In an enthralling edition of the 62nd Eddie Soens Memorial handicap race, Cycling Sheffield’s Jack Hartley emerged victorious, narrowly edging out Matt Bostock (RIBBLE REBELLION) in a dramatic finale.
On a cold and windswept Aintree course, the early part of the race was defined by an early move by time trial powerhouse John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) who made a bold move for glory in a two-up break with Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club).
Given the nature of the handicap race, the immediate challenge for the group of 12 elite and first-category riders, who started last, was to catch the groups in front before they could even contemplate reeling in Archibald and Pierce.
By the time they had made it across to the bunch, a select group had left the bunch in pursuit of leading duo, with Simon Wilson (HUUB WattShop), Alexander Foster (Cycling Sheffield), John Bardsley (360cycling), two-time Soens winner Matthew Bottrill (Team Bottrill), Tristan Pilling (360cycling) and Matthew Morris (Wigan Wheelers CC) among riders in the countermove.
Back in the bunch, the RIBBLE REBELLION riders launched a bid to bridge across to the chase group, with Hartley and his brother James quick to follow. Bostock and Hartley were the beneficiaries of this RIBBLE REBELLION-Cycling Sheffield alliance, using the move to bridge across to the counter attack.
With Archibald and Pierce still clear – aided by what Archibald described afterwards as ‘monster’ turns by Pierce – the counter group’s chase was hindered by a lack of cohesion, with not all of its members consistently taking turns. With nine laps to go, however, the catch was finally made.
The final laps were characterised by a flurry of attacks, with Archibald attempting to go solo with three laps remaining. However, Bostock’s determined chase ensured the group remained together – setting up a tense finale.
The defining moment came in the back straight of the last lap. As the leaders navigated past a group of backmarkers, Hartley and Archibald executed a perfectly-timed move, using the tow from the car accompanying the stragglers to create a gap. Another huge effort from Bostock closed the gap, ensuring a nail-biting sprint.
Wilson opened up the sprint on the final bend, but Bostock came round him on the right side of the road, but 22-year-old Hartley moved up on the more sheltered left-hand side to pip the Manxman to the line and take a big win. 18-year-old young Clayton Spring Classic protagonist Bardsley continued his impressive start to his senior career with third.
Hartley told The British Continental after the race that beating Bostock and co. in the finale was “pretty cool to be fair”, highlighting that beating the former national circuit race champion made him “very happy”. He was quick to credit Bostock, though, who he said “did a lot throughout the race”. Hartley also heaped praised on his Cycling Sheffield teammates, including his brother James, for helping to bridge to the bunch, and Alex Foster, whose presence in the lead group had helped enormously.
“We came to win,” Bostock told us post-race, “but with the handicap format it makes it far more difficult as people sit on and without catching the front you obviously don’t have a chance to win at all.” He reflected that “in the end the line was just 10 metres too far”, praising the “super strong” Hartley. Bostock’s next race will be the Redlands Classic in the USA next month.
In an enthralling edition of the 62nd Eddie Soens Memorial handicap race, Cycling Sheffield’s Jack Hartley emerged victorious, narrowly edging out Matt Bostock (RIBBLE REBELLION) in a dramatic finale.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
Report
On a cold and windswept Aintree course, the early part of the race was defined by an early move by time trial powerhouse John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) who made a bold move for glory in a two-up break with Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club).
Given the nature of the handicap race, the immediate challenge for the group of 12 elite and first-category riders, who started last, was to catch the groups in front before they could even contemplate reeling in Archibald and Pierce.
By the time they had made it across to the bunch, a select group had left the bunch in pursuit of leading duo, with Simon Wilson (HUUB WattShop), Alexander Foster (Cycling Sheffield), John Bardsley (360cycling), two-time Soens winner Matthew Bottrill (Team Bottrill), Tristan Pilling (360cycling) and Matthew Morris (Wigan Wheelers CC) among riders in the countermove.
Back in the bunch, the RIBBLE REBELLION riders launched a bid to bridge across to the chase group, with Hartley and his brother James quick to follow. Bostock and Hartley were the beneficiaries of this RIBBLE REBELLION-Cycling Sheffield alliance, using the move to bridge across to the counter attack.
With Archibald and Pierce still clear – aided by what Archibald described afterwards as ‘monster’ turns by Pierce – the counter group’s chase was hindered by a lack of cohesion, with not all of its members consistently taking turns. With nine laps to go, however, the catch was finally made.
The final laps were characterised by a flurry of attacks, with Archibald attempting to go solo with three laps remaining. However, Bostock’s determined chase ensured the group remained together – setting up a tense finale.
The defining moment came in the back straight of the last lap. As the leaders navigated past a group of backmarkers, Hartley and Archibald executed a perfectly-timed move, using the tow from the car accompanying the stragglers to create a gap. Another huge effort from Bostock closed the gap, ensuring a nail-biting sprint.
Wilson opened up the sprint on the final bend, but Bostock came round him on the right side of the road, but 22-year-old Hartley moved up on the more sheltered left-hand side to pip the Manxman to the line and take a big win. 18-year-old young Clayton Spring Classic protagonist Bardsley continued his impressive start to his senior career with third.
Hartley told The British Continental after the race that beating Bostock and co. in the finale was “pretty cool to be fair”, highlighting that beating the former national circuit race champion made him “very happy”. He was quick to credit Bostock, though, who he said “did a lot throughout the race”. Hartley also heaped praised on his Cycling Sheffield teammates, including his brother James, for helping to bridge to the bunch, and Alex Foster, whose presence in the lead group had helped enormously.
“We came to win,” Bostock told us post-race, “but with the handicap format it makes it far more difficult as people sit on and without catching the front you obviously don’t have a chance to win at all.” He reflected that “in the end the line was just 10 metres too far”, praising the “super strong” Hartley. Bostock’s next race will be the Redlands Classic in the USA next month.
Results
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