East London Velo Winter Series (RD 8)

31 January 2009, Redbridge Cycling Centre

Source: Organiser Leslie Everest

Photos Taka Wu (Taka.Wu@daiwasmbc.co.uk) | Website

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Category 3/4
This week saw a fast start to the 3/4 race, with Rob Jeffroy (London Dynamo) and Jonathan Appleby (North Road CC) leading the bunch up the smaller hill of the top circuit and down the descent. The bunch largely held together until a significant attack was launched 20 minutes in, as Nigel Stephens (Rapha Condor), Hugo Humphreys (LYVCC) and Henry Martin (Oxford University CC) flew up the hill away from the main group.

However, they were soon reeled back in by the attendant field. Further attacks followed from Jeffroy and Martin, again seeking to escape on the climb, which saw the bunch strung out behind them and they successfully opened a gap as they crossed the start/finish line. Once again this lead was short lived as determined work by Humphreys dragged the bunch back to them as they began the descent at the opposite side of the top circuit.

With three laps to go, Humphreys, Martin, Appleby and Jeffroy continued to push the pace at the front, but the riders stayed together. Chris Baldwin (Eagle RC) led the bunch up the Hoggenburg and through the alpine bends with 2 laps to go and looked poised to escape alongside Humphreys and Martin. In the final lap Humphreys led the sprint to finish convincingly clear of Jamie Anderson (North Road CC), Appleby and Martin.

1 Hugo Humphreys LVYCC
2 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
3 Jonathan Appleby North Road CC

Women
Ruth Middleton (East London Vélo) was quick out of the blocks and through the alpine bends, immediately creating a split in the group, with Middleton, Eryn Nolan (Dulwich Paragon), Charlie Blackman (London Dynamo) and Liz Chittenden (Eagle RC) breaking away from the remaining four riders.

Nolan and Blackman proved to be strongest on the hill and Middleton lost contact with them here each lap, but was able to recapture them before the descent. These efforts took their toll on her however, and Middleton eased off to work with Chittenden, who had been following a few seconds behind.

With three laps to go, Nolan, who had looked incredibly comfortable on the hill, broke away from Blackman, and after another lap had established a lead of 20 seconds. She continued to ride away from Blackman and crossed the line to win 35 seconds clear.

1 Eryn Nolan Dulwich Paragon
2 Charlie Blackman London Dynamo
3 Ruth Middleton East London Velo/EE

Elite/1/2/3

Another quality field gathered on the start line for what was to be a demanding, attacking race. The bunch was immediately stretched in response to early attacks on the lower circuit. Dean Robson (Oxford University CC) escaped very early on.

An initial attempt by two riders to follow him was unsuccessful and Robson quickly developed a lead of 20 seconds. Phil Hersey (Eagle RC) worked hard at the front of the bunch and then made a gap stick as he began the descent in pursuit of Robson.

The next lap saw Robson make light work of the hill again, whilst Hersey was to be caught on the lower circuit. Repeated attacks punished the bunch, which began to fracture, and four riders; Cameron Austin (London Dynamo), Andy Davies (Fit-For), Werner Otto (Finchley RT) and Hersey, formed a chase group in pursuit of Robson. Tiring from his early efforts, Robson eventually opted to wait for this group.

A serious chase from the bunch then followed when Flavio Zappi (Oxford University CC) attempted to break clear to bridge to the lead group, creating a small break of five chasing the five in front. However, on the lower circuit David Barnes (East London Vélo) put in a huge effort at the head of the main group, and the chase group was enlarged.

Led by Barnes, this group of ten riders caught the leaders leaving a gap to the remaining riders, who struggled to respond to the increasing pace on the hill. Henry Martin (Oxford University CC) dropped back and East London Vélo supporters were disappointed to see Series Leader Simon Bateson retire from the race at this point.

Following the catch, Otto and Dominic Schils (Lotto Olympia Interbike) launched a counter attack with Barnes and Hersey attempting to follow. Barnes made it across to the two leaders and the three established a gap of 15 seconds. London Dynamo riders Austin and Richard Hoult lead the chase from the bunch, but the gap continued to build to 18 seconds.

Barnes could not hold the pace of Otto and Schils however, and was swallowed by the bunch. Otto and Schils continued with a gap of 10 seconds from the bunch until two laps to go when Zappi again made a serious attempt to chase them down. As the riders crossed the line to begin the final lap, Schils began to ride away from Otto and hesitation from the riders at the front of the bunch ensured the two stayed clear, with Schils taking the win well clear of Otto. Richard Mason (London Dynamo) led the bunch sprint to take third place.

