The race took place over 147 tough and hot kilometres around the tough 14.7-kilometre Handcross circuit in West Sussex.
The event also incorporated the Giles Ree Memorial Trophy which dates back to 1984 and has an illustrious roll of honour. Giles was a talented young Sussex roadman for VC Etoile.
The race got off to a relatively cautious start, the 58-rider peloton perhaps wary of the excessive heat. After a couple of laps, the attacks started with the Embark Spirit BSS team. Dan Gardner, Sam Painter, Joe Hill and Irfan Zaman were all active, along with Ollie Hurdle (Stolen Goat) and Jamie Pullen (TAAP Endura).
Two laps later a lead group was established with three Embark Spirit BSS riders – Gardner, Painter and Zaman – along with Hurdle, Pullen, Jack Cutsforth (Spatzwear), Monte Guerinni (Le Col Race Team), Will Auty (Unattached), Robin Mould and Tobias Dahlhaus of Foran CCC, Isaac Wright (Project 51), Paul Burton, (Paceline RT), Barnabas Purbrook (Sigma Sport – Cannondale) and Rhys Howells (Richardson Trek DAS).
After a few attacks within the group, Gardner, Hurdle and Painter eventually broke clear and established a gap that went out to 2’05” with two laps to go and 2’37” on the bell lap, despite some concerted chasing and attempts to bridge across from Pullen, PBurton and Dahlhaus.
On the last lap, the pressure was now on the two Embark Spirit BSS riders to take advantage of their numerical superiority. Hurdle took the initiative though, and attacked. Painter, by now feeling the distance and heat, sacrificed his chance of a win to chase down Hurdle, allowing Gardner to put in a final, decisive attack and finish four seconds clear of Hurdle on the line.
Painter rolled in 42 seconds later for the bronze medal and first under-23 rider. Cutsforth finished fourth, just ahead of the chasing group, which was led in by Pullen.
Talented local junior rider Luke Goodwill (Backstedt Bike Performance RT )came in ahead of the main bunch with experienced veteran rider James Bonham (LAKA Pedal Mafia) taking the junior award.
With thanks to Alan Denman for drafting the report.
Dan Gardner (Embark Spirit BSS) won the South East Men’s Regional Road Race Championships under the hot Sussex sun on Sunday 11 June.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson
Report
The race took place over 147 tough and hot kilometres around the tough 14.7-kilometre Handcross circuit in West Sussex.
The event also incorporated the Giles Ree Memorial Trophy which dates back to 1984 and has an illustrious roll of honour. Giles was a talented young Sussex roadman for VC Etoile.
The race got off to a relatively cautious start, the 58-rider peloton perhaps wary of the excessive heat. After a couple of laps, the attacks started with the Embark Spirit BSS team. Dan Gardner, Sam Painter, Joe Hill and Irfan Zaman were all active, along with Ollie Hurdle (Stolen Goat) and Jamie Pullen (TAAP Endura).
Two laps later a lead group was established with three Embark Spirit BSS riders – Gardner, Painter and Zaman – along with Hurdle, Pullen, Jack Cutsforth (Spatzwear), Monte Guerinni (Le Col Race Team), Will Auty (Unattached), Robin Mould and Tobias Dahlhaus of Foran CCC, Isaac Wright (Project 51), Paul Burton, (Paceline RT), Barnabas Purbrook (Sigma Sport – Cannondale) and Rhys Howells (Richardson Trek DAS).
After a few attacks within the group, Gardner, Hurdle and Painter eventually broke clear and established a gap that went out to 2’05” with two laps to go and 2’37” on the bell lap, despite some concerted chasing and attempts to bridge across from Pullen, PBurton and Dahlhaus.
On the last lap, the pressure was now on the two Embark Spirit BSS riders to take advantage of their numerical superiority. Hurdle took the initiative though, and attacked. Painter, by now feeling the distance and heat, sacrificed his chance of a win to chase down Hurdle, allowing Gardner to put in a final, decisive attack and finish four seconds clear of Hurdle on the line.
Painter rolled in 42 seconds later for the bronze medal and first under-23 rider. Cutsforth finished fourth, just ahead of the chasing group, which was led in by Pullen.
Talented local junior rider Luke Goodwill (Backstedt Bike Performance RT )came in ahead of the main bunch with experienced veteran rider James Bonham (LAKA Pedal Mafia) taking the junior award.
With thanks to Alan Denman for drafting the report.
Results
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