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With the efforts of event organiser Mike Taylor and event sponsor Planet-X, everything is on track for the 2005 Tour of the Peaks to take place on September 11. After negotiation with local police, the event which is in its 63rd year can go ahead with 90 of the finest UK riders. Let’s just hope the riders don’t pee in anyone’s front garden again… After being cancelled in 2004, the organisers were adamant that everything possible has be done to run the event this year. Mike Taylor said:
“It would have been a tragedy to lose a race that is one of the flagship events of the sport in this country, and it’s really helpful to have had the support and weight of the industry and governing body, particularly Dave Brailsford, in making sure the race goes ahead.”
The Derbyshire based course has had to change, which this year is based around South Buxton and will incorporate parts of the Junior Tour of the Peaks. So it now takes in the climbs of Hitters Hill and Axe Edge. Ouch.
The 85 mile race starts at 11.30am from Harpers Hill with the riders doing four laps of the course based on the one for the Junior Tour of the Peaks. The course for the senior Tour of the Peaks has been extended by eight miles (see map) with a different finish to the junior race, at Longnor. The race HQ will be the High Peak College.
The Premier Calendar event has been made possible with support and financial assistance from Dave Loughran of Planet X who currently sponsors the six times winner of the Tour of the Peak, Mark Lovatt. As Loughran says, “Your can’t let a race like the Peak die, we’ve all raced it, watched it and been a part of it for years and any help Planet X can give in making sure it happens this year is really important”
Lovatt will have his work cut out for him as riders from recycling.co.uk will be flying after having some hard miles in their legs at the Tour of Britain including National Champion Russell Downing, but the team focus will be to help Robin Sharman as he is leading the Premier calendar and looking for his first win of this season-long series.
The ever improving Yanto Barker of DFL will also be backed by a strong team that will come to the race having ridden the Tour of Britain too. As has the impressive Evan Oliphant and his Scottish team mate Alex Coutts. Local hero and super-vet Malcolm Elliot , will be keen to do well on his home roads and Julian Winn will want this race to seal his impressive career – as he retires at the end of this season to take up a position as Wales National Coach.
Starters for Sunday’s Tour of the Peak
1. Mark Lovatt – Planet X
2. Kevin Dawson – Planet X
3. Danny Axford – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
4. Tim Bayley – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
5. James Dobbin – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
6. Davie Law – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
7. Andy Proffitt – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
8. Timothy Wallis – Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT (Arctic)
9. Yanto Barker – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
10. Martin Ford – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
11. Ryan Connor – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
12. Phil Dixon – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
13. Tim Dunford – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
14. Paul Healion – Driving Force Logistics Team DFL
15. Tim Barry – Carrick Wheels-Dan Mourisey
16. Michael Hennesey – Carrick Wheels-Dan Mourisey
17. John Hogan – Carrick Wheels-Dan Mourisey
18. Chris Newton – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
19. Rob Hayles – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
20. Russell Downing – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
21. Ben Greenwood – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
22. Paul Manning – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
23. Robin Sharman – Recycling.co.uk / Litespeed
24. Duncan Urquart – Viner Bikes / Agisko Sports Nutrition
25. Rob Enslin – Viner Bikes / Agisko Sports Nutrition
26. Dale Appleby – Fuji Bikes.UK
27. Rob Partidge – Fuji Bikes.UK
28. Gareth Jones – Fuji Bikes.UK
29. Evan Oliphant – Scotland
30. David Smith – Scotland
31. Gary Hand – Scotland
32. Alex Coutts – Scotland
33. Ross Adams – Red Kite Cycles
34. Richard Cartland – Red Kite Cycles
35. Dave Coulson – JE James RT
36. Gareth Hewitt – JE James RT
37. Matt Clinton – Specialized
38. Matt Jennings – Specialized
39. Malcolm Elliott – Pinarello RT
40. Julian Winn – Pinarello RT
41. Mike Harrison – www.Bike Store.co.uk
42. Matt Sewell – www.Bike Store.co.uk
43. Tom Crouch – Team Synergy
44. Tom Kirk – Team Synergy
45. Philip Howell – Rutland CC
46. Andrew Sedgewick – Rutland CC
47. Phil Axe – Zipp
48. Daniel Alexander – Ace RT
49. Christopher Belsham – York Cyclework
50. Roy Chamberlain – Team MK
51. Adrian Dalgleish – Lune RCCC
52. Gary Vose – Lune RCCC
53. Andy Eagers – Derby Mercury
54. Robert English – 21st Century Airport CT
55. Gavin Evans – East Mids Private Member
56. Steven Feeney – The Bike Factory
57. Thomas Gardner – Stilton RT
58. Julian Cromett – Cottingham Coureurs RT
59. Peter Hey – West Pennine RT
60. Seth Kay – Poshbikes.com
61. Tony Kelly – Addiscombe CC
62. Steven Kenny – Kuota/Biemme
63. Chris Lockyer – Manchester WHS
64. Benoit Lagouce – Cycles Europe / Bianchi
65. Stuart McManus – Glasgow WHS
66. Sean Newington – North Beach / Dooleys RT
67. Andrew Plat – Exeter Wheelers
68. Sean Polson – VC Azzurri
69. Robert Palmer – The Bicycleworks.com
70. Ian Stott – Blackburn & District CTC
71. William Smyth – Liverpool Universities RT
72. Matthew Talbot – Glendene C
73. Steven Ward – Star Bikes RT
74. Steven Wolfer – Team Bradgate
75. Adam Weaver – Doncaster WHS
76. Chris Ward – Antelope RT
77. Edward Whitehorn – Glendene CC
78. Neil Coleman – Cycles Europe / Bianchi
79. Mark Wordsworth – JE James RT
80. Neil Jones – CC Abergavenny
81. Alastair Kay – York Cyclework
82. Matthew Stevens – Sigma Sport
83. Alex Higham – Stilton RT
84. Greg Roche – Fuji Bikes.UK
85. Henry Furniss – Ride Beyond / Bike & Run
86. Jack Woodward – The Bicycleworks.com
87. Ben Pochee – Penzance Wheelers
88. Matt Melville – Evans Cycles RT
89. Matthew Armitage – US Cycles
90. Graham Sumner – GB Fire Brigade
