Atkins At it Again

Round 4 of West Midlands League
Report: Richard Preece
Images: Richard Preece (www.richardpreece.co.uk) & Jacob James
Results: www.wmccl.co.uk

Richard Preece was on hand to write a report and take some pics as the West Midlands' League reached its fourth round. His report is below. His images are in the first slideshow.

Richard Preece's Images

Also on hand was Jacob James, a slide show of whose images are here:

Jacob James' Images

Report: The current dry spell continues and this week's course yet again provided a fast and furious race. A large field assembled at Sanders Park, Bromsgrove for the fourth round of the West Midlands Cyclocross league which seems to have become a grass based criterium league in recent weeks. There was a chill in the air and leaves scattered everywhere, so the series is sure to see some more traditional cross weather in the coming races.

A similar route to last year, the course made fantastic use of the flat sections where top end speed was in order. This was combined with some challenging twisty sections, with off-camber corners causing several riders to wash out. A punishing zigzag up and down a hill allowed the field to maintain visual contact with their rivals and chasing riders to pace their efforts.

All riders lined up in a large open area before sprinting off to start lap one. Pete Banham and fellow Cult Racing team-mate Adam Biggs were soon on the front tapping out the initial pace. Quickly following on their wheels was Jamie Harris (Pearce Cycles) with Phil Blacker (Wyre Forest), Darren Atkins (Coventry RC) and Matt Gee (Raleigh/Avanti) chasing the leaders down.

Banham continued to hold the lead but Atkins and Harris soon challenged for first. Tom Lowe (Raleigh/Avanti) now followed closely behind after making up ground on the opening couple of laps. Eventually though Atkins proved too hot to handle and he soon dropped Harris and Lowe, showing that despite his Vet status, he could more than cut it in the Seniors race.

The duo of Paul Cox (Pedal Power) and Dan Bill (Echelon-Spiuk) worked well cutting through the field and making their move up to 4th and 5th places overall. Meanwhile Pete Banham managed to crash which forced him to retire from the race.

Once Darren Atkins managed to get the gap his lead continued to grow. Eventually he rode away to a comfortable solo victory with Tom Lowe and Jamie Harris sprinting for the line with Lowe taking second place.

Dan Bill picked up fourth and Paul Cox rounded up this week's top five.