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Report: Bec Cycling Club Road Race

Event: 8th May 2011
Promoted by: Bec CC
Event HQ: Rickards Hall, Edenbridge
Report and images: Dave Hayward
Event Details

The 2011 edition of the Bec CC Road Race rolled out of Edenbridge for a five mile neutralized ride to the start of 78 mile, 5 1/4 laps through Cowden, and Dormansland. From Marsh Green up towards Cowden the local road had not fared to well from the last winter's snow leaving the tarmac road in a very poor state. Even at this early stage the neutral service car found itself in the middle of mayhem as riders were pulling to the side of the road with impact punctures, leaving the determined few with a lap's chase to get back into the group.

Once past the lap board the race was officially on, making its way through the damp, tree-covered, twisting lane towards the first climb of the day, Holyte Hill. The attacks started with riders creeping away and holding on to a slender lead. By the 2nd hill on the course seven riders managed to pull a gap of 1:40.

Last year's winner Gary Bets was there with Wilers/Goselfdrive.com, Gary Chambers, Justin Hoy, Richard Mardle of Felt-Colbornes RT, Roy Chamberlain, Corley Cycles, Mark Baines, Spirit Racing, and Simon Thomas, Asfra Flanders Racing Team. The next time up Holyte seven more riders clipped off the front of the bunch and started to work their way towards the break.

By lap three the original break had now swelled to 14 riders which caused a reduction in pace. They had over four minutes lead over the next group, but there was no time for complacency. Too many riders sitting on caused further attacks bringing the break back to seven riders again. Gone were the Felt riders, gone too was Roy Chamberlain, due to a puncture. In their place was John Veness, Handsling Racing, Steven Allen, Team Coventry Cycle Centre, Allan Ridler, Team Cycle Kingdon.

The last lap finally came and the breakaway had settled down, building a bigger lead and the rough road through Marsh Green and Cowden didn't hamper the riders too much. After the last acsent of Holt Hill onto the Hartfield Road, Gary Chambers made his decisive effort catching the others by surprise, sprinting up the road to go it alone, facing the long climb towards Edenbridge. Once out of sight the remainder of the group had resigned themselves to racing for 2nd place.

With a comfortable one minute advantage over the others, Chambers had plenty of time to savour his well earned victory.

Result

1 Gary Chambers
2 John Veness
3 Steven Allen
4 Allan Ridler
5 Ian Alexander
6 Simon Thomas
7 Andy Betts
8 Mike Wragg
9 Richard Mardle
10 Justin Hoy
11 Mark Baines
12 Simon Henley
13 Nigel Williams
14 Pete Wager
15 Mark Perry
16 James Jackson
17 Jake Hales
18 Luke Wallis
19 Nathan Russell
20 Matthew Melville

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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.