Beaumont Trophy Road Race
(Sponsored by Northern Rock); Stamfordham, Newcastle; Sunday 15th June 2008
Round 6 of the British Cycling Premier Calendar Series
Report and images: Andrew Kennedy for British Cycling
NEG motorbike pilot: John Greatorex
Left to right: Pete Williams, Rob Hayles and Russell Downing. Photo Andrew Kennedy for British Cycling.
Rob Hayles Triumphant at Beaumont Trophy
The Beaumont Trophy is a well established event in the North East with a long list of big name winners in its 57 year history. The tough 105 mile circuit takes in the climb of Ryals three times before the race moves to a small finish circuit based around the picturesque village of Stamfordham.
Organiser Peter Harrison and his brilliant team of helpers from Gosforth Road Club again promoted the Beaumont Trophy Road Race as the main event for the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend. With the Leazes criterium races on Friday evening and a full package of sportive events on Saturday, the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend is firmly established as a true festival of cycling.
Above: Team tactics discussed by Pedal Power Endura at the start
Above: With huge value prizes on offer for the Elite riders over 100 riders lined up for the start in Stamfordham to try and claim some Northern Rock cash
As the bunch rolled out of the small Northumberland village the temperature settled at 14c, the cloud was broken and the sun was out. The roads in this area are well surfaced, but the lanes are narrow in places and the riders knew they needed to be in the front half of the bunch as they began a long day in the saddle. Race speed of over 25 mph was quickly reached as the peloton rode through Black Heddon to begin the first of six circuits.
The first serious move of the day came after 10 miles when Tom Southam (Halfords Bikehut) and a group of nine which included Ben Greenwood (Rapha Condor Recycling), Freddy Johansson and Peter Williams (Pinarello RT), Richard Sykes-Popham (KFS Special Vehicles), Steve Lampier (Team Bouwkantoor) and Mark Lovatt (PlanetX) drifted off the front. The group worked well together and opened a maximum gap of 1.37 on the main field. The Plowman Craven riders had missed the break and they were moving to the front of the bunch to organise a chase.
Above: Tom Southam (Halfords Bikehut) leads the early break
On the first ascent of the vicious Ryals climb, double world track champion Rob Hayles was having difficulty with the indexing of his gears. He came to a complete standstill and was quickly out of the back of the bunch. He later reported his top of the range Boardman bike was not at fault, putting the problem down to his own poor gear adjustment.
Above: The Ryals split the field apart.
Above: Rob Hayles, to save his legs, zig zagged his way up on 39x17
With Tom Southam and Peter Williams driving the break, the chase behind was beginning to look interesting. Plowman Craven riders Tom Barras, Evan Oliphant and Simon Gaywood were trying to get some help in bringing the leaders back. Their efforts were thwarted at every turn by Russ Downing and Malcolm Elliott from the Pinarello squad who insisted on disrupting the chase. With Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Recycling) hovering around looking to take advantage of any free ride on offer up to the leaders.
Above: The Plowman Craven squad had a difficult day with all their efforts chased down by other teams
Above: Malcolm Elliott and his Pinarello squad spent the day protecting team interests
Further back, Rob Hayles was still having mechanical problems, with no Halfords team car at the Beaumont, his options were to try his luck with a neutral service bike or ride with his gear malfunction. Rob Hayles is a class act and on the next climb of the Ryals he had ridden through the main bunch and was seen zig-zagging up the climb in pursuit of the leaders. Mark Thwaites (Sports Beans-Wilier) and Robin Sharman (SigmaSport) were only a few seconds behind Hayles and over the top of the climb they worked together to get across to the Tom Southam group.
Above: Mark Thwaites (SportsBeans Wilier) and Robin Sharman (SigmaSport) close the gap on the leaders
Hayles rode alongside team mate Southam and they exchanged a few words, it was admitted later by Hayles that Southam expressed his extreme tiredness, in a form of words not permitted on this website. This lead group was about to be blown wide apart. Mark Thwaites and some of the other riders had put in huge efforts over Ryals and were looking for a few seconds of rest. Hayles was in no mood to hang about and began to put the hammer down. Within seconds he was off the front chased by Peter Williams (Pinarello RT), Robin Sharman (SigmaSport) and Richard Sykes-Popham (KFS Special Vehicles).
