Revolution 21 International Track Open

November 15, 2008; Manchester Velodrome
Report: Eddie Allen | Photos: Larry Hickmott

Full Results - Revolution 21

PHOTO ALBUMS: Now available from the Gallery links at the top of the page. Gallery 1 (Elite Men), Gallery 2 (Elite Women), Gallery 3 (Future stars - Girls and Boys) and Gallery 4, the Sprint competitions.

The opening Revolution of the 2008/09 series was played out in front of a sell-out crowd eager to see our Olympic heroes in action. Bradley McGee’s swan song and the Endurance vs. Sprint 750 Metre clash were the highlights of a thrilling night’s racing. The pancakes were good too. Here's how the action panned out, race by race.

Bradley McGee Farewell

One of the Worlds great riders and certainly one of Australia's finest ever, Bradley McGee gets the farewell from fellow professionals and riders at Revolution 21.

There followed an emotional farewell to Australian superstar Bradley McGee who bowed out of competition at Revolution 21. A video compilation and a lap of honour completed with a ride through the ranked wheels of his fellow competitors was followed by an interview with commentator Hugh Porter, where Bradley looked back over his illustrious career.

While McGee hangs up his wheels, he’s not going far, becoming directeur sportif of CSC Saxo Bank. McGee junior was presented with a custom Dolan track bike and joined his dad on the track along with Brad’s family. A standing ovation from the Revolution crowd was a fitting goodbye to one of the biggest stars of the sport.

Bradley McGee and family pose for the cameras after a send off at Revolution 21 -- just one more race said Bradley...

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The opening race of the series, an unusual twist on the standard scratch race, was taken by Barloworld's Geriant Thomas. After the Derny peeled of it was a hot sprint which the classy Thomas winning ahead of a top field of riders, peppered with Beijing gold medallists and road legends.

Geraint Thomas, former Junior World Champion and now Olympic and World Champion as well as World and Olympic record holder (phew!) makes the win in the opening event look easy.

Above: Winner Thomas in third place behind the man in black, Chris Newton with Stuart O'Grady leading the string around behind Peter on the derny.

Stuart O'Grady and Jonny Bellis (and David Millar) share a joke during the race

Result

1. Geriant Thomas

2. Jonny McEvoy

3. Steven Burke

4. Luke Rowe

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DHL Future Stars Points Race – Girls

Above: With form like tonight's, Welsh wonder Ruby Miller had better get used to poses like this

With the first crop of Future Stars becoming World Champions, World Cup Winners and Olympic medallists it was time again to take a peek into the future of British track racing. In a fine ride it was Ruby Miller who took the victory, taking 2 sprint victories in a thrilling race capped off by a fine solo lunge on the final sprint by Hannah Layland.

Hannah Barnes beats Harriet Owen to the line during one of the sprints.

Ruby Miller wins a sprint on her way to overall victory in the race

Result

1. Ruby Miller Wales
2. Harriet Owen Central
3. Hannah Layland Yorkshire Region
4. Hannah Walker Eastern Region
5. Hannah Barnes East Midlands Region

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Revolution Sprint

Above: Eventual winner Matt Crampton was a class act on the night

Matt Crampton took victory in a fine display of sprinting, beating Sky+HD’s Ross Edgar. Here’s how the sprint competition unfolded.

Round 1

Olympic Gold medallist Jamie Staff opens his racing on the night with a victory.

In the first heat, Matt Crampton edged out Pete Mitchell to progress into the next round. Next up was Sky+HD’s Jamie Staff, pitted against Steven Hill of Brooks Cycles, with Staff giving Hill plenty of room before steam-rollering past to take the victory. In heat 3 Ross Edgar met the very stern opposition of Dave Daniell. The riders stayed high for much of the heat, shoulder to shoulder on the rail at the bell, before Edgar showed Daniell the way and took the heat. The final heat of round 1 saw Sky+HD’s Jason Kenny against Sport City Velo’s Christian Lyte, with Kenny taking his place in the next round.

Above: A bit of good old fashioned argy-bargy in the opening round as Ross Edgar keeps David Daniell pinned high on the track

Result

Through to Semi Final

Matt Crampton

Ross Edgar

Jamie Staff

Jason Kenny

Semi Final

Staff and Crampton treat the crowd in the back straight to a standstill

Crampton shows the Olympic champion the way home to go through to the final

Heat one saw the squat powerhouse of Jamie Staff face the rangier Matt Crampton. It was a slow, edgy, poker player start, with a track stand on the back straight to entertain the crowd. Crampton was forced into first wheel and Staff had him where he wanted him. However, Staff gave Crampton too much room and underestimated Matt’s ability to hold a high pace (obviously didn’t watch him in the Kierin in the recent World Cup). So Crampton progressed to the final.

Heat 2 saw a SKY+HD showdown between Edgar and Kenny. Kenny led out at the bell, but Edgar motored around the outside to give the photo finish guys something to do. A tense few moments followed after which Ross Edgar was confirmed as winner by a less than 1cm, joining Crampton in the Final.

Kenny and Edgar in the ruish for the line with Edgar getting the verdict by less than a centimetre.

Minor Final

Olympic Gold & Silver medallist Jason Kenny took the minor final and saved face, with a late charge after being boxed in. At one point he looked destined for 3rd place. However, he kept his cool, saw the opening and motored around the outside, clearly the classiest rider in a very classy bunch.

Result

3. Kenny

4. Daniell

5. Lyte

Final

Matt Crampton took a fine victory in the final sprint, opening the afterburners on the top rail, diving in behind Edgar and overhauling him on the back straight. Crampton surged ahead with every pedal stroke and took an easy victory.

Above: Matt celebrates a fine night's work

Result

1. Matt Crampton

2. Ross Edgar

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Elite Women’s Points Race

Alex Greenfield took the win in a fine performance from the GB endurance women, who dominated proceedings.

Above: Winner Alex Greenfield basks in the limelight

After a cagey start, Emma Trott was the first to show her hand with an early break, but was overwhelmed by the chasing group, with the tight first sprint taken by Lucy Martin - Alex Greenfield, Corrine Hall and Kate Calvert took the remaining points. Manderfield from the USA took the next sprint with Greenfield and Martin also scoring points. Jess Allen counter-attacked straight after the sprint but was quickly wound in. Jess Allen, Lucy Martin and Alex Greenfield made it a GB 1-2-3 in the next sprint, taking the race by the scruff of the neck. Greenfield carried on sprinting and pulled away, and was followed by fellow GB rider Allen. The GB move blew the race apart with Allen and Greenfield riding through and off and despite a big effort by Becki James, Greenfield took 5 points in the final sprint and with it the victory.

The quality of the women's racing can be seen by the line of riders across the track competing for points in the sprints.

American visitor Kacey Manderfield  getting to the line first in a sprint

Result

1. Alex Greenfield

2. Lucy Martin

3. Kacey Manderfield

4. Hannah Mayho

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DHL Future Stars Boys – 6 Lap Dash

Above: Make a mental note of that face - Sam Harrison who dominated the Future Stars at Revolution 21

A bunch sprint with around 25 riders was always going to be fun. With only 6 laps to wind up the pace, there was no room for cagey tactics, just full on speed. And on the night it was Sam Harrison who had it in abundance, winning the first Future Stars boys contest. 

The charge for the line starts with Sam Harrison about third back

In the end, a comfortable victory for the Welsh rider who is looking very much like a future star!

Result

1. Sam Harrison

2. Chris Nicholson

3. Simon Yates

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Elite Men’s Scratch Race

In his swan song event, Bradley McGee took the scratch race, getting into a decisive five man break away.

Peter Kennaugh leads Brad McGee

McGee takes the victory!

Rob Hayles was first to attack after ten laps joined by Magnier, but the field responded and kept the attack pegged. The decisive move came when Brad McGee attacked followed by Huddersfield’s Ed Clancy. Peter Kennaugh broke free and bridged the gap, closely followed by Alex Dowsett and US rider Guy East. All five linked up. Field began to get organised but it was too late- the five break away riders looked strong. But who would take the victory? Who had the sprinter’s legs? At the bell, McGee came over the top of Clancy and did enough to stay away and take the win on his final competitive outing before becoming CSC Saxo Bank’s directeur sportif.

Result

1. Bradley McGee CSC Saxo Bank
2. Ed Clancy Landbouwkrediet
3. Alex Dowsett 100% Me
4. Guy East USA
5. Pete Kennaugh 100% Me

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DHL Future Stars Girls – Scratch Race

Above: Harriet Owen who took the fight to Ruby Miller in the Girls' Future stars

The second Future Stars girls race was taken by Harriet Owen after an early lunge for home by Wales’ Ruby Miller, winner of the earlier points race. Were we witnessing the start of a ding dong battle between Owen and Miller? Tied on points after two events, it certainly looked like it.