1 Dominic Schils Lotto Olympia Interbk
2 Werner Otto Finchley RT
3 Richard Mason London Dynamo

4th Cat Race
The full circuit was in use this week, in an anti clockwise direction. The mud and standing water from the previous week had been cleared away. The race started off fast, helped by a tailwind up the Hoggenberg climb.

The bunch was soon down to half strength as behind them dropped riders started to combine together  into two chasing groups. The bunch forged ahead, with Ian Gentry (VC Baracchi) and Alex Christians (London Phoenix) prominent at the front as they crested the hill.

Gentry and Christians rode strongly at the front for the rest of the race, and at the finish Christians had enough left to sprint over the line in first place as Gentry paid for his efforts and came in at the back of the group.

1 Alex Christians London Phoenix
2 Jim Killen           Essex Roads
3 Jonathan Tobin OUCC

Hog Hill Winter Series (8) Results, 91 riders

Regional C+  
1 Alex Christians London Phoenix
2 Jim Killen           Essex Roads
3 Jonathan Tobin OUCC
4 Simon  Asher VC Barrachi
5 Simon  Abram OUCC
6 Greg Moss London Road Club
7 Masrtin Orpen Interbike
8 Liam Gentry         VC Barrachi
9 Andrew Baker Private Member
10 Chad  Bishop Private Member
11 Mike Deeney Luton CC
12 Alex  Balfour London Dynamo
13 Kieron Redmond Dulwich Paragon
14 Mark O'Donnell Dulwich Paragon
15 James Clark LVCC
16 Christopher Coindy OUCC
17 Edward Beharrell Welwyn Wheelers
18 Phil  James Colchester Rovers
19 Paul Wixon London Phoenix
20 Andy Laing GS Avanti
21 Richard  Keeping Team Quest
22 Jamie Fake LVCC
23 Paul Barnes Newmarket CC
24 Paul Keeping Private Member
25 Nash Bishop Private Member
26 Robert Reynolds Private Member
27 Darren De Berger Private Member
28 Mark Mitchell Private Member
29 Stephen Maunder LYCC
30 David Cooley Private Member

15 laps   Regional B  
1 Hugo Humphreys LVYCC
2 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
3 Jonathan Appleby North Road CC
4 Henry Martin OUCC
5 Nick  Calverey Finchley RT
6 Rob Jeffroy London Dynamo
7 Scott  Bentley Dulwich Paragon CC
8 Richard De Silva Stevenage CC
9 George Pearl Southend Wheelers
10 Joe Harris Reading CC
11 Nick Sparks Private Member
12 Sebastian Pancratz Oxford University CC
13 Christopher  Baldwin Eagle RC
14 James Wallace Private Member
15 Lawin Chalkley Private Member
16 Glenn Widdicombe Cambridge CC
17 Mark Ottaway VC Meudon
18 Jason Evans LVCC
19 Nigel Stephens Rapha Condor
20 Nils Gustafsson Oxford University CC
21 Alex Balfour London Dynamdo
22 Matt Harper London Phoenix
23 Simon  Parker OUCC

Women Only  
1 Eryn Nolan Dulwich Paragon
2 Charlie Blackman London Dynamo
3 Ruth Middleton East London Velo/EE
4 Elizabeth Chittenden Eagle RC
5 Kate Scotter VC Norwich
6 Abigail Armstrong London Phoenix
7 Lisa Scarlett London Dynamo
8 Stacey Cooley East London Velo/EE
  
National B  
1 Dominic Schils Lotto Olympia Interbk
2 Werner Otto Finchley RT
3 Richard Mason London Dynamo
4 Tom Smith A W Cycles
5 Richard  Hoult London Dynamo
6 Dean Robson OUCC
7 Flavio Zappi OUCC
8 Samuel Parker OUCC
9 Andy Davies Fit-For
10 David Barnes East London Velo/EE
11 Ishmael Burdeau Agiskoviner
12 Phil Hersey Eagle RC
13 Phil Murrell Finsbury Park CC
14 Murdo Jamieson Kingston Wheelers
15 Cameron Austin London Dynamo
16 Barry Stewart Private Member
17 Nick  Sparks Private Member
18 Daryl Gannon Finchley RT
19 Henry Martin OUCC