2005 British Cycling Track Championships
Day 3; Wednesday, October 5, 2005; Manchester Velodrome
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Open 20kms Scratch Race Final 
Above: A new generation of champions, Mark Cavendish (Silver), Geraint Thomas (Gold) and Ben Swift (Bronze).
This to begin with was a gradual winding up of the pace, riders taking it in turns to go to the front and gradually increase the pace. For 20 or so laps the pace continued to rise and the group although not on the rivet, was lined out with the riders looking comfortable. Then the flame was lit by Chris Newton and Rob Hayles among others and suddenly the pace went through the roof and the field started to splinter.
At one point, there were three groups on the track and two of the favourites, Ed Clancy and Steve Cummings were marooned in the back group. The field did regroup but at the midpoint the pace of the race was brutal and one by one, riders were dropping off the back and out of the race. Medallists from previous years, no reputations were spared as the front of the race tore up the track.
Then with around 40 to go, the field split into two, with riders of the calibre of Paul Manning and Bryan Taylor just two of the many in the back group. At the front, riders were taking it in turns to attack, Chris Newton very prominent but the strength of the top riders was such that no-one was getting far.
It wasn't until around 8 to go that Steve Cummings attacked, taking Ed Clancy with him. It was one of two or three such efforts by Cummings where he gave it everything and although they got a gap, once the chase gathered momentum --, the front group splitting in the process -- the two leaders were brought back.
As they were Geraint Thomas seemed to drift off the front in the home straight with five laps to go, saw the gap and stepped on the gas. The former World Junior Scratch race champion didn't need more of an invitation and he quickly opened up a gap. Riders behind panicked and chased but were making no impression and with two laps to go, the chasers sat up.
Thomas carried on, almost lapping them by the time he crossed the line, arm aloft in triumphant fashion after a awesome ride to stay away in the final. Behind, it was the new generation of riders who dominated the sprint, Under 23 Academy rider Mark Cavendish coming second from new Under 23 Academy rider Ben Swift and yet another from the Academy Ed Clancy in fourth. That was some finish!
Geraint Thomas: "I had good form coming out of the road worlds but I picked up a cold straight after the worlds and then I just went straight onto the track trying to get my legs back. I kind of dug myself in a hole a bit so I decided to give the Points race a rest and just fully recover for this and it seemed to
work."
Asked did he mean to attack at he end, Geraint replied "No. I wasn't feeling any good all race and when Steve (Cummings) went, he really went, and it was really strung out. When he was caught they all swung up and I popped through, not really attacking. When I saw the gap, I just went full gas and when I saw five to go, I thought its going to be a long one but luckily they sat up."
Not only was this his first senior title but his first since he was an under 16 rider although he did win the World Junior title on his way to the senior ranks. "I have mainly had an up and down season, mainly on the floor (reference to his numerous crashes) but I seemed to have bounced back pretty quickly."
Geraint will now have a busy winter on the track, World Cups and the Commonwealth Games before he settles back in with the Under 23 Academy with a new crop of teammates. "I'm really looking forward to that. All the lads coming in are really talented and are going to be pushing me to be team leader. I'm really looking forward to going to Italy and working with Max who has a lot of experience. I want to keep pushing for that pro contract really".
Part of that has come in riding in Germany for the last couple of months and he says that "its been really good, riding 1.1's week in, week out. Like after the Tour of Britain I did four 1.1's in two weeks and they really brought me on. And in all the races I was doing, I was probably the youngest rider as well. It was really good to toughen me up spending five hours suffering in the gutter."
Next I spoke to Mark Cavendish, winning his first senior national individual track medal who was disappointed with his Points race ride but said of the silver medal behind Academy team mate Geraint Thomas, "yeah, it was alright". "I was a bit sceptical about my chances because I did the Pursuit before hand and I'm knackered now after the week I have had. The Scratch was okay and I'm pleased for Geraint - he took his opportunity and did what he usually does and won."
Asked how hard that final section of the race was, he replied (surprisingly), "the last half weren't that hard. It was just a case of making sure I was at the front and every time I swung up after a turn, I came back in 5th or 6th wheel. I didn't mind doing extra turns just to make sure I was in the front split
because it was always going to split and I think the lads geared up so they could do that."
