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BRC is a diverse and inclusive cycling club with a long history of road cycle racing: watching racing, supporting races and taking part.
The club welcomes cyclists from all backgrounds. Currently we have over 200 members. Please get in contact if you are interested in joining or coming along to an event, or have any questions. You can email us at bristolroadclub.
When you first join the club, if you contact us to let us know the first event you are joining, we will ensure that an experienced club member is there to welcome you.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Currently due to COVID restrictions, group activities are limited to comply with the current government guidance and British Cycling guidance. This varies frequently, so look on social media for immediate information regarding activities.
BRC activities - for more information see individual pages opposite
BRC Group Rides (Clubruns)
Every Saturday morning the club meets for group rides, which are split into groups based on speed and distance. The routes vary but are 90-130km long with a cafe stop halfway. In addition, there is a “new starters ride” on the first Saturday of the month.
Friendly Chaingang
On Tuesday’s during summer (April-September) a friendly chaingang (not “no-drop”, but we try to keep together if possible), including a bit if a burn up in the final few miles. It uses a fixed loop around chew lake of about 50km.
Hill Climb
In remembrance of Raj Soni, every October, the club runs a hill climb up Cheddar Gorge, with tea and cake before and after.
Velodrome and Track Racing
We are fortunate to be only 40mins away from the Geraint Thomas Velodrome in Newport where there are weekly training sessions for all levels of rider, including club specific sessions. Some require track accreditation, however we have many track riders in BRC as well as coaches who can advise and direct you about getting on “the boards”.
Cycling Holiday
Annual club biking holiday. A week of cycling in the sun (hopefully) and on great new roads. This has been run in Mallorca and mainland Spain.
Road and Circuit Racing
- BRC take part in the Cotswold League- which usually consists of 10 single stage road races.
- Castle Combe runs Thursday night racing on the motor racing circuit.
- Odd Down, Bath, under AVID, run a winter and summer racing series on a closed circuit.
- From the club, riders have proceeded to professional level.
New in 2020, British Cycling South ran two zwift racing series. Over 50 BRC riders took part and BRC won both series overall as well as dominating (and winning) the individual women’s and men’s leagues.
Time Trials
BRC has many members that are dedicated Time Trialists. Although the club does not organise a regular TT itself there are many local clubs that do as follows:
- The TT run by Dursley Road Club is a regular fixture for many during the summer. It is 10 miles up and down the A38.
- Severn Road CC hold weekly 10TT- with HQ at Olveston.
- Bristol South CC !0TT around Chew Lake on a Wednesday.
The Hill climbing season runs from September to October and there is local league called the WTTA Hill Climb Series. Local hill climb races include the University of Bristol on Belmont Hill, Bristol South on Burrington Combe as well as BRC’s own club and friends event on Cheddar Gorge. In 2019 BRC members won the men’s veteran British Hill Climbing Championship at 40+ and 50+ levels.
Cyclocross
The western cyclocross league runs regular races in Bristol for those who like the mud.
BRC organised events
Severn Bridge Road Race
The Severn Bridge Road Race goes back nearly 50 years and has a rich heritage with many of the winners going on to ride in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia. It is a British Cycling regulated National B, Cat E123 race, which takes place in March each year, using a circuit around Olveston.
A Bridge Too Far Road Race
This is a British Cycling regulated Regional A, Cat 2/3/4 race, which takes place in July each year and is part of the Cotswold League, which uses a circuit on the Mendips. It includes separate Cat 2/3/4 women’s and men’s races.
Other Activities
Club night
First Monday in the month at 8pm.
Annual Club Awards
Annual night out, for awards and chat, in November.
Audax ride
Bristol Audax Club is very active, so there are many great audax rides starting right in Bristol, for those who enjoy a longer adventure on the bike.
Triathlon
Although not a triathlete club, BRC do have some very accomplished triathletes in the club including national champions that have been selected at Masters level for Team GB.
Insurance
The club is affiliated to British Cycling, so the club is covered in all events regulated by British Cycling as well as official Clubruns and Chaingangs. We recommend individuals join British Cycling which provides legal and insurance benefits when you are cycling.
Poems
Weekly poems on twitter to keep you up to date with what is happening in the cycling world!
More information available at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bristolroadclub/
Twitter: @bristolroadclub
Instagram: @bristolroadclub
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Race report 8th May 2022
Gruff Lewis wins Severn Bridge Road
Race
Photos courtesy of John Pierce PhotoSport International
The bunch rolled out at just after 1.00pm on a warm sunny day in South Gloucestershire, but as soon as the neutralised flag dropped, the racing started and by the end of the first lap a two-up breakaway was established with Archie Cross of the promoting club, Bristol RC and unattached rider, Alan Kenway forcing the pace. They quickly established a 30 second lead by the end of the second lap with Kenway leading over the top of the KOM on Old Down Hill, which was covered with spectators all the way up.
By lap 4 the breakaway had pushed their lead to a minute over another two-up break of Ben Millar, Primera-TeamJobs and Tom Day, Home Solution – Soenens, with the bunch a further minute back. With Kenway continuing to take top points on Old Down Hill each lap, the Cross and Kenway duo were still holding a minute over their pursuers, Millar and Day, but the bunch was pegging them back slowly and were now only 20 seconds back and ready to swallow them up.
Then by lap 8 the bunch had caught Millar and Day, but Cross and Kenway were still holding 40 seconds, but looked like getting caught on the penultimate lap. Then Gruff Lewis, WiV Sungod and Tom Day made another move to get across to the break, but when they hit the bell lap, Lewis was driving hard with Kenway on his wheel followed by a Nopinz Motip RT rider at 10 seconds, then Archie Cross of Bristol RC a further 10 seconds back in 4th , with the bunch only 20 seconds behind. So it was looking like a bunch sprint and the judges were starting to get ready with several videos covering the finish line. But they needn’t have worried, as the last time up Old Down Hill did its job and shattered the bunch, with Lewis and Kenway staying clear and Lewis taking the sprint with arms aloft in victory. Adam Kenway had an amazing ride, finishing 2nd after being out in a break with Cross all day. Tom Day got clear of the bunch to take 3rd, outsprinting James Phillips, Nopinz Motip Rt and Euan Macleod, WiV Sungod, and then the remainder were lined out, with Archie Cross of Bristol RC, having also been in the break all day, holding off the main bunch and taking a very good 8th place.
A
great day’s racing with 45 finishers.
Result
Race report 1st March 2020
George Mills-Keeling wins Severn Bridge RR
1st March 2020
First year senior, George Mills-Keeling (Ribble Weldtite Pro
Cycling) stamped his authority on the Severn Bridge Road Race today in Old
Down, South Gloucestershire. George powered away from the five man break in the
final km to win comfortably, with Joseph Rees (BIKESTRONG-KTM) taking the
sprint for second from Eliot Ward (Inflite-Dynamic Rides Race Team), Samuel
Clark (MB Cyclery) and Josh Housley (Team PB Performance), the dominant KOM
winner.The race returned to its original home on a circuit around Olveston
and Odd Down in South Gloucestershire and the sun came out to celebrate, with
the rain only returning on the lap. It was one of the fastest races recorded around
this very challenging circuit, averaging over 27mph.
It wasn't long into the race that a series of early attacks became successful and time-trial specialist Matthew Downie found himself with a familiar face as Matt Witts also broke away from the bunch early on. They were then joined by PB Performance rider Josh Housley for the best part of 45 miles, who eventually won the King of the Mountains Competition and got a gap of just over one minute on the main bunch.
As the race wore on and the bunch got organised, their gap diminished and they were eventually caught by a group of 7 riders who quickly started working together well with just a couple of laps to go.
On the final climb, Ribble Weldtide rider George Mills Keeling attacked early and held it to the finish to claim the win.
This was a fantastic team effort by Bristol Road Club and friends to make the Severn Bridge Road Race such a great success. Officials, marshals, stewards, NEG, convoy, photographers, sign-on, catering, sponsors and many more, along with co-operation from residents, local parish councils and the police. That’s some 70 people that made the race happen and keep the riders safe - always our main priority.
