44-year-old local rider Si Wilson (HUUB-Wattshop) soloed to his second Clayton Spring Classic Handicap win in horrendous Lancashire conditions, the veteran taking the offer of a last-minute entry after offering to drive one of the race vehicles the day before.
Still the course record holder, and winner 11 years ago, Wilson made the most of opportunity, striking out in pursuit of Jake Edwards (360Cycling), who’s audacious move just over halfway through the race almost paid off.
Featured image: Martimages
Report
In brutal Lancashire conditions the handicap format made for interesting racing, the rain and blustery wind from the south, reaching up to 40mph, made the race a real war of attrition from the flag.
Mark Ketteringham (Prologue Race Team) and Elliot Holt (Fietsen Tempo) were the early aggressors, claiming almost a minute advantage on their handicap start, while behind riders struggled to come to terms with the conditions.
The pair were swallowed up to form a 12 rider leading group, including winner Wilson, with ten laps still to race, the scratch group of favourites still 2.45 in arrears and picking up passengers along the way.
The gap was slow to come down as Thomas Hassell (360Cycling) tried his luck off the front, the local team keen to show themselves in this season opener.
With Hassell reeled in and still almost 30 miles to go, the scratch group started to pile on the pressure with the gap still over two minutes. Johnny Britton (Moonglu Spatzwear) one of the riders who couldn’t hold the sharp increase in pace.
Simon Wilson leads. Image: Martimages
With six laps to go and the gap slowly closing, the ponytailed Edwards made what others described as a suicide move, a solo attack where his advantage quickly stretched to a minute; cooperation in the leading group non-existent with a number of his 360Cycling teammates present. In pursuit was Wilson, dressed all in black with his number covered, a stealth look for a move which ultimately saw him out of sight and out of mind.
Edwards’ escape allowed the group of favourites, containing the likes of Josh Whitehead (Team Bricquebec Cotentin), to catch what was the leading group, and with just two laps to go his advantage had dipped below 30 seconds with the favourites in full flight joined by a number of somewhat recovered riders from the original chase. Meanwhile Wilson was still in between them with a number if potential scenarios still in play as the race reached its climax.
Edwards on his solo escapade. Image: Martimages
On the final lap Edwards would finally buckle, succumbing to the harsh conditions and the difficulty in eating within the final two miles. He would hang on to finish 17th as Wilson charged on, unsure of his position in the race until the final mile, when he knew he was in the lead.
Wilson hung on from a charging group behind, the attacks raining down, with Sam Walsham (Reflex Nopinz) and Cai Curtis-Roberts (360Cycling) rounding out the podium after attacking with Rueben Corlett (AC Pays de Baud).
Speaking after crossing the line, Wilson told The British Continental: “It’s mega, I did not expect that at all! I live ten minutes away, it’s always one of my favourite races. I hadn’t actually entered it, I messaged [the organiser] last night and asked if he wanted someone to drive a car, and he said no, but there’s spaces if you want to ride. I was at the track nationals last night, watching, threw some stuff in a kit bag and got stuck in.
Whitehead and Joshua Horsfield in the chase group. Image: Martimages
“This is nice for Lancashire. I don’t like training in the wind, but I like racing in it. I didn’t think I’d get across to Jake, he was really strong all day. I wasn’t convinced I was in the lead, I passed someone with a mile to go and shouted am I in the lead?!”
Jake Edwards made a real impression with his gritty solo rode, back in the warmth of the HQ, told the British Continental: “It was pretty chaotic, carnage. I started in the Cat. 2 group and me and Cai [Curtis-Roberts] split it early on. After an hour the group was struggling to work well together and it was stalling. Coming through the S-bends I managed to get a gap and just thought I’d commit to it. It didn’t work in the end, I just sort of really blew my doors off with half a lap to go when Si caught me. He put in a really big dig to try and get rid of me, I gave it everything I had to stay in his wheel but there was just that inevitable 5m gap that opened up.
“It definitely felt like hard work, but I was just keeping the gap to Si Wilson at 20 seconds for as long as I could. I just wanted to keep it as steady as possible because that’s the advantage you’ve got when you’re on your own, just being able to ride that tempo.
“I didn’t mind the weather too much, I race a lot of ‘cross, but I really struggled to get enough food in towards the end, when the hands started to get a bit cold. That may have been part of my downfall.”
