5th Chas Messenger Two Day
A British Cycling Premier Calendar Event
Report and pictures: Larry Hickmott
Day 1
Winner of the day was Russell Downing, winning stage 2 and taking the overall lead from stage 1 winner Rob Hayles. Matt Higgins is second overall and in very impressive form on local roads for his team based in nearby Milton Keynes.
It was an eventful day at the Plowman Craven Chas Messenger Two Day in Buckinghamshire with two stages to keep the riders busy. It was an early start for the time trial as the first rider, Danny Axford rolled away from the line at 10am with a five kilometre sprint ahead of him. One by one, riders followed and it was a very pleased Tony Gibb of the Plowman Craven RT who came past pleased to be leading with around a third of the field left to race.
In the end, only one rider was able to beat Gibb’s 6 minutes 46 second effort and that was World class pursuiter Rob Hayles. He eclipsed the time in fact with a 5.37 time and the first yellow jersey of the race was to be his.
1. Rob Hayles, Team Halfords/bikehut 6.37
2. Tony Gibb, Plowman Craven RT 6.46
3. Russell Downing, Pinarello, 6.50
4. Matt Higgins, Team Corley Cycles, 6.52
5. Kristain House, Team Rapha Condor Recycling, 6.53
Post Stage 1 Reactions:
Rob Hayles (Team Halfords Bikehut): “I didn’t have a plan today, just went out as hard as I could. I didn’t want to win to be honest” he said smiling “because I normally race in a skin suit and now I have to drag this around on my shoulders” he added pointing to his yellow jersey.
“The course felt alright and didn’t feel how it looked on the way out. I thought it was this massive big descent but when I got to the start, it looked like it was uphill. I think I went as low as using a 17 just before the finish because that felt quite grippy. After the turn (to head for Easy Claydon), I was on the 53, 12. I touched the 11 and took off on the hump back bridge which frightened me a little bit!”
“I know I am going well and have good form. I coming off the back of a massive block of work now so this should have suited me and it did. I’m pleased with it. There is a massive difference between this and the pursuit. This is more brute force, grunt and there is a lot of finesse in pursuiting which I don’t think is understood by a lot people. This TT was not very pretty where as pursuiting is pretty.”
First yellow jersey goes to Rob Hayles pictured here with teammate Tom Southam who returns after illness last week.
Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven) (2nd): “It was an interest course actually. You can’t ride it flat out because of the climb and it was a bit windy so I rode tempo to the bottom of the climb and then put my effort in. It was good and enjoyable. This was one of my goals of the year and something I have been working towards so I wasn’t surprised by the result.”
“I rode a single disc with a deep section tri spoke at the front and 55 tooth chain ring. It was tailwind on the first bit, then a cross wind and at the finish it was a cross head wind. We had a lot of people out from the company today (Plowman Craven) and clients out to watch so we wanted to put on a good show.”
Russell Downing (3rd) (Pinarello RT): “It was only five k and it was good for me but not as good as it is for Rob. I knew Rob was going to be the man there and he did a good ride. On the flat I can’t get that much power out but I went constant and it was decent ride. I attacked the climb at the end and some one said I was the fastest so that was good. It was nice to get a third as I didn’t expect to win it.”
“I think the time bonuses will help but Plowman have Tony who is pretty quick as well so it will be a good race. We need to stay near the front and see what happens and tomorrow is a different and we’ll see what happens.”
Russell Downing was third.
STAGE 2
After the opening stage, the riders went back to the headquarters in Winslow and a short break of an hour or so depending on when the rider raced. With the sun shining, riders sat around the grounds of the headquarters relaxing and refuelling for the afternoon stage which was five laps of a 25 kilometre circuit around the picturesque villages in the area.
As expected, the rolling roads with few hills to bother any of these elite rider, was not having any effect on breaking the field up despite repeated attacks. One or two breaks did manage to get away from time to time but at the bell, the race was together and a big bunch sprint looked likely. Russell Downing and a small group through did manage to break the elastic holding the peloton together and they clipped away halfway round the final loop. Last to get on was yellow jersey Rob Hayles with a solo effort but his effort was not enough to stop Russell Downing, leader of the Premier Calendar, to take that prized yellow jersey.
Downing clipped off the front of the break in the final kilometre and held on to win by 7 seconds from Matt Higgins who finished just ahead of Evan Oliphant. A little further back was Simon Holt with a few more riders including Hayles coming in one by one before Tony Gibb won the big bunch sprint.