Simply awesome is the only way to describe it. Well done to the riders for a great race and to everybody involved.
Full report and photos to follow.
Result
| Pos. | First Name | Last Name | Club / Team Name | Time |
| 1 | George | Mills-Keeling | Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling | 2hr 52m |
| 2 | Joseph | Rees | BIKESTRONG-KTM | at 5 secs |
| 3 | Eliot | Ward | Inflite-Dynamic Rides Race Team | st |
| 4 | Samuel | Clark | MB Cyclery | st |
| 5 | Josh | Housley | Team PB Performance | st |
| 6 | Oliver | Winwood Bratchell | Velo Club Venta | at 1.28 |
| 7 | Nic | McKibbin | Zappi Racing Team | at 1.45 |
| 8 | Matthew | Downie | Nopinz Symec Race Team | at 1.58 |
| 9 | Ashley | Cox | Team Bottrill | at 2.06 |
| 10 | Chris | McNamara | Nuun-Sigma Sports-London RT | at 2.08 |
| 11 | Oliver | Maxwell | Saint Piran | at 2.36 |
| 12 | Joe | Griffiths | TORQ Performance | st |
| 13 | Andrew | Whittemore | Exeter Wheelers | st |
| 14 | Miles | Burton | Sixtysix RSN | st |
| 15 | Alexander | Welburn | trainSharp Club | at 2.51 |
| 16 | Joseph | West | TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling | st |
| 17 | Sam | Freeman | Z Junior Race Team | st |
| 18 | Conor | McGoldrick | University of Bath Cycling Club | at 2.52 |
| 19 | David | Kovacs | Nopinz Symec Race Team | st |
| 20 | Ross | Holland | Saint Piran | st |
| 21 | Matthew | Houlberg | Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT | st |
| 22 | Joe | Hill | ActiveEdge Race Team | at 2.55 |
| 23 | Mark | Richards | DAP Cycling Club | at 3.00 |
| 24 | Luke | Barfoot | Tri UK | st |
| 25 | Ethan | Browne | The Bulls | at 3.05 |
| 26 | Freddy | Pett | DAP Cycling Club | st |
| 27 | Christopher | Owram | Primera-TeamJobs | st |
| 28 | Peter | Cocker | Richardsons-Trek RT | st |
| 29 | Eugene | Cross | Lifting Gear Prod/CyclesInMotion | at 3.09 |
| 30 | Matt | Lelliott | Steele Davis Via Roma RT | at 3.13 |
| 31 | Christopher | Rothwell | BW Cycling | st |
| 32 | Matthew | Clarke | Wheelbase CabTech Castelli | at 3.18 |
| 33 | Carl | Jolly | University of Bristol CC | at 3.27 |
| 34 | Tom | Couzens | Zappi Racing Team | st |
| 35 | Thomas | Harrington | Cardiff Ajax CC | at 3.41 |
| 36 | Andrew | Turner | SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling | st |
t1diabetes.info KOM Winner: Josh Housley, Team PB Performance
BW Cycling 1st Local Rider: Joe Griffiths, TORQ Performance
1st Junior: Sam Freeman, Z Junior Race Team
Argos Team Winners: Nopinz Symec Race Team
National Criterium Championships 2019
National
Criterium Championships 2019
Presented by Bristol Road Club
Under LVRC regulations
Saturday 3rd August 2019
For Categories Men D, E, F, G/H and Women All Categories
at
Odd Down Cycle Circuit
Chelwood Drive
Bath BA2 2PR
Map
Race times/distance
12:30 - Men Cat D, 50mins + 5 laps
13:50 - Men Cat E, 50mins + 5 laps
15:10 - Men Cat F, 40mins + 5 laps
16:20 - Men Cat G/H, 40mins + 5
laps *
16:20 - Women All Cat, 35 mins
+ 3 laps *
* These are separate races and will start one minute apart, also race length might change slightly.
Organiser: Jim Grant
E mail jim.grant62@live.com
Mobile 07800 713065
Alex Richardson powers to Severn Bridge lone win
Alex Richardson,
Canyon dhb P/B Bloor Homes, wins the 47th Severn Bridge-BW Cycling Road Race in a
lone breakaway late in the race from a break of 15 riders. Fantastic ride on a
hard, wet day in which the Canyon dhb P/B Bloor Homes team dominated with Jacob
Vaughan taking 2nd place and Sam Culverwell of Team Estera in 3rd.
The break of 16 riders established on the 7th lap of the 9 lap race, going away on the flat, windy avonmouth road and was 20 seconds up by the time they hit the main climb up Kings Weston Lane and through the finish with two laps to go. Within a lap Richardson was on his own, powering away on the flat to hit the climb again with over a minute lead. He extended this to the finish although struggling up the climb the final time, while the remaining 15 riders from the break attacked each other on the climb, with Vaughan and Culverwell pulling clear of the rest, but still coming in nearly 2 minutes down on Richardson.
Full race report to follow later.
| Pos. | No. | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name | Time |
| 1 | 12 | Alex | Richardson | Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes | 02:53:43 |
| 2 | 14 | Jacob | Vaughan | Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes | @1:43 |
| 3 | 22 | Sam | Culverwell | Team Estera | @1:48 |
| 4 | 38 | Jake | Alderman | Saint Piran | |
| 5 | 17 | Kieran | Savage | Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield | |
| 6 | 21 | Morris | Bacon | DAP Cycling Club | |
| 7 | 41 | Charles | Walker | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |
| 8 | 75 | Peter | Kibble | Wales Racing Academy | |
| 9 | 25 | Jonathan | Gales | Kibosh | |
| 10 | 16 | Max | Stedman | Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes | |
| 11 | 51 | Cameron | Orr | Team Inspired | |
| 12 | 71 | Joe | Holt | VITUS PRO CYCLING P/B BROTHER UK | |
| 13 | 62 | Aled | Jones | VCEquipe/FlixOralHygiene/Propulse | |
| 14 | 20 | Freddy | Pett | DAP Cycling Club | |
| 15 | 37 | Alexandre | Touche | Pontypool RCC | |
| 16 | 53 | Josh | Housley | Team PB Performance | |
| 17 | 18 | Louis | Szymanski | Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield | |
| 18 | 77 | William | Roberts | Wales Racing Academy | |
| 19 | 23 | Oliver | Hayward | Holohan Coaching Race Team | |
| 20 | 63 | Oliver | Winwood Bratchell | Velo Club Venta | |
| 21 | 57 | Hayden | Allen | THRE Datawolves RT | |
| 22 | 31 | George | Smith | Nopinz Symec Race Team | |
| 23 | 47 | Andrew | Turner | SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling | |
| 24 | 27 | Alexander | Cross | Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT | |
| 25 | 15 | Louis | Rose-Davies | Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes | |
| 26 | 28 | Cameron | Biddle | Morvelo Basso | |
| 27 | 33 | Marcin | Bialoblocki | Nopinz Symec Race Team | |
| 28 | 78 | Jamie | Crump | Zappi Racing Team | |
| 29 | 88 | Samuel | Beckett | Cardiff JIF | |
| 30 | 65 | Ross | Holland | Veloce Racing | |
| 31 | 92 | Archie | Cross | Team B 38 cyclies in motion | |
| 32 | 3 | George | Evans | ActiveEdge Race Team | |
| 33 | 7 | George | Jones | BIKESTRONG-KTM | |
| 34 | 49 | Daniel | Nieto | TBW23 Stuart Hall Gett Taxi Bottecchia | |
| 35 | 76 | Samuel | Tillett | Wales Racing Academy | |
| 36 | 13 | Callum | Macleod | Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes | |
| 37 | 73 | Joe | Beckingsale | Wales Racing Academy | |
| 38 | 42 | Charlie | Passfield | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |
| 39 | 34 | Andrew | Critchlow | Norwood Paragon CC | |
| 40 | 79 | Andrew | Kirby | 73Degrees CC | |
| 41 | 64 | Oliver | Beresford | Velo Club Venta | |
| 42 | 44 | George | Clark | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |
| 43 | 54 | Graham | Collins | Team Tor 2000 KALAS | |
| 44 | 83 | Shaun | Cook | Nopinz Symec Race Team | |
| 45 | 67 | Daniel | Maclean-Howell | VELOFLOW CC - ROWE & KING | |
| 46 | 60 | Alexandros | Matsangos | University Of Portsmouth CC | |
| 47 | 8 | James | Phillips | BIKESTRONG-KTM | |
| 48 | 45 | Jordan | Peacock | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |
| 49 | 55 | Joshua | Croxton | Team Tor 2000 KALAS | |
| 50 | 80 | Sam | Lindsay | 73Degrees CC | |
| 51 | 89 | Nicholas | Tyrie | Primera-TeamJobs | |
| 52 | 74 | Josh | Price | Wales Racing Academy | |
| 53 | 86 | Rhys | Pilley | CC Plancoet | |
| 54 | 36 | Daniel | Colman | plan2ride |
KOM
Winner: Kieran Savage, Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield
1st Local Rider: Max Stedman, Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes
Team Winners: Canyon dhb P / B Bloor Homes
1st Junior: Jamie Crump, Zappi Racing Team
Bethany Taylor, Bianchi Dama and James Phillips, Bristol RC
take the wins in A Bridge Too Far Road Race on a hot day in the Mendips!
