Tom Barras Wins the Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix

September 29, 2009 | Team Press Release

Tom Barras (pictured) and Tony Gibb of the In Good Measure - Cyclone Sports Management - MS Tina Cycling Team returned to the UK recently after Barras won the Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix for the second time in two years. Having competed in the event many times and being crowned winner in 2008, Barras returned to the island eager to perform. The Grand Prix began with the Morgans Point circuit race on Saturday September the 19th.

The race was run in a heavy rain shower which made the circuit very slippery and caused a number of high speed spills. At around half distance, Barras covered an attack from Gavin Mannion of Team Hot Tubes (USA) and was joined by fellow Brit Jason White (www.cyclingbargains.com). The trio forged a maximum gap of around 40 seconds with Barras taking the final sprint from Gavin Mannion of Hot Tubes, with White taking third. Tony Gibb patrolled the peloton and took the group sprint for fifth.

The following two stages were held on Sunday the 20th, beginning with a 7.5 mile time trial kicking off at 8am around Clearwater Bay. For the second time, the event was held in a heavy rain shower and high winds. The time trial was won for the second year by Bermudas time trial champion Garth Thompson of Bicycle Works, with Jason White (Cyclebargains) taking 2nd at 30 seconds and Barras 3rd, a further seven seconds adrift. This made the General Classification very tight with Barras only having a one point advantage over White. It was obvious that the final stage (the Hamilton Criterium) was going to be decisive in deciding who would be overall champion.

The last stage, the prestigious Hamilton City Criterium was held in the beautiful setting of Hamiltons Front Street, overlooking the yachts in the harbour. The circuit covered 40 spectator packed laps of a fast, twisting circuit. The main obstacle for the riders was the steep climb onto Reid Street, coming shortly after a dead-stop hairpin turn at the top of Front Street. In order to keep the lead in the General Classification, Barras had to make sure that no-one beat him by more than two positions. Barras's team mate Tony Gibb set a terrific pace from the start, as the Hot Tubes team fired riders away one by one to try and crack the British teams stranglehold.

As the laps ticked by, the American team continued to fire riders ahead of the pack, but Gibb continued to reel them in one at a time. With half a lap to go, the Hot Tubes riders accelerated past Gibb, with only Jason White and Barras able to match their burst of pace. As the pack thundered into the last 200 meters, it was Barras who had the most energy left, punching the air as he narrowly beat White to the line and securing the title of Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix winner for the second consecutive year. Barras was quick to thank his team mate Gibb for what was a powerful display of team riding.

The race marked the end of the season for the In Good Measure - Cyclone Sports Management - MS Tina team. After winning 8 races in 2009, including the Yorkshire Division Championships and currently standing 9th in the British Cycling Elite rankings, Barras is  hoping that his Grand Prix result will further aid him in securing a team for 2010.

Results: Click Here