VC Meudon and Ciclisti Vecchi riders were out in force at Dunsfold last weekend for the latest LVRC races, this time promoted by our very own Lindsey Ruocco ( and family).
Before we get into the racing, a BIG THANKS to Lindsey and his "crew" for a great day. Despite the usual horses, roadworks and grumpy local residents both races went off well with hard racing and deserving winners all round.
The morning race over 7 laps for the over 55's was a relentless round of attacking and chasing which ended in a mass spint up the final hill. Despite animating throughout the race KeithB was slightly less spritely than last week but still placed 3rd in Category. In a feat of amazing delegation Lindsey even managed to ride himself, as did Alan Clarke, Andy Swanson and Paul Shoebridge. I believe Keith's main rival for the overall was further back so he now leads category E in the series.
In the youngsters' 8 lap race that followed, a similar race pattern emerged. Riding in his new RT316 colours Martin Hulbert surged forward 0.472 seconds after the gun to start a continuous cycle of attacking and chasing. At one point a 2 man breakaway containing Switcher O'Grady (VC Deal)(Craig Wilson's main contender in the B category) was improving a 1 minute lead, until Craig finally marshalled his troops and (along with a brace of ColourTech riders who were also concerned) a 2 lap chase dragged the bunch back up to neutralise the threat.
Tim Costello, Terry Morgan and Ben Macland were doing lots of work all the way through, but it was Rob Cranstone and Keith Jarrett (both quite active throughout) who finally broke the elastic, getting away in a group of 4 with two laps to go. On the final lap another 4 man chase group got away but that didn't work despite Gianluca trying to get them going. They were caught on the final hill.
From the lead break Keith and Rob finished 2nd and 4th to winner Colin McDermott (Festival RC), with Gianluca, Bob, Craig and Colin (unSwitching himself on the line) all up there in the sprint for the minor placings.
Full results and category placings to follow, but Craig retains his overall B category lead with Keith now moving up to 2nd in the series overall.
Vecchi/Meudon Vets weekend
Meudon in the money at Giles Ree
Race review from WarrenJ ...
4 Meudoner’s competed in Sundays 80 mile Giles Ree Memorial RR, the prizes were slightly more generous than normal due to the fact it was a 25th anniversary RR. Myself, Jamie Newall and married couple David Creeggan and Jo Munden competed. Jo was a lone women entry and was very brave to line up for such a race which included most the SE big hitters, her reasoning was she was going to watch anyway but figured she may as well race and see how far she got! The organisers ensured a £20 prize for 1st woman, so now Jo felt obliged to try and finish which would have been no mean feat.
The course was fairly sporting with a couple of drags per lap and in any normal race would be a recipe for the race to break apart. For some reason this race stayed pretty much together the whole time except for a few small breaks but none got much more than 1 minute.
So after nearly 80 miles of fairly brisk racing it was apparent a bunch sprint would occur. The bunch had probably lost around 20 or so riders through punctures or general fatigue so there were a good 60 of us going balls out down the final hill ready for the slight uphill sprint into Staplefield. Hectic was an understatement and I for one was thinking of my first fathers day and thinking it may be more sensible to sit this one out, but adrenaline took over and I saw a gap with 300m to go and went for it, 8 other riders got round me on the line including Jamie in 7th and David in 8th so between us we took home approx £90 in prizes including the £20 Jo picked up.
Eelmore report from KB
A fine evening encouraged another good turnout in both events…….from a spectators point of view the constant attacks in the seniors race made it look like a rapid race but don’t underestimate the 3rd/4ths as they plugged away all night at a constant high pace and for the first time that I can remember they were not caught.
Briefly the senior race was a Felt vs Agisko vs Meudon affair with all three teams putting their riders in breaks and attacking each other but at the end of the day the breaks came back and it was the one man teams of Norwood’s Chris Moores, Cyclekingdom’s Anders Christensen and Sigma’s Dan Duguid that did the damage. Chris, fresh back from the Ras, clippedoff at the end to hold of a fast finishing Justin Hoy with Dan 3rd and Anders 7th.