Above: The Hayles express was in full flow with Peter Williams the only rider able to stay glued to his wheel.
Sharman and Sykes-Popham were unable to respond, looking at each other to lead the chase. With Rob Hayles and young Williams riding away from them, both knew their chance of victory was slipping away. Sharman was looking back to see if any help was coming from behind but all he could see was empty road.
With less than 10 miles to the finish, Hayles and Williams had a lead of 1.24 on the remains of the bunch. Williams was strong on the climbs and flat sections but Hayles was taking five bike lengths out of him on every corner. At the bell for the final lap through Stamfordham, Hayles was looking very confident. Their lead was coming down and both riders knew they only had a chance of victory if they continued to work together.
Above: After a roller coaster start to the season, Hayles proving his career is far from dead speeds through the Northumbrian lanes
Back with the chasing bunch the PlowmanCraven riders appeared to have admitted defeat, the Pinarello team had Peter Williams up the road and were still controlling the race. The Rapha Condor Recycling team were fielding a reduced squad and maintaining a low profile, with the other teams and individual riders blown apart by the tough circuit and speed.
Above: Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Recycling) had a quiet day at the Beaumont but still finished in the points and prizes at 8th place
With 1km to go, the leading duo of Peter Williams and Rob Hayles started to position themselves for the sprint, the bunch was closing the gap and were now at about 20 seconds. At 500 metres Williams got the jump on Hayles, as they entered the final 250 metres Williams was leading the double world track champion. Hayles began to move up the inside of the young Pinarello rider giving Williams the opportunity to shut him out but Williams sportingly conceded the sprint to the faster rider allowing Hayles to claim his first Premier Calendar win of the season. The bunch sprint at 12 seconds behind was a Pinarello affair with Russ Downing and Tom Murray taking 3rd and 4th places.
Above: Hayles takes the win from a disappointed Williams
The large crowd at Stamfordham had enjoyed a brilliant display of bike racing from Rob Hayles and Peter Williams. Speaking afterwards Hayles told British Cycling he’d been very impressed with Williams and he thought he might have beaten him in the sprint, “he could have closed the gap on me in the last 150 metres but he held his line, a lot of riders wouldn’t have done that, it was very sporting of him, I will remember that”
York University student Peter Williams had a slightly different view of the finishing sprint, “I gave it everything into the finish and I thought I’d got it, if I knew Rob was concerned about me shutting him out in the sprint I would have done it, it’s about the win and I wanted it”
The top places in the overall standings for the season long Premier Calendar series will remain roughly the same after the Beaumont Trophy, leader Russell Downing retains his huge 200 point margin over brother Dean and today's winner Rob Hayles jumps up a few places after bagging 100 points.
Asked how it felt winning the race today and Tom winning on Friday, Rob as ever, laughed and said “it saves on the paperwork and makes splitting the money easier!” They both won a £1,000 pounds for their wins. He agreed it has been a long time between drinks but admits that with everything that has happened to him this year, he has his race head on now and racing is ‘no longer a love in’ and when he goes out there, he does so to race and give no favours.
Post race rider reactions courtesy of Andrew Kennedy
Winner: Rob Hayles.
British Cycling. Rob congratulations on a brilliant display of bike racing today, but what happened earlier in the race when you appeared to have problems with your team issue Boardman bike?
Rob Hayles. “All my fault, the bike has my wheels in and I hadn’t set up the gear indexing properly. I couldn’t get the top sprocket and for two laps up the climb the chain jumped off, not only that but I belted my knee so it was a poor start to the race but I sorted it out and everything was OK for the rest of the race.”
BC. Your team mate Tom Southam was in the early break, how did you manage to get across to him?
RH. “On the 3rd lap I attacked on the descent through the trees and narrow lanes, I did that because nobody expects it, it’s stupid and dangerous and I enjoy that type of riding, it got me clear and I was joined by Robin Sharman and Mark Thwaites. We jumped through the next group and got up to Tom’s group.”
BC. What did you say to Tom when you got up to him, was there any plan between you both?
RH. “I rolled up to him and he looked at me, you won’t be able to print what he said. That group all sat up because they thought we were the peloton, I told them we had about 1.40 and everyone started working again. I was feeling so good and started attacking. I took a few of the strong lads with me, Peter Williams, Robin Sharman and Sykes-Popham.”
