National titles

The first National road championships were decided over the weekend. Glendene CC riders dominated the Junior’s title whilst foreign based riders dominated the Under 23 title.

In an extremely tough under 23 event, with an impressive line up, it was Peter Bissell who eventually shook free from the final selection to win alone and exausted.

Juniors – RESULT

1. Russell Hampton, Glendene C.C./Bike Trax, 3:39:28
2. Jonathan McEvoy, Kinesis UK, st
3. Peter Kennaugh, Glendene C.C./Bike Trax, st
4. Alex Dowsett, Glendene C.C/Bike Trax, @ 02
5. Adam Bonser, Le Coq Sportif-Dolan-SIS, @ 03
6. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene C.C./Bike Trax, st
7. Jonathan Bellis, Glendene C.C./Bike Trax, @ 14
8. Matt Rowe, Glendene C.C./Bike Trax, @ 26
9. Louis Charity, Team Corridori/Specialized, @ 1:32
10. Liam Holohan, Batley C.C./Hargreaves Cycles, @ 2:50

Under 23 – RESULT

1. Peter Bissell, Arctic Shorter Rochford R.T. 4:33:27
2. James Spragg, Tarbes Pyrenees Cylisme @ 00:12
3. Alistair Stoddart, Bouwel Cycling Team, Belgium @ 00:53
4. Thomas White, UVCA Troyes @ 00:55
5. Sean Poison, V.C.Azzurri @ 02:15
6. Dale Appleby, Recyling.co.uk Race Team/Pinarello/RudyProj/DMT @ 03:43
7. Matthew Brammier, DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ 04:58
8. Tomas Swift-Metcalfe, Centro de Cicllsmo de Loule st
9. Tobyn Horton, Guernsey Velo Club @ 05:20
10. Steve Lampier, Tarbes Pyrenees Cylisme @ 05:29

Backstedt’s Back!

Rider’s lining up for the Racing Club Omega circuits held at Castle Combe Motor Circuit on Sunday would have got a bit of a welcome, yet slightly nasty, shock. Liquigas professional Magnus Backstedt, promptly made a winning return to racing following knee injury and surgery last month. That must have upped the average speed a little then!

Results – Thruxton Circuits – 29/5/06 – E/1/2/J1/J2

1. Magnus BACKSTEDT Liquigas
2. Joe BAYFIELD awcycles.co.uk
3. Neil COLEMAN agisko – dart – Cycling.tv-xpower
4. James TAYLOR Plowman Craven RT
5. Greg SANDY Team Tor 2000
6. Nic TILLING GWR Team / Scott Wilson / Total Bike
7. Tom SMITH awcycles.co.uk
8. Lee DAVIS Pinarello RT
9. James CUSDEN Mid Devon CC – Colin Lewis Cycles
10. Danny AXFORD Artic – Shorter Rochford RT

Geraint Thomas wins Fleche du Sud

As part of the GB team’s preparation for the ‘Baby’ Giro (June 9 – 18), riders in the Great Britain Olympic Academy headed off to compete in the Fleche du Sud stage race in Luxembourg.

World Junior Pursuit Champion Andy Tennant, Ben Swift, Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas (Silver medallist at the 2006 Track Worlds) along with Ben Greenwood from the Recycling racing team, made up the squad for the four day, UCI ranked stage race.

The GB team joined National teams from Luxembourg and the Netherlands, plus many others from around Europe including Team Sparkasse (Germany).

So a clearly strong British (who said we were just trackies?) team took on a pretty impressive peloton and Geraint Thomas won a stage on the way to his overall victory and the team (a mixture of mainly youth and the experienced Rob Hayles) managed to protect the lead until the final stage.

Fleche du Sud – FINAL OVERALL

1. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Great Britain National Team 16.14.27
2. Wolfram Wiese (Ger) Regiostrom – Senges 0.13
3. Andrew Tennant (GBr) Great Britain National Team 0.48
48. Ben Greenwood (GBr) Great Britain National Team 16.06
56. Ben Swift (GBr) Great Britain National Team 25.16
59. Robert Hayles (GBr) Great Britain National Team 28.06

Read the in depth report on British Cycling’s website