STAGE 2 -- Ras de Cymru 4th July 2008

 

Report and pictures Dave O'Nyons

A misty morning with showers greeted the riders prior to signing on at the Abergavenny Tennis Club. Today’s stage was to contain 3 primes over a hilly course to the south east of Abergavenny with a distance of 52.6 miles. This would be a test for the yellow jersey holder, Tim Wallis riding for Red Kite Cycles. Of course many eyes would be on the ladies honing their form for the Beijing Olympics including Wales very own Nicole Cooke sporting her National Road Race Championship jersey, although riding for Halfords/Bikehut the new sponsors of this years Ras.

 

At the start of the day Nicole seemed rather elusive and gave the impression that the Olympic programme was beginning to take it’s toll. Last week Nicole said that everything prior to the run in to the Games was for training only. Not in the least! Although I didn’t see many people out on the road, I was later told by Stuart Stanton that when the school children of Usk heard that Nicole was riding they set about making their hero welcome.The children were allowed out of lessons to cheer on Nicole along the banner lined route! Stuart also told me that he had spoken to people who had said that the children would love to start their own cycling clubs with the help of the schools!

This is the impact that a rider such as Nicole, a great ambassador of the sport, has and it must have been a great incentive to her for the rest of the race. Having left Abergavenny I headed for the 2nd climb of the day near Llangwm to see  a Team Certini/Felt Racing rider take the prime followed by the main pack containing Cooke with Wallis in the yellow jersey, and Jessica Allen, riding in GB colours, not far behind. Like so many races before, Cooke seemed to revel in attack!

 

After the main group of around 40 riders the race had splintered leaving riders to fight their own battles including the rest of the women from GB and Halfords/Bikehut. On to the third prime just to the south of Devauden and I witnessed another Team Certini/Felt Racing rider ride over the top once again with the pack a little further back this time, although Cooke is still there and working hard to maintain her position and notably Allen still amongst the contenders. Amongst the riders out the back were Jo Rowsell, Emma Pooley and Emma Trott. From here I had to head to the finish at the Hardwick Public House.

 

Unfortunately this is when the race split some more, leaving Cooke and company behind. The winner was Joe Hemmant, Macclesfield Wheelers/London Dynamo who out sprinted ,Jamie Treliving, Team Certini/Felt Racing and Richard Harris,Cwmcarn Paragon RC. Cooke came in around 2min 15 back.

 

RESULT
1    Joe Hemmant  Macclesfield Wheelers/London Dynamo
2    Richard Harris  Cwmcarn Paragon RC
3    Jamie Treliving  Team Certini/Felt Racing
4    Tim Carter  Team GB
5    Andy Gough  Red Kite Cycles
6    Eelco Doctor  Macclesfield Wheelers/London Dynamo
7    Nino Piccoli  API Metrow/Silverhook
8    Gareth McGuinness  Clwb Egni/Rhos on Sea
9    John Fitzpatrick  Cardiff JIF
10    Tim Wallis  Red Kite Cycles
11    Carl Dyson  www.cyclingbargains.com RT
12    Andrew Lane  Cwmcarn Paragon RC
13    Nicole Cooke  Halfords Bikehut
14    Kurt  Green  Velo Club Montpellier
15    Michael Cowland  www.cyclingbargains.com RT
16    Anthony Allan  Macclesfield Wheelers/London Dynamo
17    David Palmer  www.cyclingbargains.com RT