invaluable experience in organising all forms of bike events, and most importantly they listen to their ‘customers’ the riders, team managers, sponsors and spectators and are willing to make changes to improve their races. Ivor Armstrong of CDNW told BC that after ‘valuable feedback’ from riders at the Blackpool Festival they had ordered enormous kite style 1 kilo to go flags that would be visible from outer space.

 

How the race unfolded.

The Colne town centre circuit starts and finishes on Market Street, with a sharp right hand turn towards Craddock Road a slight climb to the Post Office Yard. Two severe right turns onto Church Street and a fast slightly downhill slope towards the finish. The road narrows along the finish straight with wide cobbled edges giving extra excitement to any rider straying off the centre line. PlowmanCraven-Evans showed their intent early in the race when James McCallum displayed his National Champs jersey with an attack along Market Street. Two laps later it was the turn of James Millard (PCA-Evans), then Tony Gibb (PCA-Evans) taking the first prime of the night.

 

The other riders were not content to allow PCA free reign and Tom Murray (Kinesis) started a series of attacks eventually taking Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor), Rob Partridge (Recycling), Ian Wilkinson (SIS-Trek) and Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) clear of the field. The PCA warning siren sounded and on the next lap Tony Gibb was with the breakaways and they’d established a small gap of about 6 seconds. Russell Downing (HealthNet-Maxxis) moved to the front and with his brother Dean up the road controlled the speed of the bunch.

 

Above: Tom Murray (Kinesis) started the first significant break of the night.

 

Over the next four laps the small band of leading riders increased the gap, and with Kinesis, PCA, Recycling and SIS in the break it was down to the Merlin Racing Team to bring them back. John Mozley, Liam Holohan and Tom Smith took turns to drive the front of the bunch and their hard work resulted in the Dean Downing group being caught.

 

Above: Liam Holohan buries himself on the front of the bunch to bring the break back.

 

The fast pace and skill of the riders on this small tight circuit had the crowd straining for a better view as the big bunch raced down Market Street. The corners were also good vantage points as riders were clipping the pavement edge, sometimes misjudging the angle with a few unlucky riders ending up on the deck.

 

Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) had caught the interest of some young chav’s spectating around the circuit, and every time he passed, the chant “DEANO, DEANO, DEANO” could be heard ringing across the streets whilst Simon Holt (Recycling.co.uk) had a group of young women screaming his name, and evergreen pinup Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello RT) provided interest for the more mature female spectators in the crowd.

 

With 1 hours racing completed, the lap board now showed 5 laps to go. Dean Downing, Tony Gibb and John Mozley were on the front of the bunch as they passed through the finish area. Hearing the commentator announcing just five laps to go, Dean Downing attacked from the front of the bunch into Craddock Road. The Rapha-Condor rider stirred things up and the race was strung out behind him. He managed to hold his lead for the next lap, but with two laps to go the whole of the PlowmanCraven-Evans team moved to the front of the bunch and brought Downing back.

 

Above: Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) has a go off the front with four laps remaining.

 

At the bell, the front of the race was a wall of pink and blue lycra, with the white National Champs jersey of McCallum visible just behind them. It looked as though PCA were setting McCallum up for the win, but with Simon Gaywood leading the Elite Circuit Series he may have been the intended beneficiary of the team’s hard work.

 

Above: Two laps to go and PCA start to form at the front of the bunch.

 

The whole field were together leading to the finish line and Simon Gaywood was just off the pace behind Russell Downing as the sprint was being wound up at the top of Market Street. Downing was in a good position but Gaywood too was sitting comfortably waiting to make his race winning move. At 100 metresto go, Gaywood moved out of the line, squeezed harder on the pedals to ease clear of Russell Downing, raising both arms in the air to celebrate an easy Sprint win from Downing. Gordon McCauley (PlowmanCraven-Evans) took the third podium position.

 

Above: Simon Gaywood (PlowmanCraven-Evans) wins the Colne GP from Russell Downing (HealthNet Maxxis) and PCA team mate Gordon MCauley.

 

Overall Table -- Three Riders in Contention
The leaderboard at the top of the Elite Circuit Series with four rounds to go is getting crowded lead by a former series winner Simon Gaywood froim teammate Gordon McCauley. Russell Downing has forced his way into the reckoning since being stranded in the UK whilst leading under 23 rider, Jon Mozley is over 50 rpoints behind the leaders but well clear of the next Under 23 rider.

 

1. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven/Evans 229
2. Gordon McCauley, Plowman Craven/Evans 221
3. Russell Downing, Team Health Net/Maxxis 217
4. Jon Mozley ***, Merlin RT 153
5. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor 134
6. Tony Gibb,  Plowman Craven/Evans 129
7. Rob Hayles, Team KLR 126
8. Simon Holt, Recycling.co.uk 125
9. Graham Briggs, Recycling.co.uk 122
10. Warrick Spence, Cyclefit/Serotta 106

 

REMAINING ROUNDS
03 August      Abergavenny GP
01 September   Newport Nocturne
09 September   London Grand Prix
16 September   Travelwise Warwick Town Centre Circuit Races

 

 

Above: Colne Grand Prix podium. Left to right, McCauley, Gaywood and Downing.

