The 2014 and sixth edition of the Tour Series kicked off with a bang yesterday in the Potteries town of Stoke-on-Trent with drama from the off. In a diversion from the traditional format, the opening venue hosted two events on the same day - the opening r
The 2014 and sixth edition of the Tour Series kicked off with a bang yesterday in the Potteries town of Stoke-on-Trent with drama from the off. In a diversion from the traditional format, the opening venue hosted two events on the same day - the opening round being a Team Time Trial followed later on in the evening by the more traditional city centre criterium.
Time Trials are always difficult to gauge and, more often than not, the conditions that teams or riders have to deal with change during the course of the event; yesterday was no exception. Madison Genesis were the second team to set off and with the roads still drying from the earlier showers it was always going to be a nervous Time Trial on the tight twisting urban circuit.
With the rules stating that the finish time was given on the third rider across the line, Andy Tennant set off with the intention of riding the first of the two laps flat out and sacrificing himself for the remaining four riders to finish the Time Trial off. However, at the bottom of the first fast descent on the first lap, the riders were confronted by the general public on the circuit at an official crossing point. We can only suppose the marshals had no idea that five riders were hurtling around the circuit at 40mph plus. All the riders made the instinctive reaction to brake, losing valuable speed and momentum just before the long grind back up to the finish line. When this happened for a second time the riders lost all confidence of what they would find around the next corner, but they soldiered on and posted a very respectable time despite the issue and a complaint was lodged. In the end, the result stood but despite the amount of preparation we put in, I am happy the riders chose for their safety and that of the public over a fast time.
With four hours to churn over the earlier events, it was a very determined Madison Genesis team that lined up for the criterium later in the day. From the off, the team rode aggressively covering every move until eventually a group of ten riders prized themselves clear. A quick assessment of the group showed it was a great move so the team pushed on until the group had established a sizable lead with Andy Tennant and Tom Scully policing the chasing bunch.
Madison Genesis (the only team with the all-important three riders in the front - Alex Peters, Mike Northey and Tobyn Horton) had put themselves in the driving seat, however both NFTO and Rapha Condor JLT could, in theory at least, still win. As with previous Tour Series years, the team event is the most important so when Jon Mould attacked, the guys concentrated on making sure they grouped near the front of the race covering all the counter attacks including that of Team Time Trial winning team rider, Christian House. Entering into the final laps of the race, Jon Mould was ahead of a three man group which included Alex and Tobyn, with our third counter Mike Northey controlling the remainder of the original breakaway. In the frantic sprints to the line Alex and Tobyn both finished ahead of Christian to claim second and third place on the night, leaving Mike to finish a brilliant second place in his group sprint for seventh place on the night. More than enough to give the team the victory in Stoke.
Team Manager – Roger Hammond
"After the disaster of the Team Time Trial it was really pleasing to see the riders come out and show what they were capable of in the criterium. With a very calculated ride, they really showed they had both the power and the presence of mind to engineer a race winning scenario in what was a very complicated night of racing. I'm really proud of how the riders once again fought to the end, even the non-counting riders – Andy Tennant and Tom Scully, pulling off very fast finish to make sure they took as many of the points from the rival teams. It was a fantastic team performance, resulting in our first tour series win!"
