Matt Stephens: The Lincoln Grand Prix

 

Story posted May 13, 2008

By Matt Stephens

Link: Team Website | British Cycling Lincoln Report

 

Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful CT rider Matt Stephens, who has been one of the sport’s heros over the years with awesome  rides in World Championships and Grand Tours not to mention British championships, has written the following report on his team's Lincoln Grand Prix.

Matt and Tom Barras attack the peloton late in the race....

 

The Lincoln Grand Prix
In the glorious May sunshine and with the Cathedral bells chiming, we (being myself, Rob, Neil, James, Wouter, Dan, Mike, Andy and James) rolled out with the other 138 riders taking part in this years event. As always, and primarily due to the nature of the course and size of field, the Lincoln is always a nervous race, especially for the first few laps anyway.

 

No doubt the main instruction from managers and team leaders to their riders from every team would have been, "Stay near the front!" With nearly each rider trying to follow this instruction it makes for a fast and rather hairy opening few laps.

 

I was feeling ok with my form slowly but steadily increasing each race. The team were all clearly motivated for the event especially since we had Rob Sharman on board for the first time this year. Over the first few laps the bunch stayed together but I was feeling a little jaded, my legs seemingly lacking in power. However I stayed focussed and made sure I rode in the top 20 as much as I could.

Matt and his pre-race team talk ....

 

It was great to see so many team mates riding close and in good positions- the team talk must have worked! Third time up the infamous Michaelgate, (a 1 in 6 cobbled climb through historic Lincoln) which was lined with cheering spectators from bottom to top, I got myself into a good position, leading at the bottom.

 

At this point, I knew I wasn't feeling great but thought I could give myself some ‘sliding space’ on the climb. By the top, about 12 guys had passed me and it was flat out over the top and round the cobbled plateau through the finish. Here I started to lose the wheel in front so Malc Elliot came round me -- he couldn't close the 20 metre gap either -- and we found ourselves distanced by a crack group containing Chris Newton, the Downings, Simon Richardson and Tom Southam amongst a few others.

 

I dug really deep but just couldn't force it enough. That group then forged clear and built up a 20 second lead heading out of Lincoln. With no-one in the move, Rob and I called for the team to hit the front which they did in style. We were joined in our efforts to close the gap by a Dutch team and Plowman Craven. Although I was cheesed at missing the move, I was quite proud to see the lads in full flow, hammering on the front and lining out the peloton.

Matt riding the cobbles ip Michaelgate

 

For two laps we chased and held the break at around 30 to 40 seconds. Coming to the climb for lap 5, I sat in and tried to save myself to make some efforts over the top. The team got me into a great position at the foot of the climb and I managed to ride away up the climb just behind a very strong Simon Gaywood of Plowman. We closed to within around 15 seconds on the climb but just didn't have enough to shut it down.

 

By now I was starting to feel like myself, so for around a lap, I just continually attacked the by now depleted bunch until I went clear on the flat just after the descent with Tom Barras, Marcin Bialbaloki of Sports Beans, Graham Briggs and Ryan Bonser from Rapha and Halford's Rob Hayles.

 

James was unlucky not to join me in this move having been with Graham Briggs when he got across- unfortunately he had a mechanical which meant a bike change. The front group was now down to six and we had already absorbed the guys dropped a lap earlier. Working well we soon opened a gap of over a minute on the bunch and slowly ate into the lead of the leaders.

 

Conscious of the heat, I kept on drinking to avoid cramps and tried to keep the gears lowish. Over the climb the next few times, I knocked it into the 39 x 23 and sat down on  the last part of the climb, trying to keep the revs high whilst avoiding overzealous photographers sat on the edge of the kerb, encroaching on the precious smooth sections each rider frantically tries to get their tyres purchased on to avoid the strength sapping cobbles.

 

The crowd was phenomenal- a wall of noise that literally carried you through the finish area on a crest of an adrenaline rush. Over the last couple of laps, my legs felt strong and I was able to do my part in keeping our group clear. Into the bell lap, Malc Elliott and Irish Olympic hopeful David McCann of Giant Asia bridged across to us giving us extra impetus.

 

We could see the break up the road which had now split in two. With 4km to go,  McCann attacked and took Hayles with him- I tried to bridge across but couldn't make it. Into the climb for the final time, Tom Barras attacked early after sitting on (under instruction) with Elliott close behind him. I gave it everything last time up and ended up an utterly spent 12th place.

 

An impressive Russ Downing took yet another fine victory from his brother Dean with Simon Richardson of Plowman rounding out the podium places. Andy got into a small chase group a couple of minutes back and finished a solid 18th. Unlucky James finished strongly with Rob who without doubt will show in the next Premiers after hammering strongly on the front in the earlier part of the race.

 

Looking back, it was a solid performance by the team. It was the best we had ridden as a unit all year and should give us confidence going into the next batch of Premiers in early June. Every rider showed well and although not all finished they can be proud that they played their part. I'm coming into form and felt stronger as the race progressed.

 

I'm in a very similar position form wise to this time last year- I just hope I can keep building on it. By the way the entire team rode this race I'm confident that the best is still to come...

1. Russell Downing (Pinarello Racing Team) 3.16.05
2. Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Recycling) @ 0.03 seconds
3. Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven RT) 0.11

12. Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) 1.41
18. Andrew Bye (Sigmasport)
41. Robin Sharman (Sigmasport)
49. James Williamson (Sigmasport)