Wasp Road Race

23rd August 2009; Promoted by Ogmore Valley Wheelers (www.ogmorevalleywheelers.com) for 2/3/4 Cats on a 100km course around the Vale of Glamorgan. Sponsored by McTaggarts Solicitors and Forza Cycles. Photos courtesy Mark Alexander for Ogmore Valley Whs

Returning to its traditional home in the Vale of Glamorgan and drawing a near capacity field, the Wasp RR 2009 was won by George Rose (Abergavenny RC) who crossed the line alone after being in a breakaway with Adrian Bird (Team Echelon Spiuk) for almost the entire race. The pair broke away on the first of three laps and steadily built their advantage over the field. A two-man chase group formed behind as Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) and Anthony O’Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) tried to bridge to the leaders. Just as the catch was about to be made, Rose broke away from Bird to ride the final lap alone. O’Boyle and Simmons joined Bird to form a chase group just behind.

A large crash in the bunch broke up the rhythm of the chase and the peloton’s deficit grew to over 3 minutes. With 10km to go and still chasing George Rose, O’Boyle punctured and fell back from the chasing group of three. With the bunch so far back, neutral service couldn’t reach O’Boyle but he rode on bravely on the flat tyre to claim 4th place and the combativity award. Still ahead, George Rose reached the final climb to the finish (the Wasp’s famous “sting in the tail”) with a 30 second advantage over Simmons and Bird.

A new finish location on a bridge gave the crowd at the finish a great view of the battle on the climb, as the leaders came up the hill under the finish then swung around to finish up on the bridge. Rose had built on his lead on the climb and comfortably solo’ed in for the victory. Simmons beat Adrian Bird for second before O’Boyle arrived on his flat tyre a little way back. James Lewis (Port Talbot Whs/CJ Construction) had broken away from the bunch at 10km to go, and held on up the climb for 5th place before Tim Rose (Abergavenny RC) led in the remains of the peloton.

Graham Howell (Ogmore Valley Whs) came in near the head of the bunch to claim the juniors’ prize, while Hannah Rich (Candi TV-Marshals Pasta) came in just behind the bunch as first woman.


The race is officially started by Jon Harris, Mayor of Cowbridge, joined by Nigel Daniel of McTaggarts Solicitors


On the first lap, the bunch climbs away from Cowbridge


Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) tries to force the bunch into a chase of Rose and Bird. At the head of the bunch are O’Boyle and Simmons, poised to make their counter-attack.


Simmons and O’Boyle get away and try to bridge across to Rose and Bird


James Lewis (Port Talbot Whs – C J Construction) makes his move with 10km to go


The riders passed under the finish line before circling round to finish on the bridge


The bunch was trimmed down dramatically by the fast pace and by a serious crash on lap 2.
 
Results:
1. George Rose (Abergavenny RC) 100km in 2hrs23min10 (41.95kph)
2. Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) @50s
3. Adrian Bird (Team Echelon Spiuk) @1min
4. Anthony O’Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) @2.45
5. James Lewis (Port Talbot Whs-C J Construction) @3.15
6. Tim Rose (Abergavenny RC) @3.30
7. Robert Edgell (Somer Valley CC) @st
8. John Fitzpatrick (Abergavenny RC) @st
9. Graham Howell (Ogmore Valley Whs) @st
10. Ashley Watts (Mid Devon CC) @st
 
1st Woman: Hannah Rich (Candi TV-Marshals Pasta)
1st Junior: Graham Howell (Ogmore Valley Whs)
Most combatitive: Anthony O’Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon)