After the final round of the Elite Circuit race series on Wednesday, it was the Premier Calendar series that drew to a close today with the very challenging Ryedale Grand Prix.
Posted On: 29th July, 2013
After the final round of the Elite Circuit race series on Wednesday, it was the Premier Calendar series that drew to a close today with the very challenging Ryedale Grand Prix. Based on similar roads to those used for last year's national road race championships the race is renowned for splitting due the hugely undulating terrain. The riders faced three laps of a larger circuit with three significant climbs per lap, followed by five laps of a shorter circuit, once again, featuring two nasty climbs per lap. A total race distance of 98 miles had to covered, but more significantly, there was over 2,400 metres of altitude gain during the race. If that wasn't a difficult enough prospect, it was very windy complicating things further.
Within the first few miles a group of three riders went clear building a lead of nearly five minutes before the reaction came from the bunch. Six6 riders going clear of the main group and set about bridging the gap, we had Jack Pullar and Ian Bibby there representing Madison Genesis, which was a great situation for the team. It didn't take long for the two groups to join up in the front, whilst the remainder of the main group dropped out contention. The winner was going to come from the leading nine riders. Not wanting to wait for a sprint, Ian went on the offensive, attacking the main climb on the circuit with just over 10 miles to go. It was wasn't decisive but managed to reduce the group to just six. A strong counter attack on the last lap by Rapha Condor JLT looked dangerous, but Jack was more than up to the task, riding a great tempo to the bottom of the last climb making sure the escapee was always within striking distance. Ian, seizing the opportunity, once again used the in climb of the circuit to bridge across to the lone leader taking with him Perret. With no more climbs before the finish it was going to be impossible to reduce the group further. The uphill sprint was ideal for Ian but neutralising the early sprint by Handley saw Ian on the front far too early in the windy conditions. Almost holding on to the line, In was just piped in the last metres by Perret.
Roger
"The team rode a very strong race today, everyone committed to the task in hand, it so very nearly worked. It's a pity to be so close, but we can take the positives from here, it was a very hard race and we were aggressive all day, looking like one of the strongest teams there."