Bethany Taylor of Bianchi Dama wins Women's A Bridge Too Far Road Race
| Pos. | No. | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name |
| 1 | 7 | Bethany | Taylor | Bianchi Dama |
| 2 | 32 | Charlotte | Berry | VeloVitesse |
| 3 | 36 | Tina | Hartwright | Dulwich Paragon CC |
| 4 | 19 | Claire | Walters | Jeremy Rees Cycles RT |
| 5 | 26 | Hannah | Newsham | Somerset Road Club |
| 6 | 4 | Lauren | Johnston | Avid Sport |
| 7 | 1 | Victoria | Smith | AeroCoach |
| 8 | 37 | Louise | Hart | Sigma Sport/Threo |
| 9 | 31 | Jasmine | Jones | VELOFLOW CC |
| 10 | 9 | Bethan | Stubbs | Bianchi Dama |
| 11 | 22 | Nicole | Coates | Performance Cycles |
| 12 | 8 | Alexandra | Sheehan | Bianchi Dama |
| 13 | 14 | Nikki | Toomer | Exeter Wheelers |
| 14 | 5 | Nancy | Walker | Avid Sport |
| 15 | 12 | Amy | Marks | CC London |
| 16 | 20 | Charlotte | Mitchell | Newport Phoenix CC |
| 17 | 24 | Sophie | Fennell | Performance Cycles |
| 18 | 6 | Emily | Walton | Beeston Cycling Club |
| 19 | 11 | Alice | Thomson | Bristol South CC |
| 20 | 34 | Stephie | Prince | VeloVitesse |
| 21 | 10 | Catriona | Ross | Bridport CC |
| 22 | 25 | Olive | Holliday | Somer Valley CC |
| 23 | 29 | Elizabeth | Sanders | University of Exeter CC |
| 24 | 17 | Chrissie | Slot | IRIS Race Team |
| 25 | 15 | Sarah | Hickman | IRIS Race Team |
James Phillips of Bristol RC wins the Men's A Bridge Too Far Road Race
| Pos. | No. | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name |
| 1 | 23 | James | Phillips | Bristol RC |
| 2 | 47 | Patrick | Clark | Team B38 / Underpin Racing |
| 3 | 40 | Jacob | Aries | Primera-TeamJobs |
| 4 | 6 | Jack | Webb | Army Cycling Union |
| 5 | 49 | Nicholas | Tyrie | University of Bath Cycling Club |
| 6 | 51 | Ashley | Hutchison | VC St Raphael |
| 7 | 19 | Colin | Parry | Bristol RC |
| 8 | 25 | Andy | Edwards | Bristol RC |
| 9 | 53 | Sean | Townsend | VCEquipe/FlixOralHygiene/Propulse |
| 10 | 29 | Hefin | Evans | Bynea CC |
| 11 | 45 | Oliver | Yates | Somerset Road Club |
| 12 | 35 | Trevor | Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 13 | 39 | Jack | Thompson | Performance Cycles |
| 14 | 7 | Kevin | Alexis | Army Cycling Union |
| 15 | 2 | Dexter | Fox | Army Cycling Union |
| 16 | 37 | Gideon | Aroussi | Exeter Wheelers |
| 17 | 16 | Thomas | Hogan | BPF Cycling |
| 18 | 44 | Tim | Southcombe | Somerset Road Club |
| 19 | 48 | Steven | Jones | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
| 20 | 11 | George | Beck | BIKESTRONG-KTM |
| 21 | 46 | Steve | Thomas | Steele Davis Via Roma RT |
| 22 | 43 | Nicholas | Anderson | Salt & Sham Cycle Club |
| 23 | 33 | Dean | Hitchings | Cotswold Cycles-TREK |
| 24 | 22 | Peter | Burrows | Bristol RC |
| 25 | 15 | Tom | Radburn | BPF Cycling |
| 26 | 31 | Christopher | Owram | Cardiff Ajax CC |
| 27 | 61 | Thomas | Bass | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
| 28 | 18 | Tom | Brookes | Bristol RC |
| 29 | 21 | Christopher | Hill | Bristol RC |
| 30 | 30 | Rob | Walker | Cambridge University CC |
| 31 | 20 | Tom | Sharp | Bristol RC |
| 32 | 8 | Duncan | Lancashire | Bath Cycling Club |
| 33 | 57 | Rick | Hawker | VeloVitesse |
| 34 | 42 | David | Billings | Radeon-Cycology RT |
| 35 | 10 | Samuel | Westlake | BIKESTRONG-KTM |
| 36 | 55 | Richard | Cleaver | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 37 | 41 | Conor | Chandler | Primera-TeamJobs |
| 38 | 27 | Shaun | Cook | Bristol RC |
| 39 | 68 | Andrew | Wiley | University Of Manchester CC |
| 40 | 65 | Thomas | Price | Avid Sport |
| 41 | 26 | Rob | Handley | Bristol RC |
After second in the Perfs, Rupert Graham (Spirit Tifosi) went one better at the Severn Bridge Road Race with victory in the latest edition of this long running event.
South region champion Matt Downie (TAAP Cervelo) continues his solid start to the season, taking second place behind Rupert Graham. Downie, who won the king of the mountains classification, finished second behind Marcin Bialoblocki at the Devon Primavera race the previous weekend and surely a win cannot be too far away!