1. Russell Downing, Pinarello 2.51.05
2. Matt Higgins, Corley Cycles @ 7 seconds
3. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven RT
4. Simon Holt, Rapha Condor/recycling 12 sec
5. Matt Cronshaw, Kinesis
A solo victory for Russell Downing who attacked with a k to go after forcing a small group of half a dozen riders away halfway round the final lap.
POST STAGE 2 REACTIONS
Russell Downing (1st) (Pinarello) “I rode away with a K to go. I think it was myself and some one else who started the break and then Pete Williams came across and we started driving and then Rob came across and that was when we started to really drive it. I thought we were going to get caught but we managed to hold the gap and then I rode away. I think it was constant attacking that cracked it. I think people thought I can’t go with another attack and that was it and we had the right combination which was nice. I think that was my eighth ort ninth win this year.”
Rob Hayles (6th) (Halfords Bikehut): “I am happy with that ride. It was difficult. It was on all day, especially the last two laps. I did more work than I needed to but that is trouble when you get up front and get stuck in, it’s hard to sit back after a while. It was a bit dangerous at the back as well.”
“The break went and I was the last one across to it on the flat round the back of the circuit. To be fair, I sat on the break because I didn’t need to work but then when it looked like we were going to get caught, I did a few of my usual turns and it killed me for this last bit. One minute I had fresh legs, then I spent ten minutes going full gas and the gradient felt completely different. Russ did a fantastic ride, he went and my legs popped.”
FIRST PHOTOS
The villages in the Claydon area of Buckinghamshire are packed with chocolate box houses like this.
Lap 1 and plenty of riders looking to have a go....
One of the few breaks to get a gap is lead by the race sponsors rider, Alex Higham of Plowman Craven RT
Simon Richardson led alone with two laps to go.
Graham Briggs and Matt Stephens are the riders chasing Richardson.
Matt Higgins is an excellent second on the stage.
Left -- Simon Holt finishing fourth, Right, Simon Gaywood leads the King of the Hills competition.
Rob Hayles finishes stage 2 witha great rider but not enough to hold the yellow jersey.
Tony Gibb wins the bunch sprint.
Josh James of Kinesis gets a Green jersey for his efforts in the Sprints competition.
RESULTS
Stage 1, 5 kilometre TT
1. Robert Hayles Team Halfords-Bikehut 06:37
2. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven Rt @09
3. Russ Downing Pinarello Rt @00:13
4. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles 00:15
5. Kristian House Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 00:16
6. Marcin Bialoblocki Sports Bean-Wilier 00:18
7. James Stewart Kfs Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 00:00:20
8. Peter Williams Pinarello Rt 00:21
8. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven Rt 00:21
10. Simon Richardson Plowman Craven Rt 00:24
11. Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven Rt :00:25
11. James Millard Plowman Craven Rt 00:25
13. Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 00:26
14. Tom Southam Team Halfords-Bikehut 00:28
15. Alex Higham Plowman Craven Rt 00:30
16. Dafydd Dylan Kfs Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles00:31
17. Freddy Johansson Pinarello Rt :00:32
17. Neil Coleman Plowman Craven Rt 00:00:32
17. Matt Rowe Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 00:00:32
20. Matt Talbot Glendenecc/Biketrax 00:33
21. Tom Murray Pinarello Rt 00:00:34
22. Ian Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek 00:00:35
22. Dean Downing Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 00:00:35
22. Andrew Bye Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 00:35
22. Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 00:35
22. Tom Barras Plowman Craven Rt 00:00:35
27. David Fletcher Scienceinsport-Trek 00:36
28. Matthew Jones Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 Rt 00:00:37
29. Matt Cronshaw Kinesis Uk 00:40
30. Justin Hoy Felt Racing 00:41
30. James Sampson Kinesis Uk 00:41
30. Tom Last Kinesis Uk 00:41
30. Malcolm Elliot Pinarello Rt 00:41
30. James Williamson Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 00:41
