Clancy's Seaside Romp
National Circuit Champion Dean Downing (Rapha Condor) and Ian Wilkinson (Halfords) soak up the atmosphere at Blackpool on Friday evening
The Tour of Blackpool weekend got under way on Friday evening with the elite men's circuit race on the famous Blackpool Promenade. The riders basked in glorious sunshine as they lined up in the shadow of Blackpool Tower waiting for the starter to drop his flag for the hour long circuit race.
Thousands of day trippers and holidaymakers lined the barriers to watch the races with groups of hen and stag parties pausing for a few moments to cheer on the riders.
The main event of the evening was dominated by the all powerful Halfords team who showed just why they won the summer long Tour Crit Series. Ed Clancy and Ian Wilkinson (Halfords) controlled the front of the race taking 1st and 2nd on the line. Simon Holt (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) had a relatively easy ride with his team mates chasing and took third place.
A break containing Clancy, Wilkinson, Holt, Dave Clark (Pendragon Kalas), Matt Cronshow (RaphaCondor) and Steve Lampier (KUK Kinesis) had gained half a lap by the halfway point, with Malcolm Elliott, Dale Appleby (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) and Chris Newton (RaphaCondor) unsuccesfully attempting to bridge across to the leaders. Clancy, Wilkinson and Dave Clarke spotted the danger men Elliott and Newton coming up to their break and increased the speed to leave the chasing trio in no mans land.
Dave Clark (Pendragon Kalas) shows his determination as he drives the winning break along Blackpool Prom
Malcolm Elliott (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) leads the chasing group that included Dale Appleby and Chris Newton (RaphaCondor)
At the bell Ed Clancy led the lead group and it appeared he was working to put Wilkinson in a strong position for the sprint. As the riders raced towards the finish line Olympic Champion Clancy was still on the front with nobody able to pass the strong Yorkshireman. Wilkinson was more than content to take second and celebrated the Halfords win with Simon Holt getting third.
Post-Race Rider Reaction
Ed Clancy (Halfords) winner: "Early on there were a lot of moves shifting because it's an easy flat circuit. I was just waiting until the right sort of rider combination was there, ideally we needed a break that included a Halfords, Pinarello and Rapha rider, with possibly a Madison rider as well to stop the field chasing. That didn't happen, in the break we had two Halfords riders, which isn't ideal because the others didn't want to work. Only me, Wilko and Dave Clarke did any work.
It was hard early on when we saw Newton and the two Pinarellos coming up to us, but when they dropped back our group settled down. Wilko is very strong, I was concerned he was doing to much work. The Halfords plan was for Wilko to take the sprint I would do the work on the front then lead him out. It all went to plan until the finish, I led him out but generously he didn't come around me, he could have done."
Ian Wilkinson (Halfords) 2nd place: "Ed deserved that win, I couldn't get around him in the sprint, it was like being behind a motorbike. With Newton and Elliott trying to get across early on it was inevitable that Cronshaw and Holt wouldn't work, but we couldn't let them get up to us. Newton and Elliott would have caused problems so we had to did deep and stop them bridging. The beauty of this promenade course is that you can their faces on the other side of the circuit as they are trying to get across to you. We made them suffer and finally they cracked. We were then able to ride at 90%. Between me and Ed we were pretty damned confident we would get 1st and 2nd"
Simon Holt (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) 3rd place: "Relatively easy ride for me tonight, early on I was in a move that got brought back, but then I got in the second move that stayed away. Early on I could see that my team mates Malcolm Elliott and Dale Appleby were coming across to the break so I sat on the back. Clarky and the two Halfords guys were drilling it on the front. Matt Cronshaw in the break had Chris Newton trying to bridge so he sat on as well. Out of the corners the other guys were stronger and I found it hard in the wind. But 3rd and on the podium is a good result, I'm quite happy with that. I'm enjoying the crits this summer, Phil Griffiths (team manager) brought me into the squad to help in the crits and it's worked out well, I'm very grateful to Griffo for giving me the chance"
Ed Clancy gets the win but leaves team mate Wilkinson to do the victory salute
Hannah Rich (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) wins the Grand Prix des Dames support race in front of a big Blackpool crowd from Harriet Owen (Bicester) and Hannah Barnes (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta)
Women's podium, left to right, Hannah Barnes, Hannah Rich and Harriet Owen.
There are lots more images of the Elite circuit Race below the results......
Provisional result provided by BC Technical Services
Elite Circuit Race
1. Ed Clancy Team Halfords Bikehut
2. Ian Wilkinson Team Halfords Bikehut
3. Simon Holt Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
4. Matt Cronshaw Rapha Condor
5. David Clarke Pendragon Kalas
6. Chris Newton Rapha Condor
7. Malcolm Elliott Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
8. Steve Lampier KUK Kinesis
9. Dale Appleby Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
10. Rob Partridge Team Halfords Bikehut
11. Liam Holohan Rapha Condor
12. Jeroen Janssen Madison.co.uk
13. Dan McLay Univega.co.uk
14. Scott Thwaites Madison.co.uk
15. Peter Williams Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
16. Dean Downing Rapha Condor
17. Justin Hoy Felt Racing
18. Jon Mozley Madison.co.uk
19. Stephen Adams Madison.co.uk
20. Ian Bibby Team Halfords Bikehut
Grand Prix des Dames
1. Hannah Rich Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
2. Harriet Owen Bisester Millenium CC
3. Hannah Barnes Candi TV Marshals Pasta RT
4. Leanne Thompson Hewitt Racing
5. Lucy Garner Leciestershire Road Club
6. Kelly Moore Squadra Donne
7. Kara Chesworth Dysynni CC
8. Anna Fischer Maxgear RT
9. Melissa Bury Sport City Velo
10. Jess Anderson Sport City Velo
More Images
Blackpool Promenade is undergoing major changes but the race organisers managed to work around the building developments.
Even though the calendar has been packed with events over the last few weeks, the major teams were all represented at Blackpool.
Crowds packed the barriers around the circuit.
Peter Williams (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) was at the head of the race early on but failed to get in the winning move.
The Irish National Team have sent their squad to the Tour of Blackpool, the Premier Calendar race on Sunday will be their main objective for the weekend.
Circuit specialist Dean Downing (Rapha Condor) was heavily marked during the race, maybe it's the distinctive skinsuit and white bike that's causing the problem Deano?
Ian Wilkinson (Halfords) now a full time bike rider is having his best ever season, has he done enough to catch the eye of the Sky team bosses?
Chris Newton, Malcolm Elliott and Dale Appleby fought hard to get across to the leaders but Dave Clarke and the Halfords riders increased the pace to stop them joining the break.
Wilko drives the break.
Steve Lampier (KUK Kinesis) dropped from the lead group back to the Malcolm Elliott chasing group.
Is it the Blackpool summer light or does Olympic Champion Ed Clancy have a golden race helmet?
The podium at Blackpool, left to right Ian Wilkinson 2nd, Ed Clancy 1st and Simon Holt 3rd.
