Thanks to Jack for this report from the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team. Ed
On Thursday 14th May, the Pearl Izumi Tour Series made its first venture over to the Isle of Wight for some circuit racing around Ryde town centre, and Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team was fully involved.
As part of the highlights programme, the Island’s Kieran Page joined ITV4’s Ned Boulting to show him the best of Bicycle Island. The feature was so well put together showing the best of the Island that people from elsewhere in the UK should be cancelling foreign holidays and heading down here right away.
Team trials went ahead
The earlier support events had to be cancelled due to the heavy rain, but thankfully the team time trial went ahead. Lining up for Wightlink-LCM Systems CRT were Matt Allsopp, Sam Baker, James Ebdon, Ian Hayden and Kieran Page.
As the guest team, the five Islanders were pitted against the nine professional outfits who’d made the journey over to Ryde. The team put in a very respectable time of 04:19 across the two laps of the 1.3km course, which was enough to beat a depleted Team Wiggins.
Other events
Team manager Russell Page arranged two events to coincide with the professional race and give amateurs the chance to race on the circuit (and go the wrong way up Union Street!).
The opening event was the Isle of Wight Business Race, which saw ten teams of four riders complete a single lap each in a relay format.
After the blistering start from Wight Mountain, it was theirs to lose, but they held on and took a convincing victory.
GKN A-Listers and Team Fire came in second and third respectively.
Ryde Town Centre Criterium
Lining up in a field of 32 riders were Wightlink-LCM riders Matt Allsopp, Sam Baker, Dave Cooper, James Ebdon, Kev Foster, Ian Hayden, Kieran Page and Stu Waite. The team went into the race with a clear game plan that took shape as the riders had intended.
Waite took up the pace at the front of the peloton and put the hammer down straight away. After three blistering laps the field had been noticeably reduced, and Hayden took up the pace. Unfortunately his turn on the front was short lived when he found himself getting a bit too close to a barrier, which called an end to his race.
As the race went on the pace stayed high but some breakaways were still able to get clear. Page pushed ahead with a rival rider for two laps, and for a time it looked like this move might stick. However, like all moves that went away the now small lead peloton brought them back.
With only a few laps to go, the lead group was down to just ten riders, including Allsopp, Baker and Page. On the final ascent of Union Street the pace picked up again which distanced Allsopp but saw Baker and Page well placed for the finale.
Out of the last corner and into the final sprint the teammates fought for position and Baker pushed on for seventh, with Page in ninth and Allsopp holding on for tenth. Three riders in the top ten of a brutal criterium is a great result for the team.
Images: © Jack Elton-Walters, Martin Dyer and Joe Norman
