Results and Reports for March 20GP Essex - Premier Calendar round 2Essex, United Kingdom, March 19, 2000
Was it a lucky omen for riders to be sacked by the Linda McCartney team? Two riders from last years line up, Chris Newton and Russell Downing have now both now recorded wins in the year's two UK Premier calendar events leaving open the question, were McCartney's wise to get rid of these riders? If it's publicity they want in their home country, surely not. In the 46th Grand Prix of Essex, sponsored by Cycleweb.co.uk, held in the picturesque area of Halstead in Essex UK, unsponsored Russell Downing crossed the line first well clear of Mark Lovatt and Kevin Dawson who had slipped away from the rest of the race long break in the closing five miles. On a day which was very un-British; sunny and mild with only a little wind, the conditions for a great race were all there and with a testing course for the riders in the longest race this year, it was sure to be a classic event and so it proved. Not only did Downing smash the course record for the event but he was part of a break which went away in the first couple of miles as the race started at break neck speed. Even the riders in the break were unsure how it all came to be but those in the bunch which included riders like last week's winner Chris Newton, as well as National Champion John Tanner and a host of other UK star riders were left to rue the day they missed the break. This was because within a short distance, the main peloton was already a couple of minutes down and destined for worse when what was left of it, around 40 riders, were pulled out when they fell more than five minutes down. This was something the riders were warned could happen before the start due to the rules made by the police. All the action in the race came from the two front groups which both escaped early in the event. After holding off the chase group for two laps, the leaders were finally joined by a large chase group on the third of the big loops (after around 70 miles) leaving around 20 riders in the lead. The fast pace though soon had that whittled down to only around 6 riders with 10 miles to go. Prominent amongst the leaders until then were riders from the British World Performance Plan known as the WCPP including Jamie Alberts, Steve Cummings and Dan Bridges, all under 23s. With a lap to go, Heffs rider, Arron McCaffrey from Milton Keynes was looking a likely winner as he led the leading pack through to win the final prime and start the last lap of 5 miles (8knm). In the end however, a break on that final lap by Lovatt and Downing dashed any hopes McCaffrey had of winning his first Premier event. The due attacked with only a couple of miles left and were then joined by noted time trialist Kevin Dawson as they approached the final sprint. In the final up hill surge in the packed High street of Halstead, Downing was dominant as he put a couple of seconds into the others vying for top honours. When talking to last year's overall Premier Calendar winner Gordon McCauley after the event, he said the racing was much more open than in previous years, with only three riders from the top 20 in the first Premier Calendar event, the Oleum-Starlight Grand Prix last week, making the top 20 this week. Gordon was not riding this week's event due to his entry not being accepted after it arrived a day late. The next Premier Calendar event is the Romford-Harlow. Report courtesy of Larry Hickmott, www.echelon-velo.co.uk.
