Millar is Nocturne TT favourite as Wiggins is Forced to Pull Out
Story posted August 30, 2007
EVENT: This Saturday, 1st September; Newport (Shropshire)
David Millar has become the favourite to win the "Battle for Beijing", a special one lap time trial at the Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne, Britain's only floodlit bike race. Bradley Wiggins has been forced to pull out after his team unexpectedly called him up at the last minute to ride the GP Plouay.
Millar is in the form of his life after taking second place in the Eneco Tour, just a 11 seconds behind Ivan Gutierrez of Caisse d'Epargne. However he will have to watch out for the points winner of the Eneco Tour, Mark Cavendish. Cavendish has had a phenomenal first year as a Pro and his sprint, together with his proven ability as a track pursuiter mean he too has a great chance to win. The time trial will also feature Geraint Thomas, youngest rider in this years Tour de France, World Champion and Olympic medallist Rob Hayles and local hopeful, Simon Holt.
Promoter, Nick Jeggo said "It's a shame Bradley can't make it to the Nocturne, he really wanted to ride and it would have been one of those rare races where he could have been based at his home instead of at some european hotel However, I'm sure it's still going to be a great race. Any of the five guys could win the time trial. The course is quite technical in places, but has two very long flat sections where the strongest riders canb really use their power."
Britain's only floodlit cycle race, the Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne takes place at 6.45pm on Saturday 1st September see www.bikerace.co.uk for details.
Previous Press Release -- Newton to take Nocturne Title Again
Back in 2005, Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) destroyed the opposition in the Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne. Despite driving rain, he lapped the top class field, taking most of the primes along the way. The Recycling.so.uk team captain has already had a brilliant year on the road, having recently secured the Premier Calendar series but the season is far from over and Chris wants to take the Nocturne title again.
Chris said “I'm really looking forward to riding the Newport Nocturne again. The past two years seem to have flown by. The event has probably the biggest crowds we ever race in front of and the atmosphere the crowd helps to create on the night is second to none. With the Bejing Olympics now only just around the corner, an event like this is ideal for getting used to the sort of media attention riders will face in China”.
The Recycling.co.uk team have a double edged sword for the Nocturne with local star, Simon Holt also taking part. Nineteen year old Holt is an accomplished circuit rider and the other teams will have to keep an eye on both men.
Chris went on “I'm especially looking forward to seeing how my team mate Simon Holt deals with the race. Simon has been going very well in circuit races all year and as a local lad, he's very much ‘up for it ‘. With a bit of luck he'll take some of the pressure off me and maybe that, in turn, will benefit the recycling.co.uk team. We really want to keep the victory ‘in house‘ and remain Champions of the Nocturne for another two years”.
Britain's only floodlit cycle race, the Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne takes place at 6.45pm on Saturday 1st September see www.bikerace.co.uk for details.
Also: Millar to ride at Nocturne
SCHEDULE
6.30pm Entertainment begins with music from various bands around the circuit
6.45pm Past Masters riders to be presented to the crowd
7.15pm Racing will start with the Past Masters event.
8.00pm Past Masters Prize Presentation.
8.15pm Riders for "Battle for Beijing" will be presented to the crowd
8:30pm Davies and Jeggo Motors "Battle for Beijing" starts
9:00pm Davies and Jeggo Motors "Battle for Beijing" presentation
9.15pm Elite Race starts.
10.15pm Elite Race finishes (approx)
10.30pm Elite Presentation.
