2024 Clive Tiley Memorial stage 3: report and results
Rhys Hidrio (Caesarean CC Jersey) won stage 3 of the Clive Tiley Memorial stage race as Jonny Britton (Moonglu RT) took overall victory, Sunday 11 August 2024
Jonny Britton (Moonglu RT) claimed overall honours in the Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race on Sunday as Rhys Hidrio (Team Jersey) took the win on the final stage where the breakaway dominated proceedings.
Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) held the overnight lead following his two stage wins on Saturday, a second ahead of Ben Pease (Moonglu RT), ahead of the final stage – a carbon copy of the stage two.
The racing got underway at an unusually placid pace, with no attacks coming on the opening lap. GC leader Williams was active when the early exchanges started, however he had little to show for his aggression as he was unable to get away after his exploits on the previous stage.
The first break to be given any leeway went further on in the second lap and contained around ten riders, Pease, winner of the Ronde van Wymeswold, commiting to chasing it down with his eyes firmly fixed on another GC victory.
A counter move containing nine riders went instantly, containing the likes of Cameron Orr (Wilier Triestina Pirelli Factory Team), Matt Bailey (Ride Revolution Coaching),Ben Millar (Primera-TeamJobs), Callum Salisbury (The Cycling Academ), and crucially Britton, who was one of the first to show his hand in bridging to the move and now held the virtual GC lead, with Salisbury agonisingly close behind.
The peloton looked towards Williams to do the chasing, with Pease having teammate Britton up the road. The gap was allowed to extend first to 1.30, then to over 3 minutes as the stalemate ensued.
Sam Nisbett, riding for Team Jersey, made an attempt to bridge across halfway through proceedings, followed by a number of riders who finally sensed their GC hopes slipping away; Williams left frustrated as he failed to find enough allies willing to work with him as Pease played the perfect teammate to Britton, attentive at the head of the peloton.
With the leading group continuing to ride well together, they entered the final lap with over two minutes advantage as the attacks started to come. Virtual GC leader Britton remained attentive, going on the attack himself as the line neared.
With the nine riders back together with the finish in sight the stage was set to end in a sprint. Hidrio, who has been focusing on mountain biking this season, placed himself on the wheel of the fast finishing Orr and came around him in the final metres to claim the stage win. Britton was distanced as the pace wound up and lost two seconds to the flying Hidrio, but still took the GC win by the same margin from Salisbury.
A delighted Britton told The British Continental after the race: “The result is still setting in for me, biggest achievement in cycling so far and it’s come after a season where I’ve struggled to find form.
“In the front we kept working till the last half a lap where attacks started to fly, I shut down what I could to protect my virtually GC lead, and tried to go clear myself before it came down to a sprint. Behind the favourites tried to jump across and form a chase but Ben policed the moves and they didn’t get properly organised.”
A frustrated Williams, so impressive on the opening day, said he was happy with two out of three stages and his form heading into the Ryedale Grand Prix on Sunday.
“I was very marked early on in the race and even if I managed to get away it was chased back fast! It got to a point where there was nothing I could have done to bring the gap back or even be close to a GC result. But 2/3 stages I’m happy with, and it shows I’m in form for the last part of the season.”
Jonny Britton (Moonglu RT) claimed overall honours in the Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race on Sunday as Rhys Hidrio (Team Jersey) took the win on the final stage where the breakaway dominated proceedings.
Featured image: Carl Downing Photography
Report
Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) held the overnight lead following his two stage wins on Saturday, a second ahead of Ben Pease (Moonglu RT), ahead of the final stage – a carbon copy of the stage two.
The racing got underway at an unusually placid pace, with no attacks coming on the opening lap. GC leader Williams was active when the early exchanges started, however he had little to show for his aggression as he was unable to get away after his exploits on the previous stage.
The first break to be given any leeway went further on in the second lap and contained around ten riders, Pease, winner of the Ronde van Wymeswold, commiting to chasing it down with his eyes firmly fixed on another GC victory.
A counter move containing nine riders went instantly, containing the likes of Cameron Orr (Wilier Triestina Pirelli Factory Team), Matt Bailey (Ride Revolution Coaching),Ben Millar (Primera-TeamJobs), Callum Salisbury (The Cycling Academ), and crucially Britton, who was one of the first to show his hand in bridging to the move and now held the virtual GC lead, with Salisbury agonisingly close behind.
The peloton looked towards Williams to do the chasing, with Pease having teammate Britton up the road. The gap was allowed to extend first to 1.30, then to over 3 minutes as the stalemate ensued.
Sam Nisbett, riding for Team Jersey, made an attempt to bridge across halfway through proceedings, followed by a number of riders who finally sensed their GC hopes slipping away; Williams left frustrated as he failed to find enough allies willing to work with him as Pease played the perfect teammate to Britton, attentive at the head of the peloton.
With the leading group continuing to ride well together, they entered the final lap with over two minutes advantage as the attacks started to come. Virtual GC leader Britton remained attentive, going on the attack himself as the line neared.
With the nine riders back together with the finish in sight the stage was set to end in a sprint. Hidrio, who has been focusing on mountain biking this season, placed himself on the wheel of the fast finishing Orr and came around him in the final metres to claim the stage win. Britton was distanced as the pace wound up and lost two seconds to the flying Hidrio, but still took the GC win by the same margin from Salisbury.
A delighted Britton told The British Continental after the race: “The result is still setting in for me, biggest achievement in cycling so far and it’s come after a season where I’ve struggled to find form.
“In the front we kept working till the last half a lap where attacks started to fly, I shut down what I could to protect my virtually GC lead, and tried to go clear myself before it came down to a sprint. Behind the favourites tried to jump across and form a chase but Ben policed the moves and they didn’t get properly organised.”
A frustrated Williams, so impressive on the opening day, said he was happy with two out of three stages and his form heading into the Ryedale Grand Prix on Sunday.
“I was very marked early on in the race and even if I managed to get away it was chased back fast! It got to a point where there was nothing I could have done to bring the gap back or even be close to a GC result. But 2/3 stages I’m happy with, and it shows I’m in form for the last part of the season.”
Results
Stage 3
General classification
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