5th Chas Messenger Stage Race
A British Cycling Premier Calendar Event
British Cycling Premier Calendar Home Page
PREVIEW
May 3/4 , 2008; Two Day, Three Stage Road Race
Evan Oliphant of the Plowman Craven racing team on his way to winning a stage in the Bikeline Stage Race this year. With his team sponsoring the Chas Messenger, they will as ever, be going out to win the sprints which carry the ever so important time bonuses.
Now in its fifth year, this stage race that honours Chas Messenger has moved up to Premier Calendar status thanks to the sponsorship of Plowman Craven, Arctic Air Conditioning, Kingfisher Beer, Sport and Publicity and Phil Corley Cycles.
The initial idea of the race evolved from the 2 Day Stage race held at Hillingdon Circuit but three stages in two days was enough to send anyone dizzy. The organiser Ian Chatfield touted the idea of advancing the race to a proper stage race and the initial event had one stage at Hillingdon and then moved around the Central Region.
This was won by Rob Enslin. The next year , they moved up to Northamptonshire for the second and third stages and managed to attract bigger teams, the race was dominated by Planet X, and the overall was taken by John Tanner. The event in 2005 saw the race move to Long Crendon after the initial stages and the race was won by Kevin Dawson of Planet X while in 2006, they used the same format again and the victory was taken by Malcolm Elliot then riding for Plowman Craven. The race was not held in 2007.
The event, says organiser Ian Chatfield, is really run as a tribute to Chas Messenger, organiser of many events over the years including the Milk Race and as GB Team Manager in 1967 brought home two World Champions, Graham Webb and Beryl Burton. “His support for Cycling in Britain over the years is immense” Ian says in the race programme “The race has been touted as the Chas Messenger Memorial; however Chas is still with us and will be on hand to present the prizes and trophy.”
“Thanks to all officials, drivers, marshals and other helpers to numerous to mention. I would like to say special thanks to Mike Clark whose support during the planning stages has been fantastic and the race would not be where it is now without him. Also Emma and Lindy at Plowman Craven for their hard efforts.”
So who will win?
Malcolm Elliott and Dean Downing the leading Brits at the East Midlands last weekend.
The 64,000 dollar question is who will win and after his showing at the East Midlands Classic, Pinarello's Malcolm Elliott would have to be a favourite. The roads around this area are rolling but do not have the big climbs in them like something like the Girvan or even the final stage of the Bikeline did. Sprints with bonus seconds on offer are therefore on the cards and as Elliott is one of the fastest in the country, who’d bet against him picking up vital seconds on the two road stages.
His teammate Russell 'Fonzy' Downing leads the Premier Calendar table from his elder brother Dean with only 19 points separating them. Both of them are also fast in a gallop with Russell perhaps having the upper hand after his showing in Spain recently where he dominated a stage race there in the sprints. Dean meanwhile is still recovering from a crash in France recently but he showed in his final burst at the East Midlands Classic that the form is there and after his DQ at the East Midlands, the fire inside is burning red hot.
Russell Downing leading the peloton through the Somerberg section in the East Midlands Classic. The Chas Messenger sees him go into the event leading the Premier Calendar after two big wins already.
The race though is sponsored by Plowman Craven and they have a few aces up their sleeves. In 5th place in the Premier Calendar is Simon Richardson but he isn’t on the start list so it may well be the likes of Tony Gibb or Evan Oliphant who will take advantage of these roads being less than hilly and using their undoubted speed to cream off the time bonuses to help with their challenge for the overall.
Another candidate for the race may be Chris Newton? After breaking his collarbone just before the World Track Championships when in scintillating form, the former World Champion has been riding the Tour de Bretagne stage race in France this week and it will be interesting to see how he comes put of that. Science in Sport who did so well in the Bikeline Two Day will always be a threat as will Sigma Sport with the likes of Matt Stephens who has yet to show his true colours so far this season.
Local Roy Chamberlain (Corley Cycles) has shown in other races like the Girvan he can compete well at this level and knows the roads very well which will help whilst Robert Hayles (Team Halfords-Bikehut) showed in the East Midlands race he has the speed and the form is coming and it will be interesting to see how he gets on as he looks to get some miles in after his enforced rest. His teammate Tom Southam was ill for the East Midlands Classic after drinking some contaminated water whilst out training and we hope he’s fit for the race as his presence will certainly make the race a better one with his aggressive style of racing.
