National Cyclo-Cross

Believe it or not the National Series Cyclo Cross is finished. There was me thinking it had only just started. Anyway Ian Field (SIS – Trek Under 23)) showed his great potential as he won the final round in a final battle with Jody Crawforth (Evans RT). It was enough for them to win their respective categories overall.

Elsewhere Sue Thomas (VooDoo) ran away with the women’s title as did Roy Hunt (SIS) in the Over 50’s and a tight battle ensued for the Veterans title with Philip Roach (Rugby Velo) beating Mick Bell (Fire Brigade)

In the Junior and Youth categories, Tom Last (Matlock CC/Wards/Impsport) and Alex Paton (VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ) continue to show their potential in these increasingly popular categories. Cyclo-Cross, it seems, is looking healthier than ever.

Final Overall Standings

Senior Men

1. Jody Crawforth Evans Cycles RT – 238
2. Ian Field S.I.S. – Trek – 192
3. David Collins Scott UK – 184
4. Steven Roach S.I.S. – Trek – 154
5. Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing – 142
6. Ian Wilkinson S.I.S.- Trek – 132
7. Ian Bibby S.I.S. – Trek – 118
8. Nick Craig Scott UK – 104
9. Lewis Craven Wheelbase/Ron Hill – 97
10. Jim Bryan Ace RT/Farmers/Impsport/Dolan – 97

Senior Women

1. Sue Thomas Voodoo Cycles.net – 188
2. Gabriella Day Team Fat Birds UK/Fat Birds Don’t Fly – 125
3. Clare Gross Team Fat Birds UK/Fat Birds Don’t Fly – 120
4. Helen Wyman Team Fat Birds UK/Fat Birds Don’t Fly – 114
5. Amy Thompson (J) GB Cycles.co.uk/Geoffrey Butler – 101

Under 23s

1. Ian Field S.I.S. – Trek – 184
2. Steven Roach S.I.S. – Trek – 168
3. Ian Bibby S.I.S. – Trek – 152
4. Alex Atkins Evans Cycles RT – 109
5. Mark Thwaites Kinesis UK – 89

Veteran Men

1. Philip Roach Rugby Velo – 196
2. Mick Bell London Fire Brigade CC – 187
3. Andy Barnard MI Racing/Fuji/Thule/Sports Tours – 166
4. Andrew Shaw MI Racing/Fuji/Thule/Sports Tours – 152
5. Ian Wright Lichfield City CC – 151

Over 50s

1. Roy Hunt Science in Sport.com – 200
2. Graham Edwards Abergavenny RC/Bike Base/Govilon – 135
3. Joseph Rowe Wyre Forest CC – 125
4. David Smith Derby Mercury RC – 110
5. Geoff Bores Lee Valley Youth CC – 110

Junior Men

1. Tom Last Matlock CC/Wards/Impsport – 182
2. Stephen Adams Sherwood CC – 164
3. David Fletcher Newark Castle CC/Sherwood Pines – 152
4. Jonathan McEvoy Kinesis UK – 120
5. Andrew Griffiths Glendene CC – 120

Youth

1. Alex Paton VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ – 238
2. Scott Thwaites Merlin Development Squad – 204
3. Ben Roach Rugby Velo – 192
4. Michael Butler VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ – 161
5. Ben Plain Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott – 160

For full results and rankings please check out www.londoncyclesport.com

Hillingdon Winter series

Race 3 of the 2005/06 Winter Circuit Series held on Saturday December 17 at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. Four riders broke free at 25 to go & with 15k left Tony Gibb (PCA/Plowmans) set off on his own & caught the pack.

The remnants of the break; Jason Streather (VC St Raphael), Steve Legg (Twickenham CC) & Phil Holloway (Southend Whlrs) were able to stay clear of the fragmenting pack to claim the final top four places.

1 Tony Gibb PCA/Plowmans 55km 1.12.50
2 Jason Streather VC St Raphael @1.20
3 Steve Legg Twickenham CC “
4 Phil Holloway Southend Whlrs ”
5 Martin Hulbert VC Muedon @1.55
6 Nat Spurling Finsbury Pk @2.05
7 William Thompson GB Cycles.co.uk @2.11
8 Rudie Marias Archer RC @2.15
9 Vince Halpern AW Cycles @2.22
10 David Griffiths Twickenham CC “

Points after 3 races
1 Tony Gibb PCA/Plowmans 400 pts
2 Vince Halpern AW Cycles 370
3 Jason Streather VC St Raphael 320
4 Phil Holloway Southend Whlrs 280
5 Steve Legg Twickenham CC 260

Nicole on the mend

Nicole Cooke has spoken about here crash at the recent World Cup. Speaking through her website she talks in graphic detail about splinters and breaks (not for the squeamish!). As for the prognosis she explains:

“I think I am going to need 7-10 days before I start with a trial ride on the indoor turbo trainer and then I will have to take each ride one at a time, as to how much I can do on the turbo and when I may start riding on the road. A general guide is 6 weeks before I can ride properly so I’ll have to see how much I can do in the meantime and asses my early season preparation and races for 2006. I’ve got my arm in a sling now and will try and spend the week taking it easy and catch up with my family and friends who I will not see for a number of months when I go to Australia with Univega-Raleigh next January.

So hopefully she should be back in action with plenty of time to start her preparation for the Commonwealth Games in March. She concludes by thanking everyone for their good wishes:

“Thank you to everyone who has wished me a speedy recovery. It means a lot to know that you are thinking of me.”

Perfs all set for 12th February 2006

For those really keen riders the details of the 41st edition of the Perfs Pedal race have been announced. It will be held on the usual Rowlands Castle course on Sunday February 12th. Promoted by Velo Club Raphael/Waite Contracts/Hewitt Cycles.

Details

Distance: 70 km
Categories: Elite/1/2 category riders
Starts: 11 am
HQ: Parish Hall at Rowlands Castle, Hampshire.
Entry: £13.00
Closing date: 23rd January 2006

Contact Details:
• Organiser:
Mick Waite
249 Havant Road,
Farlington,
Portsmouth,
Hants
PO6 1DB
• Telephone 0239 237 9753. Entry on the line £16.00
Website – www.vcstraphael.com
E-mail: [email protected]

Wellens looses it with spectator

Serious stuff ‘Cross racing, especially in its natural home Belgium, where the fans are a bit more passionate than at the average Notts and Derby league… it’s a bit more like going to a Milwall game…

According to www.cyclingnews.com during this weekend’s Druivencross, one of the biggest cyclo-cross races in Belgium, eventual winner Bart Wellens (Fidea) hit out at a spectator who had been repeatedly insulting him. Although the jury was appalled and threatened to disqualify the rider, it was finally decided that he should keep the victory.

“For four laps, I had mud and beer thrown at me,” Wellens told Belgian website Cyclo-cross.info “The fifth time it was just too much for me. I didn’t really intend to hit him, and I regret what I’ve done, but I think that as a rider I don’t have to put up with everything.”

1. Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
2. Lars Boom (Ned) 0.16
3. Gerben De Knegt (Ned) AA drink-Bejan 0.28
4. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team 0.39
5. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Fidea Cycling Team 1.01
6. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Rabobank 1.47
7. Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank 1.58
8. Wilant Van Gils (Ned) ZZPR.nl 2.06
9. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) 2.16
10. Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Morgan Blue 2.24