British Junior Road Race Championships

 

August 10, 2008; Oakley (Buckinghamshire)

Photos by Sarah Brooke

Andy Fenn, Erick Rowsell and Sandy King on the podium for the British Junior RR Championships... will we see one of these riders in London 2012? Watch this space!

 

“One of the best fields ever seen” was not an idle boast from the organisers, the quality of the Junior riders present at this event was outstanding. With riders of the calibre of European RR Silver medalist Luke Rowe (Rapha/Condor/Recyling), Paris Roubaix winner Andrew Fenn (Dolan R.T./Dolan Bikes), Erick Rowsell (TeamCorridori/Specialised), Alexander King (G.W.R. Scott Wilson/Giant), George Atkins (Pearl Izumi-Planet X – High Five), Mark Christian (Team Isle of Man) there was no doubt this race was quality with a capital Q.

On a tough course, the bunch wasn't all together like this for long!

 

THE RACE, Report and interview, by Andrew Brooke

The relaxed bunch rolled away from the Village HQ at Long Crendon in a sunny Buckinghamshire, to tackle the 80 mile hilly circuit. The first major break of the day was forged on the first long hill of the second lap, up to the village of Ashendon. This is a long drag of a hill that helped, along with the main rollercoaster that is Dorton hill to successfully whittle down the field.

 

The main protagonists in the first break were Timothy Kennaugh (Manx Road Club), Daniel McLay (Leicestershire Road Club) and Dominic Schils (Lotto Olympia Team/Interbike). Together they managed to stay away for the majority of the race. They were joined initially by Dillon Byrne (Probikekit.com), Dominic Jelfs (Wyre Forest C.R.C/S.A.Financial), Jonathon Mould (Cardiff Ajax) and Russell Falder (Mammoth Lifestyle R.T.).

 

The main bunch kept the break at about 1 minute for a couple of laps, then Michael Cuming (Macclesfield Wheelers) and Dexter Gardias (Torq Colnago) bridged the gap. On the next lap the eventual winner Erick Rowsell crossed the gap on his own and Naythan Edmondson (Glendene C.C. Bike Trax) also made it across to replace the dropped riders and take the number of breakaways to 7.

George Atkins has a dig at the front of the lined out group which is much reduced.

 

After the 5th lap what was left of the bunch had managed to get the breakaways back to about 30 seconds, at this point the front group was joined by eventual second place rider Andrew Fenn (Dolan R.T/Dolan Bikes) with the other podium placed rider Alexander King (G.W.R Scott Wilson/Giant) also Christopher Whorrall (Team Isle of Man) and George Atkins (Pearl Izumi-Planet X – High Five).

 

Leading up the Dorton Hill on the 6th lap Erick Rowsell tested his attack and gained about 5 bike lengths over the remaining 9 riders with the next rider Timothy Kennaugh, who had driven the breakaway group from the beginning, and Andrew Fenn bringing him back. However they were not so fortunate on the penultimate lap, when Erick went again and got the gap across the finish line for the bell that would hold until the flag.

 

A magnificent ride on a hard day.

 

As if the hilly nature of the course was not bad enough the poor road surfaces, damp patches and gravel also took their toll on many of the riders with a number of crashes and punctures dampening many hopes of a good finish.  From the large field of 77 riders only 26 crossed the finish line on the same lap as the winners.

Tim Kennaugh leads Erick Rowsell and Daniel McLay.

 

Rider Comments

Erick wins the 2008 title.

 

Erick Rowsell “Really tough course, really hilly and you have got the wind as well it just made it mega, mega hard, just a really hard day”. When asked who were his main rivals, “At the start I was looking out for Luke Rowe, Andrew Fenn and Mark Christian. Timmy Kennaugh is also strong and all of the Olympic Development Plan riders are strong, you have also got a few of the Glendene – Joe Perrett, there were a lot of riders to look out for”. “I felt good all day, I am really happy with the win”. Asked about his plans for the future “next thing now is to try and get on the academy for next year – and go to Italy – I am currently the time trial champ and I have got the road one to add to it so I can wear the jerseys for both”.

Andrew Fenn (Above), “A group of us managed to get across because some people in the main bunch did not want to bring it back, I thought that I had to get across because it would be the end of the race pretty much, so a few people missed it in the main group. We had a good group working to get across and the front group were working well”

 

Talking about Erick’s win “I was going to try and catch him on the last climb, there was a really strong head wind on the finish straight so I thought I might catch him there if he got tired but there was to much to make up” “We could see him on the other climb and I almost went a bit earlier and I think I should have done. But I risked it and waited until the last climb and started to close but I hadn’t got it in the legs”.

 

Thanks must go to Doug and Lucy of Imperial Racing Team for organising the event, along with all the officials, marshals and helpers for organising such a well run event.

 

 

King crosses the line alone for 3rd place.

 

Results
1. Erick Rowsell Team Corridori/Specialized 03:30:39
2. Andrew Fenn Dolan R.T./Dolan Bikes 0.12
3. Alexander King G.W.R. Scott Wilson/Giant 0.31
4. Timothy Kennaugh Team Isle of Man 0.40
5. Joe Perrett Glendene C.C. Bike Trax 8.13
6. George Atkins Pearl Izumi-Planet X - High Five 8.18
7. Simon Thomas dhcyclesport.co.uk/Agisko Shop 8.20
8. Nathan Edmonson Glendene C.C. Bike Trax 8.23
9. Daniel McLay Leicestershire Road Club 8.24
10. Mark Christian Team Isle of Man 8.43
11. Dominic Schils Lotto Olympia Team/Interbike 11.54
12. Guy Wilkins Bikeinmotion Cycling Club 13.35
13. David Nichols Glendene C.C. Bike Trax 13.36
14. James McLaughlin Guernsey Velo Club 16.14
15. John Cooper Wolverhampton Wheelers/Fred Williams Cycles 16.29
16. Thomas Lowe Go Sports Spex R.T. 16.35
17. Toby Meadows Team Corridori/Specialized 16.40
18. Andrew Williams Cwmcarn Paragon RC 17.33
19. Michael Cuming Macclesfield Wheelers 18.37
20. Daniel Arblaster Guernsey Velo Club 21.15
21. Joshua Hunt ABC Centreville 21.15
22. Jake Hales Lotto Olympic Team/Interbike 21.16
23. Rhys Gravelle Bynea CC 25.47
24. Will Jansen Bikeinmotion Cycling Club 25.47
25. Joshua Edmonson Glendene C.C./Bike Trax  25.48
26. Conor Dunne Hemel Hempstead C.C.  34.15
27. Rob Graham Lotto Olympia Team/Interbike 

MORE PHOTOS (for more, click Gallery at the top of the page)

The descent out of Ashendon is a really fast one and the riders tuck down to keep their speed

Winner Erick Rowsell on the attack

Andy Fenn drives the group along