Downie said " nothing was going for the first half of the race everyone was chasing everything. Then it was hacking it down and everyone started sitting up so I put in an attack and quickly got a decent gap. I bridged over to Andy Turner and we worked well together. I could see they were chasing behind but we kept pressing on. Rupert from Spirit Tifosi bridged across by himself and we were all working well together on the last lap we had well over 2 mins 30 seconds on the main bunch and about 50 seconds on some chasers. On the last climb Rupert went hard I followed, Andy got dropped then my legs just gave up and Rupert went on to win it and I crossed for second"
| Pos | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name | Time |
| 1 | Rupert | Graham | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | 02:49:00 |
| 2 | Matthew | Downie | TAAP Cervelo | at 16s |
| 3 | Andrew | Turner | Team KTM UK | at 17s |
| 4 | Christopher | Rothwell | BW Cycling | at 41s |
| 5 | Joshua | Price | Team Backstedt/Hotchillee | at 55s |
| 6 | Louis | Szymanski | Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield | at 60s |
| 7 | Matt | Langworthy | Saint Piran | at 1m 9s |
| 8 | Mitchell | Webber | Halo Sports Cycling Team | at 1m 21s |
| 9 | Alex | Fanshawe | Saint Piran | at 1m 38s |
| 10 | Jack | Waller | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | at 1m 42s |
| 11 | Jake | Hales | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | at 1m 51s |
| 12 | Douglas | Coleman | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | at st |
| 13 | Brecon | Burnett | Cardiff Ajax CC | at 1m 57s |
| 14 | Ben | Lockett | Tri UK | at 2m |
| 15 | Dante | Carpenter | Morvelo Basso | at 2m 2s |
| 16 | Alexander | Cross | VCEquipe/FlixOralHygiene/Propulse | at 2m 4s |
| 17 | David | Middleton | Cardiff Ajax CC | at 2m 9s |
| 18 | Lee | Frost | Tri UK | at 2m 13s |
| 19 | Red | Walters | Sotonia CC | at 2m 17s |
| 20 | Daniel | Pullen | Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield | at st |
| 21 | Cameron | Jeffers | Saint Piran | at st |
| 22 | James | Phillips | Bristol RC | at 2m 19s |
| 23 | George | Kimber | Team PB Performance | at st |
| 24 | Andrew | Kirby | VC St Raphael | at st |
| 25 | Oliver | Maxwell | Richardsons-Trek RT | at st |
| 26 | Andrew | Critchlow | WyndyMilla | at 2m 23s |
| 27 | Joe | Charley | Team PB Performance | at st |
| 28 | Luke | Barfoot | Tri UK | at st |
| 29 | Samuel | Tillett | Wales Racing Academy | at st |
| 30 | Sean | Townsend | VCEquipe/FlixOralHygiene/Propulse | at 2m 33s |
| 31 | Joseph | Rees | Cardiff Ajax CC | at 2m 40s |
| 32 | Richard | Harris | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club | at 2m 43s |
| 33 | George | Bazley | Bristol RC | at 2m 45s |
| 34 | David | Kovacs | Team KTM UK | at 2m 54s |
| 35 | Marcin | Bialoblocki | Steele Davis Via Roma RT | |
| 36 | Sebastian | Lewis | VCEquipe/FlixOralHygiene/Propulse | |
| 37 | Charlie | Passfield | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |
| 38 | Joe | Swinnerton | Swinnerton Cycles | |
| 39 | Ryan | Watkins | Cardiff Ajax CC | |
| 40 | Tom | Duncan | WORX Factory Racing |
| 1st Junior | 98 | Joshua | Price | Team Backstedt/Hotchillee |
| 1st 2nd Cat | 51 | Matthew | Downie | TAAP Cervelo |
| Argos KOM 1st | 51 | Matthew | Downie | TAAP Cervelo |
| Argos KOM 2nd | 91 | James | Phillips | Bristol RC |
| 1st Team | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team | |||
| 1st Local Rider | 66 | Ben | Lockett | Tri UK |
| 2nd Local Rider | 91 | James | Phillips | Bristol RC |
| 3rd Local Rider | 82 | Andrew | Kirby | VC St Raphael |
Enter the race at this link: 46th-Severn-Bridge---BW-Cycling-Road-Race
Ride the circuit at this link: Ride the circuit for the 46th Severn Bridge-BW Cycling Road Race
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Race Report - A Bridge Too Far Road Race - by
Mathew Blackmore
Joshua Croxton (Team Tor 2000 KALAS) sprints to victory in A Bridge Too Far Road Race in the penultimate round of The Steele Davis Cotswold Cycle Racing League
With only 10 points between Jamie Wilkins (Veloton) 152 pts, Ross Phelps (Bristol RC) 143pts, Ben Luckwell (24/7) 142pts and 2 rounds to go, it was all to play for in the overall for The Steele Davis Cotswold Cycling League. With Ross on holiday it was opportunity for Jamie and Ben to gain some ground.
Back in the bunch, strong southerly crosswinds left limited space to hide on the long drag at the top of Cheddar and a string of attacks stretched out the bunch. However it also took its toll with the lead riders losing Nic McKibbin on lap 4 and Charlie Beake on lap 5. At the start of lap 5, Shaun Cook and Ben Lockett's lead had been reduced to 15 seconds by a chasing pack of 10 riders which had initially broke away on lap 4, which included Josh Croxton and Graham Collins (Team Tor 2000 Kalas), Ian Cullen and Ashley Towey (Mid Devon CC), Tom Sharp (Bristol RC), Lewis Braithwaite (24/7), George Kimber (Cycle Sport Dynamo), and Ashley Hutchinson (VC St Raphael). With the chasing peloton 30 seconds behind including Ben Luckwell and Jamie Wilkins closely watching each other for the overall.
By the last lap the 10 riders had caught Shaun Cook and Ben Lockett. However a chase from the peloton had now been made by a further group of 6 riders of the main contenders for the overall including Ben Luckwell, Jamie Wilkins and Matt Franklin (Bristol RC 6th overall.) Jacob Pilkington (Velo Club Montpelier 7th overall).
On the last drag the climbers of the leading group were trying to make their attacks count. Attacks came from Alex Fanshawe, George Kimber and Ben Lockett but none of the remaining 12 riders were willing to give up, so it came down to a bunch sprint. In the final corner Graham Collins Team Tor 2000 took the lead with fellow teammate Joshua Croxton on his wheel. Joshua sprinted strongly from 200 metres to go to take the win, albeit with a slight scare when celebrating a little bit to early as a close 2nd was Ian Cullen (Mid Devon CC) who was riding his first race since a double fractured of the left pelvis in the Totnes Vire RR earlier this year and had only started riding his bike again after a 12 week layoff. Lewis Braithwaite (24/7) took 3rd place. Best Bristol RC rider was Tom Sharp in 5th.
Tom Sharp of promoting club, Bristol RC, comes in 5th from the sprint in the race winning break
With chasing group of 5 riders coming in 50 seconds behind, Matt Franklin had managed to make a breakaway to come in 13th, followed in with a hard fought sprint between Ben Luckwell (14th), Jacob Pilkington (15th) and Jamie Wilkins (16th).
Matt Franklin breaks away from the second group to finish alone
1st Place - Joshua Croxton on the race.
"Knowing there was a race within a race, with the Cotswold League regulars looking at one another, I felt confident a group of non-threats could be allowed to get away. I managed to miss the first and my teammate Graham went with the second, so needed to bide my time. On lap 6, I went over the top, just as two were brought back - stupid really, I was never bridging that gap alone! Thankfully Mid Devon's Ian Cullen made it over and we were full gas. 14 minutes of hurt later, we'd made it.
I was fortunate to personally know half the riders in the break, meaning I knew a couple of them would have to try something on the climb. I made sure I was positioned near the front and followed the panicked chase when Alex Fanshawe & George Kimber showed their hands, doing my best to preserve my fast-diminishing box of matches.
Once the hill had been dealt with I was happy, I'm always happy to sprint! I was unsure who's wheel to follow, but Graham's work in putting me in the right position was perfect and it all fell into place nicely - even if I did need to cancel the early celebration to finish the job!"
2nd Place - Ian Cullen (Mid Devon CC) on the race
Yes - This was my first RR back since the crash. Which left me with a double fractured my left pelvis, I couldn't walk for 6 weeks and was on
crutches permanently. I did another 6 weeks in rehab. Then I started training
properly at the end of July. It's taken me a while to get my confidence for
riding in a bunch again so I'm pleased to be re-acquainted with road racing
again.
I missed the early breaks by sitting to far back in the peloton so with 2 laps to go at the foot of the drag Josh and I hit it hard to bridge across. We made contact with the front group with a lap to go. I'm pleased with 2nd although a win would have been a great return.
