A strong Madison Genesis team took to the start line of the second round of the 2016 Motorpoint Spring Cup, the Manx GP.
A strong Madison Genesis team took to the start line of the second round of the 2016 Motorpoint Spring Cup, the Manx GP.
Three laps of a long circuit totalling 113 miles awaited the team on the clear and sunny Isle of Man afternoon.
Amidst impressive opposition from the likes of Ben Swift and Pete Kennaugh of Team Sky, it was team rider Tristan Robbins who took the race forward and led for 1 hour and 45 minutes with Jake Alderman (Saint Piran team) establishing a gap of over three minutes at one point.
Kennaugh eventually brought the race back together but a counter quickly followed and Matt Cronshaw was perfectly placed to represent the team in the new group of 14 breakaway riders.
With the Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain as one of the key features of the lap, the race started to fragment into three distinct groups. 19 leaders started the final lap with a 40 second gap. Recent Totnes-Vire winner Matt Holmes having made his way to the front along with Erick Rowsell for a strong position in the lead group.
With the gap extending to 1 minute 30, the final ascent of the mountain was the showground for the decisive attacks from the break. Six riders were to go clear including Erick Rowsell.
After a massive attack by Ian Bibby (NFTO) taking the break unawares, Rowsell managed to bridge the gap and join the lone leader. The time together was short lived though as Bibby went again. Tom Stewart and Matt Holmes chased alongside Team Sky’s Ben Swift who couldn't quite bridge to Rowsell and left him with the second step of the podium.
Team Manager Dave Povall commented on today’s performance saying,
"Three in the top-five is a great result. It was a hard day and we did everything we could on this occasion, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t come away with the win – especially when we were so close.
"The riders worked incredibly well together, they were always communicating and working as a solid unit to give the best opportunity for each other and it worked really well.
"We went through the course yesterday and figured out how best to ride it – Being part of the CVNDSH Scholarship, we wanted to go out there and race in style on Mark Cavendish’s home turf. We came here to race and that’s exactly what we did.”
Speaking about today’s ride Erick Rowsell said,
“Today was good and podium is always welcome – It’s a shame I was so close, but Bibby managed to hold the gap and I couldn’t get back to him.
"We really rode well together as a team and the race was really interesting to be a part of. The mountain was where everything was sorted though, there were bodies everywhere!”
The Motorpoint Spring Cup continues with the Tour of the Reservoir on the 16 & 17 April.
Result – Motorpoint Spring Cup round 2, Manx GP
1. Ian Bibby (NFTO) 04:29:35
2. Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis) +44
3. Ben Swift (Team Sky) +1.11
4. Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) +1.19
5. Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) +1.30
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20. Gruff Lewis +6.24
Images: SWpix