Dylan Westley led home an USKIS Saint Piran 1-2 ahead of Huw Buck Jones at the 64th edition of the Wally Gimber Trophy (17 March). Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) was third to complete a dominant day for the men in black.
Former winner Chris MacNamara (Sigma Sports Race Team) and reigning champ Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) weren’t able to make an impression after a couple of early crashes held up a number of favourites on the first lap, while riders including former winner Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) and Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite RT) were forced to retire.
A powerful early trio featuring Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT), Conor McGoldrick (Richardson Trek DAS) and Damian Clayton (le col) were quickly joined by Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) and David Hird (Cycling Sheffield). This group of five maintained a gap of around 50 seconds whilst the hitters from the delayed peloton organised themselves.
Around the halfway mark a group of nine featuring eventual winner Dylan Westley (USKIS Saint Piran) got away and began to gradually reel in the break with around three others managing to bridge across as the peloton faded away behind.
With around 50km to go the catch was made and the pace in the lead group eased up for the first time all race, the 17 riders now able to recover momentarily.
During this lull Zak Machin (Huub BCC RT) struck out solo and quickly established a sizeable advantage as the main group looked at one another. Eventually Dylan Westley and Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) got away and rapidly shut down Machin’s advantage, before surging past him.
This looked like the winning move but with the firepower in the group behind, including Jacob Vaughan (Private member), winner of the Jock Wadley Memorial the previous weekend, the pair were brought back for the final lap.
With four riders in the front group, Saint Piran were able to force the group to play whack-a-mole as they took turns to attack and soften the group up. Damien Clayton had other ideas, putting in a late attack, but he was brought back ahead of the finale.
On the final climb up Scott’s Hill to the finish line, Dylan Westley unleashed a blistering attack that only team mate Huw Buck Jones was able to follow. Buck Jones came around to lead Westley out who kicked again to take the win. Rowan Baker from Saint Piran’s UCI Continental team completed the rout for the men in black by taking third.
Dylan Westley led home an USKIS Saint Piran 1-2 ahead of Huw Buck Jones at the 64th edition of the Wally Gimber Trophy (17 March). Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) was third to complete a dominant day for the men in black.
Featured image: Mark James
Report
Soaked roads and overcast drizzle set the scene for a particularly attritional day out at the National B event.
The race’s new punchy Bletchingley road circuit lent itself to relentless attacking throughout the 140km race with almost zero respite.
Former winner Chris MacNamara (Sigma Sports Race Team) and reigning champ Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) weren’t able to make an impression after a couple of early crashes held up a number of favourites on the first lap, while riders including former winner Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) and Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite RT) were forced to retire.
A powerful early trio featuring Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT), Conor McGoldrick (Richardson Trek DAS) and Damian Clayton (le col) were quickly joined by Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) and David Hird (Cycling Sheffield). This group of five maintained a gap of around 50 seconds whilst the hitters from the delayed peloton organised themselves.
Around the halfway mark a group of nine featuring eventual winner Dylan Westley (USKIS Saint Piran) got away and began to gradually reel in the break with around three others managing to bridge across as the peloton faded away behind.
With around 50km to go the catch was made and the pace in the lead group eased up for the first time all race, the 17 riders now able to recover momentarily.
During this lull Zak Machin (Huub BCC RT) struck out solo and quickly established a sizeable advantage as the main group looked at one another. Eventually Dylan Westley and Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) got away and rapidly shut down Machin’s advantage, before surging past him.
This looked like the winning move but with the firepower in the group behind, including Jacob Vaughan (Private member), winner of the Jock Wadley Memorial the previous weekend, the pair were brought back for the final lap.
With four riders in the front group, Saint Piran were able to force the group to play whack-a-mole as they took turns to attack and soften the group up. Damien Clayton had other ideas, putting in a late attack, but he was brought back ahead of the finale.
On the final climb up Scott’s Hill to the finish line, Dylan Westley unleashed a blistering attack that only team mate Huw Buck Jones was able to follow. Buck Jones came around to lead Westley out who kicked again to take the win. Rowan Baker from Saint Piran’s UCI Continental team completed the rout for the men in black by taking third.
Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) was the best of the rest in fourth, with Nicholas Tyrie (Foran CC) in fifth.
Results
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