Thanks to Jack for this report on behalf of the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team from the London Nocturne on Saturday and Winchester Crits on Sunday. Ed
On Saturday 8th June, Matt Tibbutt lined up in the Leigh Day Kermesse. This race formed part of the London Nocturne Series: a great festival of cycling held in Central London’s Smithfield Market, with later races including Olympic medalists Laura Trott and Ed Clancy, and Giro D’Italia stage winner Alex Dowsett. The presence of a Wightlink-LCM Systems rider at such an event was a great advertisement of the team’s sponsors and of Isle of Wight cycling.
Tibbutt joined a very strong field and the pace was brutal from the start. The circuit was just one kilometre long but included six tight corners. The technical nature of the course and the high pace of the peloton soon saw the field splintered into several groups.
Good experience
Tibbutt held his own in the third group on the road, and was placed high enough to avoid being forced to retire by the race referees, which was the fate of the slower half of the starting line-up.
Finishing crash free and glad of the experience, Tibbutt crossed the line in the top half of a fast peloton.
Winchester Crits
The following day, a four-man squad of the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team travelled to Winchester for the first of two criterium races.
First to race was Kev Foster in the fourth category race. With Foster only needing a top ten finish to secure his third category licence for next year, this was his golden opportunity. The race was 30 minutes plus five laps of the half a mile circuit.
Good result for Foster
Right from the start, Foster broke away with eight other riders. After two laps, one of the breakaway riders solo attacked and managed to stay away from the peloton for the whole of the race. Foster wasn’t bothered about this as he only needed to finish within the group.
Coming out of the last corner, Foster sprinted for the line and took fourth place. This secures his third Category licence for next year, and for all subsequent seasons.
60 mins and five laps
In the second race, Sam Baker, James Ebdon and Tim Wiggins lined up. This Elite race was 60 minutes plus five laps of the track. The pace was furious from the gun and the bunch soon splintered into pieces. Five riders slipped off the front of the peloton with Wiggins and Ebdon chasing hard. With nobody else working to try and pull the five riders back, Wiggins attacked and managed to gain a considerable gap quickly.
Unfortunately the breakaway soon lapped the peloton with Wiggins putting in a huge effort, holding the peloton at half a lap with two other riders. With Wiggins now away, Baker and Ebdon sat in the bunch and let everyone else chase him.
Good finishes
After the 60 minutes of racing, Baker moved forward within the bunch into the front four riders. Coming out of the last corner he used his powerful sprint and agile bike handling skills to take second in the bunch sprint.
Wiggins rode very strongly and managed to stay away from the bunch to take sixth place, Baker took eighth and Ebdon finished within the bunch.
Image: Matt Tibbutt in action at the London Nocturne
