Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat) won the stage 3 hill climb on the way to a tense general classification over Charlie Meredith (Mid Devon CC) at the Totnes Vire, 26 May
Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat) won the stage 3 hill climb on the way to a tense general classification victory that saw him edge Charlie Meredith (Mid Devon CC) by just two seconds. Meredith’s teammate, talented junior Nick Makin, took an impressive victory in the stage 4 criterium to cap a thrilling weekend of racing.
On stage 3 of the Totnes Vire, riders faced a demanding short yet steep hill climb from Oddicombe Beach up to Babbacombe Downs Road. The scenic but gruelling route featured double-digit gradients, a leg-sapping ordeal for even the most hardened hill climbers.
Gabe Dellar of Stolen Goat Race Team showcased his climbing prowess, conquering the ascent with a excellent time of 1 minute and 59 seconds. Dellar’s victory was hard-fought, as he narrowly edged out his closest general classification rival, Charlie Meredith from Mid Devon CC, by just one second. Meredith clocked a time of 2 minutes flat, pushing Dellar to his limits in a tense uphill battle.
Ben Millar of Primera-TeamJobs took third place, finishing with a time of 2 minutes and 1 second. Thomas Heal, another member of the Stolen Goat Race Team, finished in fourth place with a time of 2 minutes and 8 seconds.
Dellar’s stage win solidified his lead in the general classification, extending his advantage to 12 seconds over Meredith, his 15 second time bonus for winning stage 2 making all the difference in the overall standings.
Stage 4 | Colin Lewis Velopark Criterium
Nick Makin Triumphs in Stage 4 of Totnes Vire, Gabe Dellar Secures Overall Victory
The final stage concluded in dramatic fashion as Nick Makin of Mid Devon CC claimed victory in the criterium at Torbay Velopark. Despite the stage win, it was Dellar who emerged as the overall race winner, defending his slender lead to secure the general classification title.
Makin, an 18-year-old talent from Cornwall, had earmarked this stage as his primary focus for the weekend. Reflecting on his pre-race strategy, Makin shared, “I knew before the weekend that stage 4 was the one I wanted to focus on. I came into the weekend with good form after a couple races in Belgium and France.” His strategy materialised perfectly as he managed to bridge over to an early move initiated by Tobias Bartlett of Doddington CC. The duo worked seamlessly to establish a significant gap, only for Bartlett to suffer a tyre mishap, leaving Makin solo for the final laps. Makin’s perseverance paid off, and he crossed the finish line with a commanding lead, securing a 15-second time bonus.
Meanwhile, Dellar entered the stage with a precarious 12-second advantage over Charlie Meredith of Mid Devon CC. With the possibility of bonus seconds up for grabs, the final GC standings were far from settled. Dellar’s race account highlighted his tactical approach: “Ideally we wanted a break of three-ish to go who didn’t pose a GC threat to take the bonus seconds available,” he told The British Continental. As the race unfolded, Dellar’s team controlled the pace efficiently, neutralising attacks and ensuring the breakaway remained within reach.
Bartlett and Makin on the attack. Image: Martin Smith
Meredith, a consistent threat throughout the race, made several attempts to break free but was repeatedly marked by Dellar’s teammates. In the closing stages, Meredith launched another attack, but Dellar’s team responded effectively. With a lap and a half remaining, Dellar increased the pace to discourage further attacks, setting up a sprint finish.
Meredith won the bunch sprint, earning him a 10-second time bonus, while Dellar finished closely behind, ensuring no additional time gap. This result left Dellar with a slender 2-second margin over Meredith in the final GC standings, enough to claim the overall victory. Dellar credited his team for their relentless efforts, stating, “At no point during the race could we relax but in the end it worked out, we played the race great as a team.”
With his victory, Makin showcased his promising form ahead of the junior national championships, while Dellar’s overall win was a testament to his strategic acumen and the unwavering support of his team, ensuring a memorable conclusion to the Totnes Vire stage race.
Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat) won the stage 3 hill climb on the way to a tense general classification victory that saw him edge Charlie Meredith (Mid Devon CC) by just two seconds. Meredith’s teammate, talented junior Nick Makin, took an impressive victory in the stage 4 criterium to cap a thrilling weekend of racing.
See the day one report here.
Featured image: Martin Smith
Report
Stage 3 | Oddicombe Hill Climb
On stage 3 of the Totnes Vire, riders faced a demanding short yet steep hill climb from Oddicombe Beach up to Babbacombe Downs Road. The scenic but gruelling route featured double-digit gradients, a leg-sapping ordeal for even the most hardened hill climbers.
Gabe Dellar of Stolen Goat Race Team showcased his climbing prowess, conquering the ascent with a excellent time of 1 minute and 59 seconds. Dellar’s victory was hard-fought, as he narrowly edged out his closest general classification rival, Charlie Meredith from Mid Devon CC, by just one second. Meredith clocked a time of 2 minutes flat, pushing Dellar to his limits in a tense uphill battle.
Ben Millar of Primera-TeamJobs took third place, finishing with a time of 2 minutes and 1 second. Thomas Heal, another member of the Stolen Goat Race Team, finished in fourth place with a time of 2 minutes and 8 seconds.
Dellar’s stage win solidified his lead in the general classification, extending his advantage to 12 seconds over Meredith, his 15 second time bonus for winning stage 2 making all the difference in the overall standings.
Stage 4 | Colin Lewis Velopark Criterium
Nick Makin Triumphs in Stage 4 of Totnes Vire, Gabe Dellar Secures Overall Victory
The final stage concluded in dramatic fashion as Nick Makin of Mid Devon CC claimed victory in the criterium at Torbay Velopark. Despite the stage win, it was Dellar who emerged as the overall race winner, defending his slender lead to secure the general classification title.
Makin, an 18-year-old talent from Cornwall, had earmarked this stage as his primary focus for the weekend. Reflecting on his pre-race strategy, Makin shared, “I knew before the weekend that stage 4 was the one I wanted to focus on. I came into the weekend with good form after a couple races in Belgium and France.” His strategy materialised perfectly as he managed to bridge over to an early move initiated by Tobias Bartlett of Doddington CC. The duo worked seamlessly to establish a significant gap, only for Bartlett to suffer a tyre mishap, leaving Makin solo for the final laps. Makin’s perseverance paid off, and he crossed the finish line with a commanding lead, securing a 15-second time bonus.
Meanwhile, Dellar entered the stage with a precarious 12-second advantage over Charlie Meredith of Mid Devon CC. With the possibility of bonus seconds up for grabs, the final GC standings were far from settled. Dellar’s race account highlighted his tactical approach: “Ideally we wanted a break of three-ish to go who didn’t pose a GC threat to take the bonus seconds available,” he told The British Continental. As the race unfolded, Dellar’s team controlled the pace efficiently, neutralising attacks and ensuring the breakaway remained within reach.
Meredith, a consistent threat throughout the race, made several attempts to break free but was repeatedly marked by Dellar’s teammates. In the closing stages, Meredith launched another attack, but Dellar’s team responded effectively. With a lap and a half remaining, Dellar increased the pace to discourage further attacks, setting up a sprint finish.
Meredith won the bunch sprint, earning him a 10-second time bonus, while Dellar finished closely behind, ensuring no additional time gap. This result left Dellar with a slender 2-second margin over Meredith in the final GC standings, enough to claim the overall victory. Dellar credited his team for their relentless efforts, stating, “At no point during the race could we relax but in the end it worked out, we played the race great as a team.”
With his victory, Makin showcased his promising form ahead of the junior national championships, while Dellar’s overall win was a testament to his strategic acumen and the unwavering support of his team, ensuring a memorable conclusion to the Totnes Vire stage race.
Results
Stage 3
Stage 4
General classification
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