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Blagdon Road Race

May 11, 2003

By Jeff Coast

Victory tough but sweet
Photo: © Jeff Coast

Having fallen victim to the installation of traffic lights at Nailsea, the Belmont Road Race was moved to a new, and very tough course based on the Mendip Hills, which took in one climb of Burrington Combe, and three climbs of Blagdon Hill.

The race got off to a brisk start with a break of three riders forming on the ascent of Burrington Combe. After working hard for over 10 miles to stay away from the chasing bunch, the trio of Will Bjergfelt (Saracen), Stephen Wedge (Exeter Wheelers) and Pete Scott (Swindon Wheelers) were eventually caught just before the first climb of Blagdon Hill.

Immediately after the climb, Andrew Retter (Okehampton CC) attempted a solo break which he maintained for almost a complete lap before being joined by a three man breakaway group consisting of Will Bjergfelt, Anthony Morgan (Mid Devon CC) and Alan Griffiths (Severn RC).

With the main pack in disarray after the second climb of Blagdon Hill, Adrian Street (North Devon Wheelers) bridged across to join the leading group, and was followed shortly after by Gerry Bowditch (bikeshop.uk.com), Daniel Martin (CC Giro) and Pete Scott (Swindon Wheelers).

As this group prepared for the final climb up Blagdon Hill to the finish line, Alan Griffiths punctured leaving the rest to fight it out. Bjergfelt and Martin launched an attack 1 kilometre from the summit, and soon opened up a sizeable gap. Working hard together these two riders increased the margin, before Daniel pounced just before the line to take the victory.

Photos

Images by Jeff Coast

• The peleton all together on the lower slopes of Blagdon Hill.
• With the main pack in disarray after the second climb of Blagdon Hill, Adrian Street (North Devon Wheelers) bridged across to join the leading group, and was followed shortly after by Gerry Bowditch (bikeshop.uk.com), Daniel Martin (CC Giro) and Pete Scott (Swindon Wheelers).
• Daniel Martin (CC Giro) pounced just before the line to take victory from his breakaway companion William Bjergfelt (Saracen).

Results

1 Daniel Martin (CC Giro)
2 William Bjergfelt (Saracen)
3 Steve Thomas (Bristol RC)
4 Adrian Street (North Devon Wheelers)
5 Pete Scott (Swindon Wheelers)
6 Gerry Bowditch (www.bikeshop.uk.com)
7 Anthony Morgan (Mid Devon CC)
8 Andrew Retter (Okehampton CC)
9 Ian Packer (Private)
10 James Shaw (Pembrokeshire Velo)
11 Michael Ford (Hardly Athletic)
12 Stephen Howells (London Irish CC)
13 Vince Smith (Somer Valley CC)
14 George Unsworth (Gloucester City CC Swindon RC)
15 Jim Avens (Somer Valley CC)
16 Tim Carpenter (Team Training FX)
17 Chris Smith (Cheltenham & County CC)
18 Matthew Ewings (Team Training FX)
19 Keith Sheridan (Swindon Wheelers)
20 Sean Bolton (Swindon RC)
21 Paul Byrom (Chippenham & District Wheelers)
22 Stephen Wedge (Exeter Wheelers CC)
23 Peter Giddings (Swindon Wheelers)
24 Layton Wilkes (Penzance Wheelers CC)
25 Mark Stenning (Swindon Wheelers)
26 Andrew Baum (Climb on Bikes RT)
27 Mark Perry (Clevedon & District RC)
28 Roy Smith (Team Training FX)
29 David Osborne (Sodbury Cycle Sport)
30 Edward Summerwell (Team Quest)
31 Richard Clewes (Swindon Wheelers)
32 Ian Liddiatt (Cardiff JIF)
33 Robert Hinchliffe (JE James)
34 Ben Summers (Chippenham & District Wheelers)
35 Daniel Froud (Somer Valley CC)
36 Rob Merrison (Swindon RC)
37 Ryan Evans (Porth & District CC)
38 James Smith (Cheltenham & County CC)
39 Karl Hine (Private)
40 Howard Lightfoot (Chippenham & District Wheelers)
41 Paul Barnard (Gloucester City CC)
42 Ed Unsworth (Gloucester City CC)
43 Carl Banwell (Porth & District CC)
44 James Rouse (i-team.co.uk)
45 Aidan Searle (Clevedon & District RC)
 
Primes: Top of Blagdon Hill (1st and 2nd ascents) - Ian Packer and Will Bjergfelt
 
Additional prizes for 3rd and 4th Category riders (not applicable to top 8 finishers):
 
1st Third Cat: Michael Ford
 
1st Fourth Cat: Mark Stenning
 
Highest placed team: Swindon Wheelers (Pete Scott, Keith Sheridan, Peter Giddings)

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