BC. Peter Williams was strong today and looked to be the only rider able to stay with you?
RH. “Very strong, he was a good breakaway companion, we shared the work, he was taking a wide line into each corner and probably putting in extra work to get back up to me.”
BC. On the final lap your gap was down to just over a minute, did you think you were going to get caught?
RH. “We were panicking, the motorbike was giving us time checks and we knew they were coming up to us quickly. I thought 2nd is better than nothing so I continued to drive it, I was toasted but just rode the last 4km as hard as possible.” “It went down to 20 seconds at one point, and I thought if they are going to catch us then they will have to work for it. On the flat and downhill I can go as fast as the peloton, so I knew we had a fighting chance. I told Pete that once we got over the lumpy bits we could hold the peloton off.”
“The last km we looked at each other and he jumped me at about 250 metres. I got back up to him and started to come round but he could have shut me down. He was a gentleman and held his line. A lot of riders wouldn’t have done that, it was very sporting of him, I will remember that.”
BC. How do you feel about taking a Premier Calendar win from the Downing brothers who’ve dominated the series so far?
RH. “Quite happy to get the win. I’ve seen the work Russ has put in over the winter, I was in Majorca with him earlier in the year and he was training hard with his team, so his form is to be expected, and Dean, well he’s always there or thereabouts. Our team plan today was to get 1st and 2nd and for a while I thought we might do it.”
BC. No team car, no big group of helpers and you still get the win?
RH. “We can do it without all that, we’ve got our family handing bottles up and there the best. The Halfords team is focused on the women, Tom and I are just an add-on.”
BC. Is the current Halfords set up a base for the talked about Pro team.
RH. “I have no idea. I would have thought the base would come from the Academy riders.”
BC. What does the rest of the summer promise for you?
RH. “Hopefully the Olympics, I can’t do anymore than what I’m doing, just hope the form is right. I’m on a track training camp this week and I’m looking forward to that. I’m good enough to get in the team for China but so are about five others.”
“The National Road Champs are in the next few weeks and hopefully my current form will hold for that. I haven’t won a Road Championships, just a silver medal so I would like to win it. But after today they will all be watching me, and with the foreign based pros coming back it will be one worth winning.”
Above: Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) celebrates his win at the Beaumont Trophy
Second placed rider Peter Williams:
BC. Peter, 2nd place behind a double world champion in a Premier Calendar event, team prize winner, points winner and team-mates Malcolm Elliott, Russ Downing and Tom Murray chasing down every move behind you, not a bad day at work for a 21 year old part-time bike rider?
PW. “Yes, I’m in my final year at York and looking forward to riding full time for the rest of this season, the team were in Norway last week and I’ve brought some good form back with me.”
BC. James Sampson is at York Uni, do you have a training group with him?
PW. “Yes, James is a good friend of mine we train a lot together when we are in York.”
BC. You were in the first move of the race today and looked strong in all the front groups, how did the race go for you?
PW. “Tom Southam was in that group and it was working well, it split on the climb and there were just four of us left. Rob Hayles and a couple of others got across to us and Rob started to attack straight away -- he was just stonking. I went with him, and just tried to stay with him.”
“He was fast and I was losing time on the corners. I’d taken a neutral service wheel earlier in the race and the pressure was a bit low. I didn’t have confidence in the wheel and it was drifting. Rob was going around the corners like he was on rails and it forced me to make extra effort I didn’t want to use.”
BC. In the final 5km your lead was reducing, you’d had 1.30 and it went to about 20 seconds, what were you thinking at that point?
PW. “I was confident Russ Downing or Malc would get the sprint if it all came back together so I let Rob do much of the work in the last few km. I was trying to call his bluff and see if he’d tow me to the finish. He did in the end and I tried to get him in the sprint but he was just too strong.”
BC. Rob Hayles has just called you a gentleman, saying you could have shut him down in the sprint but didn’t?
PW. “I gave it everything into the finish and I thought I’d got it, If I knew Rob was concerned about me shutting him out in the sprint I would have done it, it’s about the win and I wanted it., I’m still learning but next time I will definitely shut the door.”
Third placed rider at the Beaumont Trophy and still with a huge lead in the Premier Calendar series – Russell Downing
BC. Russell, you and the rest of the Pinarello team spent the day riding for Peter Williams, chasing down every move, are you happy with the result and how did the race go for you?
