Sunshine and blue skies blessed a mega field of 180 riders as dust, dirt and frenetic action proved to be the order of the day at the 16th edition of the men’s Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic.
A week of sunshine and warm temperatures in the run-up to the race led to an action-packed edition with riders not having to battle the typically slippery gravel sectors, with dust and dry dirt the main order of the day instead.
On the run-up to Wymondham, Ollie Peckover (Ribble-Weldtite Pro Cycling) seized the initiative and won all three of the sprints on offer as he struck out ahead of the peloton alongside Spirit BSS’s Farley Barber.
With 31 km gone, the pair had stretched out a lead of more than six minutes and were sitting in a good position as the race hit the truly rough sectors for the first time.
Peckover and Barker formed the early break. Photo: Joe Cotterill/The British Continental
However, that’s where the gap started to shrink. With tricky gravel sections kicking up a lot of dust and sapping energy from the legs, Peckover and Barber started to have their advantage eaten too thanks to a concerted chase effort behind.
As well the Peckover and Barker breakaway, the early part of the race was also marred by some heavy crashes. Rory Townsend (WiV SunGod) was the cause of a major crash, for which he later apologised, while his teammate Gruff Lewis was one of those affected in the crash-strewn opening.
Gruff Lewis (WiV SunGod) surveys the damage. Photo: Joe Cotterill/The British Continental
On the first run up the Manorberg, they had 5 minutes and 45 seconds over a seven-rider chase group which featured Jacob Scott (WiV-SunGod), Finn Crockett (Ribble-Weldtite Pro Cycling), Max Walker (Trinity Racing), Tomas Kopecky (À Bloc CT), Bas Van Belle (WPGA Amsterdam), Bob Donaldson (GB Cycling Team) and Roberto Gonzalez (Java Kiwi Atlántico).
However, as the lead duo traversed the Manorberg climb for the second time, that chase group had sliced their advantage down to just over two minutes, and effective work by the seven meant the only question was when, not if, the chase would be caught.
They hung on for much longer than many would have expected, with the chase only catching the lead after the penultimate run of the Owston sector – this time in reverse – as Barber ran into a mechanical issue in the feed zone after the Green Lane sector leaving Owston.
Slimmed down slightly after a bike issue for Gonzalez, the group merged with a counter group of six and as they came across the finish line in Melton Mowbray for the first time, Stuart Balfour (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) decided to clip off the front, with Kopecky taking off after him. The move meant Balfour was leading as they crossed the finished line for the final lap, winning him the infamous giant pork pie prize the race is famous for.
With 8km to go, Balfour and Kopecky came together, with Scott joining them for company. Sensing an opportunity, Ribble Weldtite committed another rider as Finn Crockett bridged the gap and joined the trio for the run down the arrow-straight finishing road.
As Balfour dropped off from the lead group, the remaining trio unleashed a ferocious sprint to the line, with Crockett having just enough left in his legs to pip Kopecky to the line in a sprint that could have gone to either of them. Scott finished a length behind in third, with Balfour coming home a couple of seconds down in fourth.
Finn Crockett takes the win. Photo: Joe Cotterill/The British Continental
The victory marked Finn Crockett’s first UCI road race win, continuing a fine run of form this season that has already seen him win three National B road races and finish 9th overall at the Tour de Loir et Cher (2.2). It was also Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s second UCI road race win, their first since Damien Clayton’s 2019 victory at the GP des Marbriers.
Finn Crockett talks to Joe Hudson after the finish in Melton MowbrayFinn Crockett (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) celebrates the win. Photo: Joe Cotterill/The British Continental
Sunshine and blue skies blessed a mega field of 180 riders as dust, dirt and frenetic action proved to be the order of the day at the 16th edition of the men’s Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic.
Report
A week of sunshine and warm temperatures in the run-up to the race led to an action-packed edition with riders not having to battle the typically slippery gravel sectors, with dust and dry dirt the main order of the day instead.
On the run-up to Wymondham, Ollie Peckover (Ribble-Weldtite Pro Cycling) seized the initiative and won all three of the sprints on offer as he struck out ahead of the peloton alongside Spirit BSS’s Farley Barber.
With 31 km gone, the pair had stretched out a lead of more than six minutes and were sitting in a good position as the race hit the truly rough sectors for the first time.
However, that’s where the gap started to shrink. With tricky gravel sections kicking up a lot of dust and sapping energy from the legs, Peckover and Barber started to have their advantage eaten too thanks to a concerted chase effort behind.
As well the Peckover and Barker breakaway, the early part of the race was also marred by some heavy crashes. Rory Townsend (WiV SunGod) was the cause of a major crash, for which he later apologised, while his teammate Gruff Lewis was one of those affected in the crash-strewn opening.
On the first run up the Manorberg, they had 5 minutes and 45 seconds over a seven-rider chase group which featured Jacob Scott (WiV-SunGod), Finn Crockett (Ribble-Weldtite Pro Cycling), Max Walker (Trinity Racing), Tomas Kopecky (À Bloc CT), Bas Van Belle (WPGA Amsterdam), Bob Donaldson (GB Cycling Team) and Roberto Gonzalez (Java Kiwi Atlántico).
However, as the lead duo traversed the Manorberg climb for the second time, that chase group had sliced their advantage down to just over two minutes, and effective work by the seven meant the only question was when, not if, the chase would be caught.
They hung on for much longer than many would have expected, with the chase only catching the lead after the penultimate run of the Owston sector – this time in reverse – as Barber ran into a mechanical issue in the feed zone after the Green Lane sector leaving Owston.
Slimmed down slightly after a bike issue for Gonzalez, the group merged with a counter group of six and as they came across the finish line in Melton Mowbray for the first time, Stuart Balfour (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) decided to clip off the front, with Kopecky taking off after him. The move meant Balfour was leading as they crossed the finished line for the final lap, winning him the infamous giant pork pie prize the race is famous for.
With 8km to go, Balfour and Kopecky came together, with Scott joining them for company. Sensing an opportunity, Ribble Weldtite committed another rider as Finn Crockett bridged the gap and joined the trio for the run down the arrow-straight finishing road.
As Balfour dropped off from the lead group, the remaining trio unleashed a ferocious sprint to the line, with Crockett having just enough left in his legs to pip Kopecky to the line in a sprint that could have gone to either of them. Scott finished a length behind in third, with Balfour coming home a couple of seconds down in fourth.
The victory marked Finn Crockett’s first UCI road race win, continuing a fine run of form this season that has already seen him win three National B road races and finish 9th overall at the Tour de Loir et Cher (2.2). It was also Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s second UCI road race win, their first since Damien Clayton’s 2019 victory at the GP des Marbriers.
Results
King of the Bergs standings, overall
Sprint results
Special Sprint 1: Wymondham Windmill (Pass 1)
Special Sprint 2: Wymondham Windmill (Pass 2)
Special Sprint 3: Wymondham
Special Sprint 4: Return to Rutland Migration Gin
Hot Spot Sprint 1: Oakham
Special Sprint 6: Owston Village (Pass 1)
Hot Spot Sprint 7: Owston Village (Pass 2)
Special Sprint 8: Melton Mowbray
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