Results - 164 km 1 Russell Downing * (BCF PM) 3.54.57 2 Mark Lovatt (Pro Vision/Planet X) 0.04 3 Kevin Dawson (Pete Reade Racing) 0.05 4 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Travel) 0.46 5 Andy Lyons (BCF PM) 0.47 6 Aaron McCaffrey (Heffs Bike Shop) 7 Paul Crook (Heffs Bike Shop) 3.43 8 Antony Malarczyk (WWW.Real Cost Car Impo) 3.45 9 Jamie Alberts * (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 3.51 10 Keith Haddon (Terry Wright/Raleigh) 4.14 11 Neil Swithenbank * (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 4.47 12 Chris Anelay (Prickett Atom Elite) 4.49 13 Hugh Pritchard (Linda McCartney) 5.33 14 Steve Cummings * (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 15 Roddy Riddle (Scotland (SCU)) 16 Danny Bridges * (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 17 Mark Kelly * (Linda McCartney) 18 Andrew Parsons * (Amore & Vita) 19 Roger Morgan (Festival RC) 20 Grant Bayton (Team Total Fitness) 21 John Ibbotson * (Gore Bikeware) 22 Chris Newton (Middridge Engineering) 1 Lap 23 Wayne Randle (Pro Vision/Planet X) 24 Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael) 25 Jason Streather (Angliasport/Condor Cyc) 26 Stephen Stoneman (WWW.Real Cost Car Impo) 27 Hamish Haynes (Prickett Atom Elite) 28 Julian Ramsbottom (Pete Reade Racing) 29 Julian Gromett (Terry Wright/Raleigh) 30 Robin Sharman * (Alysys-Bradgate CRT) 31 Jeff Wright (BCF PM) 32 Julian Winn (BCF PM) 33 Tom Southam * (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 34 Gavin Sellen * (Woolwich CC) * = Espoir 95 starters 34 finishers Primes: 1 Roddy Riddle (Scotland) 10 pts 2 Russell Downing (BCF PM) 7 3 Andy Lyons (BCF PM) 6 4 Aaron McCaffrey (Heffs) 5 5 Mark Lovatt (Provision) 3 5 Kevin Dawson (Pete Reade) 3 Premier Calendar overall after 2 Races: 1 Chris Newton (Middridge RT) 40 pts 1 Russell Downing 40 3 John Tanner (ProVision - Planet X) 35 3 Mark Lovatt (ProVision - Planet X) 35 5 Andy Lyons (Private Member) 31 6 Ben Brooks (Linda McCartney) 30 6 Kevin Dawson (Pete Read Racing) 30 8 Aaron McCaffrey (Heffs Cycles/Jackson Print) 28 9 Wayne Randle (Provision Planet X) 25 9 Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Travel) 25 Results courtesy of Tony Asplin United Energy Grand Prix - National Series round 1Melbourne, Australia, March 19, 2000 Results Women - 78km 1. A Wilson (Vic) 2.14.58 2. T Gaudry (ACT) 3. J Feldhahn (Qld) 0.04 4. N Williams (Tas) 2.11 5. M Hemsley (NSW) 2.12 Men - 120km 1. R Tighello (Vic) 3:02:56 2. D McPartland (NSW) 3. T Perry (Vic) 4. D Hunt (NSW) 5. B Day (Qld) Ronde van Oud Vossemeer criteriumOud-Vossemeer, Netherlands, March 18, 2000 Results - 60 km 1 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol 2 Edith Klep (Ned) Agrarische selectie 3 Sissy van Alebeek (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol G.P. Lacoper-Trofeo Banca Di RomagnaItaly, March 12, 2000 U 23 - 95.4 kms 1. Alex Gualandi (Nicolò Biondo Carpi) 2.10.00 (44.031 kph) 2. Stefano Brunelli (Idem) 3. Serguei Koudentsov (Gs Eternedile Ozzano) 4. Francesco Fiorenza (Vc Valdarno) 5. Federico Marchiante (Fausto Coppi Gazzera) 34th Giro Delle Tre ProvinceItaly, March 12, 2000 U 23 - 151 kms 1. Cristian Bianchini (OK Baby-Rosa-Edile) 3.27.36 (43.558 kph) 2. Angelo Furlan (Amici Pedale Mazzon) 3. Alberto Loddo (Vellutex Zoccorinese) 4. Simone Cadamuro (San Pellegrino) 5. Daniele Della Tommasina (Sintofarm) 6. Cristiano Parrinello (Sintofarm) 7. Ivan Tonelli (Pagnoncelli) 8. Marco Battiston (Parolin Fis) 9. Zendron Marco (Parolin Fis) 10. Gianluca Pullano (Roeder 1956) 58th Coppa Giulio BurciPoggio, Italy, March 12, 2000 U 23 - 141 kms 1. Pavel Zerzan (MG Aqua Rep. Ceca) 3.10.00 (44.210 kph) 2. Lorenzo Bernucci (Vellutex Zoccorinese) 3. Matteo Gigli (Valdarno Modul) 4. Stefano Guerrini (Vellutex Zoccorinese) 5. Yaroslav Popovych (Zoccorinese Vellutex) 0.07 27th Trofeo Gandolfi e Sebastiano ScottiCasilicagoiano, Italy, March 12, 2000 U 23 - 136 kms 1. Sebastiano Scotti (Sanpellegrino Bottoli Artoni) 3.09.00 (41.659 kph) 2. Vladimiro Tarallo (Masan Bedogni Anico) 3. Marco Campus (Parmense Progetto Sardegna) 4. Gianluca Nicolé (Vc Mantovani Ro) 5. Luca Barla (San Pellegrino Bottoli Artoni) 34th Medaglia D'oro Sportivi di la RizzaItaly, March 12, 2000 U 23 - 120 kms 1. Marco Menin (Mg Aqua) 2.41.24 (44.500 kph) 2. Berti (Fis Parolin) 3. Maurizio Dalla Nora (Record Cucine Caneva) 4. Francesco Colavito (Sinfofarm) 5. Tolomelli (Zalf Euromobil Fior) 68th Circuito Di Sant'Urbano - 27th GP Ceramiche GavaItaly, March 12, 2000 U 23/Elite - 100 kms 1. Michele Sartor (Coppi Gazzera-Safi-Videa-Tseco) 2.13.28 (44.955 kph) 2. Angelo Furlan (Cadore Carla Travel) 3. Enrico Grigoli (Trevigiani-mapei) 4. Denis Bartolini (Zalf Euromobil