RD. “Peter had the chance of a win and we were protecting him as much as possible, but also we wanted to keep the bunch together for me Malcolm and Tom Murray in case it came down to a bunch sprint.”
“We controlled it as much as possible. The time gaps to Pete and Rob were fluctuating and we were aware of that. Pete has done a brilliant job today and got the points, he should have probably shut the door on Rob, but that’s bike racing. We had a team meeting last night and it was clear any one of us could win today and our main objective was to get in the moves.”
BC. What about the other main teams in today’s race, Rapha Condor Recycling had a quiet race and Plowman Craven didn’t feature at all, what’s your view on that?
RD. “The Plowman Cravens missed the break and were riding a bit negatively in places. I thought they might organise something to bring the break back and get it all back to square one, it was pretty bizarre that it didn’t happen.”
BC. You broke your wrist a couple of weeks ago and it’s still strapped up, how did it affect your race today?
RD. “I’ve had to change my position slightly and it’s pulling on my back so I will be visiting the osteopath this week, but no it’s OK the pain has gone it’s just aching now. I will try a few rides this week without the strapping and see how it goes.”
BC. “The Pinarello team have had a good run of wins in the last few weeks starting with you taking 3 consecutive stages in Majorca right up to Malcolm Elliott winning the Elite Circuit race in Brighouse on Tuesday, but today is the first Premier Calendar race of the season without a Downing brother on the top step of the podium, what went wrong?
RD. “What do you mean, I’ve got a bunch of flowers today, and third place in one of these races is pretty good. I still have a good lead in the series and there are a few races to go. I thought I might drop a few points with my broken wrist but that hasn’t been the case.”
Result
1. Robert Hayles Team Halfords Bikehut Elite at 4h02m19s
2. Peter Williams Pinarello RT E/U23 same time
3. Russ Downing Pinarello RT Elite at 12s
4. Tom Murray Pinarello RT Elite same time
5. Marcin Bialoblocki Sport Beans-Wilier Elite same time
6. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven RT Elite same time
7. Jon Mozley Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R Elite same time
8. Dean Downing Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk Elite same time
9. Malcolm Elliott Pinarello RT Elite at 13s
10. Simon Holt Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk Elite same time
11. Alastair Kay York Cyclelworks Elite same time
12. Peter Hawkins Usher Irish RC 1st same time
13. Matthew Jones Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R 1st/U23 same time
14. Matthew Stephens SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf Elite same time
15. Ford, Martin Private Member
16. Mark Wordsworth Team Corley Cycles Elite same time
17. Andy Roche Pinarello RT Elite same time
18. James Moss MTS CycleSport/Inkland RT 1st same time
19. Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven RT Elite same time
20. Alex Coutts Giant Asia RT Elite at 14s
21. Dieter Droger Sportscover/Spuik/J E James 1st same time
22. Dave Coulson Sport Beans-Wilier Elite same time
23. Scott McCrae pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT 2nd same time
24. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Mid Devon CC 1st same time
25. James Stewart KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bi 1st same time
26. Jeroen Janssen Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R Elite same time
27. Gareth Hewett KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bi 1st same time
28. Raphael Deinhart Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R 1st/U23 same time
29. Steve Lampier Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschu Elite at 15s
30. Richard Sykes-Popham KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bi 1st same time
31. Alex Higham Plowman Craven RT Elite same time
32. Dafydd Dylan KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bi 1st/U23 same time
33. Jon-Kris Mason Arctic-Premier RT 2nd at 16s
34. Mike Harrison SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf 1st same time
35. Simon Richardson Plowman Craven RT Elite at 17s
36. James Dobbin Arctic-Premier RT 1st same time
37. Tom Southam Team Halfords Bikehut Elite same time
38. Mark Lovatt Planet X RT 1st at 18s
39. Tom Barras Plowman Craven RT Elite at 22s
40. Liam Holoham Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R 1st/U23 at 31s
41. Collin Humphrey Activcycles-Corbridge 2nd at 8m27s
