PHOTOS FROM RICHARD ROBOTHAM
PHOTOS FROM LARRY HICKMOTT
Revolution 18 - Night of the Rainbow Jerseys
Source: British Cycling; Event Date: 17 Nov 2007
Words by Eddie Allen | Pictures by Larry Hickmott
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Rainbow jerseys galore at Revolution 18. L-R, Franco Marvulli, Thierry Jollet, Christian Lyte, Peter Mitchell, David Daniell, Kristina Vogel, Juan Llaneras and Bradley Wiggins.
Another chilly Saturday evening in autumn and the second of the 2007/08 Revolutions. Now in its 18th edition, Revolution has established a momentum all of its own and has become a real social occasion for track cycling fans. Whilst Revolution 17 suffered slightly in clashing with the Rugby World Cup final, Manchester Velodrome was thronged with spectators for Revolution 18, many arriving an hour early to beat the queues, sample the cappuccinos and the hot dogs at the various outlets around the concourse and generally soak up the atmosphere.
A full house glued to the night's action
Each edition of the Revolution track series has its own theme and this edition belonged to endurance riders and World Champions. The boards of Manchester were awash with rainbow stripes with Juan Llaneras, Franco Marvulli, Thierry Jollet, Kristina Vogel, Christian Lyte, Dave Daniell and Pete Mitchell, plus a certain Mr Wiggins, all turning up to wow the crowds.
Alongside this rainbow festooned smorgasbord of talent, there was a equally large side order of Future Stars. With Katie Fearnehough and Dan Maclay both having a strong showing in last month's season opener, competition promised to be fierce.
Just to keep the fast-twitch muscle fans happy, there were also a smattering of sprint events throughout the programme, with three-up and team sprinting on the cards a mouthwatering faceoff between GB, Germany, France and GB's Olympic Development Programme riders, plus the Women's Sprint Team Omnium. As always, Hugh Porter MBE was the voice of the Revolution.
Terry Dolan is presented with a peice of the old track and certificate by Velodrome Manager Jarl Walsh after donating lots of new bikes for the Velodrome. The old ones will go to schools and other needy kids who want to get into cycling.
Elite Motor Paced Scratch Race 5km
The Motor Paced Scratch race gave the crowds a taste of Six Day style. With all the night's endurance riders on the track, it proved to be a great event opener. The highlight was Wiggins, on his all white and Union flag bedecked Dolan, moving from back to front to pat the Derny pilot on the back. However, crowd pleaser Marvulli took the win with a major surge from the middle of the pack and celebrated in style kisses from the podium girls and flowers tossed into the crowd.
A Whiter Shade of Pale: Bradley Wiggins' very special Dolan track bike 'pimped' up for the Gent six and only days old when Brad rode at Rev 18.
Revolution Womens Sprint Team Omnium - 200m TT
Highlight of the flying 200 was Laura Trott's spirited high cadence 12.107 effort which drew a huge roar of support from the crowds. Becki James produced similar decibel levels and a hot 11.944. However, best was left to last as Kristina Vogel brought a bit of rainbow coloured class to the event and produced an all too easy looking 11.885 and the win.
DHL Future Stars Devil - Boys
The Devil gave Future Stars leader Dan Maclay (pictured right with Guy Elliot of DHL) the first opportunity to defend his lead. Never mind the hindmost, the Devil took the chain of Rich Forrest moments after the gun. However the real story was the strength and cohesiveness of Maclay's East Midlands region trio, who worked as a unit to protect their interests, with Atkins sacrificing for a clever and well executed Maclay win.
Revolution Sprint Round 1
Highlights from the first round included a shock for World Champ Christian Lyte, eliminated by the wall of muscle that was French junior Charlie Conord. Josh Hargreaves held off a fierce challenge from the giant German Kanzler while Pete Mitchell produced a storming over-the-top win after Fischer nearly crept away with it.
DHL Future Stars 1 Mile Dash - Girls
The Dash was the first chance for overall leader Katie Fearnehough to extend her lead in the Future Stars points competition. However Ella Hopkins stole the early limelight, coming over the line first, punching the air.