RIDERS
SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWPORT NOCTURNE
(A counting event for the ELITE CIRCUIT RACE SERIES)
50 minutes + 5 laps - START 9.15pm
1. Chris Newton Recycling.Co.UK
2. Rob Partridge " "
3. Graham Briggs " "
4. Ryan Bonser " "
5. Adam Bonser " "
6. Tom Diggle " "
7. Simon Holt " "
8. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Leica
9. Simon Gaywood " "
10. James Millard " "
11. Gordon McCauley " "
12. James McCullum " "
13. Frederick Johansson " "
14. Brian Biggs " "
15. Richard Wilkinson " "
16. Bradley Wiggins Cofidis
17. Dean Downing Rapha Cycles Clothing Condor Cycles
18. Ross Muir " "
19. Ben Price " "
20. Matt Talbot " "
21. Alex Higham " "
22. Tom Barras Merlin Bikelab.co.uk Pearl Azumi
23. Liam Holoham " "
24. Jon Mozley " "
25. Tom Murray " "
26. Jon-Kris Mason " "
27. Malcolm Elliott Pinarello RT/Rudy Project/Corima/DMT/Continental
28. Peter Kennaugh " "
29. Lee Davis " "
30. Andy Roche " "
31. Warrick Spence Cyclefit-Serotta
32. George Richardson Kona UK Pangap Ritchey Cycle Ops
33. Will Bjergfett " "
34. Karl Freeman Alpha RC Team Corley Cycles
35. Martin Freeman " "
36. Andy Tinsley Bioracer Omnipex RT
37. Tom Smith A.W.Cycles.Co.Uk
38. Ashley Brown Sportscover Planet X Controlled Speed Engineering
39. John Tanner " "
40. Gary Adamson F.P.Mailing
41. John Stollery Paramount CRT Bontrager Stan Jones Cycles
42. Ken Holder " "
43. Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport
44. Eddie Corbett Wolverhampton Wlrs Fred Williams Cycles
45. Llewellyn Byrne Sciencesport.com
46. Ian Holt Felt Racing
47. Mark Cavendish T-Mobile
48. Geraint Thomas Barloworld
49. Rob Hayles KLR Racing Parker International
50. Ross Adams Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar
51. Lee Robert Ward Heanor Clarion
52. Andrew Williams Cymcarn Paragon RC
53. Simon Blythe RAF CC
54. James Moss Inkland MTS
55. Adrian Timmis Pinarello
56. Dan Booth Pedal Power- Loughborough
57. Simon Blythe Private Member
58. Mike Jones Paramount CRT/Bontrager/Stan Jones Cycles
59. Kristian House Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
60. Russell Downing Team Heathnet/Maxis
61. Martin Ford BC Private member
62. Grant Bayton GWR Team
63. David Millar Saunier Duval.
PRIZES
1 £500, 2 £375, 3 £300, 4 £212.50, 5 £175, 6 £150, 7 £175, 8 £100, 9 £87.50, 10 £75,
11 £62.50, 12 -14 £50, 15 - 17 £37.50, 18 - 20 £25
GREENHOUS KING OF THE SPRINTS COMPETITION
Each lap (excluding last five laps) carries 3/2/1 points towards overall winner
Special prime at ten minutes (double points) and half-way (30 minutes) sponsored by Jonathan Preece (double points) counting towards the national Elite Series races.
The winner of the GREENHOUS King of the Sprints will receive his jersey from the dealer principal David Sullivan
In reverse order, the third place and second place riders will receive their bouquets by Sally's Flowers.
Winner of the SHROPSHIRE START NEWPORT NOCTURNE will receive his Assos Yellow Jersey from the Shropshire
Star and the commemorative decanter from the Mayor of Newport Councillor Glyn Gratton.
WINNER'S WEIGHT IN BEERfrom THE PHEASANT INN Presented by landlord PAUL QUINN
DUIGNAN PHELPS OPTOMETRISTS PAST MASTERS' RACE
Start 7.17pm - 15 laps.
1. Les West
2. Sid Barras
3. Keith Lambert
4. Simon Cope
5. Gary Coltman
6. Keith Reynolds
7. Colin Lewis
8. Jock Kerr
9. Roy Causer
10. Kelvin Jones
11. Ged Dennis
12. Steve Jones
13. Neil Martin
14. Reg Smith
15. Mick Ives
16. Neil Hoban
17. Vic Barnett
18. John McMillan
19. Simon Day
20. Phil Wilkins
21. Dave Cumming
22. Phil Corley
23. Steve Douce
24. Gordon Smith
25. Phil Thomas
26. Brian Smith
27. Tony Bell
28. Phil Marrow
29. Mick Holmes
30. Jon Clay
31. Ernie Lightfoot
32. Trevor Horton
33. Tim Harris
34. Ian Fagan
35. Bill Nickson
36. Dave Miller
37. Steve Wakefield
38. Geoff Wiles
39. Mike Doyle
40. Alan Mellow
41. Adrian Timmis
42. Chris Lillywhite
43. Steve Joughin
44. Nigel Bloor
45. Derrick Woodings
46. Danny Horton
47. Pete Ryalls
48. Dave Marsh
INTER COUNTY COURIERS BATTLE FOR BEIJING ONE-LAP CHALLENGE
Start: First man off at 8.30pm
1. Simon Holt Recycling.Co.UK
2. Geraint Thomas Barloworld
3. Mark Cavendish T-Mobile
4. Rob Hayles KLR Racing - Parker International
5. Bradley Wiggins Cofidis
6. David Millar Saunier Duval
Battle for Beijing riders will be started from a ramp and timed from the top of St Mary Street to the finish line. Each rider will be accompanied his own special "team car."
RELATED LINKS
2005 British Cycling Report: >>>>>
