2008 Hillingdon Grand Prix

 

May 17, Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, West London
Round 1 of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series

Jon Mozley (3rd), Graham Briggs (1st), Tony Gibb (2nd)

 

After a weeks of glorious sunshine and warm weather, it was looking promising for another such day as I travelled down to the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit in West London from Manchester. As luck would have it however, as I got to within 10 miles or so of the circuit, the rain started to patter on the windscreen and at the circuit, the dark clouds were over head and the wet stuff was falling out of the sky from time to time.

 

That did not however stop a large number of riders turning up for the day out and all the races from the Youth events to the Elite circuit race had big fields. Starting off proceedings was the Youth event with all the categories racing at the same time on the slightly wet and greasy circuit. Winner of the race was Jonathon Dibben who beat the under 16 winner Tom Stockdale after they both went clear in the closing stages.

 

A short time later, the 3/4/Junior/Women’s race was held and in the event was Women’s World Team Pursuit champion Joanna Rowsell who lined up with Emma Trott from team Halford Bikehut with another female Corrine Hall (Twickenham)  spotted during the racing too. This was a fast race, an attacking race even, but no matter how much riders tried to split the race or get away, nothing was able to stick and it came down to a bunch sprint where a delighted Bob Moore won the gallop ahead of second placed Andrew Kitchen.

A big field lined up for the race.

 

The scene was all set now for the main race, the longest in the Elite Circuit Race series at 80 kilometres or 54 laps around and around the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. It was a good sized field for the race although the only dampener on the race besides the rain, was the absence of many of the countries top road stars like the Downing brothers, Malcolm Elliott and last years winner Rob Hayles to name but a few who are doing stage races over seas.

 

After a slow few opening laps, the line of riders started to string out as the breaks for freedom were coming thick and fast with Darren Barclay having a good go at getting away for his Arctic team chased down by Pearl Izumi rider Stephen Adams. After Barclay, his teammate Jody Crawforth had a go too and from that came the first and most decisive break of the day.

Included it were Marc Perry, Jody Crawforth, Jeroen Jassen, Grant Bayton, Adam Bonser, Simon Gaywood, Joel Stewart,  Simon Ernest and Matt Holmes. With Plowman Craven having a key rider in it in the form of Simon Gaywood, a former winner of this series, the chase was led by a small number of other riders including those from the Rapha team and Roy Chamberlain.

 

Lap by lap, the break opened the gap to 40 seconds and it was looking good for them but as Grant Bayton explained later, not everyone in the break was fully committed to it and after half distance, it came back and the race was back together. Too many attacks were then launched to name but did include another by Jeroen Jassen and Ryan Bonser. Tony Gibb too, after an early puncture was in the thick of the attacks and the big group was now starting to break up.

Grant Bayton leads the break that dominated the first hour of the race and had 40 seconds lead at one stage. Not enough riders committing to the break was how Grant summed up the failure of the break to stay away.

 

Finally, a series of small attacks caused a split and a big break got away and not one Plowman Craven rider was in it. With only three riders in the race, they didn’t have the numbers to chase it down and it was a big group to have to chase and included Alex Peterson, Chris McNamara, Andy Tinsley, Stephen Adams, Simon Holt,  Adam Duggleby, Joel Stewart, Darrell Pembroke, Simon Ernest, Liam Holohan, Llewellyn Kinch, Jeroen Janssen and others whose numbers I didn't get or were sign on the line riders.

 

While riders from teams helped by Plowman Craven lead the chase, the riders in the Rapha team had a pow wow in the peloton and decided that one rider in the break, Simon Holt, was not enough and with only half a dozen laps to go, they put some horse power on the front of the peloton and the race was over for the break.

 

Very quickly the gap come down and although there was some resistance from riders in the break to have one final do or die effort at staying clear, with only a couple of laps to go, the race was together and the Rapha Condor team were setting it up for their man Graham Briggs. Meanwhile, Tony Gibb had his team leading him out it was a battle royal as the bunch came down the long straight and into the final bend and across the finish line. It was Briggs who got to the line first, just ahead of  Tony Gibb and Jon Mozely.

A late break of 20 or so riders looked like it would stay away until Rapha Condor decided their man was out numbered by the Pearl Izumi riders and they rode to bring it back and set the win up for Graham Briggs.... very slick from the men in black!

 

The look of delight on Graham Briggs face said it all. It was his third win of the season but by far his biggest. “This was a special victory today” the Rapha Condor/Recycling.co.uk rider told us, adding “and the guys rode awesome today. I enjoy winning and I’ll be trying to keep it up. We had Holty in the break and we were discussing whether we should ride or not and we discovered that Pearly Izumi had three or four riders up there so we decided to ride.”