Revolution Womens Sprint Team Omnium Round 1
A pride bruising low speed slip off the track from Laura Trott initially held up proceedings. When things restarted, Varnish and Welte gave the crowd a trackstanding masterclass on the way to an impressive win by the GB rider. Trott rejoined for her rescheduled match with Delev but was squeezed out by the German. World Junior sprint Champion Kristina Vogel had Becki James for company in the final heat and James gave the German World Champ the slip early on. However James went too early and was overcome by Vogel.
Revolution Sprint Semi Finals
An all-French face off opened the semis with Conord upsetting the apple cart by beating his rainbow striped compatriot. GB's Mitchell and Hargreaves met in the next heat and split the crowd allegiance in two. Hargreaves must have thought he had it in the bag (and nearly did) until Mitchell's front wheel appeared in his peripheral vision
Elite 10km Scratch Race
The endurance thoroughbreds made a welcome return to the track for one of the highlight events of the evening. Everyone's eyes were on crowd puller Bradley Wiggins and crowd pleaser Chris Newton who made an early break to wake up the field and provoke the first real split in the race, which contained Wiggins, Llaneras and a brace of 100% Me riders. The breakaway group gained a lap, forcing the remainder to leave the track for the final sprint. In the end Wiggins looked set for victory but just couldn't get around the outside of 100% Me's aptly named Ben Swift.
Between events, Bradley Wiggins was a popular target for autograph hunters.
DHL Future Stars 5K Scratch Race - Girls
Background music accompanied all of the Future Stars events and added excitement and glitz to the Girls scratch race. Revolution is so much more than a track racing meet it's a social occasion, a night out, a winter warmer. There was even a hen party in the crowd who got name checked during the opening stages of the race, which was taken in fine style by Harriet Owens in a solo attack, or so it seemed until a lap counting mixup caused Harriet to sit up in apparent victory, only to hear the bell and see the pack surge past her a lap later. Much furrowing of brows ensued for a few minutes. Eventually, justice was done and Owen was crowned winner, much to the pleasure of the crowd.
Revolution Womens Sprint Omnium Round 2
Varnish continued her steamroller performance in round two, beating Delev in a no nonsense muscular performance. Trott and Vogel's heat was a complete contrast of low speed cat and mouse, Vogel trying to force Laura to take the front. Eventually Trott took it on and looked promising, but Vogel had too much power in the end and took the victory. The final heat saw Becky James face Hannah Welte with the GB rider easily taking victory.
DHL Future Stars 1 Mile Dash Boys
After a polished victory for Maclay in the first Future Stars event, expectation was high in the 1 mile dash. NW region's Chris Whorral took the victory. However, Dan Maclay was there taking a respectable fourth place and consolidate his overall points lead.
1km Madison Time Trial
The Downing brothers opened what is possibly the most thrilling of the Revolution's signature events. The pocket powerhouses whipped up the crowd and threw down an early marker of 1.01.633. Keisse and Schep were next and brought a bit of Six Day glitz and a sub 1 minute ride. It didn't stand for long, with an electrifying 57.896 from Ben Swift and Johnny Bellis. Even the classy pairing of Llaneras and Marvulli couldn't depose the Swift and Bellis pairing. The awesome pairing of Wiggins and Newton were last up and tension was palpable. However it was to be the young guns' day, with Swift and Bellis keeping the top spot.
Revolution Sprint - Losers 6 Lap Dash 1.5km
The six lap dash provided an opportunity to rescue some pride for the 10 eliminated riders, with a thrilling sprint between Daniell and Lyte, with Lyte edging the victory.
3-Up 3km Team Pursuit Challenge BC Academy vs Spain
The team pursuit challenge was a real showcase for the GB Academy riders, taking on the senior riders from Spain. In a decidedly one sided affair, the GB riders took a second out of the Spanish in the early laps and were almost on the same straight before the first km was up. And the demolition job didn't stop, the GB riders right on their tail of the Spanish as they crossed the line a gentle reminder of the rising force that is the 100% Me squad.
L-R: Peter Kennaugh, Jonny Bellis and Andy Tennant.
