Team Sky’s Alex Dowsett produced a dominant performance to romp to victory in the devil scratch race at the first Revolution track meeting of the season in Manchester.
Dowsett, who claimed two victories on the road in his first season as a professional, used his time trial skills to charge off the front with seven laps to go and almost lapped the field, claiming a comfortable win ahead of Sam Harrison.
In first round of the sprint, David Daniell had the edge on Louis Oliva, Kian Emadi beat Frenchman Thierry Jollet, world champion Michael D’Almeida saw off Philip Hindes and Olympic silver medallist Craig MacLean used his experience to beat John Paul.
After disposing of MacLean in the semi-final, Daniell faced fellow Brit Emadi, who claimed the scalp of D’Almeida, in the final, going on to claim victory. Paul was victorious in the losers’ six lap dash, ahead of Jollet.
The unique Australian pursuit event sees eight riders stationed at equal distances around the track. During the race, any rider who is caught by a rider who started behind him is be eliminated. Jens Mouris claimed victory ahead of Steven Burke and Dowsett.
Team Sky duo Dowsett and Russell Downing looked like favourites ahead of the madison time-trial, but they could only manage third, with the the Howies team of Leif Lampater and Jon Mould winning in a convincing 58.980.
Downing took victory in the points race, however, accumulating 24 points to win ahead of Adam Duggleby (15 pts) and David O’Loughlin (15 pts). “I’ve still got it,” said Downing after the event.
Craig MacLean managed to overcome his earlier disappointment in the sprint by winning the keirin event in 10.932, over Louis Oliva and the in-form Daniell.
Scratch race victory went to the impressive Harrison, who pipped Burke and Tom Murray. The 10km race was a fitting finale to the endurance side of the Revolution, but there was still an interesting sprint face-off to go.
Paul and Daniell took on D’Almeida and Jollet in a Great Britain v France team sprint. It was close, but the French duo were victorious in 31.949 over Great Britain’s 31.971.
In the Revolution Championships, strong performances from Harrison and Murray in the elite races ensured that Rouleur take the lead after the first round with 204 points, with Team UK Youth in second on 190 points, while Team Sky lie third with 165 points.
In the DHL Future Stars competition, Emily Kay proved to be the one to watch again in the girls’ races. She won the points race, six lap dash and the scratch race. The boys races weren’t quite so one-sided, with Scott Jacob winning the scratch race, Oliver Wood taking the six lap dash and Ryan Whatmough claiming the points race.
Kay leads the DHL Future Stars girls competition with 90 points and Olly Wood (Chep UK) tops the boys standings on 50 points.
The hour-long highlights of Revolution 33 will be shown on ITV4 on Monday October 31 at 7pm.