 

Above: British Cycling Olympic Talent coach Phil West (VC St Raphael) wins the support race at Colne.

Post race reactions from the riders.
Before the presentations I found Simon Gaywood celebrating with his team and asked if the race had gone to plan? “it was very quick around here, non-stop attacks, it was obvious towards the end that nothing was going to stay away, it was just too fast. I couldn’t have done it without the PCA boys, they gave me a perfect lead out, they kept people off my wheel, they were just awesome, the team is awesome. I dedicate the win to them, without them I couldn’t have done it”.

 

Were you the designated leader of your team tonight, or was it anyone from PCA who could get up there? “we have several cards we can play, Gordon [McCauley] is 2nd overall in the series and he’s capable of going up the road alone, if it came down to a bunch gallop it was down to me or Gibby [Tony Gibb], but he had a couple of punctures and was out of it”

 

What about the Downings, Russell was challenging you to the line, and had been working for Dean when he attacked, did that affect anything for you? “it didn’t change how we rode the race, we know we have to watch them, it’s just a case of sending somebody with them if they attack, and making sure it’s somebody that’s capable of beating them in a gallop, we marked them and did everything we needed to do, Russ was up there at the finish, but luckily I had the legs to take the win, and all on a 50 ring”

 

Tony Gibb (PlowmanCraven-Evans) chipped in to include a quote referring back to his win at Blackpool on Sunday when riders had complained about not knowing the location of the finish and it not being marked, “I’m glad everyone knew where the finish was tonight”

 

Russell Downing (Healthnet-Maxxis) after receiving his prizes on the podium and washing the champagne out of his ears, I asked him if he was happy with the result and what plans he had for the rest of the season? “with 4 to go Dean was away and I was just policing things at the front, I was too close to the front for my own chances in a sprint but just stayed there, PCA kept it fast, they went into the last corner with three guys and I had to separate them, after that I started my sprint a bit too early, I went up the climb in a small gear then put it in the big gear, I never really got on top of the gear, Simon [Gaywood] was going well he was well positioned and deserved the win”

 

What about the rest of the season? “I’m focussing now on getting the hours in, doing big miles, my two objectives are the National Road Champs and the Tour of Britain, and next year I’m hoping to go back to America. I had a great start to the season in America and I want to go back and hopefully get a good contract”

Results (kindly as supplied by John Purdey (Photo finish)
 
Elite Circuit Series
1. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
2. Russell Downing Health Net 
3. Gordon McCauley Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
4. Dean Downing Rapha Condor R.T.
5. Graham Briggs Recycling.co.uk
6. Malcolm Elliott Pinarello R.T.
7. Ian Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek
8. Gary Adamson FP Mailing
9. Jonathan Mozley Merlin R.T.
10. Tom Murray Kinesis U.K.
11. Simon Holt Recycling.co.uk
12. Tom Smith Awcycles.co.uk
13. Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing
14. Stuart Reid Wheelbase / Gore
15. Tom Barras Merlin R.T.
16. James Millard Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
17. Ben Price Condor - Rapha
18. James McCallum Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
19. Ian Bibby Scienceinsport-Trek
20. James  Moss Inkland MTS Cyclesport
21. Tom Smith Merlin R.T.
22. Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles
23. Martin Freeman Team Corley Cycles
24. Liam Holoham Merlin R.T.
25. Stephen Adams Merlin R.T.
26. Pete Williams Kinesis U.K.
27. Ryan Bonser Recycling.co.uk
28. Robert Partridge Recycling.co.uk
29. Richard Wilkinson Rapha Condor R.T.
30. Andy Tinsley Onimpex/Bioracer R.T.
31. Mark Thwaites Kinesis U.K.
32. Richard Kent Scienceinsport-Trek
33. Tom Diggle Recycling.co.uk
34. Ross Muir Rapha Condor R.T.
35. Chris Siepen Wills Wheels C.C.
36. Adam Bonser Recycling.co.uk
37. Matthew Cronshaw Scienceinsport-Trek
38. Matthew Kipling Inkland MTS Cyclesport
39. James  Sampson Kinesis U.K.
40. Martin  Smith AW Cycles
41. Jason Allen Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
42. Alistair Rutherford Wills Wheels C.C.
43. Brian Biggs Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles

Support Event:
1. Phil West V.C. St. Raphael
2. Graeme Goulding Maxgear R.T.
3. Dave Haygarth Wheelbase / Gore
4. James Farnaby Crosstrax
5. Ben Green Manchester Wheelers
6. Simon Yates Sports CityVelo
7. Adam Mitchell Cherry Valley R.T
8. Steve Davies Onimpex Bioracer
9. Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes cycles
10. Andrew Westwell Pendle Forest CC
11. Thomas Moses Private Member
12. Lewis Balyckyi Ribble Valley Juniors CRC
13. Josh Varty Probikekit.com
14. Chris Croxford PM
15. Paul Whiting Above Category Racing
16. Kenny Atherton Lyme Racing Club
17. Paul Andrews Lune R.C.C.
18. Craig Eden St. Helens CRC
19. Lucy Martin Team Chance
20. James Barrow PM
21. Shaun Faraday PM