(Almost) the full Road Race Result

After looking at the big screen, we have placings to 57th. Honourable mentions to Graeme Clarke of LBRCC. 18th place in a race as tough as that is going some as a 4th cat! Drop us an email to claim your prize. Truly heroic mention also for Andy Brill who continued and finished despite being lapped.

A win to savour for Doug Coleman

Full report still to follow

1		Douglas	Coleman	CC Luton	2nd
2		Danny	Axford	Arctic Sram RT	2nd
3		Colin	Roshier	Team Quest - The Bike Shop	3rd
4		Richard	Cleaver	Leisure Lakes Bikes.com	2nd
5		James	Locker	V-Sprint Racing	2nd
6		James	Local	London Dynamo	2nd
7		Simon	Cannings	www.twenty3c.co.uk	2nd
8		Owen	Jeffries	Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles	3rd
9		Ben	Carty	Private	3rd
10		Robert	King	Private Member	2nd
11		Sean	Dines	Team Corley Cycles	2nd
12		Jack	Beezer	Edinburgh RC	2nd
13		Ben	Macland	VC Meudon	2nd
14		David	Palmer	MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling	2nd
15		Steven	Hurrell	API - Metrow/Essex Utilities	2nd
16		Chris	Grange	LBRCC-Solgar	3rd
17		Adrian	Lawson	Cadence RT	2nd
18		Graeme	Clarke	LBRCC-Solgar	4th
19		Matthew	Gittings	AW Cycles	2nd
20		Luke	Souter	Banbury Star CC	3rd
21		Pete	Smith	Jewson - MI Racing	3rd
22		Jonathan	Marchini	Beeline Bicycles RT	2nd
23		Bad	Number	London Dynamo	?
24		Adam	Capes	London Dynamo	2nd
25		Dan	Tamplin	Aylesbury CC	2nd
26		Stuart	King	LBRCC-Solgar	3rd
27		Michael	Broadwith	Arctic Sram RT	3rd
28		Osama	Assem	Finchley RT	3rd
29		Glenn	McMenamin	www.twenty3c.co.uk	2nd
30		Jason	Gurney	www.twenty3c.co.uk	2nd
31		John	Peters	CC Luton	2nd
32		Darren	Parker	Python Racing Team	3rd
33		Stephen	Morrell	Aylesbury CC	3rd
34		Richard	John	Spirit Bikes Racing Team	3rd
35		James	Archibald	G.S. Henley	3rd
36		H Christian	Rudolf	De Laune CC	2nd
37		Ian	Baynes	LBRCC-Solgar	3rd
38		Tim	Edwins	LBRCC-Solgar	3rd
39		Sam	Williamson	Hemel Hempstead CC	3rd
40		Bad	Number	GS Henley	?
41		Bad	Number	Twenty 3c	?
42		Andy	Marriott	Spirit Racing Team	3rd
43		Simon	Oxenham	VC10	2nd
44		Edward	Catford	www.twenty3c.co.uk	4th
45		Stephen	Colbert	Arbis - Colbert Cycles RT	2nd
46		Andy	Lack	Kingston Whls CC	2nd
47		Ken	Buckley	AW Cycles	2nd
48		Stuart	Williams	Reading CC	2nd
49		Campbell	Noon	Virgin Active	3rd
50		Gunther	Zechmann	Zappi's Cycling Club	2nd
51		Robert	Taylor	Aylesbury CC	4th
52		Damien	Breen	Kingston Whls CC	2nd
53		Bad	Number	Python Racing Team	?
54		Richard	Stanton	Arbis - Colbert Cycles RT	2nd
55		Stephen	Wood	Peterborough CC	3rd
56		Philip	Starr	Python Racing Team	2nd
57		Fraser	Houston	Team Quest - The Bike Shop	3rd

Road Race Result

A stellar performance from former team member Doug Coleman saw him overhaul Danny Axford for the win. Full report to follow.

1. Doug Coleman CC Luton
2. Danny Axford Arctic SRAM RT @6"
3. Colin Roshier Team Quest
4. Richard Cleaver Leisure Lakes
5. James Locket V Sprint
6. James Local London Dynamo
7. Simon Cannings Twenty3c
8. Owen Jeffries Northern CC
9. Robert King private
10. Sean Dines Corley Cycles
11. Jack Beezer Edinburgh RC
12. Ben Macland VC Meudon
13. David Palmer MG Maxifuel
14. Steven Hurell API Metrow
15. Chris Grange LBRCC

Course update

We've opened up the finish area so spectators can park safely off the road.Thanks to Hugh from Manor Farm for his help with the grass cutting.

before

after

the numero uno Bora buster just west of Littlecote

The course is generally in better state than last year, but there are a couple of major Holes which, as you can see, have been appropriately marked. If anyone knows anyone at Bucks Highways, now's a great time.

A Win Win Situation

John Lacey joined Paul at the Bowl last night whilst Eugene and Darren were on support duty. A plucky early attack by Paul Bird and Jason Gurney seemed to kickstart his adrenaline and he, along with Campbell Noon of Virgin Active, launched after them. Within a lap or so the attack was caught and the four were away for one of the longest breaks of the series.

Longest break? John working hard in the escape group

No doubt drawing on his 100mile chrono experiences, John hung in there taking 2nd behind Jason which sealed victory in his group.