The 3rd/4ths was a fast race, there were attacks but they were quickly brought back and with a lap to go it looked like a big bunch sprint….Nick Allen, prolific Eelmoor winner already this season, had different ideas and as the bell was rung he just accelerated away to ride the last lap on his own and had plenty of time to show off his sponsors jersey as he crossed the line.
Midweek handicap report from Brems
The Thursday Handicap at Chertsey saw only 3 Meudoners turn up. Ken Prince and Mark B went off with the 2s and Lindsey R was off earlier.
Conditions were perfect, if you were a lesser spotted green frog waiting for the monsoon to find a mate. For cycling they were awful as the showers (of the heavy sort) that threatened started as the first group set off and didn't finish till the last rider crossed the line.
Typical handicap race as each group got caught with the race all together with 6 or 7 laps to go.
The attacks then began with Darrell Pembroke starting them on this evening and Colin Roshier being in most of them.
Ken ( on his 3rd race of the week ) found himself in one such move with 3 to go until sense prevailed and he joined the bunch who were always in touch.
And so it was that no one got away and the bunch bunched even more as the field of 55 gathered to hear the bell.
A tactical half lap found people trying to find the right wheel and once Mark B had Gary Dodd's just in front that's where he stayed.
Lined out through the final turn it was everyone for themselves up the finish.
Pauk Delahunty and Jerome Walters looked strong and led it out as the line neared.
Mark B still had Gary D's wheel and that's where he finished with a 4th spot.
A gillet seperated Mark from Darrell P and Ken P who who was paying a bit for his earlier move but picking up some more points with 6th.
Lindsey rolled in at his own pace enjoying the weather.
The field also included a World Champion in the shape of Joanna Rowsell but she finished out of the top 10.
Podium for Wily Wilson at Dunsfold
On Tuesday's Dunsfold Aerodrome event VC Meudon fielded a large team. The E/1/2s caught the 3rds and 4ths after 4 laps and then the attacks began. Jamie Newall was ever present and forced a break with Tim Elverson of Felt and they were soon joined by a number of other riders jumping across the ever growing gap. The break of 13 had 4 Meudons - Craig Wilson, Gianluca, Nick Allen and Jamie along with 3 from the Fuzzy Felts and 2 from Wildside - rahhh. The smooth working break built a good lead on the bunch. Team tactics and the very windy conditions played a part and each time Jamie broke away he was brought back by Wildside or Felt. With the Felt lead out train keeping it together all 13 fought out the finish. Justin Hoy won from Tim with Craig finishing 3rd, Jamie 4th and Gianluca 8th with Nick protecting his 3rd cat licence by finishing out of the points.
Stop Press - We are still awaiting the outcome of the decision on whether the first 2 riders completed full distance - if any of them didn't we all know the moral victor was from VCM and not the Fuzzy Felt boys!! (only kidding)
Cycle Kingdom Series - Race 6 Results
Youth Race
1 Joe McGuinness Palmer park 460803
3/4
1 Nick Allen VC Meudon 3 10
2 Dan Guest Army CU 3 9
3 Nick Onslow Pedalon.co.uk 3 8
4 Richard Jerome Willesden CC 3 7
5 Mike Cripps Army CU 3 6
6 Max Harris VC Meudon 3 5
7 Justin Radford Python RT 3 4
8 Andrew McKie Norwood Paragon 3V 3
9 Terry Morgan VC Meudon 3V 2
10 Andy Grant VC Meudon 3V 1
Overall Classification
E/1/2
1 Chris Moores Norwood Paragon 1 15
2 Justin Hoy Felt Racing E 14
3 Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport 1 13
4 Darrell Pembroke www.agiskoviner.com 2 12
5 Boyd Roberts www.agiskoviner.com 2 11
6 Lewis Atkins www.agiskoviner.com 2 10
7 Anders Christensen Cycle Kingdom Race Team 1 9
8 Tim Elverson Felt Racing E 8
9 David Creeggan VC Meudon 1 7
10 Warren Jesse VC Meudon 1 6
11 Alex Peterson AW Cycles 1 5
12 Steve Richards VC Meudon 1 4
13 John Wager Felt Racing 1 3
14 Adrian Goatley www.agiskoviner.com 2 2
15 Ken Prince VC Meudon 2 1
Overall Classification