British Cycling will be at the race and will bring you news and pictures.
Current Premier Calendar Standings
1. Russell Downing, Pinarello RT 369
2. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Recycling 350
3. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven RT 285
4. Rob Partridge, Rapha Condor Recycling 269
5. Simon Richardson, Plowman Craven RT 248
6. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Recycling 191
7. Ian Wilkinson, Science in Sport - Trek 177
8. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles/Alpha R.C 140
9. Dale Appleby, *** Rapha Condor Recycling 137
10. Tom Barras, Plowman Craven RT 98
11. Matt Stephens, Sigma Sport, Specialized, Sportful 85
12. Matthew Cronshaw, Kinesis UK 79
13. Tom Southam, Team Halfords Bikehut 70
14. Liam Holohan, Pearl Izumi - Planet X - High 5 64
15. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor Recycling 55
16. Roy Chamberlain, Team Corley Cycles/Alpha R.C 53
17. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven RT 50
18. Gary Hand, Pedalpower.org.uk/Endura RT 49
19. Ian Bibby, Science in Sport - Trek 47
20. Marcin Bialoblocki, Sports Beans 42
RIDERS
1. Danny Axford Arctic-Premier RT 1
2. Simon Wilson Arctic-Premier RT 1
3. James Dobbin Arctic-Premier RT 1
4. Jody Crawforth Arctic-Premier RT 1
5. Jon-Kris Mason Arctic-Premier RT 2
6. Matt Holmes Arctic-Premier RT 1
7. David Law Arctic-Premier RT 2
8. Alex Peterson awcycles.co.uk 1
9. Martin Smith awcycles.co.uk E
10. Tom Smith awcycles.co.uk E
11. Tim Elverson Felt Racing E
12. Justin Hoy Felt Racing E
13. John Wager Felt Racing 1
14. Ben Thompson Glendene CC/Biketrax 1
15. Matt Talbot Glendene CC/Biketrax 1
16. Andri Joubert Glendene CC/Biketrax E
17. Andy Lyons Heron Cyclesport E
18. Adam Norris Heron Cyclesport E
19. Matt Clinton KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
20. Dafydd Dylan KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
21. Kieran Frend KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 2
22. Gareth Hewitt KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
23. James Stewart KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
24. Richard Sykes-Popham KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
25. James Sampson Kinesis UK 1
26. Kit Kilham Kinesis UK 1
27. Matt Cronshaw Kinesis UK E
28. Jack Pullar Kinesis UK 1
29. Josh James Kinesis UK 1
30. Tom Last Kinesis UK 1
31. Jon Mozley Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT E
32. Liam Holohan Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT 1
33. Jeroen Janssen Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT E
34. Stephen Adams Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT 1
35. Matthew Jones Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT 1
36. Raphael Deinhart Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5 RT 1
37. Malcolm Elliot Pinarello RT E
38. Russ Downing Pinarello RT E
39. Freddy Johansson Pinarello RT E
40. Tom Murray Pinarello RT E
41. Matthew Kipling Pinarello RT E
42. Peter Williams Pinarello RT E
43. Andy Roche Pinarello RT E
44. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven RT E
45. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven RT E
46. James Millard Plowman Craven RT E
47. Alex Higham Plowman Craven RT E
48. Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven RT 1
49. Neil Coleman Plowman Craven RT 1
50. James McCallum Plowman Craven RT E
51. Chris Newton rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
52. Dean Downing rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
53. Graham Briggs rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
54. Ben Greenwood rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
55. Rhys Lloyd rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
56. Matt Rowe rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
57. Simon Holt rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
58. Ian Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek E
59. Dave Collins Scienceinsport-Trek E
60. Ian Bibby Scienceinsport-Trek 1
61. Richard Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek 1
62. Tim Lawson Scienceinsport-Trek 1
64. Richard Kent Scienceinsport-Trek 1
65. David Fletcher Scienceinsport-Trek 2
66. Matthew Stephens Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT E
67.. Andrew Bye Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT E
68.. Neil Swithinbank Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT E
69. Mike Harrison Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT 1
70. Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT 1
71. James Williamson Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT 1
72. Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT 1
73. Grant Bayton Sports Bean-Wilier E
74. Marcin Bialoblocki Sports Bean-Wilier E
75. Ben Luckwell Sports Bean-Wilier E
76. Marc Perry Sports Bean-Wilier E
77. Dave Coulson Sports Bean-Wilier E
78. Mark Thwaites Sports Bean-Wilier 2
79. Martin Freeman Team Corley Cycles 1
80. Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles 1
81. Roy Chamberlain Team Corley Cycles E
82. Mark Wordsworth Team Corley Cycles E
83. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles E
84. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles E
85. Robert Hayles Team Halfords-Bikehut E
86. Tom Southam Team Halfords-Bikehut E
87. Richard Williamson Team Lucuna 2
88 Robert Orr Team Lucuna E
89 David Clarke Team Lucuna E
90 Daniel Smith Team Lucuna E
Reserves
91. Tom Barras Plowman Craven RT E
92. Greg Roche KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles 1
93. Alex Wise Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT 1
94. Ross Creber Scienceinsport-Trek 1
95. Lee Davis Pinarello RT E
96. Tom Diggle rapha condor recycling.co.uk E
97. Billy-Joe Whenman VR Sports Bean-Wilier 2
98. Allister Tullet Arctic-Premier RT 2
99. Tom Kirk VR Team Corley Cycles 1
100. Stephen Rudkin FP Mailing CT 2
101. Neil Jones Abergavenny Gatway RT
102. Jon Pain GWR Team/Scott Wilson/Giant 1
103. William Bunday Total Fitness Bath 2
104. Gav Evans Sportscover-Spuik-JE James 1
105. Euan Adams Red Kite/Torq 2
106. Ross Adams Red Kite/Torq
107. Oliver Graham Red Kite/Torq
Race Timetables and Routes
10.00 INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL 5km
Will start just to the north of Gransborough, turn left at the next junction and follow that road to finish outside East Claydon Village Hall (in race number order).
13.00 ROAD RACE 120km
Start from the changing rooms at Winslow Adult Education Centre. Deneutralised out of the Centre, turning right onto the A413. Turning right, onto the road to Granborough, following this to the junction towards East Claydon. Race will start along this road turning right upon entering East Claydon; this is the circuit proper, towards Gawcott. Follow this road to the T-junction where turning right.
At T-junction turn left again towards Gawcott. At Gawcott turn left towards Chardon/Calvert. At the crossroads at Charndon turn left towards Botolph Claydon. At Botolph Claydon turn left towards East Claydon, the race will finish outside the Village Hall again after completing 5 laps. Arctic Premier hill prize, at Signal Hill before Gawcott, Phil Corley Cycles sprint, on the finish line. Feed zone west of the entrance to Claydon House on the road between Calvert and Botolph Claydon.
SUNDAY 4 MAY
10.30 ROAD RACE 140km
Will again start at Winslow and follow the same route to East Claydon but turn left and go through the Village. At Botolph Claydon turn left towards Edgcott/Quainton. Follow road to Shipton Lee where turn left towards Quainton, follow this road through Quainton until reaching the crossroads and turn left towards Oving, after Oving turn left on to the North Marston/Granborough road and follow until turning left back on to the road towards East Claydon. Race will again finish at East Claydon after 6 laps. Arctic Premier Hill climb will be on Pitchcott Hill, Phil Corley Cycles sprint will be on the finish line. Feed zone by Holborn Hill Farm, near Oving.
PRIZES Prizes to exceed £2,000, to be specified on the day
MAPS Download maps at www.plowmancraven.co.uk/news
Changing Rooms and Signing On (each day 30 minutes before start) will take place at Winslow Adult Education Centre, Park Road, Wilnslow MK18 3DL
Finish is located outside The East and Botolph Claydon Village Hall, Botyl Road, Botolph Claydon MK18 2LR for all 3 stages. There is plenty of off-road parking in a large field opposite the Hall. Strictly no parking in village or on approaching roads.
A time bonus of 15,10 and 5 seconds will be awarded to the first three riders on the completion of each road stage (excluding Time Trial).
KOM points of 5,3 and 1 points for the first three riders will be awarded on top of Signal Hill (Saturday) and Pitchcott Hill (Sunday) for every lap and is sponsored by Arctic Air Conditioning and Premier Cycles.
Sprint points of 5,3 and 1 points will be awarded for the first three riders at the finish line each lap on both days and is sponsored by Phil Corley Cycles (not on the chequered flag lap).