Revolution Sprint - Final
Mitchell faced the mountain Conord in the sprint final and despite a brave opening stab was overcome by the sheer power of the French junior rider.
DHL Future Stars Devil - Girls
All eyes were on Katie Ferniehough, who had slipped to fourth in the overall standings. Corrine Hall led overall after a strong performance in the previous two events. Fearnehough began to show signs of weakness mid race, hovering dangerously close to elimination and eventually succumbing to the devil. Rival Corrine Hall survived the eliminator and contested the sprint, which was easily won by Greenfield. However, Hall's percentage race kept her riding high in the overall standings.
Revolution Womens Sprint Team Omnium - Round 3
Trott and Welte were once again trackstanding and out psyching each other in the 3rd round. At the bell Trott unloaded with her signature style, head bobbing with each high revving pedal stroke. Welte was left to watch Laura's back tyre crossing the line. The crowd was suitably pleased.
A strong GB team performance sealed the deal whilst triple World Junior Womens Sprint Champion Kristina Vogel joins them after winning the her events. L-R, Jess Varnish, Becky James, Vogel, and Laura Trott with the Strawberry Promotion girls Helen and Paula on each end.
Becki James and Charlen Delev were up next with the crowd hoping for a second consecutive home win. They weren't disappointed as James, smooth and assured, took the win by a few bike lengths.
Vogel and Varnish were last to go with the crowd hoping for a GB clean sweep. However, the World Champion was too strong on the night and held Varnish off. However, the GB team had done enough to win the Omnium overall.
DHL Future Stars 5K Scratch Race - Boys
The climax of the Future Stars Boys competition saw Maclay still heading the overall points situation. The East Midlands rider was never far from the front in a race that stayed together until three to go when Central's Sandy King got away briefly before being caught at the bell. Right on cue Maclay and his henchman Atkins hit the front and forced a photo finish with Chris Whorral from the Isle of Man taking the win. East Midlands team work was continuing the pay off with Maclay finishing Revolution 18 with his overall lead intact.
Revolution 20km Points Race
The penultimate event was what most people had been waiting for with world class endurance talent filling the track all the way from the black line to the perimeter fence. With a wish list of tactically astute and mega talented riders on track it was always going to be points feast. Newton and Marvulli started the race as ones to watch, amongst others.
However a breakaway group of four riders containing Alex Dowsett and Russell Downing spoiled the party early on, with Dowsett taking the first sprint. However it didn't take Newton long to take the race by the scruff of its neck, breaking away with Tauler and David O'Loughlin and taking the next sprint, gaining a lap and the lead jointly with O'Loughlin. Marvulli immediately responded with a heroic solo lunge and took the next sprint.
O'Loughlin found the strength to come through to the head of the field to take the 3 points and the overall lead. Newton wasn't going to let O'Loughlin slip and broke away with Schep, Marvulli et al. The peloton saw the danger and quickly reeled the escapers back. The shelling out began with 32 laps to go, with two riders retiring as the unrelenting pace and the night's packed racing schedule taking its toll.
Tauler, third overall then broke away with two other riders with a four man chasing group containing Newton in hot pursuit. Newton took one point and stretched his overall lead over David O'Loughlin. Keisse persisted with a breakaway for a few laps before the penultimate sprint, taken in assured style by Newton. With Newton seven points ahead of O'Loughlin, victory was assured, making the final sprint a formality as far as the victory was concerned. However, O'Loughlin still had work to do to keep his second place from Tauler just 4 points behind. At the line Tauler did enough to steal the 2nd place, level on points but snatching the victory due to his higher placing in the final sprint.
Revolution Team Sprint
With the Revolution crowd more used to seeing the big guns of Hoy, Tournant, Maclean, Bauge, Staff, Queally and co contesting the team sprint, it was a refreshing change to see the upcoming riders showcased in the concluding event. First up, Mitchell, Hill and Bremner took on the German squad. However, the ODP squad splintered and were easily beaten by the Germans.
The second heat and final event of the evening saw Lyte, Daniell and Hargreaves stack up against the French squad. The second GB squad fared better running the French close, but in the end victory just slipped away.
The winning French team grab the limelight