 

“I was feeling okay and I had a good lead out from the boys. I knew I had to finish the job for the guys and it was a team win, not just me. After this, I’m looking forward to a day off tomorrow! In a couple of weeks, we’re going to Canada so as far as the series goes, its about winning races.” About the early break, he explained “ we had that under control. We had Adam in it so we just did a few turns here and there but they had a Gaywood up there so we didn’t want to leave it out there.”

The race is Graham Briggs and he's pretty delighted!

Tony Gibb catches a rider, Jassen, on the line to win a prime.

 

Tony Gibb of the Plowman Craven team admitted it wasn’t a great day on the road for his team today. “We controlled everything we could and pulled in a few favours but I think Simon had a mechanic problem or something out of the bottom corner and seemed to park up during the sprint. I ended up in around 35th place so I had to come steaming up the home straight and another ten metres I think I may have had it. Ca la vie, it’s one up from last year! Maybe next year…”

 

On whether his injury which he had at the Chas Messenger was okay, he replied “yeah, only my IT band tightened up for some reason and once that loosened up, I was fine. I have been doing a lot of work on my low pro and that may have had something to do with it.”

Rhys Lloyd leads the Rapha team as they chase down the break in the closing laps. Not far away is Jon Mozley on the wheel of winner Graham Briggs.

 

Finally, third was Jon Mozley, getting a reputation for being quick in these bunch gallops but with a slight handicap in having some broken bones in his arm and the sight of blood as well meant not everything was fine with the Pearl Izumi/Planet X/High 5 rider. “I’m a bit like Rambo – never out of the wars” he said as he came off the podium. I broke my radius in my left elbow and also my right scaphoid but it’s not too bad. I had control of the bike although it hurt on the bumps. Round here, it was okay though.”

 

“The lads did a really good job today. We sort of specialise in crits and we had a guy in every move and they put me in a perfect position for the sprint. Having just been caught after being in the break, towards the end I was trying to get the most I could from the Rapha boys. My guys were protecting my wheel behind me  which was good. I thought I had him and was coming up the left hand side and thought I was going to get to the line first and all of a sudden, Briggsy and Tony just came up on the right and got me.”

Ryan Bonser and a Pearl Izumi rider make a break for freedom.

Plowman Craven were out numbered today and struggled to control the race after first being in the box seat with Simon Gaywood making the first break.

 

3/4/Women Race Photos

A  big field in the 3/4/Women race.

The 3/4 race was an attacking race but few could get away for any length of time and it came down to a bunch sprint.

One the breaks to get a gap and hold a lead for a few laps near the end.

Bob Moore wins the race in a sprint

 

Youth Races: First pictures

Results

 

Elite Circuit Race, 80 Kilometres
1.  Graham Briggs  Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
2.  Tony Gibb  Plowman Craven RT
3.  Jon Mozley  Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
4.  Simon Holt  Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
5.  Paul Crook Beyond MTB
6.  Paul Delahunty  London Dynamo/Cyclefit
7.  Tom Hemmant  London Dynamo/Cyclefit
8.  Jos Van Veldhoven Rollapaluza RT
9.  Jeroen Janssen  Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
10.  Vince Halpern  AW Cycles RT
11.  Stephen Skuse WildSide/Ewhurst RT
12.  Adam Norris  Heron Cyclesport
13.  Adam Duggleby  Shorter Rochford RT
14.  Grant Bayton  Sport Beans/Wilier Bikes RT
15.  Tom Smith  AW Cycles RT
16.  Lloyd Rhys  Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
17.  Andy Tinsley  Onimpex/Bioracer/Museeuw RT
18.  Will Hedden  Glade CC/Ciclos Uno
19.  Ashley Holding WildSide/Ewhurst RT
20.  Justin Hoy  Felt Racing
21.  Stephen Adams  Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
22.  Llewellyn Kinch  GWR/Scott/ Wilson/Giant RT
23.  Ben Price Pinarello TT
24.  Dave Percival  Cardiff Ajax CC
25.  Matt Holmes  Arctic-Premier RT
26.  Mark Daly WildSide/Ewhurst RT
27.  Simon Ernest  AW Cycles RT
28.  James Makepeace  WildSide/Ewhurst RT
29.  Darrell Pembroke  Agiskoviner.com
30.  John Wager  Felt Racing
31.  Marc Perry  Sport Beans/Wilier Bikes RT
32.  Lee Smith  Agiskoviner.com
33.  Chris Legg  AW Cycles RT
34.  Boyd Roberts  Agiskoviner.com
35.  Peter Dibben  GWR/Scott/ Wilson/Giant RT
36.  Tim Elverson  Felt Racing
37.  Jason Streather  VC St Raphael/ Waites
38.  Daniel McLay  Leicestershire RT
39.  Simon McNamara  WildSide/Ewhurst RT
40.  Simon Gaywood  Plowman Craven RT
41.  Steve Comben  In Gear Quickvit Rt
42.  Mark Northover  CC Giro/Mortgage Choices/Orbs
43.  Martin Garratt  London Dynamo/Cyclefit
44.  Lewis Atkins  Agiskoviner.com
45.  Joel Stewart  Agiskoviner.com
46.  Jerone Walters Sigma Port RT
47.  Ben Wilson  PM
48.  Allister Tulett  Arctic-Premier RT
49.  Adam Bonser  Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
50.  Matthew Jones  Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
51.  Matthew Charity  Go Sports Spex RT
52.  Alex Peterson  AW Cycles RT
53.  Edward Whitehorn  Glade CC/Ciclos Uno
54.  Tom Diggle  Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
55.  Jody Crawforth  Arctic-Premier RT
56.  Raphael Deinhart  Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
57.  Roy Chamberlain  Tm Corely Cycles
58.  Paul Mill  Tm Edwardes/ Elite cycling
59.  James Millard  Plowman Craven RT

