With an estimated 10,000 people in attendance, the Smithfield Nocturne, in partnership with HTC and the London Festival of Architecture 2010, kept them entertained on Saturday with a day-long programme of racing and entertainment.
Now in its fourth year, the Smithfield Nocturne added a few new twists to the tried-and-tested format with a pop-up “village” of local trading stalls, a big ‘Live’ screen and, new for 2010, a chance for families and London cyclists to ride the Smithfield circuit in the LFA Sky Ride from 3pm. Spectators were also treated to a surprise visit from HTC-Columbia sprint star Mark Cavendish, who had travelled straight to the event after abandoning the Tour of Switzerland.
The HTC Smithfield Nocturne’s race programme once again featured the spectacle of the Le Mans-style Folding Bike Race, the Architects and Developers race and the crowd-pleasing Tokyo Fixed Gear Skid Competition in addition to an Elite Women’s Criterium and the Cycling Weekly Support Race.
The highlight of the event was the Elite Criterium. Star rider, HTC-Columbia’s Matt Goss, was joined on the start line by the likely favourites of the UK Circuit Race scene. A predictably fast start saw riders being dropped from the off, but an early break of Darren Lapthorne (Rapha Condor Sharp), Ian Bibby (Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta), Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Jack Bauer (Endura Racing).
Various chasing groups weren’t quite enough to get back the strong quartet, which had most of the major teams included. Yanto Barker (Pendragon – Le Col – Colnago) was one of the prominent chasers throughout the race but even an in-form Barker couldn’t prevent a gap opening of around 30 seconds.
As the hour passed, the race was reaching its finale in near-darkness. Spectators looked down the finishing straight in anticipation, as Ian Bibby (Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta) took a closely contested sprint. Rapha Condor Sharp’s Zak Dempster came in second, followed by Jack Bauer (Endura Racing).
The women’s criterium was convincingly won by Hannah Barnes (Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta), making it a double win for the team over the evening. Barnes put away Corrine Hall and Nicola Juniper with the emphatic victory. The Cycling Weekly support race was taken by Wayne Crombie, while the folding bike race was won by Keith Henderson. The Architects and Developers race was won by James Waite of Land Securities.
Results:
Elite Circuit Race
1. Ian Bibby, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
2. Zak Dempster, Rapha Condor Sharp
3. Jack Bauer, Endura Racing
4. Darren Lapthorne, Rapha Condor Sharp
5. Dean Windsor, Rapha Condor Sharp
6. Ed Clancy, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
7. Malcolm Elliott, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
8. Marcel Six, Orbea, For Goodness Shakes
9. Matt Cronshaw, Rapha Condor Sharp
10. Andrew Tennant, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
Women’s Circuit Race
1. Hannah Barnes, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
2. Corrine Hall, Team Corridori
3. Nicola Juniper, PCa Ciclos Uno
4. Louise Mahe, Team Mule Bar
5. Sarah King, Landgale Lightweights
6. Claire Beaumont, Rapha Condor Sharp
7. Natasha Perry, Rapha Condor Sharp
8. Sarah Bryne, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
9. Elise Sherwell, Pearson Cycles
Support Race
1. Wayne Crombie, East London Velo
2. Chris Tune, unattached
3. James Waite, Pearson Cycles
4. Stuart Spies, London Dynamo Prologue
5. Mark Thomson, Dulwich Paragon
6. Robert Moore, London Phoenix
7. Arjan Planting, Affinity
8. Tony Smedly, London Dynamo Prologue
9. Andrew Sanders, Inverse RT Bikefood
10. Roger Maidment, East London Velo
For full details of the Nocturne Series please go to www.smithfieldnocturne.com
The Nocturne Series continues on the 3rd July in Edinburgh, and then on the 7th August in Blackpool.
