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Gibb  misses out by a tyre’s width in Python Road Race

Story posted August 16, 2010; Cycle Premier - Metaltek team Press Release

Tony Gibb (CyclePremier.com – Metaltek) narrowly missed out on victory in the Python Road Race on Sunday, 15th August. Gibb was only just beaten to the chequered flag by Marcel Six (Orbea – Goodness Shakes) after 88 miles of racing on energy sapping roads around Maidenhead.

“I am a little disappointed to finish second but pleased with the overall team performance today,” said Gibb: “Second place is still a good result especially as this is the longest race I have ridden this year. I was second in the Worcester News road race last week and it’s nice to know I can still compete at the longer road distances after all those town centre criterium races we have been in this year. The roads dragged up and down and you start to run out of energy after 70-miles.”

“The race went perfectly for us except for the last 40 metres. The onus was on us to make the running for most of the race; bringing back breaks and creating a lot of the moves. We had Simon Wilson out on his own for 20-miles and his lead grew to 45 seconds before the other teams realised they were going to have to work hard to bring him back. He would have won the race if the field had hesitated any longer but he was caught with about half a lap to go.”
 
“I guess we were one man short on the lead out train for me in the sprint,” continued Gibb (pictured right): “Simon was pretty cooked after his breakaway stint. Rob Smail and Richard Hepworth put in great efforts in the last two kilometres. It is very difficult to judge the finish on that circuit. Andy Magnier was the last lead out man but it was just too far for him on his own and he ran out of legs with 300m to go and I had to open up the sprint early. I could see some Obea riders trying to come by me on the right and I was able to hold them off but Marcel Six came through and edged past me in the last 30 metres.”
 
The team’s racing schedule for August/September includes the Blackpool Nocturne (Saturday 21st August), Newport Nocturne (Saturday 4th September) and Warwick Town Centre Races (Sunday 5th September).

Result

1. Marcel Six, Orbea - For Goodness Shakes
2. Anthony Gibb, www.Cyclepremier.com-Metaltek
3. Ben Luckwell, Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
4. Adam Norris, Orbea - For Goodness Shakes
5. Ian Rees, Wilier/Bigmaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
6. John Wager, Felt-Colbornes RT
7. Steven Allen, Kenilworth Wheelers CC
8. Peter Smith, Team Endura-Thule-24/7-Kinesis
9. Paul Crook, Beyond Bountainbikes/Rapid Racer Products
10. Ben Stockdale, Team Qoroz
11. Simon Wilson, www.Cyclepremier.com-Metaltek
12. Hugh Wilson, Team Qoroz
13. Andrew Magnier, www.Cyclepremier.com-Metaltek
14. Vince Divine, Finchley Racing Team
15. Andrew Hastings, Finchley Racing Team
16. Mike Jackson, CC Luton
17. James Fox, CC Luton
18. Scott Holmes, Hillingdon Cycling Club
19. John Heaton-Armstrong, Cycles Dauphin Racing Team
20. Matthew Theobalds,     C S Grupetto