Asked about the coming months, he explained "I won't have much of a break because I have some sixes coming up in a couple of weeks. I think I have my leg speed back and this week has done me a lot of good with the leg speed. It's a shame there are no tracks on the Isle of Man to keep it going before the sixes. I haven't been home for a long time so I'll be doing that for a short time to spend some time with Melissa and that."
Result
1. Geraint THOMAS Team Wiesenhof
2. Mark CAVENDISH Team Sparkasse
3. Ben SWIFT J.E.James RT
4. Ed CLANCY Team Sparkasse
5. Chris NEWTON Recycling-Litespeed
6. Thomas WHITE UVCA Troyes
7. Adam BLYTHE Pinarello RT
8. Mark KELLY City of Edinburgh RC
9. Peter KENNAUGH Manx RC
10. Steve CUMMINGS Landbrouwkredit
11. Steven BURKE Sportscity Velo
Race time 24 minutes 3 seconds
Above: Steve Cummings attacked several times with devastating effect, this one with Ed Clancy late on proved to be the launch pad for Geraint Thomas who slipped away when Cummings was caught.
Above: World Madison champion Mark Cavendish despite riding the pursuit shortly before the Scratch race, still had enough to finish second from Ben Swift and Ed Clancy, Cavendish's teammate in German squad Team Sparkasse.
Womens Elite 15km Points Race
Nicole Cooke in another champion's jersey with Kate Cullen (Silver, left), Rachel Heal (Bronze) and the Mayor of Manchester (right).
Another strong field was assembled for this race including two of the medallists from the Scratch race the night before in Rachel Heal and Nicole Cooke. The latter was keen to continue her learning experience as she got reacquainted with racing on the track and Nicole's best form of defence was to as always, attack!
Like the Mens race the night before, the riders wound the pace up in the early laps and in the first sprint, Nicole Cooke won this quite easily and then not content with that, decided to carry on as she attacked, taking Rachel Heal with her. The alarm bells rang in the bunch behind and all credit to them as they chased down two of the countries top female riders, riders who are also among the best in the World.
The next sprint was won by Kate Cullen who was clearly Nicole Cooke's closest rival in a race decided in sprints. Although the race was not as aggressive as the Scratch race, the riders content to wait for sprints every 10 laps, there were still riders other than Cooke happy to have a go at trying to get away and gain a lap. Young Claire Dixon was one, Laura Bissell too, and Rachel Heal another. But Cooke wasn't only dominant in the sprints, she also took on the role of enforcer in the chase group and continually closed gaps.
At one point in the race, midway through, Bissell got away with Nicole Cooke and Jo Tindley joined them to create a strong trio. More riders came across including Rachel Heal and Claire Dixon but even with Cooke and a host of talented riders at the front, there were still plenty of strong legs behind and a lap on the front by Clare Gross saw the race come back together.
The big surprise came with around six to go when Nicole Cooke, quite dominate in the race sprints, attacked with six to go and stayed out front for three laps before being pulled back but the effort hadn't done any major damage and she still managed to win the final sprint and yet another national title.
Afterwards, the smile said it all as she showed her pleasure at having won the title. "It was nice to add to my youth titles on the track." I put it to her that she had been very dominant out there. "I chose to ride like that knowing it was a British Championship but for sure I need to race at a higher level and
learn although the craft to win at that level. I learned a lot from yesterday, knowing how they move and ride, was pretty important for my race."
After seeing a crash in the closing stages, I asked Nicole how the riding was in the group? "I think it was a good level of riding all round. I was quite surprised there was a crash but I know I was starting to feel tired so may be that was the same for others."
