Bath Cycle Races Rd 1 – What a great night of racing! After all the hard work the Bath Cycle Races Team (including Jon Arnold) had put into getting this race series up and running the response and turnout was amazing.
The 3/4 race sold out by about 6-30pm and riders were being turned away from the queue such was the popularity. This meant that 50 riders took to the start which also backed up and improved entry for the Youths/Women race as well. With about 30 riders in the E/1/2/3 race the racing was fast and frenetic.
Peter Medhurst won the 3/4 race by smallest of margins, 0.004 secs, edging out Ed Griffin and Michael Ward for the podium. The women’s race was also a close run affair with Miriam Freemantle just pipping Nicole Walters on the line. With an increased size of field over last year in the E/1/2/3 race there was a lot of expectation about how the race would pan out. The pace was quick from the start with mostly Wilier/Live2Ride and Cadence Cannondale controlling/patrolling the front. A number of riders tried to form a break-away group but none of them stayed clear for more than 1 or 2 laps such was the relentless pace. In the end it came down to a final lap tussle with ex-VC Walcot rider Tav Walker (Wilier/Live2Ride) laying his cards on the table early and going for a long one. It was, however, John Wager (Felt-Colbournes RT) who won by a couple of bike lengths from Nick Noble and Colin Parry. Another ex-VC Walcot rider Charles Coleman (Cadence Cannondale) got 6th and was the second best place non-Elite rider. Chapeau Charles.
Club members Giles Prentice and Michael Young (racing for Cadence RT) took part in the 3/4 race with it being Giles’ first ever road race. He came in a little bit down on the main bunch but enjoyed the experience and vowed to come back in the coming rounds and aim to finish in the pack.
If you missed the action there are some great photo sets here by:
See you all next week and don’t forget that 23rd May is our turn to host.