Race galleries from Andrew Kennedy
Russell Downing Wraps Up Premier Calendar in Style
Richmond Grand Prix (The Arthur Metcalfe Memorial Trophy)
Round 10 Premier Calendar Road Race series - Series Home Page
Richmond, North Yorkshire | Sunday 21 Sept 2008
Report and images: Andrew Kennedy | NEG pilot: John Greatorex
Post Race Interviews with the Downing brothers and Simon Richardson - Interviews
September sunshine greeted the riders at the start in Richmond
The final event of the season-long Premier Calendar road race series was promoted by Richmond Cycling Club over an extremely tough 81 mile North Yorkshire moor circuit. The race took the 110 riders over the savage climbs of Butter Tubs and Scarth Nick before three ascents of Waitwith Bank on the final finishing circuit.
Russell Downing (CandiTV/Pinarello) was on the start line at Richmond with the Premier Calendar series already in the bag. The Rotherham based rider has dominated the series winning six of the previous nine rounds. His closest rival being his brother Dean Downing (Rapha/Condor/Recycling) who in his best ever season has won 624 Premier Calendar points. Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) was favourite to take the third place in the series today after Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) failed to sign on.
Large crowds lined the Market Place in Richmond for the start and finish
The Richmond Grand Prix was revived last year by the Richmond Cycling Club and race director Geoff Lloyd has done a superb job in organising sponsors and the local community to support the race. Geoff was unable to be at today's event due to a sudden illness and club mate James Hall did a magnificent job stepping into Geoff's shoes for the race.
Bright sunshine greeted the riders as they lined up for the start in front of a huge crowd in Richmond Market place. The flagged was dropped and the peloton rode off to enthusiastic applause from the crowd to begin their long day in the saddle.
With the road season drawing to a close the riders were keen to have a good race at Richmond. The Plowman Craven team have not had a single PC win all season, the Rapha Condor Recycling team have had some good wins thanks to Dean Downing, but the likes of Kristian House and Chris Newton have failed to make an impact on the series. During the previous week lots of riders had talked about doing a ride at Richmond and on-form climber Liam Holohan (Pearl-Izumi) was hoping the hilly circuit would get him his first PC podium place.
Out of the neutralised section and it was CandiTV-Pinarello who sent the first rider up the road. Peter Williams with a superb 2nd place under his belt from the Beaumont Trophy race was like a whippet out of the traps as the peloton rode through Hudswell. The young rider was soon reeled back in and it was the turn of Richard Hepworth (Wakefield CC) to try his luck at the front as they raced through the picturesque village of Reeth.
The North Yorkshire countryside looked beautiful in the late summer sun
Simon Holt (Rapha/Condor/Recycling) has an early dig off the front
Taking a few other teams including Sports Beans, CandiTV-Pinarello and SigmaSport with him
Lee Davis (CandiTV-Pinarello) was the next rider to go
The first serious break of the day came from Rob Partridge (Rapha/Condor/Recycling), Matt Stephens (SigmaSport) and Tom Murray (CandiTV-Pinarello). By the time this small group had reached Muker they had established a lead of over 30 seconds. The peloton was taking things easy with most riders anxious about the climb of Butter Tubs. Andrew Tinsley (Pearl-Izumi) decided to try and limit the damage and got a short advantage on the bunch as they began the climb.
Tom Murray, Rob Partridge and Matthew Stephens have a serious attempt at getting away
Up with the leaders and Rob Partridge was stretching the legs of Stephens and Murray on the long ascent. Murray was clearly suffering and lost contact. Partridge looked effortless as he scanned the horizon trying to work out if he could see the prime line. Butter Tubs is a killer, when you think you are at the top there is another brutal climb to the summit. At the top Partridge took the prime and maximum points for the KoM classification, worth £200 to the winner.
Partridge can't believe there is another climb lurking behind this beast
Tom Murray struggles on Butter Tubs and loses ground on the leaders
Partridge made the climb look easy and later picked up £200 and a Wensleydale cheese for his efforts
Partridge and Stephens near the top of the first bit, the sting is just around the corner
Russell Downing and Kristian House led the main peloton up and over Butter Tubs 42 seconds behind the leaders.
