WXCRL Dorset Tour Stage 3 22/08/10

Stage 3, Lulworth Castle Circuit

Sunday 22nd August

Over a gruelling two and a half hours around the Lulworth castle circuit, Sam Gardener of Cannondale Racing won from an eight man breakaway, with Andy Rivett (VC St Raphael), also in the breakaway, moving into the overall lead, with overnight leader Eamonn Deane (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) dropping down the order despite some serious chasing.

Anyone hoping for an end to the miserable weather was disappointed, as Sunday dawned with the rain pouring even heavier than the day before. With a 124km stage, climbing the 5km climb to Lulworth camp a total of eight times, whatever happened today was going to be epic and the heavy rain, if nothing else, was going to make it a memorable experience.

Despite this, spirits were high before the start. Race leader Eamonn Deane was realistic about his chances of holding on to the yellow jersey, having considered it all along as something of a poisoned chalice. Many were eyeing him, and the challenging conditions, and forming a plan while those who had decided to stay at a nearby campsite were just trying to get warm after a not particularly comfortable night. Meanwhile, previous day’s casualty Stephen Bale of Reading CC had pulled out of the race. After having his elbow and hip stitched up after a nasty fall the day before, there had been some banter about him riding swathed in bandages, Tour de France style, but common sense about the likely unpleasant effects of getting an fresh wound soaked in road grime prevailed.

As the race got underway at 10.30 am, the rain started in earnest, shifting from ‘hard’ to ‘very hard’ and the field, neutralized to the start line at the top of the hill, took off to a flying start around the slippery 10 mile circuit. From the gun, Adam Bright of Revo Racing, Joe Harris of Reading CC and Paul Tucker of Team VR attacked, pulling out a small gap on the downhill plunge to the Weld pub. They were soon pulled back.

“The first lap was mental.” Said Greg Shrosbree of MeridaUK, who was riding very aggressively in the opening laps.

A little too aggressively at some points, as he and another rider headed the bunch into the downhill, off camber, first corner for the second time at full whack. While the lead rider out braked himself, making use of a ‘berm’ on the outside of the corner to get back on the tarmac, Greg held a slide that Kenny Roberts would have been proud of.

“I think all that riding a mountain bike paid off there.” He laughed afterwards. “I don’t think I’d have held it if I hadn’t have had that experience.”

Come the third lap, both the rain and the pace slackened. Revo racing were on the front of the race trying their best to control things. At the back, riders were dropping off. A separate group had established themselves, a few minutes back forming an ‘autobus’ to get themselves to the end of the race. In between were several riders fighting to stay with the front group. Amongst them was David Crowley (jointly of Port Talbot Wheelers and Team VR), dropped on the fourth climb and going flat out down the hill, trying to get back on.

“I’d just caught site of the bunch ahead of me.” He said.

He tipped into the first corner and promptly lost the back end, which slid round a full 180 degrees before dumping him on the floor. For this effort, he suffered a bashed knee and wrist and pulled out of the race shortly afterwards.

Up front, another breakaway formed in the shape of Wayne Crombie of East London Velo, Richard Oram of Revo Racing and Sam Gardener of Cannondale Racing. They pulled out a big gap up the hill but found themselves shut down within a lap by the efforts of bunch engine Ben Jacobs (London Dynamo) amongst others. With two laps to go, the field settled down again, the rain got harder and then Andy Rivett (VC St Raphael) went on the attack.

“I had slowed down a little so I went for it.” He said and those who were paying attention and still had the legs went with him.

“I went after Andy Rivett.” Said Andrew Boyd, who had joined Revo Racing for the event. “He pinged up the road when it went quiet and I went after him with [clubmate] Adam Bright and six or seven other guys.”

Amongst those other guys was previous year’s winner Crispin Doyle of Swindon RC.

“With a few laps to go it felt like the enthusiasm was going out of some people.” He said. “And with the conditions, it made sense to be at the front of the race rather the back. So when the break went away I thought ‘I’ll have some of that’ and went across and it turned out to be a good choice.”

Also in the break were Jack Steven of East London Velo, Matthew Theobalds of CS Grupetto, Euan Adams of Red Kite and professional tri athlete Sam Gardener of Cannondale racing. They worked hard for the remaining distance, pulling out a gap that spelt the end of Eamonn Deane’s tenure as race leader.

“I didn’t have the legs from the start.” Said the Jubilee rider afterwards. “I was just pleased to still be in there and when I saw Andy go I knew it was the wheel to go with but didn’t have the legs to be out there. The rest of the field left it to me to chase but you can understand that. I had [clubmate] Richard Horton to help and he rode really well and really helped me where he could but ultimately, everything happened as I expected. Not that I’m too disappointed.”

Perhaps symbolically, his leader’s yellow jersey – brand new on that morning – was in a state when he finished. Richard Horton (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) spent some time trying to fight across along with Greg Shrosbree (MeridaUK) but both ended back in the bunch. After some hard attacking in the early laps, Greg blew up and dropped a few minutes behind on the final lap.

Up front, the eight man breakaway held a truce to the bottom of the climb, where Crispin Doyle (Swindon RC).

“I looked behind and saw most of the break had sat up, but then Sam Gardener came across and I thought ‘oh well’. Still, it was a good ride and he deserved it.”

Sam Gardener of Cannondale Racing held the advantage to the line, with Crispin Doyle second and earning himself enough points for a first cat licence. Micheal Leech of Team Tor 2000 came third, with local boy Andrew Boyd of Revo Racing fourth. Behind him came his clubmate Adam Bright with Jack Steven of East London Velo sixth. Seventh came Andy Rivett (VC St Raphael), winner of yesterday’s stage and now considered most likely to be overall leader as soon as the GC has been worked out. Eighth was Euan Adams of Red Kite.

After some furious chasing on the final lap, the main field had closed the gap down considerably. They were led home by Micheal Leech of Team Tor 2000 while, a further 10 minutes back, the third group crossed the line at the tail of the race. After over two and a half hours of racing in torrential conditions, with grime-caked faces and kits reduced to the same colour of sludgy grey and over a course that is not particularly easy at the best of times, every rider could feel proud of themselves. The adverse weather may have made this one of the most memorable stages of all the Dorset Tours. And, even better, there’s another one tomorrow.

Full results and overall standings here. When they’re finished. Which shouldn’t be long.