Fior) 5. Oleg Grischkine (Coppi Gazzera-Safi-Videa-Tseco) 6. Sauro Bembo (De Nardi Montegrappa) 7. Diego Zannoni (Smeg Bonaldo) 8. Salvatore Caccamo (Colorificio San Marco-Caneva) 9. Mirco Lorenzetto (Trevigiani-Mapei) 10. Diego Zanardo (Rdz Cieffe) Gara 32nd Trofeo Comune di CapergnanicaCapergnanica, Italy, March 12, 2000 U23 - 130 kms 1. Brad Davidson (GS Vezza Brunero Boeris) 2.58.00 ( 43.280 kph) 2. Iouri Akoulinitchev (SC Colibrì Cicli Serafina) 3. Gian Luca Cavalli (GSC Viris Vigevano) 0.15 4. Roberto Malcotti (SC Clibrì Cicli Serafina) 0.28 5. Alessio Ciro (Velo Sport Rho) 0.33 6. Agostino Spanu (SC Ceramiche Pagnoncelli) 7. Roman Luhovyi (GS Alplast Città Del Ciclismo) 0.40 8. Nicola Gavazzi (GS Resine Ragnoli) 9. Emilio Cattaneo (Velo Sport Rho) 10. Maksym Rudenko (GSC Viris Lomellina) 4th Gran Premio Città Di Castenaso -1st Trofeo CentronovaCastenaso, Italy, March 12, 2000 Women elite - 91.5 kms 1. Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) Gas Sport Team 2.12.00 (41.590 kph) 2. Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Team Alfa Lum 0.23 3. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Gas Sport Team 4. Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Gs Edilsavino 1.45 5. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem 6. Zinaida Stahurskaya (Blr) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 7. Sara Felloni (Ita) Team Alfa Lum 8. Alessandra D'Ettorre (Ita) S.C. Dream Team Acca Due O 9. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 10. Regina Schleicher (Ger) Team Alfa Lum Memorial Daniele AngeliniItaly, March 11, 2000 U23 - 130 kms 1. Domenico Passuello (Pitti Shoes Casprini) 2.59.00 (43.575 kph) 2. Mark Roland (Idem) 3. Giovan Battista Zaini (Caspini T.d. Group) 0.59 4. Giacomo Cariulo (Ciaponi Toscana Express) 5. Samuele Tartaglia (Fracor Pratomagno Tommasini) Carnegie-Caulfield CriteriumMulgrave, Australia, March 19, 2000 114 starters in the regular Sunday criterium this week, although seriously depleted in A grade due to the running of an open road race in nearby Vermont. The weather was autumnal, cool and overcast with a light breeze. A and B grades rode together with separate results taken for each grade. The 15 A graders took care to remain among the wheels for the most part, it was not until the bell rang that they all massed at the front. Paul Kenny won the sprint from Ashleigh Goewie, Nick Witkamp and Warren Knevitt. An unremarkable race, so I won't remark further. With a strong field of 50 the B grade race saw many attempts at escape foiled by vigilant sprinters and the pursuit efforts of A grade when any of their number went up the road. The finish was a confused affair occurring in the back of the A grade finish. Anthony Smith, returning from a fractured scaphoid, won the day from Adam Pyke, Lincoln Brown and Stuart Campbell. Hugh Watson won the C grade race sitting up, his final margin a comfortable bike length. With 34 eager participants, C grade was fast and furious, none of the frequent attacks survived more than a lap or so and a bunch kick was again the order of the day. Watson skipped away on the back of the course, Tony Comino leading in the chasers ahead of Robert Reid and Frank Cipriano. 15 riders in D grade, and a delighted 14 yo Aaron Moody won his first race with Dad (Doug) now having to come good with a new frame! We’ve all heard Dads say it "win your first race, then we’ll get you a new bike", the look on Doug's face!!! The Berwick youngster made his move 400m out and span his legs off to win ahead of Brett Payne, John Wright and the gutsy Mary Rogers. Results A GRADE 15 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Paul Kenny 2 Ashleigh Goewie 3 Nick Witkamp 4 Warren Knevitt B GRADE 50 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Anthony Smith 2 Adam Pyke 3 Lincoln Brown 4 Stuart Campbell C GRADE 34 Starters 40 minutes + 3 laps 1 Hugh Watson 2 Tony Comino 3 Robert Reid 4 Frank Cipriano D GRADE 15 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps 1 Aaron Moody 2 Brett Payne 3 John Wright 4 Mary Rogers Courtesy of Mark Chadwick |