Result
| 1. Joshua Croxton | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
| 2. Ian Cullen | Mid Devon CC |
| 3. Lewis Braithwaite | Ride 24/7 |
| 4. George Kimber | Cycle Sport Dynamo |
| 5. Tom Sharp | Bristol RC |
| 6. Ashley Towey | Mid Devon CC |
| 7. Graham Collins | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
| 8. Ashley Hutchison | VC St Raphael |
| 9. Shaun Cook | Bristol RC |
| 10.Ben Lockett | Saint Piran |
| 11.Richard Cleaver | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 12.Alex Fanshawe | Saint Piran |
| 13.Matthew Franklin | Bristol RC |
| 14.Benjamin Luckwell | Ride 24/7 |
| 15.Jacob Pilkington | Velo Club Montpelier |
| 16.Jamie Wilkins | Veloton Team |
| 17.George Jones | VC St Raphael |
| 18.Charlie Beake | Tri UK |
| 19.Mark Perry | Ride 24/7 |
| 20.Robert Willcocks | Royal Air Force CA |
| 21.Ashley Fletcher | Southfork Racing.co.uk |
| 22.Steven Jones | Mid Devon CC |
| 23.Jack Mundinano | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 24.Trevor Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 25.Jack Thompson | Performance Cycles |
| 26.Simon Ward | Bristol RC |
| 27.Charlie Shields | Bath Cycling Club |
| 28.Samuel Westlake | Bristol RC |
| 29.Steve Thomas | Ride 24/7 |
| 30.Rick Hawker | VeloVitesse |
| 31.Mike Skidmore | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 32.Christopher Hill | Bristol RC |
| 33.Matthew Griffin | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
| 34.George Dallimore | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
| 35.Johnny Arce Uruena | Unattached |
| 36.Cameron Smalley | Cotswold Cycles-TREK |
| 37.Dave Tilling | Ride 24/7 |
| 38.Matt Lelliott | Severn RC |
| 39.Craig Wallduck | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
| 40.Nic McKibbin | Bath Cycling Club |
| 41.Aled Jones | Veloton Team |
| 42.Daniel Marshall | T1Diabetes.info |
| No. | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name |
| 1 | Paul | Churchill | Army Cycling Union |
| 2 | Charlie | Shields | Bath Cycling Club |
| 3 | Simon | Williams | Bath Cycling Club |
| 4 | Nic | McKibbin | Bath Cycling Club |
| 5 | Samuel | Westlake | Bristol RC |
| 6 | Tom | Sharp | Bristol RC |
| 7 | Matthew | Franklin | Bristol RC |
| 8 | Christopher | Hill | Bristol RC |
| 9 | Simon | Ward | Bristol RC |
| 10 | Will | Budge | Bristol RC |
| 11 | Shaun | Cook | Bristol RC |
| 12 | Krispin | Gardiner | Bristol RC |
| 13 | Jack | Mundinano | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 14 | Thomas | Barlow | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 15 | Simon | Worsley | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 16 | Mike | Skidmore | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 17 | Cameron | Smalley | Cotswold Cycles-TREK |
| 18 | James | Pugh | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 19 | Trevor | Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 20 | George | Kimber | Cycle Sport Dynamo |
| 21 | Matthew | Clarke | Halesowen A&CC |
| 22 | Craig | Wallduck | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
| 23 | Peter | Hodson-Thomas | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
| 24 | Joe | Harris | Maxxis 4 Racing Team |
| 25 | Steven | Jones | Mid Devon CC |
| 26 | Ian | Cullen | Mid Devon CC |
| 27 | Ashley | Towey | Mid Devon CC |
| 28 | Jack | Thompson | Performance Cycles |
| 29 | Steven | Whitehurst | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
| 30 | Matthew | Griffin | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
| 31 | George | Dallimore | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
| 32 | Deacon | Cutterham CGC | Ride 24/7 |
| 33 | Benjamin | Luckwell | Ride 24/7 |
| 34 | Mark | Perry | Ride 24/7 |
| 35 | Dave | Tilling | Ride 24/7 |
| 36 | Steve | Thomas | Ride 24/7 |
| 37 | Lewis | Braithwaite | Ride 24/7 |
| 38 | Archie | Whyte | Ride 24/7 |
| 39 | Matt | Lelliott | Severn RC |
| 40 | Ashley | Fletcher | Southfork Racing.co.uk |
| 41 | Daniel | Marshall | T1Diabetes.info |
| 42 | Alfie | Peters | Team Novo Nordisk (Development) |
| 43 | Graham | Collins | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
| 44 | Joshua | Croxton | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
| 45 | Charlie | Beake | Tri UK |
| 46 | Luke | Barfoot | Tri UK |
| 47 | Andrew | Kirby | University of Bristol CC |
| 48 | Peter | Burrows | University of Bristol CC |
| 49 | Ashley | Hutchison | VC St Raphael |
| 50 | George | Jones | VC St Raphael |
| 51 | Jacob | Pilkington | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 52 | Rory | Gilling | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 53 | Richard | Cleaver | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 54 | Lloyd | Dobson | Velo Club Vitesse |
| 55 | Jamie | Wilkins | Veloton Team |
| 56 | Aled | Jones | Veloton Team |
| 57 | Lee | Davis | VeloVitesse |
| 58 | Neil | Bond | VeloVitesse |
| 59 | Alastair | Kay | VeloVitesse |
| 60 | Rick | Hawker | VeloVitesse |
| Reserves | |||
| 61 | Robin | Hunt | Bristol RC |
| 62 | Johnny | Arce Uruena | Unattached |
| 63 | Ben | Lockett | Saint Piran |
| 64 | Alex | Fanshawe | Saint Piran |
| 65 | Morgan | Jones | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club |
| 66 | Joseph | West | Team Backstedt/Hotchillee |
| 67 | Alexander | Cross | Team Vision Innovative Leisure |
| 68 | Toby | Smith | VC Bristol Webbs of Warmley |
| 69 | Ben | Millar | VELOFLOW CC |
| 70 | Robert | Willcocks | Royal Air Force CA |
Edward Clemens returns to take win in Severn Bridge RR
The Severn Bridge Road Race in Bristol today was won by Edward Clemens (Spirit Tifosi RT) by 8 seconds from Matt Langworthy (Mid Devon CC) and teammate Charlie Passfield (Spirit Tifosi RT) a further 40 seconds back.
Thomas Scott-Collins (Spirit Tifosi RT), Oscar Hutchings and Lee Frost (VC Equipe Flix), had also made the move and the gap to the peloton was holding at 40 secs after 25 of 68 miles. A full field of 80 faced rain, hail and sunshine but most agreed the strong south westerly wind scudding in off the Severn Estuary had the most influence on the race, only the bigger riders citing the climb. The wind deterred any concerted chase but also started to take its toll on the break away as Scott-Collins, Hutchings and finally Frost lost contact.
The catch was always likely given the race distance but a crash in the bunch that sent Will Bjergfelt, Elliot Porter (Neon-Velo CT) and Jason White (Bristol RC) among others, tumbling onto the verge took the impetus out of the pursuit.
Clemens & Passfield opened a small gap the sixth time up the hill with two to go but the impressive Langworthy, a winner last week at the Primavera race closed the gap over the top and at the bell it was the Devonian making the pace.
Behind, the race was splitting with late entry Rob Partridge
(Bike Channel Canyon) Doug Coleman (Spirit Tifosi RT), Harry Veale (Cycleworks)
and Team Wiggins pair Etienne Georgi & Ashley Dennis doing the damage.
Clemens made his move on a slight rise before the main climb, Langworthy
followed but could not make contact, Passfield did not have to and Smith was
already settling for fourth place.
