WXCRL Martyrs and Verwood Road Race Movies!

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WXCRL Verwood Road Race 28-03-10

After two pipe openers at Barnsfield Heath, the first road race of the season kicked off in Verwood on Sunday, in an all too brief dry spell between the fairly continuous rain of the past week. The 80km Regional A race ran round a new route running from Verwood to Cranborne, over a sporting course around some twisty little lanes with a couple of kick ups to keep things interesting.

Over 40 riders took the start, all signing on in good time despite the clocks going forward the previous night! The first break had gone within the first lap, on the narrow run in to Cranborne. DH Cyclesport played a major part in the breakaway, with Phillip Peters and  Andrew Bryson both getting away, along with Simon Fox of Team Synergy, Adam Bright Revo Racing, Will Kemp of Onelife Development Squad, Graeme Lackford of Tor 2000. Back in the bunch, other DH Cyclesport and Online Development Squad riders worked hard to shut down any attempts to bring them back.

“I saw the break go.” Said one such chaser, Eamon Deane of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers. “And I thought I’d play tactical, let them go and save myself for later. But, typically, that had to be the one that stayed away. It always is.”

On a furiously fast first lap, the breakaway pulled out a minute on the bunch and held it.

“My team was awesome.” Said Andrew Bryson of his DH Cyclesport clubmates. “Everyone was working together to get a win for the club, there wasn’t a weak link in the whole squad.’ Eamon Deane agreed: ‘There were a couple of guys from DH Cycles, tapping along on the front of the bunch, keeping everything in order, while everybody else either weren’t strong enough to mount a chase or didn’t want to bury themselves for the rest of the bunch’s  benefit.”

By the third lap, the main field had got the gap down to 45 seconds but breakaway group soon got their second wind and began to pull away again.

“Everybody was working.” Said Graeme Lackford of Tor 2000. “Everybody doing their bits and pieces. Things settled down mid-race and the gap started to come down but we pulled it out again. Once we had over 30 seconds we knew we were away but we had to work for it!”

By the fourth lap, three more riders had broken clear, Thomas Marshal of Chippenham and District Wheelers, Dan Ahearn, also of DH Cyclesport and Michael Cotty of Herbal Life/Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale attempting to bridge the, now well over 1 minute, gap. They got to within 30 seconds but, still out of sight of the head of the field on the twisting course, never made contact and were swallowed back in to the bunch on the last lap.

One minute ahead of them, the six lead riders climbed the hill out of Cranborne for the last time, finding that the hard pace had taken the zest out of their legs.

“I got cramp in the last half lap.” Said Adam Bright of Revo Racing, while Andrew Bryson decided to make his charge early on.

“I knew there was a sprinter in the group.” He said. “So I went early and there was only a couple of guys interested in putting the work in to bring me back and I just held them to the line.”

He did, beating Adam Bright by a nose, with Graeme Lackford of Tor 2000 third, Simon Fox of Team Synergy fourth and Philip Peters of DHC/Colnago bringing up the rear.

Dropped on the final lap, Will Kemp of Onelife Development Squad came in on his own, with the bunch well over a minute behind.

“Everybody was cramping up on the hill.” Said Steve Groome of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers. “I was and I thought my race was over but then I noticed everybody else was too.”

Mud spattered faces pointed to a hard fought race over some very testing roads while afterwards. Full results here.

Back at the HQ, lucky riders were presented with prizes for their efforts in the previous year’s series – with prizes going well down past 50^th place in the list, thanks to 2009 league sponsors Fitness First, Bikefood and Yves Betelin. To claim yours, all you have to do is turn up at the next event, the Martyrs Road Race at Moreton on Easter Sunday. Preferably to race, although helpers are always welcome. Entry here.

Photos Gordon Skillen. More, by regular photographer Graham Robins here. All very scenic aren’t they? They’d look good in your hallway. Prints are available, check website for details.