With Tom Murray safely back in the main field Partridge and Stephens continued to work together through the feed zone at Askrigg. Their lead was now down to a slender 18 seconds. With a long way still to go the two guys weighed up their chances of staying away and wisely sat up waiting for the peloton. Plowman Craven and CandiTV-Pinarello riders were heading the depleted main field and the two breakaways were caught on the approach to Redmire.
Lee Davis, Tom Murray, Malcolm Elliott and Russ Downing take control of the race
The climb of Scarth Nick took the riders up over Redmire Moor towards the prime point. Rob Partridge still had his eye on the KoM prize and led the group towards the moor. Over the top and Partridge took maximum points in front of Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven) and Liam Holohan (Pearl-Izumi). The race was now split into two distinct groups. The lead group containing all the danger men had an advantage of over a minute on the back markers. After the prime of Scarth Nick Dean Downing (Rapha/Condor/Recycling), Kit Gilham (Kinesis) and Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven) attacked. They were soon joined by Kristian House (Rapha/Condor/Recycling) and Will Bjergfelt (Felt Racing). Behind the group had split apart and riders were fighting to stay in the race.
Dean Downing leads Will Bjergfelt and Kit Gilham as the race splits apart
Will Bjergfelt was putting in huge turns on the front and a small group of about eight riders including Malcolm Elliott, Kit Gilham, David Clarke, Dean Downing, Evan Oliphant and Matt Stephens formed a break
This lead group was then joined by Russell Downing, Robin Sharman, Simon Richardson and Chris Newton. Liam Holohan had missed the decisive split and was now heading a group of riders about 25 seconds behind.
Malcolm Elliott and Matt Stephens keep the pressure on at the front of the race
With 50 miles of racing behind them and three laps of the 10 mile finishing circuit left the leaders settled down to destroying each other. The pace was high and soon Malcolm Elliott, Chris Newton, Kit Gilham and Will Bjergfelt had been dropped. Gilham was soon back up to the leaders, but riding off the back of his team car resulted in a warning from the moto-commissaire and he was lucky to stay in the race.
On the moor top Gilham was struggling and isolated off the back of the leading group
Some motorised team work earned him a rebuke from the commissaires
On the second lap of the finishing circuit the race winning move was formed. Cat and mouse racing between the leading group had caused the weaker riders to lose contact. The finger of blame can be firmly pointed at the Downing Brothers. Russell Downing was by far the strongest rider in the break, he spent 80% of his time driving the break and trying to get others to do their share. The Downing brothers give value for money and they know how to race, on opposing teams they have little if any family loyalty and they try to ride each other into the ground. Dean would attack and Russ would quickly be glued to his wheel. Seconds later Russ attacked and soon the Downing?s had only Simon Richardson for company.
The Downings play cat and mouse with Simon Richardson
With a time check of 25 seconds back to the chasers the lead group of Russ Downing, Dean Downing and Simon Richardson looked as though they had the podium sorted with 1 lap to go. Just behind Chris Newton (Rapha/Condor/Recycling) and Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) were still trying to make contact with the Downing group. Their team managers were relaying information up to Dean Downing for the Rapha squad and Richardson for The Plowmans. The result being Dean Downing and Richardson stopped working with Russell.
Chris Newton displayed true grit in fighting his way back up to the leaders
But was furious when they attacked him, relaying his anger through the team radio
Don't blame me Chris, it's the Downing Brothers' fault, I'm just photographing it!
Russell was furious but stayed at the front and drove the break as though his life depended on it. Dean Downing was torn and could be seen glancing back to try and work out if Newton was getting any closer. On the last climb of Waitwith Bank Chris Newton finally made contact with the leaders, as he rode up to them Russell Downing attacked and Dean went with him, leaving Richardson and Newton struggling. Chris Newton was enraged and immediately began shouting into his radio.
Russell Downing in control, leads Dean Downing and Simon Richardson towards the finish
With about 8 miles to go Russell Downing was leading his brother Dean. Simon Richardson clawed his way back to the brothers and suddenly came to life. He must have now realised that team mate Evan Oliphant was not going to get up to them and that Chris Newton posed a big threat to his chance of a podium position. Richardson went to the front and as the riders crossed Hipswell Moor for the final time Chris Newton had finally been dropped.
