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Report: Dulwich Primavera - The Wally Gimber Trophy

Event: 20th March 2011 | Report: Dave Hayward
The Dulwich Paragon 52nd Wally Gimber Trophy Road Race
Event Details

70 riders 7 laps, 87 miles (140km), Spring weather was looking favourable for the riders, a race normally used to set the path for a professional career for some, it's not often that you see a former professional rider like Magnus Backstedt, former winner of the queen of the classics Paris-Roubaix roll up for one of the oldest races in Kent .

As soon as the riders reached the circuit the attacks came thick and fast. A group of eight riders forced a small gap but only had a 15 second lead. The bunch was too lively to allow anything to go to far. By the first climb the brake was being contained. From Tenterden towards Appledore there is a lovely stretch of fast roads, normally used for catching riders who escaped on the hill up to Tenterden.

Today this road was going to set up the winning move. Magnus Backsted, like a Swedish express train, moved away from the 70 strong field as smooth and as calm as anything showing no expression or signs of effort.

Looking through my camera lens straight into the eyes of this Swedish rider, seemed surreal seeing the same expression on Eurosport covrage a couple of years ago.

Chris McNamara of Corley Cycles, was the first to respond, followed by Tom Copeland of Sigma Sport. Such as the pace set by Magnus that Chris and Tom were caught in no mans land, they were soon joined by Andrew Griffiths, Twenty3C, and Darren Barkley, Artic RT, with the extra leg power they managed to join Magnus. Unfazed by the arrival of his new friends he pushed on with the others sitting on.

By the next ascent towards the start and finish near Woodchurch all 5 were working well, but the bunch had gathered momentum were now closing in on them. With the leaders in sight more riders started to attack to bridge the gap.

Alex Higham (WyndyMilla), Marcel Six (Twenty3c), Steve Lumpier (Sigma Sport), James Stewart (Team UkYouth) plus a rider from the 100%ME team made the gap, now swelling the group to 10 riders.

This was only the first quarter of the race distance, the now leading 10 riders settled down working together winding down the miles. The now dwindling bunch was left in disarray, riders jumping off wanting to see if they could bridge an ever growing gap but knowing that they have missed the Swedish express.

At the sound of the Bell as the lead group passed with 4 minutes in hand to a small chasing group. Each rider still content to contributing to the pace. Daren Barkley was the first to show signs that it was a matter of time before he lost contact with the rest as Alex Higham put in the first move on the group. Steve Lampier closed on Alex which setup a move from Magnus. It was left to the under 23 Time trial champion Andrew Griffiths, Twenty3C to close down on Magnus, with that he put his own move on the twisting rolling road towards the ascent towards Tenterden. Order came back into the group as they made tempo to draw back the young rider. On the fast road back towards Appledore Tom Copeland made his bid, but Magnus upped the anti and went into express mode lining the others out as if leading out for a bunch sprint.

Seeing the danger of this move Andrew gave chase followed by Alex, with Steve jumping across to form a new lead group. Now there were 4 and time was running out.

The gap back to the others was now hovering around 10 to 15 seconds. All 4 riders were putting in long turns on the front. With 3km to go Alex Higham put in another attack but Steve made chase, again Alex made anther attempt to get away but his rivals were to strong.

It was going to go to a sprint.

The Finish was sited on an exit from a sweeping bend, no sooner had I arrived Magnus Backstedt was thundering round at full speed, from his wheel came Steve Lampier, Sigma Sport, to win the two-up sprint by half a wheel...

"I wanted to win this today; I've been going well in recent races. The chap in pink, Alex, very strong he was hitting us hard with his attacks a couple of k's back. Steve just came from nowhere, didn't expect that, Oh well That's Bike Racing..."  Magnus Backstedt.

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British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.