 

Category 3/4/Women, 1 hour,
1.  Bob Moors VC Meudon
2.  Andrew Kitchen Agiskoviner
3.  Jason Humphries Norwood Paragon
4.  John Lacey Hemel Hempstead CC
5.  Patrick Hawkins Shavedlegs
6.  John Paul  DPCC
7.  Neil Bradford Twickenham CC
8.  Richard Jerome Willesden CC
9.  Gary Bullock Thames Velo
10.  Simon Bird Dulwich Paragon
11.  Lamb Brad Victoria CC
12.  Will Burgess Unattached
13.  James Leach Twickenham CC
14.  Torkel Dohmers London Dynamo
15.  Marian Hecl Reading CC
16.  Chris Denman WDMBC
17.  Vaughn Luff DeVer Cycles
18.  Stoyko Bussarav Imperial RT
19.  Ramiro Seina Unattached
20.  Martyn Harris Banjo Cycles
21.  Jim Kent London Dynamo
22.  Unidentified
23.  Gavin Williams Prime Coaching
24.  Luis Cuevas Unattached
25.  Tom Humphries DeVer Cycles
26.  Richard Williamson SWRC
27.  M. Neil Ride Beyond
28.  Darren Parker Python RT
29.  Andrew Brown Gregarios CC
30.  David Hooper DH Cyclesport
31.  Muph Garfield Birmingham CC
32.  Gavin Spiers Reading CC
33.  Simon Notley Reading CC
34.  Dave Gayler Kenton Road Club
35.  Unidentified
36.  Ben Spurrier Evans RT
37.  Kevin Holloway High Wycombe CC
38.  Cal Gough Onimplex RT
39.  Unidentified
40.  Unidentified
41.  
42.  Adam Currie Kinston Wheelers
43.  Clive Hayter Swindon RC
44.  Unidentified
45.  Simon Hudson Harrogate Nova
46.  Trevor Bradbury Reading CC
47.  Unidentified
48.  Unidentified
49.  Stuart Thompson Andover Wh
50.  Chris Spingett Cheltenham CC
51.  Wayne Thomas Reading CC
52.  Adam Roberts Agiskoviner
53.  Scott Holmes Hillingdon CC
54.  Stuart Jackson Team Quest
55.  Doug Baldock WDMBC
56.  Unidentified
57.  Gerald Tudor WDMBC
58.  Paul Williams WDMBC
59.  Vik Chaudhuri Ride Beyond
60.  Corine Hall Twickenham CC
61.  Unidentified
62.  Joanna Rowsell Halfords Bikehut
63.  Dane Warldle  Hillingdon Tri
64.  Oliver Pritchard Andover Wh
65.  Emma Trott Halfords Bikehut
66.  Greg James Andover Wh
67.  Carmelo Luggeri CC Ashwell
68.  Unidentified
69.  Unidentified
70.  Russell Painter Norwood Paragon
71.  Tom Stockdale Evesham Wh
72.  Luke Merrilees PM
73.  Mario Manelfi Agiskoviner
74.  Unidentified
75.  David Haggert DeLaune CC

 

YOUTH
Under 16s
1st Tom Stockdale, Evesham & District Wheelers
2nd Sam Grant, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd Max Webber, Andover Wheelers
1st Girl Hannah Barnes, PPV

 

Under 14s
1st Jon Dibben, Iteam CC
2nd Daniel Murphy, Team Keyne
3rd Ben Bailey, PPV

1st Girl Lucy Garner, LRC

 

Under 12s
1st Ben Chapman, Team Keyne
2nd Reg Pay, PPV
3rd Cameron Thompson, Andover Wheelers
1st Girl Grace Garner, LRC

 

Under 10s
1st David Barnes, PPV
2nd Robert Higgs, Chippenham
3rd Ben Smith, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
1st Girl Lauren Murphy, Team Keyne

 

Under 8s
1st Harry Tadman, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
2nd Rory Bradford, Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3rd Callum Macleod, PPV

 

Regards, Nick Hobbs

 

 

RELATED LINKS
2007 Elite Circuit Series Home Page