Result
1. Nicole COOKE Safi-Pasta Zara 43 pts
2. Kate CULLEN City of Edinburgh RC 25 pts
3. Rachel HEAL Team Sats 15 pts
4. Jo TINDLEY VC de Londres 6 pts
5. Katie CURTIS Cardiff Ajax CC 3 pts
6. Laura BISSELL Team Fat Birds UK 2 pts
7. Brenda PENNELL Raleigh ERV 1 pts
8. Clare GROSS Team Fat Birds UK 0 pts
9. Kim YOUNG CC Giro 0 pts
10. Charlotte GOLDSMITH Team Vlaanderen 0 pts
11. Femke van SCHELVEN Fat Birds UK 0 pts
12. Lizzy GOODBAND Team Fat Birds UK 0 pts
13. Jacqui MARSHALL VC St Raphael -19 pts
Above: Claire Dixon attacks in the Womens Points race. Claire was one of four riders to fall later on along with Nikki Harris, Amy Hunt and a Raleigh rider.
Above: Nicole Cooke wins another sprint from her closest challenge Kate Cullen.
Mens 4000 metre Individual Pursuit 
All smiles on the podium for the Mens Pursuit and two of the Worlds best, Rob Hayles (a Worlds silver and bronze medallist in previous years) finishes with silver to Paul Manning ( a best of 4th in the Worlds, 2003) and Michael Hutchinson (bronze).
Paul Manning won his second gold of the championship catching Rob Hayles prior to them both changing bikes and riding the Scratch race. Asked of the two titles which he felt were the best, he agreed that the Points race was the best victory. "That was unexpected. I wouldn't bet on myself for next year but it was good! It was a bit of a disappointing turnout for the Pursuit really. It's a shame more young riders don't give it a go. I was quite tired doing most events, and didn't have any leg speed in that Scratch race."
RESULTS
1. Paul MANNING Recycling-Litespeed
2. Rob HAYLES Recycling-Litespeed
caught in 3.04.170
3. Michael HUTCHINSON API Metrow Heritage 4.32.397
4. Andrew TENNANT Fred Williams Cycles 4.35.265
5. Mark CAVENDISH Team Sparkasse 4.37.201
6. Graeme OBREE Fullerton Wheelers 4.41.788
7. Ian STANNARD TWC Pijnenburg 4.42.099
8. Robert PARTRIDGE Team Fujibikes UK 4.53.677
9. Andrew RUSSELL VC St Raphael 4.55.247
10. Scott BUDGEN Pearson Cycles 4.55.887
11. Thomas WHITE UVCA Troyes 4.56.444
12. Adam THOMSON Swindon RC 4.57.028
13. Steve BONNICI Team Economic Energy 5.05.497
14. Simon GAYWOOD CC Luton
15. Russell HAMPTON Glendene CC
16. Paul SHEPPARD Twmbarlwm Track Team
Above: Geraint Thomas with a late attack solo's to victory...
Above: Chris Newton did a lot of damage when he attacked and put the hammer down, but finished out of the Medals.
Above: Above: Rachel Heal meets the Mayor of Manchester.
Above: Paul Manning won the second of his two titles in the Pursuit.
Above: Rob Hayles was caught in the final of the pursuit
Above: Jason Kenny, denied a World Junior Keirin title at the Worlds this year by a dubious decision by the judges, takes on the seniors at the Nationals, pictured here battling with Marco Librizzi of Scotland
Above: Matthew Crampton comes around Dave Heald to win his quarter final.
Above: Scotland's young hope takes on Scotlands current star rider Craig Maclean, a former World Team Sprint champion and Olympic Silver medallist.
Above: Another of the many young hopes, Christain Lyte on his way to a victory in the sprint.
