WXCRL Dorset Tour Stage 4 23/08/2010

Stage 4
Lawrence of Arabia Circuit

Dorset came alive on Monday morning after one of the wettest August nights in years. There was standing water around most of the course which was added to by a small shower just before the off, but as the race got going so did the rain. The main drag to Weymouth was being shaken by the gravel Lorries and even the British Army came out to play at the Tank training area of Bovington camp.

The riders rolled away from the HQ under a dark skies and a small shower. The yellow jersey holder Sam Gardner had his three team mates around him trying to protect what they had. I was a very nervy first lap with loads of attacks but nothing was sticking. At one point Jack Cousins (Wills Wheels) slipped of the front and started to make headway but on lap two he came back to the bunch as Cannondale were very much in control. Several attacks on laps three and four came to nothing, and it was all down to the sprint finish.

At the bottom of the climb leading to the finish it seemed like the whole bunch could have taken the stage win. But as the road went upwards it was Tim Allen (Cyclesport Pygott &Crone) that crossed the line just ahead of Matthew Theobalds (CS Grupetto) and Shane Pope (Swindon RC).

Stage 4 Result
1st Tim Allen Cyclesport Pygott &Crone 2:20:15
2nd Matthew Theobalds CS Grupetto @st
3rd Shane Pope Swindon RC @st

Other places to be sorted once video has been viewed, but the bunch all finished together.

General Classification Day 3
1st Sam Gardner Cannondale Racing 8:06:52
2nd Crispin Doyle Swindon RC @34secs
3rd Adam Bright Revo Racing @58secs
4th Andy Rivett VC St Raphael @1min:4secs
5th Eamonn Deane Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers @1min: 13secs
1st Green Jersey Sam Gardner
1st U/23 Jersey Tom Stockdale

report and photos by Graham Robins. There are literally thousands more pics at www.grahamrobins.net. And if you liked that then don’t miss the Cove Road Race open to E/1/2/3s and also running out of Wool in a fortnight’s time.