Tom Simpson National Junior Grand Prix
Promoted by Dinnington Racing Club
22nd June 2008
Report & Photos: Richard Robotham
Above: Isle of Man's Chris Whorrall wins the Tom Simpson Junior GP
Although the skies were deceptively bright and clear, the gale force winds made the conditions for the Tom Simpson National Junior Road Race harder than usual. The race was run over 11 laps of a triangular circuit a total of 103kms. This was an open race, as anyone of the 51 riders who started had a chance to take the win as many of the top 2008 Junior Series leading riders were currently riding /training in Germany for Great Britain.
Pre Race the riders had this to say....
David Nichols – Glendene/Bike Track/Specialised – currently 6th overall.
“I haven’t been around this course, I’m going to try my hardest to attack and finish the race, I’m going try and get in an early break, but I’ll have to see how it goes.”
Tim Kennaugh (winner of round 1)– Team Isle of Man – currently 5th overall.
“Its not that tough a circuit but the wind will make it hard race, the riders will have to be strong to get away or be in a big group. It should be a good race if everyone goes for it.”
Race start
The race
The strong winds which were touching 65 mph (according to the Met Office) played a major part throughout the race with the riders battling against cross winds on various parts of the circuit causing various accidents, significantly effecting the course of the race. On the uphill section heading towards the finish line the riders also had to endure a soaking from a farmer’s water cannon, which although aimed into a crop field was blown back across the riders. Debris blown from the trees built up along the route to add to the mayhem.
Even before the race had commenced the wind had brought down a tree on the back of the course so the Commissaires decided to neutralise the race until the race convoy had passed the overhanging tree. This minor obstruction was cleared successfully before the race came past again on the next lap. The riders didn’t waste any time getting to a very high pace once the green light for racing had been given by the lowering of the Neutralisation Flag.
A small break of six riders formed almost immediately going off the front of the peloton, but by the end of the second lap the peloton had reformed. The pace in the peloton settled which allowed four riders to make the first decisive break of the day, which included Callum Lister (Torq-Colnago RT), Dominic Schills (Lotto Olympic Team Inter Bike), Tom Black (Team Isle of Man) and Richard Handley (Max Gear RT). The sedate pace of the peloton indicated that the riders weren’t working together to claw the leaders back, which gave Will Jansen (Bikinmotion CC) and Daniel Arblaster (Guernsey VC) the opportunity to break away and working together over the next few laps they finally caught the leading riders with 7 laps to go.
In the mid section of the race, the six leaders were working hard to keep ahead however, behind them the race had started to fragment a little but the smaller groups did come back together and reformed the peloton. The leading riders were 1.45 seconds ahead of the peloton with several small chaser groups between them.
Nathan Edmonson (Glendene/BikeTracks/Specialised) and eventual race winner Chris Whorrall (Team Isle of Man) were chasing the leaders down off the front of the peloton, which was now slipping further behind the leaders. Chris Whorral and Nathan Edmondson caught the leaders with three laps to go.
With two laps to go the eight leading riders were working well together taking turns at the front, and built up a time gap of over two minutes on the main peloton.
Tim Kennaugh and another of the riders try their luck
At the start of the bell lap Nathan Edmondson, took his chance and made a move to sprint away from the other riders, however, Tom Black and Will Jansen were quick to spot the move and were best placed to stop the attack from getting away from them. Working completely on his own and only 40 seconds behind the leaders, David Nichols (Glendene/BikeTracks/Specialised) was hard on their heels and his pure determination paid off when he bridged the gap to the leaders just after the start of the bell lap.
A further 45 seconds behind David Nichols (Glendene/BikeTracks/Specialised), and spurred on by the sound of the bell for the last lap Tim Kennaugh (Team Isle of Man) who had been working his way up the field and was also mounting a single handed attempt to catch the leaders which he caught on the downhill section.
The battle for first place started on the climb to the finish line David Nichols (Glendene) and Christopher Whorrall (Team Isle of Man) who had both bridged the gap to the leading riders in the earlier stages of the race fought side by side all the way to the finish line with Christopher Whorrall (Team Isle of Man) just snatching victory ahead of David Nichols(Glendene/BikeTracks/Specialised).
Post Race
Chris Whorrall – Team Isle of Man – Winner
“This is my first win of the year and I am really happy, I needed the win to prove I am good as this is my first year as a junior. The wind made it doubly hard to race all the way round as there was only one section where there was a tailwind, but I couldn’t have done it without my team mates Tim Kennaugh and Tom Black helped me with a lead out at the end of the race”
David Nichols – Glendene/BikeTracks/Specialised) – 2nd place
“I was a bit blind going up the finish, I just kept going and I thought I might just make it but Chris came back at me before the end. I had a tough time getting across to the leaders but when I did I sat there for awhile, it all came down to the last few attacks”
Tim Kennaugh – Team Isle of Man – 7h place
“It’s a great win for the Team – Chris did a really good job, but the wind made it hard. It was hard to know when and where to go as I didn’t know the other riders very well, then Tom got away early and then Chris got across, I was in a bunch just tapping away and going slowly so I jumped away to break up the tempo a bit and after a couple of laps the time gap was coming down so I decided to put my head down and go for it and I got 7th so I can't complain but it was a great win for Chris”
Result
1. Christopher Whorrall, Team Isle of Man
2. David Nichols, Glendene/Bike Track/Specialised
3. Will Jansen, Bikinmotion Cycling Club
4. Dominic Schils, Lotto Olympic Team InterBike
5. Nathan Edmonson, Glendene/Bike Track/Specialised
6. Richard Handley, Max Gear RT
7. Tim Kennaugh, Team Isle of Man
8. Tom Black, Team Isle of Man
9. Daniel Arblaster, Guernsey Velo Club
10. Callum Lister, Torq-Colnago RT
11. Daniel McLay, Leicestershire RC
12. Dexter Gardias, Torq-Colnago RT
13. Jack Kirk, Wyre Forest CRC
14. Andrew Williams, Cwmcarn Paragon
15. Guy Wilkins, Bikinmotion Cycling Club
16. Tom Skubala, DinningtonRCUniversalCycleCentre
17. Blake Conley,
18. Russell Falder,West Midlands Development Squad
19. Sam Redding, GWR Team/Scott Wilson/Giant
20. Joel Davidson, Glendene/Bike Track/Specialised
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