Job nearly done, final climb and Newton dropped back near the cars
The three leaders had now only to negotiate the tricky descent into the finish at Richmond. The class of Russell Downing must have been clear to see for his breakaway companions and he was always the favourite to take the win in Richmond Market place. At the foot of the cobbled climb up to the finish it was the two Downing brothers who were neck and neck. Russ got the jump on his elder brother and flew up the steep finish to cross the line 3 seconds ahead of Dean. Simon Richardson held onto third place with a very disappointed Chris Newton crossing the line 23 seconds behind the winner.
Russell Downing wins in Richmond
Richmond podium, left to right, Dean Downing 2nd place, winner Russell Downing, Simon Richardson 3rd place
Premier Calendar series final top three, left to right, 2nd place Dean Downing, winner Russell Downing, 3rd place Evan Oliphant
We will have full interviews with the Richmond GP top three riders on Monday.
Results:
1 Russ Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT 03:16:38
2 Dean Downing Rapha Condor Recycling 00:03
3 Simon Richardson Plowman Craven RT 00:11
4 Chris Newton Rapha Condor Recycling 00:23
5 Kristian House Rapha Condor Recycling 02:08
6 Malcolm Elliott Candi TV - Pinarello RT ST
7 David Clarke Team Lacuna ST
8 Robin Sharman Sigmasport - Specialized 02:13
9 Kit Gilham Kinesis UK 02:16
10 Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven RT 02:19
11 Matt Stephens Sigmasport - Specialized 02:31
12 Tom Last Kinesis UK 03:56
13 Matt Cronshaw Kinesis UK ST
14 Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles 03:57
15 James Stewart KFS Special Vehicles 04:00
16 Marcin Bialoblocki Team Sportsbeans 04:05
17 Robert Partridge Rapha Condor Recycling ST
18 Liam Holohan Pearl Izumi - Planet X ST
19 Gary Hand Pedalpower.org ST
20 Dale Appleby Rapha Condor Recycling 04:11
21 James Sampson Kinesis UK ST
22 Mark Wordsworth Team Corley Cycles 05:22
23 Peter Williams Candi TV - Pinarello RT 05:26
24 Roy Chamberlain Team Corley Cycles ST
25 Matthew Kipling Candi TV - Pinarello RT ST
26 Ian Taylor MTS Inkland 05:22
27 Will Bjergfelt Felt Racing 05:32
28 Alex Higham Plowman Craven RT ST
29 Daniel Kogan PCA Ciclos Uno ST
30 Lee Davis Candi TV - Pinarello RT 05:37
31 Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles 05:56
32 Mark Lovatt Planet X 07:18
33 Ashley Finn Lune RCC 07:21
34 Scott Macrae Pedalpower.org 07:29
35 John Heaton-Armstrong Fit-For 07:33
36 Wouter Sybrandy Sigmasport - Specialized 07:42
37 Martin Smith Awcycles.co.uk 08:25
38 Simon Baxter MTS Inkland 08:32
39 Michael Nicholson Glasgow Wheelers ST
40 Neil Coleman KFS Special Vehicles ST
41 Kevin Dawson Sportscover.com 08:37
42 Dave Coulson Team Sportsbeans ST
43 Grant Bayton Team Sportsbeans ST
44 Tom Murray Candi TV - Pinarello RT 10:10
45 James Moss MTS Inkland 14:52
46 Richard Wilkinson SIS Trek 15:00
47 Ben Stockdale MJS Racing 22:14TIMED AT LAP BOARD CUT-OFF
48 Tony Grassby 26:30
49 Joshua Yetman ST
50 Paul McInally ST
51 Tom Barras 27:40
52 Andrew Tinsley ST
53 Jimmy Froggatt ST
54 Paul Coates ST
55 Justin Callaway ST
56 Stephen Rudkin ST
57 Glen Turnbull ST
58 Callum Sewell ST
59 David Lines ST
60 Gordon Murdoch ST
61 Steve Gibson ST
62 Alistair Robinson ST
63 Philip Holwell ST
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
1 Rob Partridge
2 Kristian House
3 David Clarke
UNDER 23
1 Tom Last
2 Matt Cronshaw
3 Liam Holohan