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Upavon Winter Circuit Races

Event: 27 February 2010, Story posted March 1. By Darren Clarke

Well, the Upavon event happened today at last! It was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire because with ice forcing the cancellation of no less than five of the previous seven events, this week it was time for the heavy rain to play havoc.

An hour before racing started, there was blue sky but an ominous cloud to the south west and this cloud started to leak just before race start and by the time the riders had lined up for the start they were huddling for warmth. Certainly the fit Elites with their single digit fat content were visibly shivering.

The conditions did improve towards the end of the race although most were looking forward to a free cup of tea of coffee at the end of the race and some poor souls had to face another race during the afternoon in Devon! The racing circuit itself had held up very well with no ill effects from the winter's ice and snow and there were bumper numbers for the race.

Unfortunately the races were marred with punctures and in the 3/4 race there were, for just about the first time, some crashes. One crash led to a broken collar bone so good luck with the recovery to the rider concerned. There were several wheels afterwards that resembled bananas too!

Grant Bayton wins after a wet race at Upavon. Photo: Chris Rymer

Elite/1/2/3
This had an excellent field of nearly 40 riders including a strong team from the Wilier/ Big Maggies.com outfit who replaced VC St Raphael as the dominant force at Upavon during the race. It was not too long into the race until there were three distinct bunches riding around which seemed to resemble the categories riding.

The poor old second cats did not have a good day! Numbers were hard to distinguish as many were wearing gilets that covered the race numbers and suffice to say that by midway, a strong group were leading and did not look as if they were to be caught. Within this group were Grant Bayton, Marcin Bialoblocki and John Pain of Wilier/ Big Maggies.com, James Stewart of Raleigh, Rowan Horner of VC St Raphael and Harry Bulstrode of DH Cyclesport.com.

The group worked very well up until the last few laps when the feinting, ruses and attacks started. Before long there were only two groups of two going for the honours with Bayton and Stewart just 10 seconds in front of Marcin Bialoblocki and Horner. Coming into the penultimate lap, this changed with Bialoblocki showing an awesome turn of speed and leaving Horner to bridge to the leading pair forcing a two on one situation.

Come the sprint finish, it was Bayton from Stewart in the sprint and Bialoblocki coming in a close 3rd.

RESULT
1st Grant Bayton Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
2nd James Stewert Team Raleigh
3rd Marcin Bialoblocki Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
4th Rowan Horner VC St Raphael
5th John Pain Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
6th Colin Parry  VC Montpellier 
7th Harry Bulstrode  DH Cyclesport.co.uk
8th Duncan Jamieson Felt Colbournes RT
9th Will Bjergfelt Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
10th Simon Brooks VC St Raphael
11th Jason Streather VC St Raphael
12th Ian Rees Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
13th Jeremy Addis  VC Montpellier 
14th Robert King AW Cycles .co.uk
15th Ian Alexander Cheltenham and C CC
16th Billy Whenman Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
17th Max Webber DH Cyclesport.co.uk
18th Ian Redding Time RT / Terry Wright Cycles
19th Leyton Fleet  VC St Raphael
20th Joe Harris Reading CC
21st Stuart Thompson DH Cyclesport.co.uk
22nd Mark Ottaway VC Meudon
23rd Ben MacLand VC Meudon
24th Louis Charity Team Corridori

Category 3/4 Race
This race was a different affair with a good solid bunch riding around for the majority of the time. There were several forays off the front for some riders but these were nullified going into the last few laps where Thomas Bell would spring a surprise.

The main force of the day was that of the tired leg and puncture fairy who visited far too regularly reducing the field to only 27 from the starting 50. Of those left in contention, coming into the last lap, Thomas Bell of Twickenham Wheelers clipped off the front and remained there until the end coming over the line in first place with  Tavis Walker of Inverse racing just holding off the front of the bunch to take second.

RESULT
1st Thomas Bell Twickenham CC
2nd Tavis Walker Inverse Racing/ Bikefood
3rd Toby Eichler  
4th Lewis King No Club
5th Ralph Carter  London Dynamo 
6th Matthew Conner Newbury RC
7th Jon Norton Inverse Racing/ Bikefood
8th Shaun Green Army CU
9th David Phillips  Corinium CC
10th Pete Hutchinson Corinium CC
11th James Reis Bristol South CC
12th David Wadsworth Beeline RT 
13th Andy Edwards Kingston Wheelers 
14th James Cartridge  No Club
15th Keiran Dineen Inverse Racing 
16th Tom Sutherland Twickenham CC
17th Gregg James Behind the Bikeshed 
18th Barry Plank Behind the Bikeshed 
19th Dean Tyler  No Club
20th Peter Day  Fareham Wheelers CC
21st Pete Phillips  Bath CC
22nd Colin Addison VC Meudon
23rd Adam Horswill Royal Dean Forest CC
24th Rupert Silman Bournmouth Jubilee Wheelers
25th George Taylor  Corinium CC
26th James Chant Gillingham and District Wheelers 
27th Tom Bolton Andover Wheelers