HEATS/EARLY ROUNDS
Mens Scratch Race Heats
Heat 1
1. Geraint THOMAS Team Wiesenhof
2. Peter KENNAUGH Manx RC
3. Mark CAVENDISH Team Sparkasse
4. Mark KELLY City of Edinburgh RC
5. Chris NEWTON Recycling-Litespeed
6. Tom SMITH CC Cardiff
7. Bryan TAYLOR VC de Londres @ 1 lap
8. James McCALLUM Trackcycling.co.uk
9. Dale APPLEBY Team Fujibikes UK
10. Adam BLYTHE Pinarello RT
11. Ross DINGLEY Halesowen A & CC
12. Philip WEST VC St Raphael
Race time 24 minutes 31 secs
Heat 2
1. Rob HAYLES Recycling-Litespeed
2. Ian STANNARD TWC Pijnenburg
3. Robert PARTRIDGE Team Fujibikes UK
4. Steven BURKE Sportscity Velo
5. Ben SWIFT J.E.James RT
6. Ed CLANCY Team Sparkasse
7. Anthony STIRRATT City of Edinburgh RC
8. Paul MANNING Recycling-Litespeed
9. Thomas WHITE UVCA Troyes
10. Ben HALLAM Team DFL
11. Steve CUMMINGS Landbrouwkredit
12. Ross CROOK Edinburgh RC @ 1 lap
Race time 24 minutes 34 secs
SPRINT HEATS (MEN & WOMEN)
Women Sprint
Qualifying 200m TT
1. Victoria PENDLETON scienceinsport.com 11.418 63.058 38.718
Championship Record
2. Lorna WEBB Team Fat Birds UK 11.972 60.140 36.926
3. Janet BIRKMYRE Twickenham CC 12.587 57.202 35.122
4. Becky FIGGITT Plomesgate CC 12.943 55.629 34.156
5. Lucy AYRES Sportscity Velo 13.017 55.312 33.962
6. Sian RICHARDSON CC Cardiff 13.112 54.912 33.716
7. Siobhan MULLAN Raleigh ERV 13.156 54.728 33.603
8. Carol SCOTT City of Edinburgh RC 13.698 52.562 32.273
9. Jayne TOYNE VC de Londres 14.117 51.002 31.315
10. Julie DOMINGUEZ Musselburgh RCC 14.620 49.248 30.238
11. Femke van SCHELVEN Fat Birds UK 14.634 49.200 30.209
ROUND 1
Heat 1
1. Victoria PENDLETON scienceinsport.com
Ride Over
Heat 2
1. Lorna WEBB Team Fat Birds UK
2. Femke van SCHELVEN Team Fat Birds UK
15.15 time
Heat 3
1. Janet BIRKMYRE Twickenham CC
2. Julie DOMINGUEZ Musselburgh RCC
14.132 time
Heat 4
1. Becky FIGGITT Plomesgate CC
2. Jayne TOYNE VC de Londres
13.956 time
Heat 5
1. Lucy AYRES Sportscity Velo
Ride Over
Heat 6
1. Siobhan MULLAN Raleigh ERV
2. Sian RICHARDSON CC Cardiff
13.325 time
1st Round Repechage Result
Heat 1
1. Sian RICHARDSON CC Cardiff
2. Jayne TOYNE VC de Londres
14.521 time
Heat 2
1. Julie DOMINGUEZ Musselburgh RCC
2. Femke van SCHELVEN Fat Birds UK
14.772 time
Mens Open Sprint
Tandems
1. Anthony KAPPES Yasumitsu Schlapp 10.604
Barney STOREY VC St Raphael
World Paralympic Record
Solos
1. Craig MacLEAN Unattached 10.248 70.258 43.911
Championship record2. Matthew CRAMPTON Sportscity Velo 10.611 67.854 42.409
3. Ross EDGAR VC St Raphael 10.697 67.309 42.068
4. Jon NORFOLK Team TrackCycling. 10.852 66.347 41.467
5. Marco LIBRIZZI City of Edinburgh 10.896 66.079 41.300
6. Jason KENNY Sportscity Velo 10.921 65.928 41.205
7. Robin THOMPSON Team TrackCycling.c 11.109 64.812 40.508
8. Anthony GILL Fox's Cycles 11.347 63.453 39.658
9. Graeme STEEN City of Edinburgh 11.399 63.163 39.477
10. David HEALD VC St Raphael 11.412 63.091 39.432
11. Shane CHARLTON City of Edinburgh R 11.662 61.739 38.587
12. Rhys THOMAS Twmbarlwm Track Team11.715 61.460 38.412