| Pos. | No. | First Name | Last Name | Club / Team Name |
1 | 53 | Edward | Clemens | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team |
2 | 31 | Matt | Langworthy | Mid Devon CC |
3 | 51 | Charlie | Passfield | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team |
4 | 70 | George | Smith | VC Equipe - Flix |
5 | 91 | Robert | Partridge | BIKE Channel Canyon |
6 | 63 | Etienne | Georgi | Team Wiggins |
7 | 54 | Douglas | Coleman | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team |
8 | 75 | Dylan | Thomas | VC Meudon |
9 | 64 | Ashley | Dennis | Team Wiggins |
10 | 57 | Ken | Buckley | Spokes BPC Racing |
11 | 82 | Jake | Alderman | Saint Piran |
12 | 52 | Michael | Smith | Spirit Tifosi Racing Team |
13 | 12 | George | Fowler | Catford CC Equipe/Banks |
14 | 2 | Hayden | Burton | Bath Cycling Club |
15 | 71 | Andrew | Turner | VC Equipe - Flix |
16 | 10 | Rhys | Britton | Bush Healthcare CRT |
17 | 18 | Harry | Veale | Cycleworks.co.uk |
18 | 13 | Alex | Dalton | Catford CC Equipe/Banks |
19 | 60 | Daniel | Coombe | Team Backstedt/Hotchillee |
20 | 59 | Jake | Stewart | Swinnerton Cycles |
21 | 38 | Thomas | Bowering | PMR@Toachim House |
22 | 28 | Luke | Nolan | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
23 | 37 | Ashley | Cox | Nopinz |
23 | 66 | Luke | Barfoot | Tri UK |
24 | 29 | Calum | Croft | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
25 | 65 | Andy | Shackel | Team Wiggle |
26 | 73 | Fred | Wright | VC Londres |
27 | 62 | Graham | Collins | Team Tor 2000 KALAS |
28 | 19 | Robert | Borek | DRK Racing |
29 | 17 | Ryan | Brain | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club |
30 | 79 | Andrew | Critchlow | WyndyMilla |
31 | 85 | Olly | Hacker | University of Birmingham CC |
32 | 50 | Steve | Thomas | Ride 24/7 |
33 | 40 | Edward | Hatfield | Primera-TeamJobs |
34 | 49 | Mark | Perry | Ride 24/7 |
35 | 72 | Lee | Frost | VC Equipe - Flix |
36 | 5 | Ross | Phelps | Bristol RC |
37 | 23 | Sebastian | Lewis | Hosté TAAP Storck |
38 | 76 | William | Fleming | Velo Club Venta |
39 | 48 | Grant | Bayton | Ride 24/7 |
40 | 84 | Sean | Frost | Tri UK |
41 | 42 | Ben | Strain | Radeon-Bike Science RT |
42 | 16 | Laurence | Kirby | Catford CC Equipe/Banks |
43 | 15 | Callum | Ferguson | Catford CC Equipe/Banks |
44 | 80 | Dexter | Gardias | BIKE Channel Canyon |
45 | 8 | Matthew | Franklin | Bristol RC |
46 | 27 | Gareth | Turner | Latchem Sunwise Race Team |
Other categories:
1st Team: Spirit Tifosi RT
KOM Winner: Charlie Passfield, Spirit Tifosi RT
KOM 2nd place: Lee Frost, VC Equipe – Flix
1st Local Rider:George Smith, VC Equipe – Flix
1st Junior: Rhys Britton (16th), Bush Healthcare CRT
1st 2nd Cat: Matt Langworthy, Mid Devon CC
45th Severn Bridge - BW Cycling Road Race on 5th March 2017
This year the race is on a new circuit, close to Bristol and starts in Henbury, then goes past Blaise Castle and through Hallen, Chittening and Lawrence Weston, climbing up sharply from Long Cross roundabout to the finish on Napier Miles Road.
A very fast circuit with a horrible climb every 8 miles which is not for the faint hearted.
Please check out and share this filmed lap https://t.co/DakIj6hsxV via @YouTube
Entries are now open for the 45th Severn Bridge - BW Cycling Road Race which will be taking place on Sunday 5th March 2017.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/…/45th-Severn-Bridge---BW…
Please note that you must have a 2017 Race licence to enter this event.
Bristol Road Club are very excited to be able to bring this prestigious and challenging event into the Bristol area for the first time and also within view of the Severn Bridge.
The HQ will be at Avon Riding Centre, Kings Weston Road, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7QT
The circuit can be viewed at the following link: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1320148710
The circuit is just under 13km (7.9 miles) and the race is currently stated to be 10 laps, however this may be reduced to 9 laps. In addition the start time of 11.00am may be changed to an earlier time, but this information will be reviewed and updated if necessary in the next few weeks.
If you have any questions, please contact the organiser, Brian O'Kelly, at brian.okelly@bristolroadclub.com.
Matthew
Woods of Performance Cycles took a lone victory in Round 9 of The Steele Davis Cotswold League.
The penultimate race of the Cotswold Cycle
Racing League near Priddy saw autumnal weather on top of the Mendips, with a heavy
rain shower and dropping temperature sorting the men from the boys, with only
around 35 riders finishing.
With the main contenders for the Steele Davis Cotswold League overall standings, current leader Colin Parry (24/7), Rory Gilling (VC Montpelier), Simon Ker (Bath CC) and Sean Townsend (Radeon-Bike Science RT) all trying to establish a breakaway, it made the race hard going for many riders from the outset.
On the second lap up the long drag of Plummers Lane showed Jacob Pilkington (Performance Cycles) putting the power on with the aim of making a breakaway group, which would include his teammate Matthew Woods. With Matt pushing the pace even further towards the top of the climb thinking the stronger riders would follow, he had established a 15 sec time gap by himself. In the next two laps he awaited further riders to join him but while riders tried to bridge the gap, all these attempts were soon reeled back from the peloton.
He then realised that he may have to do this all by himself.
Matthew said "I decided, that to stay away, I would need to back off into the headwind on the flat section and push hard on the climb. Knowing that the group dynamics would ease up towards the peak of the climb so I could make the gains on the climb."
With 3 laps to go the time gap went down to 15secs but it was also the lap Matt backed off his pace, but then he pushed on harder and saw his advantage increase lap by lap.
On the final lap, riders were still trying to bridge the gap. Matt Franklin (Bristol RC) and Duncan Lancashire (Bath Cycling Club) had established a 20 second gap from the peloton. By the time the chasing 30 riders came through they were now a minute behind the leader.
Unfortunately Matt Franklin lost contact with Duncan Lancashire who now had to hold off an ever increasing speeding peloton for the final 3 miles.
Matthew Wood came in celebrating his victory with 35 secs to spare. On the final bend Duncan Lancashire was still holding off for second place, however, Jamie Wilson (Veloton Team) peeled off from the fragmented peloton to overtake Duncan for second place in the final 100 metres. With Sean Townsend (Raedon-BikeScience) 4th, Colin Parry Perfomance Cycles 5th and last year's winner Gerry Bowditch (Dream Cycling Race Team) 6th, coming in for the minor places.
Provisional
Results | |
| 1. Matthew Woods | Performance Cycles |
| 2. Jamie Wilkins | Veloton Team |
| 3. Duncan Lancashire | Bath Cycling Club |
| 4. Sean Townsend | Raedon-BikeScience |
| 5. Colin Parry | Ride 24/7 |
| 6. Gerry Bowditch | Dream Cycling Race Team |
| 7 Ashley Fletcher | North Devon Wheelers |
| 8 Sebastian Lewis | Madison Du Velo-Storck Bikes UK |
| 9 William Crofts | Performance Cycles |
| 10. Alex Fanshawe | University of Exeter Cycling Club |
| 11 Nicholas Anderson | Salt and Sham Cycle Club |
| 12 Alastair Kay | Velo Vitesse |
| 13 Rory Gilling | Velo Club Montpellier |
| 14 Andre Mouton | Bath Cycling Club |
| 15 Shaun Cook | Bristol Road Club |
| 16 George Jones | VC St Raphael |
| 17. Richard Cleaver | Cheltenham & County CC |
| 18. Jamie Penton | Dream Cycling Race Team |
| 19. Simon Ker | Bath Cycling Club |
| 20. Nick Watson | Ride 24/7 |
| 21. Tom Clements | Offcamber |
| 22. Felix Wilkinson | Veloton Team |
| 23. Lloyd Dobson | Army Cycling Union |
| 24. Trevor Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 25. Darren Gardner | Bath Cycling Club |
| 26. Jacob Pilkington | Performance Cycles |
| 27. Steve Thomas | Dream Cycling Race Team |
| 28. Rob Yeatman | Cotswold Cycles RT |
| 29. Matthew Franklin | Bristol RC |
| 30. Graham Reeves | Bristol RC |
| 31. Adam Maslen | Bristol RC |
| 32. Will Swarbrick | Bath CC |
| 33. Thomas Grigson | Raedon-Bike Science RT |
| 34. David Stoyle | Bath CC |
| 35. Chris Nyonyntino | Bath CC |
2016 44th Severn Bridge - BW Cycling RR
Dale Appleby takes win in Severn Bridge RR
The Severn Bridge Road Race in Bristol on Sunday was won by Dale Appleby who escaped late in the race with two others, Edward Clemens (Spirit Bikes RT) and Max Stedman (Pedal Heaven).
On the downhill finish situated on a bridge over a lake, Appleby, without the use of an 11 sprocket and worried he wasn’t going to get past his rival Clemens, just managed to do so at the line to take the victory with the ever aggressive Max Steadman third.
