Results and Reports for March 27Romford to Harlow, Premier calendar round 3Romford, UK, March 26, 2000 Wayne Randle wins the Romford-Harlow
Wayne Randle (Pro Vision/Planet X) is the new leader of the Premier Calendar tonight after winning the 17th edition of the Romford to Harlow race in Essex (UK). The race, held in still and sunny conditions for the third week in a row, was the fastest on record at 28mph (45km/h) and saw a large number of finishers still together at the end contesting the win. The leaders of the Premier Calendar until the start of the day had different reasons for not scoring points. Russell Downing did not ride while Chris Newton (Middridge RT) started but broke his frame on the notorious Essex roads which claimed a number of wheels during the race as well, among them a carbon fibre ZIPP belonging to Twickenham CC's Doug Crow. The first attacks coming over the race radio came from the Hot Spots winner and a previous winner of the event, Rod Ellingworth (Team Mcell) and Rob Hayles (Athletes 1). But like most of the attacks during the day, and there were plenty according to Gordon McCauley (Oleum.co.uk), the lead of the breaks never got further than a few seconds before the fast moving peloton swallowed them up. This despite a course which was rolling with one of two hills although nothing as severe as the ones in the Essex Grand Prix the week before which saw the field well and truly split up. As the miles took their toll though, the splits did start to happen at the front of the race and with 10 miles to go a small group was away. One of the riders was Aarron McCaffrey (Heffs Cycles) who has made the vital breaks three races in a row, showing that although luck comes into it, you can make your own luck as well. During the last lap around the finishing village of Hatfield Heath, the small group of around 7 riders was joined by a chase group to make 22 leading the race until Wayne Randle attacked. he took two or three riders with him to gain a 50 meters lead but with such a large chase group behind, the group was soon brought back with 5 miles to go. The lead over the main peloton containing 40 riders was a minute and half. Among those attacking were Jon Clay, Andy Lyons and Phil West as well as McCaffrey. With around one and half miles to go, Lee Davis (Amore-e-Vita) launched a lone attack but like those before him he was caught. Soon after, Phil West attacked as well on Down Climb and managed to make it over the top still clear. After the group had brought back West and those that had managed to join him, National champion John Tanner (Pro Vision/Planet X) launched an even more serious attack with 1k to go and managed to get clear by a slender amount, but even Tanner couldn't hold off the big lead as they approached the long finish straight into Hatfield Heath. With Tanner having attacked and little wind to bother the riders, the sprint started very early with Tanner's teammate Wayne Randle taking advantage of the chase to come off the wheels hold on to beat Rob Hayles by a slender margin. Tanner held onto fifth place behind Steve Stonham and Jon Clay. The result created a clear leader in the Premier Calendar table but the lead of Randle and his teammate Tanner may be short lived as the two ProVision riders will not be riding the next race, the Europa Two Day in the south of the country. With many of the riders feeling the pinch a bit with the cost of all the travelling (petrol is 80 pence a litre here - almost two AUS dollars) there are many riders choosing the events they do very carefully, leaving the competition for the top spot on the Premier Calendar much more open. Results - 90 miles (144 km) 1. Wayne Randle (Pro Vision/Planet X) 3.02.50 2. Rob Hayles (Athletes 1) 3. Steve Stonham (www.real.cost.car.imports.net) 4. Jon Clay (BCF Private Member) 5. John Tanner (Pro Vision/Planet X) 6. Philip West (Middridge CRT) 7. Julian Ramsbottom (Peter Read Racing Team) 8. Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles) 9. Andy Lyons (BCF Private Member) 10. Chris King (Amore-e-Vita) 11. Lee Davis (Amore-e-Vita) 12. James Griffiths (Linda McCartney WCU) 13. Rod Ellingworth (Team Mcell) 14. Hamish Haynes (Prickett Atom Elite) 15. Danny Axford (Real Cost Imports) 16. Dave Rand (Bournemouth Arrow) 17. Roger Morgan (Festival RC) 18. Aaron McCaffrey (Heffs Cycles/Jackson Print) 19. Adrian Bird (Rober Grinsell Travel RT) 20. Hugh Pritchard (Linda McCartney WCU) 0.10 Hots Spots Winner: Rod Ellingworth (Team Mcell) Premier Calendar overall After 3 Races 1. Wayne Randle (Provision Planet X) 65 2. John Tanner (ProVision - Planet X) 55 3. Andy Lyons (Private Member) 43 4. Chris Newton (Middridge RT) 40 4. Russell Downing 40 6. Mark Lovatt (ProVision - Planet X) 35 6. Rob Hayles (Atheletes 1) 35 8. Aaron McCaffrey (Heffs Cycles/Jackson Print) 31 9. Ben Brooks (Linda McCartney) 30 9. Kevin Dawson (Pete Read Racing) 30 9. Steve Stonham (Real Cost Car Imports) 30 12. Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Travel) 25 12. Jon Clay (PM) 25 14. Martin Ford (Private Member) 20 15. Huw Pritchard (Linda McCartney/WCU) 16 15. Rod Ellingworth (Team Mcell) 16 15. Gordon McCauley (Oleum.co.uk) 15 18. Phil West (Middridge CRT) 15 19. Julian Ramsbottom (Peter Read Racing) 14 19. Paul Crook (Heffs Cycles/Jackson Print) 14 19. Gethin Butler (Preston Wheelers) 14 19. Dave Rand (Bournemouth Arrow) 14 23. Antony Malarczyk (www.Real Cost Car Imports.net) 13 23. James Griffiths (Linda McCartney/WCU) 13 23. Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT) 13 26. Rohan Horner (VC St Rapheal/Waite Contracts) 12 26. Jamie Alberts (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 12 28. Chris King (Amore-e-Vita) 11 28. Kieth Haddon (Terry Wright/Raleigh) 11 30. Gareth Separd (Cardiff JIF) 10 30. Neil Swithenbank (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 10 30. Lee Davis (Amore-e-Vita) 12 33. Chris Anelay (Prickett Atom Elite) 9 34. Danny Axford (www.realcostcarimports.net) 7 34. Hamish Haynes (Pricket Atom Elite) 7 34. Steve Cummings (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 7 37. Harry Lodge (Amore-e-Vita) 6 37. Roddy Riddle (Scotland SCU) 6 37. Grant Bayton (Team Total Fitness) 6 37. Roger Morgan (Festival RC) 6 41. Danny Bridges (Alsager/Adidas MRT) 5 42. Mark Kelly (Linda McCartney WCU) 4 43. Andrew Parsons (Amore-e-Vita) 3 43. John Ibboston (Gore Bike Wear) 3 45. Adrian Bird (Robert Grinsell Travel RT) 2 Results and reports courtesy of www.echelon-velo.co.uk Premier Calendar Races in Series # 1. 12th March Oleum-Starlight Grand Prix # 2. 19th March Grand Prix of Essex Road Race # 3. 26th March Romford-Harlow Road Race 4. 1st - 2nd April Europa 2 Day Stage Race 5. 9th April Archer International Grand Prix RR 6. 16th April Lancaster Mercedes Grand Prix RR 7. 22nd - 24th April Girvan Stage Race 8. 7th May Lincoln International Grand Prix RR 9. 14th May Chairman's Silver Spoon Road Race 10. 20th-21st May East Riding of Yorkshire Classic 11. 27th - 28th May Tour of the Kingdom Stage Race 12. 10th - 11th June Robert Hobbs Memorial Stage Race 13. 23rd June Manx International Road Race 14. 9th July Five Valleys Road Race 15. 30th July International Tour of the Cotswolds RR 16. 6th August Havant International Grand Prix 17. 13th August Glasgow - Dunoon Hayward Tyler Classic 18. 10th September International Tour of the Peak RR 19. 