42. Gordon Murdoch pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT Elite at 8m30s
43. Neil Jones Abergavenny Gateway RT 1st at 9m07s
44. Callum Wilkinson Bicycleworks.com 2nd/U23 at 9m08s
45. Stephen Ward Star Bikes RT 1st at 9m16s
46. Daniel Duguid SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf 1st same time
47. Wayne Coombs VC Montpellier 1st same time
48. Colin Ash Andersons Racing 1st at 9m17s
49. Simon Wilson Arctic-Premier RT 1st same time
50. Paul Bell Doncaster Wheelers 1st same time
51. Thomas Collier Lifeforce Cervelo 2nd same time
52. Alex Wise SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf 1st/U23 same time
53. Rider not identified at 9m18s
54. David Lines pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT 2nd same time
55. Robin Sharman SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf Elite same time
56. Ian Taylor MTS CycleSport/Inkland RT 1st same time
57. Bradley Dean Johnston Sportscover/Spuik/J E James 2nd at 9m20s
58. Sean Polson MTS CycleSport/Inkland RT 2nd same time
59. Kieran Frend KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bi 2nd/U23 at 9m21s
60. James McCallum Plowman Craven RT Elite same time
61. Richard Meadows Pezula 1st/U23 same time
62. Rab Wardell Sandy Wallace Cycles 2nd same time
63. Stephen Adams Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R 1st/U23 same time
64. Simon Baxter MTS CycleSport/Inkland RT 2nd/U23 same time
65. James Williamson SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportf 1st same time
66. Matthew Kipling Pinarello RT Elite same time
67. Richard Hepworth Wakefield CC/Exponential System 1st/U23 at 9m22s
68. Jimmy Froggatt Wills Wheels CC 1st same time
69. Daniel Drake Lancashire RC 2nd same time
70. Philip Holwell Rutland CC 1st same time
71. Tinsley Andrew Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 R 1st at 16m57s
72. Paul McInally East Kilbride RC 2nd at 30m41s
73. Michael Mallen G S Metro 2nd same time
Sprint Primes - Stamfordham
1st lap
1. Lampier Steve Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschuytter Westkerke Elite
2. Wouter Sybrandy SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportful CT Elite
3. Adams Stephen Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 RT 1st
2nd lap
1. Adams Stephen Pearl Izumi/ Planet X/ High 5 RT 1st
2. Lovatt Mark Planet X RT 1st
3. Sykes-Popham Richard KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bicycles 1st
3rd lap
1. Sykes-Popham Richard KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bicycles 1st
2. Southam Tom Team Halfords Bikehut Elite
3. Lovatt Mark Planet X RT 1st
4th lap
1. Williams Peter Pinarello RT Elite
2. Southam Tom Team Halfords Bikehut Elite
3. Hayles Robert Team Halfords Bikehut Elite
5th lap
1. Williams Peter Pinarello RT Elite
2. Hayles Robert Team Halfords Bikehut Elite
3. Sykes-Popham Richard KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bicycles 1st
Points Winner: Williams Peter Pinarello RT Elite
KOM, The Ryalls
1st lap
1. Lampier Steve Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschuytter Westkerke Elite
2. Wouter Sybrandy SigmaSport/ Specialized/ Sportful CT Elite
3. Lines David pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT 2nd
2nd lap
1. Lampier Steve Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschuytter Westkerke Elite
2. Sykes-Popham Richard KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bicycles 1st
3. Greenwood Ben Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk Elite
3rd lap
1. Lampier Steve Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschuytter Westkerke Elite
2. Sykes-Popham Richard KFS Special Vehicles/ Sunday Bicycles 1st
3. Southam Tom Team Halfords Bikehut Elite
KOM Winner 105 Lampier Steve Team Bouwkantoor-Lippens Deschuytter Westkerke Elite
More Photos
Tom Barras and one of the Sports cover riders tackle the big climb.
Big crowd wait for the sprint finish
Big kiss from daddy for his support team
Pinarello RT take victory in the Team award, Russ Downing, Peter Williams and Tom Murray
Steve Lampier (Team Bouwkantoor) recovers from a recent illness to claim victory in the King of the Mountains category. Right: Student Peter Williams cleaned up most of the prizes at Stamfordham
Simon Richardson (PlowmanCraven RT) drives the chasing group. Workhorse Robin Sharman (SigmaSport) was in the break but blew and finished 55th
Gaywood and Barras battled all day to finish 6th and 39th respectively
On form Russ Downing and Tom Murray clean up for Pinarello RT
RELATED LINKS
British Cycling Premier Calendat Home Page
Preview of Newcastle Leazes Crits and Beaumont Trophy