The season is coming close to an end for many of our riders but the team is still out there racing and bringing home the results ....
Off Road
Stephen Corbyn has been out over the last few weeks getting some good results for the team with a 6th place elite/expert at the off road MSG event on a fast twisty course, which was a great workout for him for the cross season ahead. The following week Stephen also rode the Torq Lite 3 hr race at Deepcut. In Stephen's own words:
"Was very very hot and humid 7mile lap winding its way around Porridgepot hill at Deepcut. Starting on a fast tarmac perimeter road we hit the first steep dusty climb before joining the main course. I positioned myself around the top 25 overall and settled into the race, I had a little tumble on lap 1 which left me a little dizzy so had to take a moment before pushing and settling into a good tempo and picking up places. I heard the commentator call me out as 6th at the end of lap 1 and set about chasing the riders ahead of me. I made my way up through the riders and I was running in the podium spots until I ripped a tyre on last lap and had to run in finished 5th. Disappointed with the result but happy with the ride itself."
And for his third week of racing in a row, Stephen raced the Western League cross race at Bradford-on-Avon. Surprised to race on a pan-flat course, it was Stephen's first time on a cross bike in 5 years and rode a sensible race to get back in the swing of things. Stephen posted consistent lap splits, his fastest being his final lap and finished a reasonable 29th. A good start in preparation for the Welsh CX league starting next week!
Finally, for our off-roaders, team captain Richard Lang paired up with Tony Revell to claim the top spot for the pairs race at the Big Bike Bash in Avon Tyrell. Lots of team members were helping our title sponsors, Bournemouth Cycleworks, with the stand at the event and of course Rich and Tony couldn't resist a race while they were there. With Tony's 'go hard or go home' attitude he was sent off first to try and get as big a lead as possible. It was then Rich's job to hold that lead and he did it in style crossing the line in first place.
Road
Phil Cole and Jamie Whitcher have been out racing over the last few weeks on the road. Phil has had a tough season so far having to manage some illness so it was great to see him back in form at the John Holman memorial race, placing 13th in the bunch sprint in a fast punchy race. Jamie was racing the North West Youth Tour, which is part of the National Youth Circuit Series. In the stage 1 3km prologue Jamie finished a strong 10th out of 100 riders. In the stage 2 hilly stage the race split after 3 laps and only 35 riders were in the front group. As Jamie says himself, he's 'not a climber', and finished a strong 33rd in the stage. Stage 3 was a flat out crit around Lancaster Uni and at 27mph it was punchy! Jamie attempted a few attacks but with nearly 70 riders still in the bunch on the last lap, it was down to the bunch sprint and it was 14th over the line for Jamie.
Finally, many of our riders are multi sport athletes and do the occasional race that doesn't involve a bike. For a bit of unexpected holiday cross-training, Alan Colville took on the infamous Inferno Half Marathon in Switzerland. Dared over dinner it was a good job Alan had packed his running kit (of course!). Alan completed the 21km course with 2200m of elevation in a time of 2hrs 54mins, finishing 79th overall and 21st in his category. Jon Clemas also raced the 'Tout and Back Again' trail race, 13 hilly miles over the Purbecks. Being a pretty quick on his feet as he has proved in his winter duathlons, Jon finished the course with over 600m ascent in 1 hour 35mins, finishing 6th place.
All these great results are not possible without the fantastic support we get from our sponsors, Manuel Builders, Gibbs and Dandy Bournemouth, Hill & Son Ford Service, IW Price & Partners, AJN Electrical and in8 Creative Design. And of course our title sponsors Ford Civil Engineering, Vitec Ceilings and Partitions Ltd and Bournemouth Cycleworks, who provide many our riders top quality Trek speed machines and Bontrager equipment across all disciplines to race on.
