Report: Echelon Cycles RR
24th April 2010, Welland, Worcestershire | Report: Chris Dring
Luckwell wins Echelon Cycles RR
61 riders lined up in the sunshine facing five laps of the Welland Circuit over 79 miles. The first two laps were run off at an average of 26.5mph with no groups able to gain a significant gap. On the third lap the elastic snapped with 14 riders breaking clear and quickly establishing a lead of one minute, with the group reduced to 11 riders by the bell. With 12 miles to go Joe Skipper (Cycles Dauphin) attacked the lead group and gained 20 seconds.
He was soon joined by Ben Luckwell (Wilier/BigMagggys/Prendas) and Colin Parry (VC Montpellier). The trio worked well and pulled clear of the chasing group. Constant attacking disrupted the chase and the gap grew to over a minute by the finish. With Parry disadvantaged by a slow puncture in the last few miles, Ben Luckwell comfortably won the sprint to take victory ahead of Parry and Skipper.
Fresh from his 2nd at the Junior Paris Roubaix a week earlier, Dan McLay had left the chasing group and closed impressively to within 14 seconds at the finish. Will Fox (Team Zappis) led in the chasers at 1min 28 seconds ahead of former professional Ian Fagan (Team Nemesis) and Tim Elverson (Felt-Colbornes).
After the finish Ben was pleased to have finally won the event after a number of near misses in the three previous promotions of the race.
RESULT
1 Ben Luckwell Wilier/BigMagggys/Prendas
2 Colin Parry VC Montpellier
3 Joe Skipper Cycles Dauphin
4 Dan McLay Hargroves Cycles @14secs
5 Will Fox Team Zappis @ 1min 28 secs
6 Ian Fagan Team Nemesis GB
7 Tim Elverson Felt-Colbornes RT
8 Wayne Coombs VC Montpellier
9 Ian Alexander Cheltenham & County CC
10 Jack Kirk Team Zappis
11 Oliver Graham Frezza Pasta Montegrappa
12 Tom Last Sigma Sport @ 2mins 20secs
13 Matt Blythe Team Nemesis GB
14 Matt Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles
15 Adrian Lawrence MK Cycles/Pannone
16 Gareth Hewitt Frezza Pasta Montegrappa @ 2 mins 40 secs
17 Sam Parker Team Zappis
18 Chris Spence Wilier/BigMagggys/Prendas
19 Mark Perry Wilier/BigMagggys/Prendas
20 Declan Byrne Brooks Cycles
