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Halfords Tour Series: Round 7 (Peterborough)

Story posted June 15, 2010

Rapha – Condor – Sharp moved back into the lead of The Halfords Tour Series after a dominant display in Peterborough that saw the men in black claim the team win on the night, while Dean Downing added the individual win and the Boardman Bikes Sprint prize to the team’s haul. Downing narrowly beat Endura’s Ian Wilkinson as a small break threatened to lap the field, coming within seconds of catching the peloton in the closing laps.

Bunch kick and Graham Briggs and Rob Hayles fight tooth and nail for the ranking points for teams.

The win takes Rapha–Condor–Sharp level on points with Motorpoint–Marshalls Pasta at the top of the standings, but John Herety’s team have four round wins to the two of Motorpoint, giving them the orange Halfords leader’s jersey and the place at the top of the standings. Behind, Endura Racing remain close, just two points further back, ensuring the battle for the Bob Chicken Trophy and The Halfords Tour Series is tight going into the final three rounds.

Under sunny skies and in front of large crowds, the Peterborough race got off to a flying start, with the peloton instantly strung out as they lapped the 1.1 kilometre circuit. James Stewart, Chris Newton and Jack Bauer all took turns at trying to escape the peloton but to no avail. When a break did eventually go, it was a high quality affair with the big three teams represented by Downing, Ian Wilkinson and Malcolm Elliott. Accompanying them were Kettering escapee Simon Richardson of Sigma Sport – Specialized and Pendragon Le Col Colnago’s Yanto Barker.

Teams line-up in the Tour Series formation before an hour of cracking racing.

The quintet built up an impressive 30 second lead by the halfway stage of the race and with the leading three Halfords Tour Series teams represented, the chase from the peloton was muted. This was even more so when another five riders took off in pursuit after around 35 minutes of racing, with the same five teams again represented. Portsmouth winner Ian Bibby, Kiwi Champion Jack Bauer, Chris Newton, Rhys Lloyd and Wouter Sybrandy being the five names in pursuit.

The five couldn’t get within 30 seconds of the leaders though, who steadily pulled away to threaten the rear of the peloton with the ignominy of being lapped. Meanwhile, the second group of five saw their advantage eroded when Raleigh’s James Stewart and Pendragon’s Steve Lampier attacked from the main field to try and bridge the gap. Their attempt only succeeded in speeding up the peloton, perhaps just enough to ensure they weren’t lapped by Downing’s group and ensuring that the second group on the road never got too far away.

Both groups were soon whittled down to four riders apiece, as Sybrandy was tailed off from the second pack while an unfortunate pit infringement saw Barker removed from proceedings and the nights results when a promising result had looked on for the Welsh international. Within sight of the peloton on the long straights, a catch looked possible for Downing’s group, but they ultimately ran out of laps.

Dean Downing leads Malcolm Elliott and Ian WIlkinson over the pave in a break that almost lapped the field.

Across the line with one to go, Wilkinson attacked but Downing immediately responded ensuring it came down to a four-way finish sprint. Just a tyre’s width separated the two riders at the finish, as each went to a different side of the track and gunned for the line, but Exeter winner Downing proved the quickest, but only just.

In the second group on the road, it was Downing’s teammate Newton edging Bibby to take the sprint to help push Rapha–Condor–Sharp towards the team victory, with Graham Briggs taking second in the bunch sprint (eleventh on the road), one placed behind Rob Hayles who led the peloton home, to secure victory for the men in black. To see all the action from Peterborough, tune in to ITV4 on Wednesday evening at 7pm for an hour’s highlights show.

The Halfords Tour Series is back in action on Thursday in Stoke-on-Trent for Round Eight of the 2010 Series. Stoke also sees the Horizon Fitness Women’s Grand Prix taking place at 3pm, with a top-class field including Hannah Barnes and the Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta women’s team, track World Champion Joanna Rowsell, National Criterium Champion Dani King and National Cyclo-Cross Champion Helen Wyman of the Horizon Fitness team among the participants.

Leaders of the series, Rapha Condor Sharp. L-R: Lauren, Graham Briggs, Dean Downing, Matt Cronshaw, Chris Newton, Zak Dempster and Alice.

For more information visit www.tourseries.co.uk or follow the action via Twitter at www.twitter.com/TourSeries

The Halfords Tour Series and The Tour of Britain are proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. Don’t forget this September your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professional and ride three stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!

Round Seven Results

Team
1. Rapha – Condor - Sharp
2. Endura Racing
3. Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta
4. Sigma Sport - Specialized
5. Pendragon Le Col Colnago
6. CyclePremier.com - Metaltek
7. Team Raleigh
8. Kuota – road.cc
9. Team Corley Cycles
10. Team Ireland

Individual
1. Dean Downing Rapha – Condor - Sharp
2. Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing
3. Malcolm Elliott Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta
4. Simon Richardson Sigma Sport - Specialized
5. Chris Newton Rapha – Condor – Sharp

The Halfords Tour Series Standings (after seven rounds)
1. Rapha – Condor – Sharp 60pts
2. Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta 60pts
3. Endura Racing 58pts
4 Sigma Sport – Specialized 45pts
5. Pendragon Le Col Colnago 39pts
6. Team Raleigh 38pts
7. CyclePremier.com – Metaltek 35pts
8. Team Corley Cycles 25pts
9. Kuota – road.cc 16pts
10. Team Ireland 7pts

Boardman Bikes Sprints Competition Results
1 Dean Downing Rapha – Condor – Sharp 10pts
2. Malcolm Elliott Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta 8pts
3. Simon Richardson Sigma Sport – Specialized 5pts

Boardman Bikes Sprints Competition Standings (after seven rounds)
1. Graham Briggs Rapha – Condor – Sharp 43pts
2. Liam Holohan Team Raleigh 35pts
3. Kristian House Rapha – Condor – Sharp 32pts

Related Links
Report: Round 1: London
Report: Round 2: Durham
Report: Round 3: Portsmouth
Report: Round 4: Exeter
Report: Round 5: Southport
Report: Round 6: Tour Series Kettering