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Derby Mercury Road Race

Story posted September 29, 2010; from Duncan Putman - race organsier

At the end of a long season, around 60 riders started the Derby Mercury Road Race on a cool but dry Sunday (September 26). A testing 115km (6 laps) of the Hanbury Circuit awaited the field of 2/3/4 riders, with the race finishing off circuit on the tough climb of Hanbury Hill where the slope approached 20%. It didn’t take long for the race to warm up as a flurry of attacks started as soon as the race proper started following two neutralised miles.

The first serious break of the day emerged on the approach to the climb of Draycott Bank as Jeff Vernon (Birkenhead North End CC), Josh Cole (Sportscover Strategic) and David Lowe (Team Elite) pulled ahead. The trio worked well together to forge a lead of 40 seconds. However, the bunch started to pulled the break back and approaching third distance, the race was back together.

Draycott Bank again proved to be an attacking platform as Nigel Martin (Derby Mercury/Leisure Lakes) and Steve Gibson (Peak RC) moved clear. The two built up a lead of 30 seconds and were joined by four other riders as the race approached halfway. The move looked promising and sensing the danger, the peloton's speed increased in response, bringing the break back by the next climb of Draycott Bank.

As the race entered the final third, it was still wide open. Several riders tried to get away including Josh Cole (Sportscover Strategic) and Andy Young (ww.bassobikes.co.uk). However, none of the moves had enough fire power to stay away for long.

The penultimate lap proved decisive however as four riders, including Neil Beasley (Beeston CC) and David Weir (www.cyclingbargins.com RT), moved clear to forge the basis of the wining break. Their lead grew to 40 seconds as the tired peloton started to slow. The final climb of Draycott Bank, saw seven riders cross to the front four.

Steven Guymer (Raleigh RT), Nathan Wilson and David Shackleton (Cottingham Couriers), Ben Jacobs (London Dynamo), Anthony Allan (Macclesfield Wheelers), Jeff Vernon (Birkenhead North End CC), Tony Workman (Lancaster RC), Pete Johnson (Derby Mercury) and Stuart Murfin (Ashfield RC), Neil Beasley (Beeston CC) and David Weir (www.cyclingbargins.com RT) now formed the final selection.

The eleven stayed clear until the slopes of Hanbury Hill. Coming over the top of the climb Steven Guymer (Raleigh RT) beat Nathan Wilson (Cottingham Couriers) by a matter of centimetres to take his second win in a week. The podium was completed by Ben Jacobs (London Dynamo). Steven also passed the 200 point mark to regain his 1st category licence for 2011.
 

Steven Guymer (Raleigh RT) wins the 2010 Derby Mercury Road Race from Nathan Wilson (Cottingham Couriers/Cottingham Cycle Centre).

Result

1. Steven Guymer Raleigh RT
2. Nathan Wilson Cottingham Couriers
3. Ben Jacobs London Dynamo
4. Anthony Allan Macclesfield Wheelers
5. Jeff Vernon Birkenhead North End CC
6. Tony Workman Lancaster RC
7. Neil Beasley Beeston RC
8. David Weir Cyclingbargains.com RT
9. Pete Johnson Derby Mercury
10. David Shackleton Cottingham Couriers
11. Stuart Murfin Ashfield RC
12. Jim Bryan Zepnet RC +41s
13. James Cambridge I-ride.co.uk
14. Paul Bell Peak RC
15. Joe Norledge Welland Valley CC
16. Nick Rylance Wakefield CC Exponential
17. Steve Ellis Rutland CC
18. Ian Holbrook Stone Wheelers CC
19. Paul Foston Langdale Lightweights
20. Edward Pickard Derby Mercury
21. Andy Young www.bassobikes.co.uk
22. Paul Allen Wakefield CC Exponential
23. Roy Sumner Port Sunlight Wheelers
24. Matt Blythe Team Nemesis GB
25. Josh Cole Sportscover Strategic
26. Robert Wallace Derby Mercury
27. Rupert Denny Team Nemesis GB
28. David Lowe Team Elite
29. Darran Shaw Stourbridge Velo
30. #83

1st lap 26-16s 39.29 kph
2nd lap 26-33s 38.87 kph
3rd lap 26-26s 39.04 kph
4th lap 26-37s 38.77 kph
5th lap 27-02s 38.18 kph
6th lap 30-03s 36.34 kph including finishing climb
Total 2-42-59 excluding 1st half lap