Dean Downing (Madison Genesis) has won the sixty-first edition of the Beaumont Trophy.
The 38-year-old former national circuit race champion outsprinted his rivals at the end of a 108-mile contest in the North East, a race won last year by his brother, Russell.
Downing, who had twice come within inches of victory at the Tour Series, and finished third in the IG London Nocturne after puncturing in the final corner, relished his long overdue victory.
“Coming to the finish, I hit out into the middle of the road and drove for the line,” he said. “What a win!”
All six of Britain’s UCI Continental squads rolled out for the latest edition of the country’s oldest one-day road race.
Matt Cronshaw (IG Sigma Sport) won the King of the Mountains competition, Nicolas Gustavvson (Team UK Youth) was crowned best rider under 23, and Richard Handley (Rapha Condor JLT) claimed the points title.
Earlier, Hannah Barnes (MG Maxifuel) claimed a clear cut victory in the elite women’s Curlew Cup race, an event won last year by Dame Sarah Storey in final preparation for a haul of four gold medals at the London Paralympic Games.
Barnes, who was belatedly awarded victory at the IG London Nocturne after winning a closely contested sprint with double Olympic champion, Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda), left nothing to chance at the Curlew Cup, sprinting to a clear victory ahead of Corinne Hall (Matrix Fitness) and Anne Ewing (Breast Cancer Care). Barnes’ Maxifuel team-mate, Charline Joiner, won the points competition.
The two elite races represented the climax to the four-day Virgin Money Cyclone cycling festival. Gustavvson won the event-opening Leazes Criterium and several of the professionals who contested the Beaumont Trophy rode among the thousands of amateur riders who rolled out for a challenge ride on Saturday.
Virgin Money’s head of sponsorship, Andrew Nicholson, described the festival as “a brilliant four days”.
“We’ve seen countless families out on their bikes and some fantastic racing. We look forward to next year and we will seek to build on the success of this year’s event,” he added.
Beaumont Trophy 2013 – result
1) Dean Downing (Madison Genesis)
2) Dan Barry (Node4-Giordana)
3) Nicolas Gustavvson (Team UK Youth)
4) Tom Stewart (Team Raleigh)
5) Alex Peters (Madison Genesis)
6) John Tanner (Strategic Lions Cycling)
7) Yanto Barker (Team UK Youth)
8) Ryan Mullen (Team IG Sigma Sport)
9) Tom Barras (Wheelbase Altura MGD)
10) Roman van Uden (Node4-Giordana)
Curlew Cup 2013 – result
1) Hannah Barnes (MG Maxifuel)
2) Corrine Hall (Matrix Fitness)
3) Anne Ewing (Breast Cancer Care)
4) Lucy Coldwell (Breast Cancer Care)
5) Melissa Lowther (Matrx Fitness)
6) Emily Kay (Scott Contessa)
7) Hannah Walker (Matrix Fitness)
8) Eileen Roe (Breast Cancer Care)
9) Lowri Devey (Abergavenny RC)
10) Jo Tindley (Matrix Fitness)
