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House helps Rapha–Condor–Sharp to Kettering Victory

Thursday, June 10, The Halfords Tour Series; Round Six, Kettering
Event Press Release | Photos Joolze Dymond

Top step finally for British Road Race Champion after two near misses
In the sixth round of the Tour Series, Kristian House outsprinted long-time breakaway companion Simon Richardson to take victory in Kettering’s round of the Halfords Tour Series, helping his Rapha–Condor–Sharp squad take their third team win of the 2010 Series. House and Richardson (Sigma Sport/Specialized) spent the second half of the race at the front of the race, at first in a larger group, and then by themselves, at which point the peloton seemed to switch off and allow the duo to finish the race out front.

Rapha Condor Sharp rider Graham Briggs once again won the Boardman Bikes Sprint competition, completing a clean sweep of the night’s awards for Rapha–Condor –Sharp, although the men in black still trail Motorpoint–Marshalls Pasta in The Halfords Tour Series. Despite overcast and windy conditions, that seemed to see a headwind greet the riders after every corner, a large crowd turned out in Kettering to welcome The Halfords Tour Series.

A technical course through the centre of Kettering saw riders struggle to escape the peloton with the strong headwind playing a part in this. Midway through the race, a group did escape and just the same as Southport, the big three Halfords Tour Series teams were represented. Ian Bibby wore Motorpoint’s orange leader’s jersey while Rob Partridge represented Endura Racing and House Rapha–Condor–Sharp.

Richardson ensured the rest of the peloton had representation while after a couple of laps, Pendragon/Le Col/Colnago’s Auussie, Casey Munro, crossed the gap from the peloton to make it a leading quintet. The peloton gradually began to ride the leaders down with Munro and House staying clear as the catch was made by a stretched out main field. Next time round though and Munro was back in the peloton with Richardson taking his place out front and joining House.

With the pair away, the peloton seemed to lose interest in their pursuit with the gap swelling out to fifteen seconds and then steadily increasing to such an extent that with two laps to go it was inevitable that either House or Richardson would take the win. Coming into the final lap, Richardson led out the sprint but House came through on the near side to cross the line first and to take his first Halfords Tour Series win after two second places already in the series.

Behind the two leaders, the men in black were also at the front of the peloton with Aussie Zak Dempster winning the sprint from Endura's Ian Wilkinson and Tony Gibb of Kettering’s home team, CyclePremier.com/Metaltek team just ahead of Southport winner Alexandre Blain (Endura racing). Briggs crossed the line in eighth as third Rapha – Condor – Sharp rider to help them to the team prize, with victory seeing the outfit move back into second place in The Halfords Tour Series standings, just two points behind Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta.

With four rounds to go and just three points separating the top three outfits, the story of the 2010 Series still has plenty of kilometres to run. To see all the action from Kettering, tune in to ITV4 on Friday evening at 7pm for an hour’s highlights show. The Halfords Tour Series is back in action on Tuesday in Peterborough for Round Seven of the 2010 Series.

For more information visit www.tourseries.co.uk or follow the action via Twitter at www.twitter.com/TourSeries

Note: Team Ireland rider, Stephen Barrett, crashed in the closing stages of the race and was admitted to Kettering General Hospital.  At the time of issuing this press release, Stephen was due to remain in hospital overnight under observation.

Round Six Results

Team
1.  Rapha – Condor - Sharp
2.  Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta
3.  Endura Racing
4.  Sigma Sport - Specialized
5.  CyclePremier.com - Metaltek
6.  Team Raleigh
7.  Team Corley Cycles
8.  Pendragon Le Col Colnago
9.  Kuota – road.cc
10. Team Ireland

Individual
1. Kristian House, Rapha – Condor - Sharp
2. Simon Richardson, Sigma Sport - Specialized
3. Zak Dempster, Rapha – Condor - Sharp
4. Ian Wilkinson, Endura Racing
5. Tony Gibb,  CyclePremier.com - Metaltek

The Halfords Tour Series Standings (after six rounds)
1. Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta  52pts
2. Rapha – Condor – Sharp  50pts
3. Endura Racing 49pts
4. Sigma Sport – Specialized 38pts
5. Team Raleigh  34pts 
6. Pendragon Le Col Colnago  33pts
7. CyclePremier.com – Metaltek 30pts
8. Team Corley Cycles  23pts
9. Kuota – road.cc 13pts
10. Team Ireland  6pts

Boardman Bikes Sprints Competition Results
1.  Graham Briggs Rapha – Condor – Sharp  7pts
2.  Jack Bauer  Endura Racing 5pts
3.  Kristian House  Rapha – Condor – Sharp  5pts

Boardman Bikes Sprints Competition Standings (after six rounds)
1.  Graham Briggs Rapha – Condor – Sharp  38pts
2.  Liam Holohan  Team Raleigh  35pts
3.  Kristian House  Rapha – Condor – Sharp  32pts