Result

1. Harriet Owen – Central Region

2. Ruby Miller - Wales

3. Hannah Walker – Eastern Region

4. Laura Trott – Eastern Region

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DHL Future Stars Boys – Points Race

The 20 lap boys points race was won by Sam Harrison, who was taking the ‘Future Stars’ bit very seriously.

Harrison, who won the 6 lap dash earlier, led from the bell to take top points in the first sprint. Harrison continued his battling performance taking 3 points behind his Welsh teammate Owain Doull in sprint 2. Harrison came from way back to audaciously take the third sprint and carried on charging, going clear with Mark Baxter of the Central region. Despite looking completely exhausted with about 3 to go, he gathered his strength for a final lunge and took the final sprint, completely creaming the opposition. A star is born? Reckon so…

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Flying 750 Metre Sprint Challenge – Sprint vs Endurance

Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Geraint Thomas with Paula from the Strawberry Girls.

Above: Endurance riders winning a team sprint? Stuff and nonsense? Not at Revolution!

Geraint Thomas knows the time is hot, hot hot!

The highlight event of the night and another Revolution special, pitted GB’s crack Endurance and Sprint Squads head to head over a flying 750metres.

Above: Staff grimaces as he pulls along the Sky+HD freight train and looks to beat the time of the endurance boys --- not this time!

First up were the endurance guys. Steven Burke Man 1, Geriant Thomas Man 2, Ed Clancy on the anchor leg. The endurance team stopped the clock at 39.229 – an astonishing 42.776 mph! Could the sprinters, beat that? Surely they could…

But in a high drama, and not a little panto from self appointed endurance team manager Rob Hayles, who whipped up the crowd during his team’s effort, Staff – Edgar – Kenny  could only post a – 40.783, much to the chagrin of Jamie Staff, who looked like he’d found a penny and lost a pound.  Awesome and very, very funny.

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Elite Women’s Scratch Race

Above: Becky James, back after illness and in fine form

The second Elite Women’s event of the meeting was taken by 16 year old Becki James, back from illness, edging out Dani King and Alex Greenfield, all of whom overcame early challenger Kacey Manderfield, in a cagey race which left it all to the final few laps.

A real future star and still a junior recovering from illness, Becky James shows the rest home with a blistering finish.

Result

1. Becky James

2. Dani King

3. Alex Greenfield

4. Kacey Manderfield

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DHL Future Stars Girls 6 Lap Dash

An early crash marred the 6 lap dash, unsettling the bunch, but not for long. East Midland’s Lucy Garner took the win, with Ruby Miller taking valuable points to secure top position in the future stars contest.

Result

1. Lucy Garner 

2. Hannah Barnes 

3. Laura Trott

4. Ruby Miller

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1km Madison Time Trial

Winners! Steven Burke, Olympic Bronze medallist and Ed Clancy, Olympic Gold medallist

Above: Clancy hand slings Steven Burke on their way to a stunning 55.048 1km Madison TT

Clancy and Burke celebrate what they know will be the winning time!

Another Revolution signature event, which has provided thrilling racing the past –and tonight was no different. The US team of East and Carroll set the early mark of  59.613. Dan Maclay and Chris Whorral were next up and posted a 59.671. Johnny Bellis and Ben Swift failed to make a dent in the American benchmark.

However Hayles and Newton were up next and lit up the crowd with a 58.399 going first with only two teams to go. Next up the awesome pairing of Clancy and Burke. Burke was 6 tenths faster on the first lap and blew the race apart as the laps ticked by, eventually posting a remarkable 55.048. The Aussie pairing of McGee and O’Grady were last up but couldn't come anywhere near the astonishing form of Clancy and Burke.

Jonny Bellis is slung into the race by Ben Swift. The two riders who have finished 3rd and 4th in the Under 23 World Road Race Championships in the past two years, did not however challenge the leaders with fifth best time.

Stuart O'Grady leads Bradley McGee on their kilo attempt

Result

Ed Clancy Landbouwkrediet 55.048
Steven Burke 100% Me

Chris Newton Rapha Condor 58.399
Rob Hayles Halfords Bikehut

Guy East USA 59:613
Austin Carroll USA

Dan McLay Univega.co.uk 59.671
Chris Whorral Manx Road Club

Jonnny Bellis CSC Saxo Bank 59.947
Ben Swift 100% Me

Bradley McGee CSC Saxo Bank 60.156
Stuart O’Grady CSC Saxo Bank

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Elite Women’s Devil – Scratch

Above: Becki James using her killer sprint to good effect

Another interesting mongrel event – the Devil Scratch saw the first ten laps run as a devil take the hindmost followed by the remaining laps as a straight scratch race. First high profile victim was Jess Allen of GB – Emma Trott also succumbed to the devil before the tactical switch to scratch race mode. Predictably, things slowed down as riders took a breather before the final sprint. Greenfield, Sarah Reynolds and Manderfield broke away with around 4 laps to go. However it all came back together for the final bunch sprint. In the end Becki James took her second win of the night, using her strong sprint once more to great advantage.

