Location: Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
Event: 7 April 2012
Will Stephenson (Team Primera-Specialized) soloed to victory at the Mountbatten track in Portsmouth on Easter Saturday after making his move with just under a lap to go.
The 17-year-old from Ringwood in Hampshire won from Tim Elverson (Pedal Heaven), team-mate Toby Neave and Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael).
The morning was dry and it was overcast for the feature race which was one hour plus five laps long.
The first attack came after a couple of laps when Henry Newbury (GWR), Rowan, Will and Tim caused a split and Justin Hoy (Felt Colbornes) was trying hard to get across the gap. This did not come to much and soon it came back together for a few laps.
On seven minutes Toby attacked again and Rowan was pulled across along with Owen Beckett (Cardiff JIF).
The three leaders stayed away for several laps and they built a lead of 14secs, which was extended to almost half a lap. On the 15 minute mark it was Owen that cracked first, chewing the bars for a couple of laps he was unable to stay this more experienced escapees and sat up and waited for the bunch to hoover him up.
Trying to make the jump across were Tom Smith (Felt Colbornes) and Simon Holt (Team Raleigh) but they couldn’t do it alone and after a couple of laps they slipped back. The bunch was allowing the leaders to dangle at the front and lap on lap they were chipping away at their lead.
At the 45-minute point Jay Eastwood, Toby’s team mate tried to make the junction and pulled Tim Elverson with him. Another rider to get across the gap was Will, and with Chris Snook (Banjo Cycles) these five set about working together to open a gap. Within two laps James Wilson (Supernova) also made the jump.
With a couple of minutes left on the clock the bunch started to split and Rowan jumped of the front, Toby and Will reacted and Tim also tried to get there.
With a couple of laps to go those four were now together and at the bell it was Will that came to the front and with three quarters of a lap to go he attacked. He soon opened a gap in order to solo across the line six seconds ahead of Tim with Toby third and Rowan fourth.
Result:
1 Will Stevenson (Primera-Specialized)
2 Tim Elverson (Pedal Heaven) @ 6sec
3 Toby Neave (Primera-Specialized) @ same time
4 Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael) @ same time
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.
