Walker Wins Capernwray Road Race

 

Story posted April 14
Report & pictures From Ian McVety

Note: Click the Gallery button at the top of the page for an album of photos from the race.

 

Tom Walker (Border City Wheelers) timed his move to perfection to take a convincing win in the Lune RCC promoted Capernwray Road Race in north Lancashire. At the race head quarters at the start of the race the temperature was barely 3 degrees Celsius, Ingleborough was snow capped overlooking the circuit and the air was still.

 

The first lap saw a few early skirmishes, most noticeably of all was Richard Sale (Horwich CC)  who attacked on the climb out of Arkholme village and with Pro Bikekit casing hard it all came back together just after Docker Park Farm.  The first ascent of Sunny Bank saw many riders feel the pace and severity of this tough circuit and very quickly the main bunch was whittled down to a select group.

Above: The main group climbs out Arkholme

 

The next time the riders rode up the roughly surfaced road past Docker Jimmy Wright (Preston Wheelers) had managed to ride off the front of the group and spent the next four laps of the race out front building up what seemed an unassailable lead. The lap times were averaging between 19 and 20 minutes per lap, a fast speed and as a result, Wright extended his lead towards 2 minutes. 
 
Above: Jimmy Wright says goodbye to the peloton

 

The pattern for the race seemed set. Wright was looking strong and had settled down in to time trial mode, steadily and convincingly keeping the main group out of sight. That is until the end of lap 4 when Tom Walker showed his hand and at the bottom of Sunny Bank he set off in pursuit of Wright. Ian Stott (Blackburn CC) tried to go with him but was soon caught again by the peloton.

 

Lap 5 saw Walker eating in to Wright’s lead, methodically reeling him back in, so that as they came up Sunny Bank for the penultimate time Walker was only 15 seconds in debt.
 
Above: Tom Walker on a long a lonely pursuit for victory

 

When Wright had opened up such a huge convincing margin few had expected a win from anywhere else but after seeing Walker confidently set off in pursuit of Wright there was no surprised faces on the finish line as Walker to a well deserved win to a disappointed Wright. The peloton was shredded to pieces on the final ascent but it was Andy Westwell (Pendle Forrest) who came out of the group to finish strongly for third.
 
Above: Tom Walker takes the win over Jimmy Wright

 

RESULT
1. Tom Walker (Border City Wheelers)
2. Jimmy Wright (Preston Wheelers)
3. Andy Westwell (Pendle Forest)
4. Josh Andjelkovic (Maxgear)
5. Ian Stott (Blackburn CC)
6. Dave Crawley (Keswick Bikes)
7. Steve Ward (Maxgear)
8. Mark Jones (Alf Jones Cycles)
9. Graham Payne (Preston CC)
10. Adrian Lawrence (Lancs RC)
11. Simon Lawman (Lancs RC)
12. Callum Nicholson (Pro bikekit)
13. Stuart Alderson (Manchester Wheelers)
14. Rob Ford (Lune RCC)
15. Roger Leather (Maxgear)