The Redditch town centre circuit is arguably one of the toughest circuits on the Pear Izumi Tour Series this year. Wider roads than the last few rounds and a tough climb to the finish meant there was plenty of opportunity for hard and fast racing.
Posted On: 5th June, 2013
The Redditch town centre circuit is arguably one of the toughest circuits on the Pear Izumi Tour Series this year. Wider roads than the last few rounds and a tough climb to the finish meant there was plenty of opportunity for hard and fast racing. Once again the fantastic racing and beautiful weather conditions bought out the crowds en mass and the scene was set for a great evening’s entertainment.
Within the first five laps a breakaway had already established. Tom Scully and Kristian House (both vying for the sprinters jersey) were joined by Chris Opie, Mike Northey and Madison Genesis rider Liam Holohan. With such a strong group and all of the leading five teams represented, the breakaway established an unassailable lead very quickly. Working well together the quintet eventually lapped the main group in the latter stages of the race! This caused no end of problems...
The rules state, “lapped riders must be removed from the race with 3 laps to go” but as it was the main group that was lapped the unprecedented decision was made to leave them in the race. The only problem with this decision was, the riders in the main group had no idea when they were supposed to be sprinting and it seems most of the bunch sprinted a lap later than the race organisers had expected them to. The end result was that most of the teams crossed the line in their lead out formations within the group and a surprise victory for one of the few teams not represented in the front group!
Whilst the chaos behind them was being disputed the front group continued to race a relatively normal race! Tom Scully distancing his breakaway companions to solo to the individual victory and Liam rode a very impressive and intelligent race, waiting until the last lap to attack the remainder of the group, finishing alone and taking second place.
"It’s a real pity for us tonight. I felt the team rode a very strong race, with Liam setting us up perfectly for a great overall team as well individual result. On the lap I thought the bunch was sprinting I counted us in second place, which although wasn’t the win we are desperately searching for it would have moved us back into second place overall. Instead we now find ourselves four points adrift of second. A lot of work to do now" - Team Manager - Roger Hammond
Click here for a full race report
Photos by Andy Jones