Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) went one better than last year to win the Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix on a rolling Lincolnshire course, outsprinting Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) at the end of an attritional race.
The 150km race would take in 8.5 laps of the rolling circuit finishing atop Barber’s Hill, the race starting in typically aggressive fashion with attacks from the flag, the Le Col RT duo of Monte Guerrini and Steven Mayers leading as the race passed through the finish line for the first time.
Attacks continued to rain down over the race in the early laps, although no group was able to create a sustainable advantage. Tyler Hannay (Saint Piran) led a move up the climb to Witham-on-the-Hill, with the in-form Damien Clayton and Henry Foster (Le Col RT), Dean Watson (Wold Top The Edge Pactimo) and Bernard Galea (SPRNT) joining him. Clayton punctured out of move as the gap stretched to 30 seconds, and with it hopes of them staying away, the peloton chasing everything intently.
The race was neutralised following large amounts of riders continually crossing the centre line; a move containing 8 riders including Richardson gaining traction shortly after racing resumed, Clayton and HUUB-BCC RT’s Josh Housley the last to be reeled in from the move as they crossed the line with four laps to go.
With no move sticking, thoughts began to turn to a bunch sprint; the fast finishers in the race buoyed by Lucy Glovers’ victory earlier in the day.
However, National B races are rarely so simple. Ben Pease (Moonglu RT) was one of the riders who gained a small gap over the field before he was reeled in with three laps to go; Will Harding (Zappi RT), Li Boan (Bodywrap Men’s CT) and Joe Howcroft’s (Private Member) roll of the dice suffering a similar fate.
The continual attacks were starting to have an effect on riders in the peloton, fatigue beginning to set in as the race entered the final two laps with the group strung out in a tailwind on the main road on the back of the course, an infernal pace eventually snapping the elastic.
14 riders got away, their advantage stretching to 48 seconds as they headed to Barber’s Hill, the winner looking almost certain to come from this decisive move. Saint Piran, as they so often do, had strength in numbers with Richardson, last year’s winner James McKay and Alexandre Mayer represented, while Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching), who ran Richardson and McKay close last year, was also there, along with Guerrini and Clayton for Le Col and the Bodywrap duo of Li Boan and Wang Kucheng. With the likes of Toby Barnes, Josh Housley and Will Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) also making the selection, a fascinating final lap tactical battle was about to commence.
Richardson was the first to make his move, going clear with Ben Mewes (Moonglu RT) and Housley, as the break splintered into four groups under the pressure. With half a lap to go, the situation had again changed. Mewes dropped out of contention with seven riders in pursuit of Damien Clayton, who had made an audacious solo move.
With Clayton’s attack neutralised, the group began to look at each other as the final climb approached. Yorkshireman Clayton, determined for the race to not end in a sprint, made one final attack with 1.5km to go.
With Clayton’s final salvo over by the flamme rouge, a final sprint up Barber’s Hill beckoned to decide the winner. Toby Barnes launched his move and led into the final 200m, however, he was overcome by Richardson late on, the Londoner proving he can win in more ways than solely his trademark solo attacks. Chinese rider Li Boan, a stage winner in the Tour of Qinghai Lake was third.
“We rode really well. We were active early on tagging moves, we were aggressive.” Said Richardson, speaking to The British Continental at the finish line, as he reflected on proceedings with his team mates Tyler Hannay and Alexandre Mayer, as Saint Piran racked up yet another National B victory.
“It’s nice to race a bike in the sun, what a privilege!” Joked a jovial Richardson at the finish line. “It was quite attritional, you could see people getting tired, I think we were all tired! Moves were going, we both [Richardson and Mayer] had to ride a couple of moves back.
“Alex [Mayer] was out of this world on that last lap, it’s so good to see. We’ve been training together the past couple of weeks, it’s incredible.”
All eyes will now be on the Londoner as he looks to claim his third Lincoln GP win on Sunday, although it’s something he isn’t putting himself under pressure to achieve.
“I think it will be really hard for me to win. If you look at the start sheet, it’s a strong field. I can just turn up and enjoy the race, no pressure. If we [Saint Piran] don’t win, someone else can win, good for them. Just enjoy it, it’s a great race. You can’t win every time.
Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) went one better than last year to win the Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix on a rolling Lincolnshire course, outsprinting Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) at the end of an attritional race.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
Report
The 150km race would take in 8.5 laps of the rolling circuit finishing atop Barber’s Hill, the race starting in typically aggressive fashion with attacks from the flag, the Le Col RT duo of Monte Guerrini and Steven Mayers leading as the race passed through the finish line for the first time.
Attacks continued to rain down over the race in the early laps, although no group was able to create a sustainable advantage. Tyler Hannay (Saint Piran) led a move up the climb to Witham-on-the-Hill, with the in-form Damien Clayton and Henry Foster (Le Col RT), Dean Watson (Wold Top The Edge Pactimo) and Bernard Galea (SPRNT) joining him. Clayton punctured out of move as the gap stretched to 30 seconds, and with it hopes of them staying away, the peloton chasing everything intently.
The race was neutralised following large amounts of riders continually crossing the centre line; a move containing 8 riders including Richardson gaining traction shortly after racing resumed, Clayton and HUUB-BCC RT’s Josh Housley the last to be reeled in from the move as they crossed the line with four laps to go.
With no move sticking, thoughts began to turn to a bunch sprint; the fast finishers in the race buoyed by Lucy Glovers’ victory earlier in the day.
However, National B races are rarely so simple. Ben Pease (Moonglu RT) was one of the riders who gained a small gap over the field before he was reeled in with three laps to go; Will Harding (Zappi RT), Li Boan (Bodywrap Men’s CT) and Joe Howcroft’s (Private Member) roll of the dice suffering a similar fate.
The continual attacks were starting to have an effect on riders in the peloton, fatigue beginning to set in as the race entered the final two laps with the group strung out in a tailwind on the main road on the back of the course, an infernal pace eventually snapping the elastic.
14 riders got away, their advantage stretching to 48 seconds as they headed to Barber’s Hill, the winner looking almost certain to come from this decisive move. Saint Piran, as they so often do, had strength in numbers with Richardson, last year’s winner James McKay and Alexandre Mayer represented, while Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching), who ran Richardson and McKay close last year, was also there, along with Guerrini and Clayton for Le Col and the Bodywrap duo of Li Boan and Wang Kucheng. With the likes of Toby Barnes, Josh Housley and Will Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) also making the selection, a fascinating final lap tactical battle was about to commence.
Richardson was the first to make his move, going clear with Ben Mewes (Moonglu RT) and Housley, as the break splintered into four groups under the pressure. With half a lap to go, the situation had again changed. Mewes dropped out of contention with seven riders in pursuit of Damien Clayton, who had made an audacious solo move.
With Clayton’s attack neutralised, the group began to look at each other as the final climb approached. Yorkshireman Clayton, determined for the race to not end in a sprint, made one final attack with 1.5km to go.
With Clayton’s final salvo over by the flamme rouge, a final sprint up Barber’s Hill beckoned to decide the winner. Toby Barnes launched his move and led into the final 200m, however, he was overcome by Richardson late on, the Londoner proving he can win in more ways than solely his trademark solo attacks. Chinese rider Li Boan, a stage winner in the Tour of Qinghai Lake was third.
“We rode really well. We were active early on tagging moves, we were aggressive.” Said Richardson, speaking to The British Continental at the finish line, as he reflected on proceedings with his team mates Tyler Hannay and Alexandre Mayer, as Saint Piran racked up yet another National B victory.
“It’s nice to race a bike in the sun, what a privilege!” Joked a jovial Richardson at the finish line. “It was quite attritional, you could see people getting tired, I think we were all tired! Moves were going, we both [Richardson and Mayer] had to ride a couple of moves back.
“Alex [Mayer] was out of this world on that last lap, it’s so good to see. We’ve been training together the past couple of weeks, it’s incredible.”
All eyes will now be on the Londoner as he looks to claim his third Lincoln GP win on Sunday, although it’s something he isn’t putting himself under pressure to achieve.
“I think it will be really hard for me to win. If you look at the start sheet, it’s a strong field. I can just turn up and enjoy the race, no pressure. If we [Saint Piran] don’t win, someone else can win, good for them. Just enjoy it, it’s a great race. You can’t win every time.
Result
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.