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Evesham Vale Road Race 2011

Event: 20th March 2011 | Report: Julie Stockdale  | Images (Courtesy of Red Kite Cycles)

On a sunny March day the Evesham Vale Road Race saw 75 starters. With a full Raleigh team of eight in attendance, action started as soon as the race was de-neutralised, with Matt Jones, James Sparling, Matt Cronshaw of Team Raleigh, together with James Williamson of Sigma Sport and Oliver Beckingsale of Endura quickly establishing a 25 second gap over the chasing peleton.

Ben Stockdale of Team Qoroz saw the danger and attacked to bridge the gap, bringing along Liam Holohan of Team Raleigh. They soon crossed the gap to establish a seven man working group which, after a further lap had extended the gap to 1 minute 40 seconds. The pattern of the race was established for the next two laps - the lead group working to extend its lead while behind, the peleton started to break up.

On the bell lap, the dominant Team Raleigh riders in the leading group started to attack the three other riders, eventually Liam Holohan, Matt Jones and James Sparling establishing a small breakaway group which would contest the finis with 2010 winner Liam Holohan taking top honours, followed by Matt Jones and James Sparling. The sprint for fourth place was taken by another rider from Team Raleigh -  Matt Cronshaw while behind in fifth place came Ben Stockdale, with James Williamson and Oliver Beckingsale seventh and eighth respectively.

Richard Handley of Team Raleigh, led in a small group of eight riders, 2 minutes and 3 seconds behind while Llewellyn Kinch led the main bunch in at further 2 minutes 47 seconds.

Results

1. Liam Holohan Team Raleigh
2. Matt Jones Team Raleigh
3. James Sparling Team Raleigh
4. Matt Cronshaw Team Raleigh
5. Ben Stockdale Team Qoroz
6. James Williamson Sigma Sport
7. Oliver Beckingsale Endura MTB Racing
8. Richard Handley Team Raleigh
9. Lee Davies Motorpoint Pro Cycling
10. Ryan Parnes Team Raleigh
11. Russel Falder Mammoth Lifestyle
12. Steven Allen Team Coventry CC
13. John Pain Leisure Lakes Bikes
14. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles
15. Wayne Coombs Primal Europe

1st 3rd cat Lee Monaghen Halesowen A & CC