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Imperial Winter Series Round 4
Boxing day (December 26), 2009; Hillingdon Cycle Circuit
Race report by Richard Collins for Imperial Racing Team
Photos by Stoyko Bussarov for the Imperial Racing Team
The weather was much improved for the Boxing Day racing at Hillingdon although a cold wind made riding the back straight difficult. This seemed to deter any attacks in the 4th cat race and although the race was strung out at times, it concluded with a bunch sprint dominated by Durham University team mates Alex Clayton and Nathan Edwards.
The 3rd category race was shaped by a break in the early laps with five riders slipping away and quickly forming a 30 second lead. The pace was such that the lead group diminished to four then three with Tim Benham (DHCyclesport) and James Lowden (Lewes Wanderers) finally establishing an unassailable lead of a minute.
William Platt of Kingston Wheelers broke away from the lead group at the mid way point and although he had assistance for a few laps, he eventually forged on alone to finish 3rd. In the lead break however, Tim Benham proved too strong for James Lowden but it was an impressive ride from both of them.
Elite/1/2/3
Father Christmas appeared in the main race in the form of mstina supremo Gianluca Cappello - Buon Natale! The wind again proved the decisive factor with four of the strongest riders continually forcing the pace and eventually drawing away – Steve Golla (Sigma Sport), Henry Furniss (WyndyMilla), James Heaton-Armstrong (FitFor) and Mark Edwards (Hillingdon Triathletes).
They were quickly joined by week 2 winner Phill Sykes (Sigma Sport). Although the pace in the main group did not really slacken off, the break lapped the field with ease and nearly managed it again with the break eventually fragmenting with two laps to go leaving Phill Sykes and Henry Furniss contesting the sprint.
In the sprint for the line, it was Phill Sykes winning by a few lengths. The main group had also fragmented by the finish with Mick Hill (Team Quest) constantly forcing the pace along with Paul Alderson (SWRC), and Felix English (Pearson Cycles) keen to gain more points in the series. Santa lost his beard fairly early on but it didn’t impede his progress, Gianluca finally finishing 10th!
More photos following the results:
RESULTS
Elite/1/2/3
1st Phill Sykes Sigma Sport 1
2nd Henry Furniss WyndyMilla 1
3rd Steve Golla Sigma Sport E
4th John Heaton-Armstrong Fit-For 1
5th Mark Edwards Hillingdon Triathletes 2
6th Felix English Team Pearson Cycles 1J
7th Michael Widera www.sportscoaching.com 3
8th Adam Cotterell In Gear Cycling Development Squad 1
9th Michael Hill Team Quest 3
10th Gianluca Cappello VC Meudon 1
11th Charlie Heffernan VC Jubilee 2J
12th Paul Alderson SWRC 2
13th Jo Skelton Brixton Cycles 2
14th Owen Lake Cambridge CC 2J
15th Mark Ottaway vc meudon 2
16th Jason Streather vc st raphael E
17th Robert King AW Cycles 2
18th Keith Lea Addiscombe 2
19th Brock DuncumbRogers Preston Pk Youth CC 3J
20th Andy Edwards Kingston Wheelers CC 3
21st Cosmo Kedros Dulwich Paragon 2
22nd Matthew Myers Twickenham CC 3J
23rd rob fletcher Anders TMG 2
24th David Swan Fit-For 3Y
25th Richard Collins Imperial Racing Team 3
26th Chris Snook Banjo Cycles.com 2
27th Stoyko Bussarov Imperial Racing Team 3
28th Dave Woods CC Luton 3
29th Vaughan Luff De Ver Cycles 3
30th James Leach Onelife-Fuga Racing Team 3
31st Sam Humpheson London Dynamo 1
32nd Charlotte Blackman Cyclefit RT EW
3rd category
1st Tim Benham DHCYCLESPORT.CO.UK 3
2nd James Lowden lewes wanderers 3
3rd William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 3
4th Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 3
5th Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3
6th Tom Neale Spalding CC 3J
7th Mark Northover CC Giro 3
8th Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 3
9th Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3
10th London Dynamo
11th Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
12th Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3
13th Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
14th Wayne Thomas Reading CC 3V
15th Paul Stedman Reading CC 3
15th Anthony Rogers Brighton Excelsior CC 3
17th Steven Noble London Dynamo 3
18th Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
19th Rob Pelham Lewes Wanderers 3
20th Maryka Sennema Kingston Wheelers 2W
21st Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
22nd Mike Saunders Team Corridori 3
23rd Jim Ley Kingston Wheelers 3
24th Andy Angwin London Phoenix 3
25th paul shoobridge private 3
26th Leona Kadir Kingston Whrs / SigmaSport 2W
4th category
1st Alex Clayton Durham Uni CC 4
2nd Nathan Edwards Durham Uni CC 4
3rd Clinton Thomas lonon dynamo 4
4th James Mickelburgh London Dynamo 4
5th Stuart Lockyear London Phoenix 4
6th Josh Maynard Welwyn Wheelers 4
7th Stephen Thompson WyndyMilla 4
8th Matt Treadwell Twickenham CC 4
9th Dominic Southworth private member 4
10th Moray Cooke 4
11th James Ryan Lewes Wanderers 4
12th Nick Southworth High Wycombe CC 4
13th James Foy FVS TRI 4
14th Phil Adams CC Ashwell 4
15th Stuart Clark Private member 4
16th Chris Zavos London Dynamo 4
17th Will Horrocks Kingston Wheelers CC 4J
18th Peter Morris Lewes Wanderers CC 4
19th Steven Miners High Wycombe CC 4
20th Artur Bartyzel Newmarket Cycling & Tri Club 4
21st Clive Green London Dynamo 4
22nd Gavin Percy DNA Cycles RT Cyclesportcoach 4
23rd Ian Blachford Maidenhead and District CC 4
24th Conrad London Dynamo 4
25th Roger Richards Dulwich Paragon 4
26th Martin Porter Thames Velo 4
27th Maxine Filby A5 Rangers 4
28th Stuart Papworth Horsham CC 4
29th Richard Gordon South Western RC 4
30th Alan Nixon Amersham RCC 4
31st Kevin Sykes Team Velo Sportif 4
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