Alex Ball (PROJECT 1) took his maiden National B road race victory in the Straiton Struggle, the fourth round of the Scottish Alba Road Series, on Saturday, as he extracted revenge on series leader Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT) on the roads around South Ayrshire.
Featured image: Kenny Girvan
Report
With eight laps of a 15km grippy circuit in store, riders wasted little time settling in, the winning move going as early as the second lap; Richard McDonald (Vanelli-Project Go) among the early protagonists to move clear of the 35 strong peloton.
Sensing the danger, Ball, who was second to series leader Luhrs at last week’s Hugh Dornan Memorial, bridged across to the leading group almost immediately, joined by Luhrs’ Moonglu RT teammate Jack Rees and the Scottish Cyclocross Champion Lewis Martin (Studio Velo).
Image: Kenny Girvan
Pre-race favourite Luhrs, enjoying an outstanding comeback season after a number of years away from the sport, was the next to make the junction to the front group, which continued to swell in number – Cameron Muir (Wallacehill CC), Liam Scott Douglas, and Tarn Flynn (JG Cycles CC) the other riders to make up a strong group of eight at the head of the affairs.
With the natural selection completed, it was down to the leading group to battle it out for victory as they entered the closing stages with a three minute advantage over the chasing bunch. A flurry of attacks came as the laps counted down, Rees the only rider unable to handle the pace at the front of the race as he dropped back late on.
Image: Kenny Girvan
With no moves sticking, the race would come down to a show of strength on the Blairquhan climb, a 3.2km ascent with the finish line at the summit, to decide the winner.
Ball, who was beaten in a similar sprint last weekend, adopted almost identical tactics as he put in a number of digs from the bottom of the hill in an effort to reach the finish alone.
With Ball unable to shake the rest of the group, it was a seven-up sprint to the top as the line approached, Ball launching his effort first, learning from his mistake last week where Luhrs got the jump on him in similar circumstances. The 22-year-old Scot crossed the line first, holding off a charging Luhrs, who retains his commanding series lead having settled for second place, with Cameron Muir rounding out the podium.
Image: Kenny Girvan
“I just had brilliant legs to be honest.” Explained Ball as he spoke to The British Continental after the race.
“I tried to make it hard up to the finish by putting in a few digs. It came down to a sprint and I knew I had to kick first before [Alex} Luhrs this time around, so I went quite early but luckily managed to hold everyone off. I’m really chuffed, it’s my first National B win.”
Alex Ball (PROJECT 1) took his maiden National B road race victory in the Straiton Struggle, the fourth round of the Scottish Alba Road Series, on Saturday, as he extracted revenge on series leader Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT) on the roads around South Ayrshire.
Featured image: Kenny Girvan
Report
With eight laps of a 15km grippy circuit in store, riders wasted little time settling in, the winning move going as early as the second lap; Richard McDonald (Vanelli-Project Go) among the early protagonists to move clear of the 35 strong peloton.
Sensing the danger, Ball, who was second to series leader Luhrs at last week’s Hugh Dornan Memorial, bridged across to the leading group almost immediately, joined by Luhrs’ Moonglu RT teammate Jack Rees and the Scottish Cyclocross Champion Lewis Martin (Studio Velo).
Pre-race favourite Luhrs, enjoying an outstanding comeback season after a number of years away from the sport, was the next to make the junction to the front group, which continued to swell in number – Cameron Muir (Wallacehill CC), Liam Scott Douglas, and Tarn Flynn (JG Cycles CC) the other riders to make up a strong group of eight at the head of the affairs.
With the natural selection completed, it was down to the leading group to battle it out for victory as they entered the closing stages with a three minute advantage over the chasing bunch. A flurry of attacks came as the laps counted down, Rees the only rider unable to handle the pace at the front of the race as he dropped back late on.
With no moves sticking, the race would come down to a show of strength on the Blairquhan climb, a 3.2km ascent with the finish line at the summit, to decide the winner.
Ball, who was beaten in a similar sprint last weekend, adopted almost identical tactics as he put in a number of digs from the bottom of the hill in an effort to reach the finish alone.
With Ball unable to shake the rest of the group, it was a seven-up sprint to the top as the line approached, Ball launching his effort first, learning from his mistake last week where Luhrs got the jump on him in similar circumstances. The 22-year-old Scot crossed the line first, holding off a charging Luhrs, who retains his commanding series lead having settled for second place, with Cameron Muir rounding out the podium.
“I just had brilliant legs to be honest.” Explained Ball as he spoke to The British Continental after the race.
“I tried to make it hard up to the finish by putting in a few digs. It came down to a sprint and I knew I had to kick first before [Alex} Luhrs this time around, so I went quite early but luckily managed to hold everyone off. I’m really chuffed, it’s my first National B win.”
Results
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