The Endura team reflect on another successful weekend in their latest PR release:
Alexandre Blain launched a devastating solo attack to win the 2012 Rutland - Melton International CiCLE Classic (UCI 1.2) by nearly two minutes on a wild day for racing in the East Midlands.
Alexandre Blain celebrates his Rutland-Melton Win
As many riders agreed afterwards, the 2012 edition of the UK's only one day UCI event was an epic race where the conditions played as much a part in the race than anything. Riders afterwards talked of the cold and attacking just to keep warm! It rained throughout the whole day and it was cold rain with one official saying that with wind chill, the temperature was more like minus one or two. The race was also shortened due to flooded roads but none of that stopped Blain from dominating his rivals and Endura Racing from taking the Team Award.
Blain, as he had at the Maldon Dengie Tour, made the race his own by racing it from the front and while he said later that attacking with 30 kilometres to go was a long way out, he knew the legs and form were good and his win by two minutes proved that he was right.
Alexandre Blain:
I’m very very happy to win this race. This has been a really important month with Dengie Marshes, Tro-Bro Léon (France) and today, the CiCLE Classic. I won Dengie which showed I had perfect form for the next two races. I was really really unlucky in Tro-Bro when I was really strong. I was fairly depressed after Tro-Bro, to miss maybe not a win but just to race it really well as I really enjoy that race.
We tried a lot to split the bunch and be more selective on the sectors and more and more on the sectors I tried to force it and force it. I had bad puncture on the first part of Somerberg and I came back straight away and I still felt good. On the Burrough on the Hill climb, I knew I had to try something because every lap the others were struggling and I wanted to try and split it and thought someone would come with me but when I saw I was on my own, I think maybe it is a long way to go, 25 to 30km....
First, I tried to open up a big gap and I did that but the last three kilometres were horrible because I did a lot of efforts to get that gap and I just tried to maintain my rhythm but my legs were cooked. It is though easier when you are in the front than chasing behind, so mentally it was a bit easier.
Alex Sans Vega, Directeur Sportif:
Alexandre was very, very strong today and the team worked well together and followed the plan from start to finish. A race like this means the riders have to support each other to get the result. Iker Camaño was also riding well today, but paid for his efforts in the finale.
Tour de Bretagne
Endura Racing continue to perform strongly at the Tour de Bretagne (UCI 2.2) in norther France, where Erick Rowsell continues to excel in his first season as a professional. With five stages completed and two to go on Monday and Tuesday, Erick sits in 7th spot on GC after a fine 2nd on Friday's third stage and 4th today. Rob Partridge continues to lead the King of the Mountains competition, which he has led since the opening day.
