RAPHA CONDOR JLT SEAL ELITE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
Posted on: 4th February 2013
Article by: FACEpartnership
Rapha Condor JLT sealed overall victory in the Elite Championship as Revolution Series Season 10 finished in style at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
The world's foremost elite track cycling league visited Scotland for the first time and treated a sold-out crowd of nearly 4,000 fans to an entertaining evening as German outfit Rudy Project RT pushed Rapha Condor Sharp all the way for the title.
After four rounds of hard-fought racing across five months, there were just 16 points between the two teams going into the final Elite Championship event of the season: Ed Clancy's fourth place in the Scratch Race was enough to secure overall victory for Rapha Condor JLT.
Clancy had earlier made it four out of four wins for the season in the Flying Lap, as his team tightened their grip on the Elite Championship in the first Elite Championship event of the evening.
The Barnsley-born Clancy, a reigning Olympic and World team pursuit champion, produced another superb ride to win a competitive Points Race.
Rudy Project RT kept up their own challenge as Christian Grasmann came second, with Simon Yates (Maxgear Racing) third.
Third on the bill in the Elite Championship was Round 2 of the Madison Time Trial, and what a race it turned out to be.
It looked like Rudy Project RT had snatched it from Team Rouleur, but after geeing up the home crowd, McCallum and Clancy stormed round in for Rapha Condor JLT's third victory of the night.
The crowd went crazy for McCallum and Clancy when they snatched victory but the battle for the Elite Championship went right to the wire.
Rudy Project RT soon hit back as Nico Hesslich won the Elimination Race, leaving a very narrow 16 points between the two teams, and Clancy's brave effort in the Scratch Race was a fitting way to secure the overall title.
In the DHL Future Stars, Emily Haycox (howies) overhauled Jessica Roberts in dramatic fashion in the final race of the season, the Scratch Race, and took the title by seven points. Emily Nelson (Team IG Sigma Sport) was third overall.
Levi Moody (Sportscover), who led the way ahead of the final round in the Boy's competition, held on for victory with 282 points overall. Thomas Rotherham (Maxgear Racing) was second and Tristan Robbins (howies) was third.
Watch highlights on ITV4 at 8pm on Thursday 7th February. Repeated 11.50am Thursday 8th February and available for 30-day catch-up in ITV Player.
GLASGOW GETS READY TO HOST REVOLUTION SERIES FINALE
Posted on: 31st January 2013
Article by: FACEpartnership
Glasgow's brand-new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is ready to host a thrilling Revolution Series finale this Saturday night.
Revolution Series Round 4 is the second major event staged at the new velodrome, part of the Emirates Arena, built ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
A strong line-up of Scottish sprinting talent will compete at the sold-out venue on Saturday while 12 teams will battle it out for the Elite Championship.
Sprinters Craig MacLean, Callum Skinner and John Paul will team up to take on the Rest of the World, culminating in a team sprint at the end of the night.
Kevin Mansker and Matthew Baranoski from the USA will also feature in the sprints, along with Dutchman Teun Mulder.
MacLean said: "I'm really excited to compete in front of a home crowd - I'm really looking forward to it. A venue like this in Glasgow is something I never thought I'd see in my career. It's a fantastic asset for Scottish cycling."
Rapha Condor JLT lead the Elite Championship table going into the final round. They received a boost this week when reigning Olympic and World team pursuit champion Ed Clancy confirmed he will ride in Glasgow alongside team-mate James McCallum.
Glasgow-born rider McCallum has ridden at three Commonwealth Games for Scotland, and is now targeting Glasgow 2014.
Rudy Project RT from Germany sit second in the table - Christian Grasmann and his team-mate Nico Hesslich will be aiming to overhaul leaders Rapha. But watch out for third-placed Team Rouleur, who have drafted in team pursuit world champions Andy Tennant and Steven Burke for the fourth and final round.
Revolution's move to Glasgow is the first stage of an agreement signed last year to utilise the first-class cycling facilities throughout the UK. Talks are being held to take the Revolution to the Olympic velodrome in London.
Speaking in February last year, Lord Sebastian Coe said: "The signing of this agreement is a fantastic step forward for cycling in the UK.
"The velodrome in the Olympic Park will leave a legacy in east London, and with this agreement in place it is a great step forward to extend this legacy nationwide."
See a full Round 4 event preview here
There will be representatives from Glasgow 2014 at the velodrome on Saturday, plus Rollapaluza bikes in track centre on Saturday night
Revolution Series have also teamed up with Taggarts Jaguar, who are staging cycling events in Glasgow (Saturday 2nd) and Motherwell (Sunday 3rd).
Callum Skinner will attend both events which celebrate the arrival of the new XF Sportbrake. See full event details here
Watch highlights on ITV4 at 8pm on Thursday 7th February. Repeated 11.50am Thursday 8th February and available for 30-day catch-up in ITV Player.
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