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Evans Cycles - Surrey League 5 Day

2002 results     Stage List     Preview    Past winners

The Stages

• Day 1 - August 15: Newdigate circuit road race, 99.8 miles
• Day 2 - August 16: Staplefield circuit road race, 97.6 miles
• Day 3 - August 17: Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit ITT, 2.4 miles
• Day 3 - August 17: Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit road race, 84.3 miles
• Day 4 - August 18: Herstmonceux circuit road race, 100.3 miles
• Day 5 - August 19: Ashdown Forest circuit road race, 73.4 miles

Elite field in Evans Cycles-Surrey League 5-Day

By Gerry McManus

Soaring temperatures are expected to make Britain's longest stage race even tougher this year when the Evans sponsored Surrey League 5-Day race begins on Friday, August 150. This year's 458-mile event based in the counties of Surrey and Sussex will have a new winner in the absence of all the six previous victors including New Zealand's Gordon McCauley and Britain's Kristian House.

The grueling race visits different parts of the region each day using three different circuits on each stage. The race makes excellent use of traffic free roads and it visits some of the areas steepest climbs offering prizes and jerseys for the King of the Mountains and Sprint categories. The unique event continues to attract mainly a domestic field but an Irish contingent continues to make the pilgrimage over to Surrey.

Irish International Timmy Barry leads the Team Rás Mumhan from Ireland. Barry won stage two and wore the leaders jersey in 2001 on his return to the sport after a layoff and will be keen to perform with a number of Team Ireland places up for grabs in end of year international stage races. The Irish team look strong with the inclusion of other international performers Brian Keneally, Paul Griffin, Adrian Hederman and Andy Roche. Griffin has always been the "riders' choice" for a potential big win and will be one to watch.

At least half of this year's field would not look out of place in a British Premier Calendar race program and the event is certainly more open than last year when the British national team dominated.

A number of the domestic riders will know about the Irish riders capabilities after their ride in the FBD Milk Rás this year. Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport), John Veness, Justin Hoy (both Evans RT), Roger Morgan (Parrott Print RT) and Dave Worthington (Prestige VC) rode for a Surrey League team in Ireland but will be competitors here riding with their own clubs.

Scottish champion Andrew Young makes the journey south with Callum and Stuart MacGregor representing Scotland and British based Antiguan internationals Rory Gonsalves and Robert Marsh represent the amateur World Sports Exchange Team.

Christian Varley (Isle of Man) may find the mountainous terrain to his liking after finishing 10th in the under-23 road championships in similar surroundings but could find the lack of team support a major problem over five days.

Stage one on Friday is based in Newdigate in Surrey beginning at 11am using three circuits that take in Rusper, Capel, Holmwood Green and Norwood Hill before finishing at Brockham Park after 99.8-miles. Stage two uses Staplefield as the races central point for the 97.6-mile stage on three circuits taking in the villages of Balcombe, Handcross and Warninglid before finishing back at Newdigate.

The Sunday stage moves the race to its most Southern point at Goodwood and the morning begins with a 2.4-mile individual time-trial around the motor racing circuit. Riders will be hard pressed to beat the previous best set by Chris Newton last year in a time of 4'31. Danny Axford (Parrott Print RT) will be favourite after winning the stage in 2001 with a time of 4'58 and is on form following his fourth place in the UCI 1.5 Havant GP.

The afternoon's road stage leaves the circuit to cover some of the roads used in the world championships in 1982. Many breakaway attempts will be thwarted as the tough course saps the riders' strength and tests their resolve. A small breakway group may slip away as the peloton returns for five laps of the exposed motor racing circuit.

If legs aren't tired by Monday morning then the longest stage around Herstmonceux will likely see to that. The race used the same 100-mile course last year where the ‘autobus' finished over 24 minutes down on stage winner Chris Newton. Maximum endurance is needed to stay in contact on the small finishing circuit and the additional climb to Cowbeech Hill.

Mechanics will be changing sprockets for the final day's racing and there is nowhere to hide on multi KOM prime stage. The route eventually brings the riders up the category one ascent ‘the wall' on the edge of Ashdown Forest where the ability groups are quick to form and the likely stage-winning move will be made.

Past winners

2002 Kristian House (GBr)
2001 Gary Dodd (GBr)
2000 Gethin Butler (GBr)
1999 Chris Lillywhite (GBr)
1998 Gordon McCauley (NZl)
1997 Barrie Clarke (GBr)

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com