44-year-old local rider Si Wilson (HUUB-Wattshop) soloed to his second Clayton Spring Classic Handicap win in horrendous Lancashire conditions, the veteran taking the offer of a last-minute entry after offering to drive one of the race vehicles the day before.
Still the course record holder, and winner 11 years ago, Wilson made the most of opportunity, striking out in pursuit of Jake Edwards (360Cycling), who’s audacious move just over halfway through the race almost paid off.
Featured image: Martimages
Report
In brutal Lancashire conditions the handicap format made for interesting racing, the rain and blustery wind from the south, reaching up to 40mph, made the race a real war of attrition from the flag.
Mark Ketteringham (Prologue Race Team) and Elliot Holt (Fietsen Tempo) were the early aggressors, claiming almost a minute advantage on their handicap start, while behind riders struggled to come to terms with the conditions.
The pair were swallowed up to form a 12 rider leading group, including winner Wilson, with ten laps still to race, the scratch group of favourites still 2.45 in arrears and picking up passengers along the way.
The gap was slow to come down as Thomas Hassell (360Cycling) tried his luck off the front, the local team keen to show themselves in this season opener.
With Hassell reeled in and still almost 30 miles to go, the scratch group started to pile on the pressure with the gap still over two minutes. Johnny Britton (Moonglu Spatzwear) one of the riders who couldn’t hold the sharp increase in pace.
With six laps to go and the gap slowly closing, the ponytailed Edwards made what others described as a suicide move, a solo attack where his advantage quickly stretched to a minute; cooperation in the leading group non-existent with a number of his 360Cycling teammates present. In pursuit was Wilson, dressed all in black with his number covered, a stealth look for a move which ultimately saw him out of sight and out of mind.
Edwards’ escape allowed the group of favourites, containing the likes of Josh Whitehead (Team Bricquebec Cotentin), to catch what was the leading group, and with just two laps to go his advantage had dipped below 30 seconds with the favourites in full flight joined by a number of somewhat recovered riders from the original chase. Meanwhile Wilson was still in between them with a number if potential scenarios still in play as the race reached its climax.
On the final lap Edwards would finally buckle, succumbing to the harsh conditions and the difficulty in eating within the final two miles. He would hang on to finish 17th as Wilson charged on, unsure of his position in the race until the final mile, when he knew he was in the lead.
Wilson hung on from a charging group behind, the attacks raining down, with Sam Walsham (Reflex Nopinz) and Cai Curtis-Roberts (360Cycling) rounding out the podium after attacking with Rueben Corlett (AC Pays de Baud).
Speaking after crossing the line, Wilson told The British Continental: “It’s mega, I did not expect that at all! I live ten minutes away, it’s always one of my favourite races. I hadn’t actually entered it, I messaged [the organiser] last night and asked if he wanted someone to drive a car, and he said no, but there’s spaces if you want to ride. I was at the track nationals last night, watching, threw some stuff in a kit bag and got stuck in.
“This is nice for Lancashire. I don’t like training in the wind, but I like racing in it. I didn’t think I’d get across to Jake, he was really strong all day. I wasn’t convinced I was in the lead, I passed someone with a mile to go and shouted am I in the lead?!”
Jake Edwards made a real impression with his gritty solo rode, back in the warmth of the HQ, told the British Continental: “It was pretty chaotic, carnage. I started in the Cat. 2 group and me and Cai [Curtis-Roberts] split it early on. After an hour the group was struggling to work well together and it was stalling. Coming through the S-bends I managed to get a gap and just thought I’d commit to it. It didn’t work in the end, I just sort of really blew my doors off with half a lap to go when Si caught me. He put in a really big dig to try and get rid of me, I gave it everything I had to stay in his wheel but there was just that inevitable 5m gap that opened up.
“It definitely felt like hard work, but I was just keeping the gap to Si Wilson at 20 seconds for as long as I could. I just wanted to keep it as steady as possible because that’s the advantage you’ve got when you’re on your own, just being able to ride that tempo.
“I didn’t mind the weather too much, I race a lot of ‘cross, but I really struggled to get enough food in towards the end, when the hands started to get a bit cold. That may have been part of my downfall.”
Results
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