17th September Gun Hill Premier Race # RACES COMPLETED Solano Beach ClassicSolano Beach, USA, March 23-26, 2000 GeniSoy Criterium The Autotrader.com team managed to take control of stage 3 of the Solano Classic, the GeniSoy criterium. They launched Julie Young, Pam Schuster, and Marjon Marik on separate occasions to try and ear down the bunch. With five laps to go, Andrea Ratkovic (Autotrader.com) escaped with Saturn's Suzy Pryde, and the two looked like pulling off a victory, although only one second separated them on GC. The team plan was for Ratkovic to win the sprint, however the charging pack caught the pair at the end. Autotrader.com then finished things off as Julie Young attacked again to win by three seconds. In the overall standings, Sweden's Marie Holjer (Schwab) held her position at the top. Final Road Race Today's showdown involved early attacks by Andrea Ratkovic as she collected QOM points and Laura Shuford (both AutoTrader.com). This resulted in a substantial break of Andrea and Caren Spore (Schwab) who at one point gained 1 minute and were the GC leaders on the road. This led to a concerted effort by 800.com and Saturn to chase them down. Julie Young then escaped once by herself and finally with Susy Pryde of Saturn. Downhill specialist Maureen Veraga and Olympian Marie Holjer then joined forces to bring back the duo. AutoTrader.com kept the pressure on to the finish with constant attacks but with the hesitation from the remaining peloton, Heather Cole (P&G) escaped and motored home for the stage win. Marie Holjer (Swe, Schwab) showed her multi-Olympic form and held on to win the overall race. Reports courtesy of Pam Schuster, racereport@vcnet.com Results Stage 3: 1. Julie Young (USA) AutoTrader.com 2. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 0.03 3. Caren Spore (USA) Schwab General classification after stage 3: 1. Marie Holjer (Swe) Schwab 2. Maureen Veraga (USA) 800.com 0.12 3. Marjon Marik (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.23 4. Pam Schuster (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.31 5. Megan Trexell (USA) Standford 0.37 6. Julie Young (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.38 7. Caren Spore (USA) Schwab 0.39 8. Susy Pryde (NZl) Saturn 0.44 9. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 0.45 10. Andrea Ratkovic (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.45 Stage 4 1. Heather Cole (USA) P&G 2. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 3. Caren Spore (USA) Schwab Final general classification: 1. Marie Holjer (USA) Schwab 2. Maureen Veraga (USA) 800.com 0.12 3. Marjon Marik (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.23 4. Pam Schuster (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.31 5. Caren Spore (USA) Schwab 0.34 6. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 0.35 7. Megan Trexell (USA) Standford 0.37 8. Julie Young (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.38 9. Susy Pryde (USA) Saturn 0.44 10. Andrea Ratkovic (USA) AutoTrader.com 0.45 Climber Jersey Winner: Andrea Ratkovic (USA) AutoTrader.com Sprinter Jersey Winner: Maureen Veraga (USA) 800.com Team GC Winner: AutoTrader.com Prix Gilbert Bousquet - cat 1.12.1Landivisiau, France, March 25, 2000 Results - 155 km 1 Carlo Meneghetti (Fra) VC Roubaix 3.44.44 (41.382 kph) 2 Christophe Thebault (Fra) Team Seat Sport VC Dinan 3 Marc Feipeler (Fra) Team Seat Sport VC Dinan 0.56 4 Nicolas L'Hote (Fra) VC Roubaix 5 Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Floc'h - Mantes 6 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Vendée U 7 Jérôme Bonnace (Fra) 23 La Creuse 1.10 8 Michel Lallouet (Fra) VC Rouen 76 9 Vincent Moreels (Fra) VC Roubaix 10 Marc Vanacker (Lux) Team Seat Sport VC Dinan 11 Anthony Supiot (Fra) Jean Floc'h - Mantes 12 Camille Bouquet (Fra) Jean Floc'h - Mantes 13 Anthony Rokia (Fra) 23 La Creuse 14 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Vendée U 15 Nicolas Meret (Fra) VC Rouen 76 1.17 16 Stéphane Simon (Fra) P.Plouvien 1.20 17 Alexandre Kozlov (Blr) VC Roubaix 2.27 18 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Jean Floc'h - Mantes 19 Alexandre Sharapov (Rus) VC Pontivy 20 Yannick Flochlay (Fra) P.Plouvien 21 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Vendée U 22 Lionel Georget (Fra) P.Plouvien 3.01 23 Philippe Martin (Fra) UCL Hennebont 8.45 24 Lionel Le Han (Fra) VC Pontivy Results thanks to Velomania |