35. Martin Smith Awcycles.Co.Uk 00:42
35 Andy Roche Pinarello Rt 00:42
37 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 0:43
37 Roy Chamberlain Team Corley Cycles 00:43
37 Danny Axford Arctic-Premier Rt 00:43
40 Tim Elverson Felt Racing 00:44
40 Richard Kent Scienceinsport-Trek 00:44
40 Ben Luckwell Sports Bean-Wilier 00:44
43 Mark Thwaites Sports Bean-Wilier 00:45
44 John Wager Felt Racing 00:47
44 Kit Kilham Kinesis Uk 00:47
44 Jeroen Janssen Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 Rt 00:47
47 Mark Wordsworth Team Corley Cycles 00:48
48 Jon Mozley Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 Rt 00:49
48 Marc Perry Sports Bean-Wilier 00:49
50 Rhys Lloyd Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 00:51
50 Dave Collins Scienceinsport-Trek 00:51
52 Matthew Stephens Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 00:52
53 Simon Holt Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk 00:53
53 Martin Freeman Team Corley Cycles 00:53
53 Jack Pullar Kinesis Uk 00:53
56 Matt Clinton Kfs Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycle s00:58
56 Josh James Kinesis Uk 00:58
58 Adam Norris Heron Cyclesport 00:59
58 Neil Jones Abergavenny Gatway Rt 00:00:59
60 Jody Crawforth Arctic-Premier Rt 01:00
60 Daniel Smith Team Lucuna 00:01:00
62 Dave Coulson Sports Bean-Wilier 01:01
62 Simon Wilson Arctic-Premier Rt 00:01:01
64 James Dobbin Arctic-Premier Rt :01:02
64 Ben Thompson Glendenecc/Biketrax :01:02
64 Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles :01:02
64 Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles :01:02
64 David Clarke Team Lucuna 01:02
69 Richard Sykes-Popham Kfs Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles :01:03
69 Dale Appleby Rapha Condor Recycling.Co.Uk :01:03
71 Neil Swithinbank Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 1:05
72 Jon-Kris Mason Arctic-Premier Rt 01:06
72 Alex Peterson Awcycles.Co.Uk 01:06
72 Tom Smith Awcycles.Co.Uk 01:06
75 Raphael Deinhart Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 Rt 01:07
76 Richard Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek :01:08
77 Tom Kirk Team Corley Cycles :01:12
78 Mike Harrison Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful Ct 01:15
79 Robert Orr Team Lucuna 01:18
80 Allister Tullet Arctic-Premier Rt 01:19
81 Kieran Frend Kfs Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1:26
81 Grant Bayton Sports Bean-Wilier 1:26
84 Stephen Adams Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 Rt 05:54
Stage 2, 120 kilometre
1. Russell Downing, Pinarello 2.51.05
2. Matt Higgins, Corley Cycles @ 7 seconds
3. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven RT
4. Simon Holt, Rapha Condor/recycling 12 sec
5. Matt Cronshaw, Kinesis
6. Rob Hayles, Halfords Bikehut
7. Ian Wilkinson, SiS/Trek
bunch
8. Tony Gibb, Plowman Craven @19 seconds
9. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor/Recycling
10. Marcin Bialoblicki, Sport Beans/Wilier
11. Dean Downing , Rapha Condor/Recycling
12. Stephen Adams,
13. Matt Rowe,
14. Matt Clinton,
15. Matt Stephens,
16. Kristain House,
17. Mark Wordsworth,
18. Adam Norris,
19. Martin Smith,
20. Daniel Duiguid,
OVERALL AFTER STAGE 2
1. Russell Downing, Pinarello RT
2. Matt Higgins, Corley Cycles
3. Rob Hayles, Team Halfords Bikehut
4. Evan Oliphant
5. Kristian House
6. Tony Gibb
7. Marcin Biablocki
8. James Stewart
9. Peter Williams
10. Simon Gaywood
11. Simon Richardson
12. Wouter Sybrandy
13. Matt Cronshaw
14. Tom Southam
15. Ian Wilkinson
16. Alex Higham
17. Daffyd Dylan
18. Freddy Johansson
19. Neil Coleman
20. Matt Rowe
Corley Cycles Sprints
SPRINT 1
1. Josh James
2. Simon Holt
3. Daniell Duguid
SPRINT 2
1. Tom Murray
2. Josh James
3. Kristian House
SPRINT 3
1. Graham Briggs
2. Alex Higham
3. Roy Chamberlain
SPRINT 4
1. Simon Richardson
2. Josh James
3. Tom Murray
OVERALL
1. Josh James
2. Tom Murray
3. Simon Richardson
Arctic Air Conditioning HILL SPRINTS
LAP 1
1. James Stewart
2. Mark Perry
3. Matt Stephens
LAP 2
1. James Stewart
2. Graham Briggs
3. Kit Kilham
LAP 3
1. Dafydd Dylan
2. Simon Gaywood
3. Marcin Bialoblocki
LAP 4
1. Simon Gaywood
2. Raphael Deinhart
3. Malcolm Elliott
LAP 5
1. Simon Gaywood
2. Matt Stephens
3. Evan Oliphant
RESULT
1. Simon Gaywood
2. James Stewart
3. Dafydd Dylan
