Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) has taken his second victory of the 2012 Halfords Tour Series, winning the fifth round of the series in Aberystwyth.
The former national road race champion escaped in a four-man break that included the Team UK Youth duo of Chris Opie and James Stewart.
Opie and Stewart’s performance was enough to secure UK Youth’s first Tour Series team win.
House said he drew on his experience of the circuit to launch his decisive attack from the UK Youth pairing and Raleigh-GAC’s Tobyn Horton, who finished fourth.
“With UK Youth having two in there it was always going to be a problem so I let them ride for a bit and then attacked then.
“I got rid of one of them and then just went for the sprint.
“It’s a hard course so it wears people down. The course suits me really well, I knew that and I knew where to hit them,” he said.
A bunch sprint decided the remaining places with Dean Downing leading home Ian Wilkinson (Endura Racing) and Yanto Barker (Team UK Youth).
Barker’s seventh place, allied to the podium placings of teammates, Opie and Stewart, was enough to secure the team victory for UK Youth.
“We’re moving up there, consolidating our second place overall and winning the team prize tonight – we’re really happy with that,” said Opie.
Team UK Youth’s team victory made them the first this season to defeat Endura Racing.
The Scottish-based UCI Continental squad has enjoyed multiple victories in domestic and international races this season, but Ian Wilkinson’s sixth place was the best the team could manage in Aberystwyth.
Wilkinson displayed his usual attacking style, going on the offensive early in the race, but relented when he found himself isolated.
“We’ve conceded a couple of points but we’re just under halfway in the series. We’ve still got a little lead and we’re keeping it entertaining,” he said.
UK Youth’s win keeps them in second, now just six points behind Endura, with Rapha Condor Sharp a further two in arrears, while Team Raleigh – GAC lie fourth.
The Nottingham-based squad finished third on the night, despite losing the Australian, Bernard Sulzberger, in an early crash, who, despite his misfortune, retained the lead in the Boardman Bikes sprints competition.
It’s obviously a bit tighter now [the sprints jersey lead] so I am going to have to get up there next week and work hard,” he said.
Highlights of the fifth-round racing in Aberystwyth will be shown on Channel Four at 8pm on Monday May 28.
Halfords Tour Series round five – Aberystwyth
1) Kristian House – Rapha Condor Sharp
2) Chris Opie – Team UK Youth
3) James Stewart – Team UK Youth
4) Tobyn Horton – Team Raleigh-GAC
5) Dean Downing – Rapha Condor Sharp
6 Ian Wilkinson – Endura Racing
7 Yanto Barker – Team UK Youth
8) Marcel Six – Metaltek Scott
9) Graham Briggs – Team Raleigh-GAC
10) Daniel Holloway – Team Raleigh-GAC
Round five team result
1) Team UK Youth
2) Rapha Condor Sharp
3) Team Raleigh-GAC
4) Endura Racing
5) Node4-Giordana Racing
6) Cycle Premier-Kovert
7) Team IG-Sigma Sport
8) Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes
9) Metaltek Scott
10) Team Hope Factory Racing
Team Standings after round five
1) Endura Racing – 47pts
2) Team UK Youth – 41pts
3) Rapha Condor Sharp – 39pts
4) Team Raleigh-GAC – 36pts
5) Node4-Giordana Racing – 35pts
6) Cycle Premier-Kovert – 21pts
7) Team IG-Sigma Sport -19pts
8) Metaltek Scott -14pts
9) Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes -12pts
10) Team Hope Factory Racing -10pts
Boardman Bikes sprints standings after round five
1) Bernard Sulzberger (Team Raleigh-GAC) – 47pts
2) Marcel Six (Metaltek Scott) – 44pts
3) Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) – 30pts
