Elite Men’s Motor Paced Scratch Race

Thomas was in good form --on and off the bike!

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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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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Flying 750 Metre Sprint Challenge – Sprint vs Endurance

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

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 smiles as he pulls along the Sky+HD freight train - we wasn't smiling long...

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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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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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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