American Kacey Manderfield takes up the sprint a lap out with James in third place and ready to pounce for another victory!

Result

1. Becky James

2. Lucy Martin

3. Kacey Manderfield

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DHL Future Stars Boys – Scratch

Kian Emadi won the final  Future Stars event of the night but Sam Harrison retained his leaders jersey at the end of the first Revolution. Josh Papworth of the East Midlands region was the first to inject the race pace provoking an instant reaction from the field. Next to put their heads above the parapet were Ben Dunn and Lewis Balyckyi, shooting clear at five to go.

The charge was on in earnest with Felix English overhauling the two escapers and dragging the rest of the field with him. The familiar figure of Sam Harrison hit the front but timed his move a little early, fading in the final few metres with West Midlands rider Kian Emadi taking the win. Harrison had done enough to take the Future Stars leaders jersey into the next round and chalk his name in large letters in the minds of track cycling fans.

The winner's spoils for Kian

Result

1. Kian Emadi West Midlands Region
2.  Adam Yates North West Region
3. Chris Nicholson North West Region
4.  Simon Yates North West Region
5. Sam Harrison Wales

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Revolution Kierin

Above: Crampton wins the Kierin 'Hoy' style - from the front

Matt Crampton underlined his superiority in the longer sprint disciplines by easily taking the Kierin from the front, with no-one, not even last of the late chargers, Jason Kenny, able to mount a challenge. Eight riders contested this, penultimate event of the night, with some serious muscle in the line-up, including Staff, Edgar, Crampton and Kenny.

The riders are pushed away as the derny comes up the inside.

Two laps to go and the derny has gone and Steven Hill leads as eventual winner Crampton keeps and eye on the rest.

European Keirin Champion Matthew Crampton takes the scalps of two Olympic champions in the final sprint race of the night.

Result

1. Matt Crampton SIS 10.927
2. Jamie Staff SKY+ HD
3. Ross Edgar SKY+ HD
4. Dave Daniell Cleveland Wheelers
5. Christian Lyte SportCity Velo
6. Jason Kenny SKY+ HD
7. Pete Mitchell Team Terminator
8. Steven Hill Brook Cycles

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Elite Men’s Points Race

Born winner! Chris Newton

Chris Newton appeared to be in a class of his own picking off sprints at will...

... and also getting involved in any breaks that developed.

And so it was the last race of a packed night in front of a packed house – 80 laps of the Manchester track in sprints every 10 laps. Everyone was watching Newton after he creamed the best in the world at the recent Track World Cup right here in Manchester. Could the classy rider from the North East use his speed and guile once again to take control of a quality field including some of the world's best endurance riders?

The first sprint was taken by Steven Burke and the field was momentarily splintered before reforming. Newton was ever watchful making sure he stayed in touch. Sprint 2 came along and Newton showed his hand, taking top points and stringing the field out. Newton was poised behind Ben Swift just prior sprint 3. Suitably dressed in all black Rapha Condor kit, he swooped dramatically past to take 5 points and put himself in that rather familiar top spot. Sprint 4 came along with almost a carbon copy of sprint three, just substitute Ben Swift for 100% Me teammate Kennaugh.

Last sprint of the race and Steven Burke beats off the American challenge

Newton then went away with three other riders, Geriant Thomas, Stuart O’Grady and Austin Carroll. The field responded as the breakaway four started to disintegrate with the move swept up in time for sprint 5, which was taken by O’Grady, closing the points gap between him and leader Newton to just 5 points with 3 sprints to go.

Five riders went away straight after the sprint, including Newton, however, they were pulled back again. The field thinned out with four riders dropping out, feeling the effects of a packed night of racing. Sprint 6 was once again taken by Newton, after which Geriant Thomas and Alex Dowsett went away, joined by that man Chris Newton. The trio were joined by Steven Burke before being swept up just before the penultimate sprint, taken by Clancy, with Newton taking 3 points and winning the race with a sprint to go. The final sprint was taken by Steven Burke, moving himself up to third place behind O’Grady, but Newton had already done enough to take a fine win.

Result

1. Chris Newton

2. Stuart O’Grady

3. Steven Burke

Tom Murray signs autographs for the legion of young fans waiting near the riders.

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