Paul meanwhile was being marked as usual and kept his powder dry for a 300 metre sprint and an emphatic victory. Having played it canny for much of the race, he even had time to get his arms in the air.

Another win for the Caton Palmares!

"That was fun, I was feeling pretty good tonight," concluded our most prolific racer. "It's great to see John on form as well though. He must have dug really deep to be in that break for nearly the whole hour."

To see more pics from the race, visit tmgpro's flickr stream at http://tiny.cc/lvrcbowl180613

Ross and Luke back on the Podium

One of the newest courses in the country,the F11-10 Course on the A41 near Tring quickly shot to legendary status after it was created in 2010 on account of its 'ski slope' start which has helped many a chrono rider produce a personal best.

Consequently, the field for Saturday's Hemel Hempstead Open 10 looked more akin to a National Championship than a regional open.

Our two senior chronomen did not have PB's in mind. Ross is fighting back after more than a month out of training due to his car collision, and Luke has only clocked around 6 weeks' training due to doctor's orders.

Ross at the Hemel Open 10, click on the pic and see the water flying everywhere! Thanks again to Dave Jones

They are both determined, however, to get the best possible out of the 2nd half of the season. Undeterred by the monsoon-like conditions, they took to the start line and made the best they could out of a foul day.

In 31st place, Ross finished in 20:31 while Luke was further down in 20:57

"Not a great day for us,"said Luke. "I think it  was a case of getting round, seeing how the legs felt and getting some feedback from the legs under pressure."

He may have had today in mind, because the pair bounced back this morning at the Hemel Hempstead 25. In particular, Luke bit back at Ross from yesterday's defeat with a time of 55:08 for 2nd place with Ross on 55:50 for 3rd.

"There are still plenty of races left," said Ross afterwards. "I'm still a way off last year's form, but we're on the up for sure."

Full results of the Hemel Open 10 here and the Hemel Open 25 here

Honourable mention goes to John Lacey, our Road Racer, who TT's for Hemel. Riding the same 2 events, he managed 20:23 in the 10 and 56:50 in the 25. Not bad at all; perhaps even more impressive considering he actually organised the 25!

Race Programme on Press this weekend - rider list now available

Going to press over the weekend courtesy of The MANSON Group, here's a preview

If you want to check on reserve places, keep an eye on the Race Page

Enlarge this document in a new window

 If you're on an ipad, go to www.tiny.cc/raceprog4ipad

Paul is Regional Criterium Champion

Paul & John play it cool while Neil does the obligatory grimace

Paul went to the MK Bowl last night in his skinsuit. A statement of intent for the LVRC Regional Criterium Championships.

Characteristically quiet, he was already warming up whilst others were chattering and trying to find lost items of kit. Racing got started with a bang and despite his group C tag, Paul was straight into the thick of the action with the younger team members.

Head Down as usual, Paul gets to work and puts his adversaries under pressure

As others struggled with their peers, he took the fight to his age group and, despite being heavily marked, he shook off the competition to take an emphatic win, his second in two weeks. The Regional Title joins the Road Title he took at Cranfield on May 4th. Congratulations Paul!

Left to Right - John Lacey, Neil Wass, Paul Caton

John Lacey and Neil Wass, meanwhile, were in with the As and Bs. "I was in shock," recalls Neil. "The race went off like a Rocket. It was as if a select group had been fired up with Nitrous Oxide! I was pretty much defeated the moment that first move went."

John had other ideas. Sat in the second group, he could have bided his time but instead he came out fighting and attacked. Staying away on his own, he soloed to take a thoroughly deserved second place in his group. "I think my long time trials are handy training for this," he smiled. "It's great to get away against the odds."

Once he got over what he described as his 'Marlboro' cough, Neil was upbeat: "Great night for the team," he concluded. "The riders who put the work in and took the risks got the results."

Steve Clarke Update

We're delighted to report that Steve is out of hospital.

He was moved to Watford General Hospital last Thursday. Although positive because it obviously meant his condition had improved, he didn't take to life there particularly well and found resting and recovery more challenging.

In a move typical of his determination, he decided he'd seen enough of Watford General Hospital on Saturday and discharged himself. Now back home, he's eating and sleeping somewhat better and has even ditched the zimmer frame around the house.

There's still a long way to go, but considering his condition 6 weeks ago, it's hard not to see his fight back from the brink as miraculous.

Ross, meanwhile is back at the Hemel Hempstead evening 10s with brother Luke. It looks as though 'Team Clarke' will be back soon.

We'll bet he's looking forward to getting the wheels turning again. All the best Steve.

Testers Take Over

With many of the road team on holiday, it was the turn of our Chronomen to shine through this weekend.

Luke Clarke - back to racing

Saturday saw Luke Clarke return to action after a prolonged winter season. Although he's been able to ride, he's had to keep it to a very low intensity while a suspected heart problem was diagnosed and dealt with. Having been signed off by the medics, he's now starting the journey back to full form.

With a time of 56:23 for the Hitchin Nomads 25mile F14 course, he was encouraged: "It's obviously not my best performance, but after such a long lay off, you have to start somewhere and 5th place shows I'm not a million miles away"

On the Sunday, Tony May tackled the Icknield 100 on the F1 course. The first time he'd tried the distance, he was pleased with 15th place in 4:05:20 : "It would have been great to get under the 4 hour mark, but the 100 is a very different beast compared to a typical 25 and I think I can get close based on today as a starter," he reflected.