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Windsor triumphs in Stafford GP

Stafford GP | Elite Circuit Race Series - Round Two
Event: 29th July 2011
Event Details

Rapha's Dean Windsor stole the victory from team mate Dean Downing last night in the Stafford GP.

The tight technical circuit gave some fast close racing on the part cobbled streets of the Staffordshire town which was pretty much dominated by the men in black.

Windsor,Downing and James McCallum broke away in the early stages of the race taking Corley cycles' Simon Gaywood along for company.The foursome rode well to stretch their lead over the chasing Ian Bibby(Motorpoint) but with last years winner Ed Clancy(Rapha) on his wheel and policing any moves the four leaders soon pulled a useful gap at times over 40 seconds.

Gaywood was going to be the one of the party who would have to do the chasing down if any moves went and virtually on the hour it was Downing who put in the effort and scampered off the front leaving his three companions to fight it out amongst themselves.

Always the crowds favourite it looked as though the Rapha rider had attacked just at the right time and victory looked certain but as they say the race isn't over until....and it certainly wasn't in Windsor's eyes when on the closing metres he made an almighty effort and jumped Downing to take a brilliant win.Simon Gaywood took third spot in the sprint with James McCallum to spoil the Rapha 1,2,3.

Winner Dean Windsor

"It was a tight circuit and I really enjoyed riding it,we(Rapha) pretty much got to the front early on and i decided to make the first move and I looked around and Deano and Jimmy(McCallum) were on my wheel.

"I gave it two hard laps just to see who would hold on and the guys were still there so we got a good gap and once you've got the gap on this circuit it was going to be hard to bring it back.

"With 10 minutes to go I thought right now we have a race,we had Simon(Gaywood) there and we didn't want him to steal the glory, Deano got away and I knew I couldn't let him get too far away I chased flat out and caught him.

"We were pretty much gone but i dug a bit deeper and got him on the back straight and I just had the legs to hold on for the line."

Runner-up Dean Downing

"We were awesome as a team tonight, Rapha are flying in the criteriums at the minute, all of us - great circuit, great crowd tonight.

"I thought I'd got the win with two laps to go but I hadn't got a clue where Dean came from, I was going so hard at the front on my own, I just didn't have the legs when it came down to the sprint.

"Great win by Dean, I just keep getting seconds this year.On a circuit like this you have to attack from the front and theres no place to move up and it would have been just a long line round the course.

"Simon decided to come with us but we knew he would just sit on the three of us so I thought I would just try to break it up a bit and was going really good but just got done on the line."

You can see all the action from the Stafford GP on Sky Sports 3 on Tuesday 5th July from 7.30pm.

Provisional Results

1. Dean Windsor, Rapha Condor Sharp
2. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Sharp @ 1 sec
3. Simon Gaywood, Corley Cycles @28 secs
4. James McCallum, Rapha Condor Sharp st
5. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor Sharp @49 secs
6. Tom Murray, Sigma Sport Specialized
7. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Sharp
8. Jonny McEvoy, Motorpoint
9. Jeron Janssen, Raleigh
10. Ian Bibby, Motorpoint