A very tight finish with Dale Appleby (NFTO) just edging it from Ed Clemens (Spirit Bikes racing Team)
On a tough circuit, testing the legs of many for the first time this season, the riders only had a few miles in their legs after the start before they approached the main climb at Stowey. The pressure was applied and a few riders found wanting but most of the action was at the back as riders tried to hang on.
Another lap and the field was still together at the bottom of Stowey but the cracks soon started to appear in the peloton as Jon Tiernan Locke who admits to being 10 kilos heavier than he should be, Dexter Gardias in the first race for his new team, Pedal Heaven, and Liam Bromiley, a uni student from Bath who has already won this year, escaped.
The three of them held onto that lead for around four laps, fighting out the KoM’s and forcing a selection of around a dozen riders to come up to them. The gap between groups was never big and so many riders chasing always looked a good chance of making it across but crossing the small gaps was harder than many expected.
In the lead group, the slimming down process continued lap after lap as attacks came and went until over the top of the climb last time, three riders escaped, Dale Appleby, Edward Clemens and Max Stedman (Pedal Heaven).
Top 3 in KOM going over Stowey. New signing for Pedal Heaven, Dexter Gardias racking up the KoM points ahead ofLiam Bromiley, Bath Uni CC and Jon Tiernan-Locke, Saint Piran
Jon Tiernan Locke said later he hesitated and then too late realised he was chasing a break with the three main teams represented and so wasn’t going to get any help bringing them back. In the leading three, a handy sprinter on the track, Stedman, threw in a few attacks to try and escape but no-one was getting clear on this mainly downhill run to the finish over the last five miles.
And so came the final sprint between Appleby and Clemens which was ever so close with Stedman in third. The rest of the break came in less than a minute later with Jacob Hennessy winning that sprint for fourth from Rob Partridge.
Dexter Gardias (Pedal Heaven) was next, out front for most of the race and the winner of the KoM award whilst the best local rider was Liam Bromiley, who was part of the original break. Liam, studying a masters in Civil Engineering, was a 4th cat this time last year and from what his fellow escapees said, was very strong until he blew his doors off.
Results
| Position | No. | First Name | Last Name | Club/Team Name | Time |
| 1 | 34 | Dale | Appleby | NFTO | 02:52:20 |
| 2 | 61 | Edward | Clemens | Spirit Bikes Racing Team | st |
| 3 | 43 | Max | Stedman | Pedal Heaven | 3sec |
| 4 | 60 | Jacob | Hennessy | Spirit Bikes Racing Team | 01:35 |
| 5 | 32 | Robert | Partridge | NFTO | st |
| 6 | 42 | Dexter | Gardias | Pedal Heaven | st |
| 7 | 22 | Connor | Swift | Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield | st |
| 8 | 5 | Ben | Stockdale | Cotswold Cycles RT | st |
| 9 | 92 | Liam | Bromiley | University of Bath Cycling Club | st |
| 10 | 57 | Jonathan | Tiernan-Locke | Saint Piran | st |
| 11 | 45 | Alexandar | Richardson | Pedal Heaven Excel Academy | 01:48 |
| 12 | 28 | Barnabas | Purbrook | London Dynamo | st |
| 13 | 21 | Joseph | Clark | Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield | 02:15 |
| 14 | 20 | Jake | Tanner | Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield | st |
| 15 | 58 | Jake | Alderman | Saint Piran | st |
| 16 | 11 | Benjamin | Marks | Cycleworks.co.uk | 03:09 |
| 17 | 18 | James | Phillips | Dream Cycling Race Team | st |
| 18 | 9 | Andrew | Williams | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club | st |
| 19 | 67 | Michael | Smith | Team Corley Cycles | st |
| 20 | 23 | Etienne | Georgi | Giant Cycling Club - Halo Films | st |
| 21 | 27 | Kinsey | McIlquham | KTM Impsport RT | st |
| 22 | 52 | Oscar | Hutchings | Primera-TeamJobs | st |
| 23 | 8 | Ryan | Brain | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club | st |
| 24 | 36 | Hefin | Evans | NFTO Race Club | st |
| 25 | 15 | Jamie | Penton | Dream Cycling Race Team | st |
| 26 | 41 | Harrison | Jones | Pedal Heaven | st |
| 27 | 78 | Liam | Walsh | VC Equipe - Flix | st |
| 28 | 91 | John | Mulvey | Cambridge CC | st |
| 29 | 30 | Gunther | Zechmann | London Phoenix CC | st |
| 30 | 82 | Thomas | Bowering | Ride 24/7 | st |
| 31 | 83 | Alex | Fanshawe | Zappi's Racing Team | st |
| 32 | 48 | Matthew | Woods | Performance Cycles | st |
| 33 | 62 | Joe | Harris | Spirit Bikes Racing Team | st |
| 34 | 46 | William | Harper | Pedal Heaven Excel Academy | st |
| 35 | 25 | Andrew | Turner | KTM Impsport RT | st |
| 36 | 33 | James | Lowsley-Williams | NFTO | 03:36 |
| 37 | 51 | Joshua | Lawless | PMR@Toachim House | 05:34 |
| 38 | 10 | Harry | Veale | Cycleworks.co.uk | 05:58 |
| 39 | 31 | Oliver | Maxwell | Neon-Velo Cycling Team | st |
| 40 | 66 | Edward | Watkiss | Team Corley Cycles | st |
| 41 | 55 | Timothy | Allen | RP Vision Racing Team | st |
| 42 | 16 | Steve | Thomas | Dream Cycling Race Team | st |
Remaining 38 riders DNF
Argos KOM Winner Dexter Gardias, Pedal Heaven
Team winner Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield
BW Cycling 1st Local Rider Liam Bromiley, University of Bath CC
Deliveroo 2nd Local Rider James Phillips, Dream Cycling Race Team
First Junior Etienne Georgi, Giant Cycling Club - Halo Films
First 2nd Cat Liam Bromiley, University of Bath CC
At the start of the 2nd lap the race was neutralised due to crash involving half a dozen riders of which Carl Luke -Live2ride Sunwise with a suspected broken collarbone and Adam Carter- Offcamber having a puncture wound to his ankle.
The next 2 laps were neutralised whilst awaiting the return of the paramedics as the riders were taken back to HQ.
At the start of Lap 4 with 5 laps remaining the race was back on.
On the long drag, a break established with a group of 7 riders. 3 of the group consisted of Dream Cycle Racing Team, Steve Thomas, Gerry Bowditch and Jamie Penton. They were also joined by Mark Perry - Ride 24/7, Ross Evans - Live 2 Ride, Jack Thompson - Performance Cycles and George Wise - Veloton Team.
The break held at 30-40 seconds until the final lap, with 6km to go Gerry Bowditch pulling through, unexpectedly got a gap and went away from the lead group. Steve Thomas and Jamie Penton were no longer going to contribute while their team mate was ahead.
With about 4km to go the rest of the break were caught by the peloton. However, Gerry Bowditch was able to hold off to take the victory.
Luke Nolan - Live2ride Sunwise took 2nd place with 3rd place going to Sean Townsend - Radeon Cycle Coaching.
2nd Overall in the Cotswold League Mark Perry came in at 10th place which he believes is not enough to leap frog current leader Lee Davies - Ride 24/7.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rider update - Adam Carter - Offcamber suffered a cracked bone in spine, a puncture wound to ankle and a bump to head. However he would like to thank the paramedics and anyone who offered help and support.
The
Bristol Road Club wishes Carl Luke and Adam Carter both a speedy recovery.
