Paracycling European Road Cup (Spain)

Story posted July 15, 2009

The Great Britain Cycling Team competed at the latest round of the European Cup in Spain as part of their build-up to the World Championships in Italy this September. The team of Simon Richardson, Rik Waddon and Darren Kenny were hoping for some strong performances as they tested their form at a major event.
 
The organisers threw a last minute curve ball for the riders by making the decision on the start line to combine all categories of athletes together, meaning the GB riders were up against more able athletes of the LC1, CP4 and LC2 categories. This ensured fast racing from the off with the speed averaging around 27 mph for the first 30 minutes of racing.

Darren Kenny was particularly active in the early stages, clipping off the front in a group that gained 10 seconds over the field. He wasn’t able to hold the fast speed down the descent however and he crashed after going wide on a corner and finding himself ending up in a road side ditch. He jumped back onto his bike to continue, but wasn’t able to regain the back of the bunch that was still maintaining a high speed in chase of the leaders.

Simon Richardson and Rik Waddon rode strongly to stay in the main group over the first two laps, before being tailed off on the third lap of five. Rik finished the highest place overall, just over 8.44 back taking 4th in the CP3 category, won by Javier Otxoa from Spain, the ex Tour de France rider. Simon was pipped in a sprint for 3rd place in the LC3’s finishing 5.34 behind the LC3 winner, Antonio Garcia from Spain. Darren Kenny soldiered on to finish just over 17 minutes behind the Javier. The combined stage win went to Italian Angelo Maffezzoni from the LC1 category.

Stage 2 – Time Trial 15.5km
This was a tricky but very pictureous course with a 1 kilometre climb and bumpy and fast descent offering the riders a number of challenges. In the LC3’s Simon Richardson did a great ride to take the stage victory in a 25.32 and with it, secured third overall. With Darren opting not to start, Rik was the sole representative in the CP3’s. He set the fastest time of the British riders with a 25.02 which saw him come home in 4th place and maintain his 4th place in the overall standings behind a Spanish clean sweep of the podium. The fastest time overall was set by the LC2 rider Roberto Alcaide in 21.53.

The next round of the European Road cup is in Italy on the 24th/25th July where Great Britain will be sending a development team headed by Russell White, while Simon Richardson, Rik Waddon and Darren Kenny ride the Viking Tour in Norway.
 
 
Above: LC3 Winner Antonio Garcia (Spain) 2nd Place Michael Stark (Germany) and 3rd Place Simon Richardson (Great Britain)