British National Championships - CNSolihull, England, June 25, 2000
June 25, Elite Men's Road RaceTanner reclaims title
John Tanner (Provision Planet X) retained his National Cycling Road Race title at Knowle near Solihull, Warwickshire, in a thrilling sprint finish after 128 miles, crossing the line just a quarter of a wheel ahead of fellow Yorkshire man Jon Clay (SLBM). David Millar (Cofidis) Britain's only representative in this year's Tour de France starting on Saturday, took the bronze medal. All three finished in the same time. Victory for Tanner, 32, from Doncaster, gained him automatic selection for the road team at the Sydney Olympic Games later this year. The high speed race which saw 28 miles covered in the first hour was full of action. But it was Rob Hayles (Athletes 1) and Millar who pulled clear in the closing stages of lap three A further eleven soon joined them. This swelled to thirty-six with two laps to go. From this group the final selection of the nine strong men developed on the penultimate circuit. They were Tanner, Clay, Millar, Matt Stephens (Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team), Mike Moss (Cottingham Coureurs RT), Chris Newton (Middridge CRT), Rob Hurd (RCS Bio Agrico) Dean Downing (Kingsnorth International Wheelers) and Hayles. As the attacks began to develop on the eighth and final 16mile lap, the group split into two. With Tanner, Clay, Millar and Stephens the national champion of two years ago, chasing the three medals on offer. Clay, thirty seven tomorrow (Monday), jumped hard out of the final corner into Knowle High Street, with 200m to go and looked to have it sewn up. But as he admitted afterwards his legs gave out at the same time as Tanner's. But the defending champion found that little extra in the lunge for the line to retain his crown. Tanner claimed "in the sprint I was one pace and I thought Clay was going to win!" One hundred and twenty five took the start with eighty completing the course. Notable non finishers included Atlanta Olympic bronze medallist and Tour de France stage winner, Max Sciandri (Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team)and Jeremy Hunt (Big Mat Aubervillier) Report and results courtesy of Hugh Porter (BCF) and Larry Hickmott (www.echelon-velo.co.uk) Results - 128 mi/206 km1 John Tanner (Provision Planet X) 4.39.09 (44.07 km/h) 2 Jonny Clay (SLBN) 3 David Millar (Cofidis) 4 Matt Stephens (Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team) 0.03 5 Robert Hurd (RCS Bio Agrico) 0.15 6 Chris Newton (Middrdige CRT) 0.20 7 Dean Downing (Kingsnorth) 0.22 8 Mike Moss (Cottingham Couriers) 0.29 9 Rob Hayles (Atheletes 1) 0.39 10 Huw Pritchard (Wales) 3.30 11 Julian Winn (GS Strada) 12 David Williams (Team Adidias) 13 Aarron McCaffrey (Heffs/Jackson Print) 14 Mark Lovatt (ProVison/Planet X) 15 Shirley Glyn (Rutland CC) 16 Julian Ramsbottom (Peter Read RT) 17 Jon Kris Mason (UVC Aube) 18 Antony Malarczyk (Real Cost Cars) 19 Jamie Alberts (Asager MRT) 20 Robin Sharman (Alsys Bradgate) 21 Hamish Haynes (Prickett Atom Elite RT) 22 Danny Axford (Real Cost Cars) 23 Jonathon Dayus (Pays de Ollnne Cyclisme) 24 Joshua Ansell (Gore Bike Wear) 25 Martin Ford (Arctic 2000) 4.15 26 Mike Harrison (Tunstall Wheelers) 27 Jonathon Muir (York Cycleworks) 4.26 28 Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles) 5.00 29 Steve Dring ( Terry Wright Cycles) 30 Rod Ellingworth (Team McELL) 31 Byan Steel (Team Chilwell) 32 Paul Crook (Heffs/Jackson Print) 33 Matt Holmes (Arctic 2000) 34 Niel Trowler (WV Midden Limburg) 35 Ian Hallam (GS Strada) 36 Kevin Dawson (Peter Read Racing) 37 Tom Barras (Linda McCartney) 38 George Richardson (Team Cycles Clements) 39 David Clarke (Alsys Bradgate) 40 James Taylor (City of Edinburgh RC) 41 Alastair Kay (Your Cycleworks) 42 Lee davis (Amore Vita) 43 Stuart Dangerfield (Camel Valley CC) 44 Robert Wood ICSA Team) 45 Mathew Bottrill (Middridge CRT) 46 Paul Dring (Terry Wright Cycles) 47 Ian Gilkes (GS Strada) 48 Andrew Jackson (CO Chamealerios) 49 Harry Lodge (Amore e Vita) 50 James Barnes (Pays de Olonne Cyclisme) 51 Russell Downing (Team Miche Penna) 52 Niel Swithenbank (Asager MRT) 53 Paul Manning (PM) 54 Charley Wegelius (Mapei) 55 James Cambridge (St Martinus Cycling Team) 56 Ian Holt (PM) 16.39 57 Jonny Towers (On The Edge RT) 58 Christopher Debens (PM) 59 Simon Lawn (Heffs Bike Shop/Jackson Print) 60 Stephen Bayliss (Gore Bike Wear) 61 Jon Johnston (Festival RC) 62 Dave Couslon (JE James RT) 63 Jason Streather (Anglia SPort/Condor) 64 Tom Wood (Data Phonics RT) 65 Andrew Windsor (Desside Veeboard) 66 Richard Smith (Prestige VC) 67 Matthew Pryce (Mid Shopshire Wheelers) 68 Darren Atkins (Peugot 406 Racing) 69 John Ibbotson (Gore Bike Wear) 70 Adrian Mawdsley 71 Paul Shepard (Linda McCartney) 72 Richard Edwards (CC Luton) 73 Doug Crow (Twickenham CC) 74 Tom Newton (Pays de Olnne Cyclisme) 75 Tom Rowan (Twickenham CC) 76 Stephen Edwards (Rhonnda Valley CC) 77 Roger Morgan (Kingsnorth) 78 Daniel Fox ( Team Marie Cycles) 79 Julian Gromett (Terry Wright Cycles) 80 Peter Hinchcliffe (Doncaster Wheelers) Starters: 125 Finishers: 80 |