Provisional Results
1. Gerry Bowditch Dream Cycle Racing Team
2. Luke Nolan Live2ride Sunwise
3. Sean Townsend Radeon Cycle Coaching
4. Charles Ormerod University of Bristol CC
5. Justin Belcher Shutt VR/Digital Keystone
6. Ross Evans Live2Ride Sunwise
7. Thomas Leach Raedon Cycle Coaching
8. Jack Thompson Performance Cycles
9. Daniel Marshall T1 Diabetes.info
10. Mark Perry Ride 24/7
11. George Smith Gillingham and District Wheelers
12. Jamie Penton Dream Cycle Racing Team
13. Stuart McCombie T1 Diabetes.info
14. George Wise Veloton Team
15. Haydon Burton Bath Cycling Club
16. Christopher Harris Bristol RC
17. Adrain Lawson Ride 24/7
18. George Jones Clevedon & District RC
19. Robert Slocombe Offcamber
20. Malcolm Dixon Dream Cycle Racing Team
21. Dave Tiling Veloton Team
22. Stephen Brown Dream Cycle Racing Team
23. Tom Clements Offcamber
24. Hamish Belding Cardiff Ajax CC
25. John Russell T1 Diabetes.info
26. Steve Thomas Dream Cycle Racing Team
27. Matthew Franklin T1 Diabetes.info
28. David Stoyle Bath Cycling Club
29. Ashley Martin Easton Ritte
30. Vincent Harding Unattached
31. Ben Millar Cardiff Univerity Marmots
32. Casmir Ludwig Bristol RC
33. Stuart Gorley Radeon Cycle Coaching
Online entries are now closed but we are accepting EOL as the race is not full. Contact the organiser, details at A Bridge Too Far RR
http://www.bristolroadclub.com/cotswold-league-series-rr
Result
| 1. George Harper | One Pro Cycling 2-46-45 |
| 2. Yanto Barker | One Pro Cycling |
| 3. Eddie Dunbar | NFTO all same time |
| 4. Will Bjergfelt | SportGrub KUOTA at 41sec |
| 5 .Marcin Bialoblocki | One Pro Cycling at 1-23 |
| 6. Rob Partridge | NFTO at 1-34 |
| 7. Rhys Lloyd | NFTO at 2-07 |
| 8. Rory Townsend | Pedal Heaven RT at 2-55 |
| 9. Lee Frost | Tri UK at 3-00 |
| 10. Gunther Zechmann | London Phoenix CC at 3-50 |
| 11. Joseph Clarke | Team Envelopemaster/Bikeboxalan at 5-34 |
| 12. Colin Parry | Ride 24/7 |
| 13. Ben Davis | Wheelbase Altura MGD |
| 14. Joshua Jones | Bikeshed - Exeter Uni all same time |
| 15. Richard Harris | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club at 5-42 |
| 16. Thomas Baylis | One Pro Cycling at 6-04 |
| 17. Andrew Syme | Primera-Sports.Com at 6-32 |
| 18. Ashley Proctor | Team Envelopemaster/Bikeboxalan |
| 19. Oliver Maxwell | SportGrub KUOTA |
| 20. Andrew Williams | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club |
| 21. Anthony MOYE | Easton Ritte |
| 22. Jack BEEZER | Spirit Bikes Racing Team |
| 23. Russell FALDER | Team Envelopemaster/Bikeboxalan |
| 24. Dion BLACK | Kenilworth Wheelers CC all same time |
| 25. Graham COLLINS | Tanks Direct |
| 26. Robert MOORE | Pedal Heaven RT |
| 27. Tom BOWERING | Ride 24/7 |
| 28. David BILLINGS | VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles |
| 29. Joe ATKINS | Ride Coventry |
| 30. Liam WALSH | VC St Raphaël / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles |
| 31. Robert WARD | Danny Shane-Storck Racing |
| 32. James ELDRIDGE | NFTO |
| 33. Kris KASPER | British Cycling Private Member - South West |
| 34. Tom STRINGER | Army Cycling Union |
| 35. George CLARK | High Wycombe Cycling Club |
| 36. Harry VEALE | Cycleworks.co.uk |
| 37. Jordan FRAMPTON | Primera-Sports.com |
| 38. Callum CROFT | Primera-Sports.com |
| 39. Oscar HUTCHINGS | Bikeshed- Exeter Uni |
| 40. Ross EVANS | Live2Ride Sunwise |
| 41. Mark PERRY | Ride 24/7 |
| 42. George FOWLER | Easton Ritte |
| 43. Steve THOMAS | Dream Cycling Race Team |
| 44. John SPANAPOLOUS | Easton Ritte |
| 45. Daniel McQUILLAN | Tri UK |
| 46. Thomas LEACH | Felt-Colbornes-Hargroves RT |
| 47. Ryan BRAIN | Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club |
| 48. Callum LISTER | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 49. Niel DUNNAGE | Cotswold Veldrijden |
| 50. Thomas GRIGSON | Radeon Cycle Coaching |
| 51. Nicholas BUCK | British Cycling Private Member - South |
| 52. Frederick CORETH | British Cycling Private Member - South |
Report courtesy of VeloUK
George Harper showed just how good his form is right now to win the Severn Bridge Road Race. On a hilly circuit to be covered ten times, a small lead group soon formed and from that first Eddie Dunbar (NFTO) and George Harper and then Eddie and George’s teammate Yanto Barker took flight.
It was the latter two up break that saw the race shook up as Harper and Will Bjergfelt (SportGrub KUOTA Cycling Team) joined them to make four leaders. Behind, NFTO had two more riders (Rhys Lloyd and Rob Partridge) with Marcin Bialoblocki.
The last lap saw Yanto Barker attack and force the pace to the top before Eddie Dunbar went over the top with Harper on his wheel. Barker and Harper were not going to shake the young Irishman and it came to a sprint at the foot of the climb where Harper triumphed from Barker and Dunbar. Fourth was Will Bjergfelt.
A few laps to go and there were four leaders led here by Will Bjergfelt and George Harper
George Harper: “I had to ride into the race as at first and I was a bit worried. We were just concentrating on making sure we had riders in every move. Just constantly trying to put people up the road. I went off with Eddie who’s bloody strong a few laps in and we were away for a lap. Then Yanto and Eddie went and Marcin and I were just judging our effort behind, wondering if they were going to come back or not.”
"On the drag, on the far side of the circuit, I got the thumbs up from Marcin and tried to get over and after a long hard effort we (with Will Bjergfelt) got over. It was all go from then on and Yanto did a bloody good job helping me out. Eddie was outnumbered and we worked him over a bit.”
“I was happy with the sprint, and it was a good day. It is the first time I have worked with a team that works so hard to get someone across the line to win. I learn a fair bit about what groups to go with and when to ride hard and when not to ride hard and I am getting a hell of a lot of help from the guys on the team as we have a very experienced riders.”
After a lap away with George Harper, Eddie Dunbar of NFTO then went away for a few laps with Yanto Barker before two more riders caught them.
Yanto Barker: “I’m happy with that. These are not the biggest races in the country but we’ll take them seriously and we’re all motivated and I think that shows in the way everybody in the team conducts themselves in key phases in the race.”
“I wanted to whittle down the variables and Will is a strong guy and I respect him but I’d rather the sprint was straight forward. I put in a dig in here and went all the way to the top and Eddie attacked over the top of me and went pretty hard but George was on him and I stayed there with the two of them.”
Rob Partridge of NFTO, keen to get racing
“He’s a talented boy that Eddie. I’m going to look
forward to watching him progress and he could definitely benefit from a bit
more calculation in the way he rides. He’d do well in this team LoL! He’s a
good kid and really wants to race and that’s good to see.”
Rob Partridge leads the break which dominated the race
A great debut by the young Irishman
“It was a good race” said Dunbar who had impressed his rivals in the race. “I’m
happy with where I am at the moment even though not fully 100 per cent. It was
a good day out, I really enjoyed it and fair play to the One boys there, they
rode a good race and they came out on top but hopefully in a few weeks, it will
be us on top. “
“They attacked me and after a 100 metres, I counter
attacked and that quietened them a bit and they didn’t attack me again. I
wouldn’t class myself as a sprinter but if the race had finished at the top, it
might have been a different result but I’m happy with third place.”
Lap 1 and George Harper is feeling his way into the race at the front
Why You Should Join Bristol Road Club
Bristol Road Club has a long and successful history, however over the past 10 years it has been run mainly by the older members. We want to attract more younger riders that are interested in road racing so please feel free to come along to the Saturday morning club run leaving at 9.00am from BW Cycling. Get directions. |