Olympic champion, Ed Clancy (Rapha Condor JLT), made it two in a row by winning the fifth round of the 2013 Pearl Izumi Tour Series in Torquay.
The Yorkshireman, who won gold with Great Britain’s team pursuit squad at Beijing and in London, pipped former national circuit race champion, Dean Downing (Madison Genesis), on the line.
Clancy launched a late bid for victory, passing seven riders in the final corner to claim the win. Downing had launched his final effort just 250 metres from the line, but was unable to hold off the Olympic champion, who had won the previous round in Aberystwyth.
The victory placed the two experienced campaigners level on the number of victories achieved in the Tour Series history – both men have racked up five wins since it began in 2009.
Downing’s second place and a fine seventh place for young team-mate, Alex Peters, moved the Roger Hammond-managed squad to second overall in the team standings, five points behind Team UK Youth and just a point ahead of Raleigh.
In a first for the Torquay circuit, the bunch stayed together throughout the race after the pace set by Clancy’s Rapha Condor JLT squad deterred any breakaways.
Team UK Youth, resplendent in the red jersey of team series leaders, then hit the front, with former Endura Racing rider, Ian Wilkinson, leading out the sprint from the final hairpin.
Downing blinked first, launching his bid for victory as ‘Wilko’ tired, but Clancy would not be denied, battling through the pack to claim victory. Further evidence for the Yorkshireman’s determination can be found in his victory in the Costa Express fastest lap competition – Clancy set the fastest time on his final lap.
Liam Stones (MG Maxifuel) delivered a fine performance to finish third, the first rider home from a team outside the UCI Continental ranks. Fourth and fifth for Chris Opie and Wilkinson helped maintain Team UK Youth’s position at the top of the team standings.
Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013 – Round five (Torquay) – result
1) Ed Clancy (GBR) – Rapha Condor JLT
2) Dean Downing (GBR) – Madison Genesis
3) Liam Stones (GBR) – MG Maxifuel
4) Chris Opie (GBR) – Team UK Youth
5) Ian Wilkinson (GBR) – Team UK Youth
6) Felix English (IRL) – Rapha Condor JLT
7) Alex Peters (GBR) – Madison Genesis
8) Tom Scully (NZL) – Team Raleigh
9) Alexandre Blain (FRA) – Team Raleigh
10) Will Bjergfelt (GBR) – MG Maxifuel
Team Standings
1) Team UK Youth – 46pts
2) Madison Genesis – 41pts
3) Team Raleigh – 40pts
4) Rapha Condor JLT – 38pts
5) Node4 Giordana Racing – 28pts
6) Metaltek – Knights of Old – 25pts
7) MG Maxifuel – 22pts
8) Team IG Sigma Sport -15pts
9) Team Hope Factory Racing -12pts
10) Spin Rotor – Primal – C-Originals – 7pts
