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Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Event: 28 August 2011
Report: Scott Hobro
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Motorpoint Pro Cycling's Ian Bibby is optimistic he can hold on to top spot in the Premier Calendar as he prepares for the penultimate race in the series, the Twinings Pro-Am.
Bibby at the East Yorkshire Classic Premier Calendar Event
Bibby currently leads with 300 points in a top four which contains two fellow Motorpoint riders, with Jonathan McEvoy in second and Marcin Bialoblocki in fourth and Rapha Condor Sharp's Zak Dempster third. The Preston-based rider, who took victory in the Tour of the Reservoir, said that the team's tactics would not be changed to favour one rider in the last two races.
"[Winning the Premier Calendar] shows good consistency, some good riders have won it and I want to keep on top in the next couple of races. If I do lose it would be to a teammate hopefully," Bibby said.
He added: "I think we [Motorpoint] should be able to keep it. I'll probably race a bit more in the next two Premier Calendar events to make sure I score some of the points. I think we're just going to race as a team with me, Johnny or Marcin going for the win. We just want to make sure all three of us are up there and just see how the racing goes. We're not going to be racing negatively. We are all up there and going well."
Sealing the Premier Calendar would cap an impressive season for Bibby, who has enhanced his reputation with some strong performances including a fifth place finish in the National Race Race Championships (behind a 1-2-3-4 of Team Sky) and a ninth place finish in the Olympic Road Race Test Event, the highest placed British rider behind winner Mark Cavendish. Such performances have led to speculation about the rider's future but Bibby insists nothing has been confirmed for next season.
"I don't know about all that yet, nothing has been confirmed if I'm honest. It'll probably get sorted around or after the Tour of Britain. I'll know more then," the 24 year-old claimed. But the rider is keen to test himself further on the continent after turning out in the GP International Torres Vedras and Vuelta Ciclista a León.
"Hopefully I can do some more stage races abroad. We've done three or four stage races and I've had a few podiums, it would be good to do more next year."