13. Joseph TROUGHTON Newark Castle CC 11.720 61.433 38.396
14. Gwyn CARLESS Yasumitsu Schlapp 11.726 61.402 38.376
15. Christian LYTE Sportscity Velo 11.732 61.371 38.357
16. Rhydian PAGE Twmbarlwm Track Team11.836 60.831 38.020
17. Jamie STREATHER VC St Raphael 11.864 60.688 37.930
18. Anthony STIRRAT City of Edinburgh R 11.889 60.560 37.850
19. Stefan CWIKLINSKI Yasumitsu Schlapp 11.966 60.170 37.607
20. James GRIFFIN Yasumitsu Schlapp 11.997 60.015 37.509
21. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC 12.025 59.875 37.422
22. Michael PARTRIDGE CC Cardiff 12.037 59.816 37.385
23. Douglas NORTHCOTT Team Taylor 12.180 59.113 36.946
24. Peter BOYD VC St Raphael 12.205 58.992 36.870
25. Stefan COLLINS Yasumitsu Schlapp 12.306 58.508 36.568
26. David JACK Twickenham CC 12.439 57.882 36.177
27. Joby INGRAM DODD Yasumitsu Schlapp 12.553 57.357 35.848
28. Rick WADDON VC St Raphael 13.072 55.080 34.425
B Sprint 1st Round Result
Heat 1
1Gwyn CARLESS Yasumitsu Schlapp
2Stefan COLLINS Yasumitsu Schlapp
12.332
Heat 2
1. Christian LYTE Sportscity Velo
2. Peter BOYD VC St Raphael
13.036
Heat 3
1. Rhydian PAGE Twmbarlwm Track Team
2. Douglas NORTHCOTT Team Taylor
12.156
Heat 4
1. Jamie STREATHER VC St Raphael
2. Michael PARTRIDGE CC Cardiff
12.522
Heat 5
1. Anthony STIRRAT City of Edinburgh RC
2. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC
12.682
Heat 6
1. Stefan CWIKLINSKI Yasumitsu Schlapp
Open Sprint 1st Round Result
Heat 1
1. Craig MacLEAN Unattached
2. Joseph TROUGHTON Newark Castle CC
12.109 time
Heat 2
1. Matthew CRAMPTON Sportscity Velo
2. Rhys THOMAS Twmbarlwm Track Team
11.615 time
Heat 3
1. Ross EDGAR VC St Raphael
2. Shane CHARLTON City of Edinburgh RC
12.209 time
Heat 4
1. Marco LIBRIZZI City of Edinburgh RC
2. David HEALD VC St Raphael
11.989 time
Heat 5
1. Jason KENNY Sportscity Velo
2. Graeme STEEN City of Edinburgh RC
11.64 time
Heat 6
1. Robin THOMPSON Team TrackCycling
2. Anthony GILL Fox's Cycles
12.166 time
B Sprint
1st Round Repechage Result
Heat 1
1. Michael PARTRIDGE CC Cardiff
2. Stefan COLLINS Yasumitsu Schlapp
12.381 time
WARNING to both riders for consistently riding
on the Cote d?Azur
Heat 2
1. Douglas NORTHCOTT Team Taylor
2. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC
3. Peter BOYD VC St Raphael
12.367 time
Open Sprint 1st Round Repechage Result
Heat 1
1. David HEALD VC St Raphael
2. Joseph TROUGHTON Newark Castle CC
3. Anthony GILL Fox's Cycles
11.783 time
Heat 2
1. Shane CHARLTON City of Edinburgh RC
2. Graeme STEEN City of Edinburgh RC
3. Rhys THOMAS Twmbarlwm Track Team
12.279 time
Quarter Finals
B Sprint Quarter Finals Result
Q/F A Match A Match B
1. Gwyn CARLESS Yasumitsu Schlapp 12.081 12.772
2. Douglas NORTHCOTT Team Taylor
Q/F B Match A Match B
1. Christian LYTE Sportscity Velo 11.887 12.176
2. Michael PARTRIDGE CC Cardiff
Q/F C Match A Match B
1. Stefan CWIKLINSKI Yasumitsu Schlapp 12.928 12.496
2. Rhydian PAGE Twmbarlwm Track Team
Q/F D Match A Match B
1. Anthony STIRRAT City of Edinburgh RC 12.282 12.232
2. Jamie STREATHER VC St Raphael