Thanks to Jack for this latest update from the cycling team. Ed
On Sunday 9th March, seven members of the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team travelled to Portsmouth for the second round of the Omega Circuits league. This was the highest number of riders sent to a race for a number of years, pointing to the team’s increasing growth and strength.
Due to high numbers of entries in the fourth category race, the field was split in half and there were two races held. Matt Allsopp, Ian Hayden and Ed Sutton lined up in the first race with Martin Sanders in the second. Both were 30 minutes plus three laps of the 500 metre track.
The move of the day
After a slow start in the first race, Allsopp and Hayden attacked from the front of the bunch and soon had a gap over the peloton with another rider. Letting the other teams chase, Sutton sat in the bunch and waited until the trio were caught before counter attacking.
This was to prove the move of the day. Sutton soon had a gap over the bunch with another rider. Allsopp and Hayden stayed in the peloton and slowed the pace increasing Sutton’s chances of staying away. The escapees soon gained a lap on the bunch.
Coming into the finish Sutton moved forward in the group and took second over the line with Allsopp taking eighth and Hayden finishing his first race of the season safely in the bunch. This gave Sutton eight points and Allsopp two points towards their third category licences.
Other riders join in racing
Shortly after, Sam Baker, James Ebdon and Kev Foster lined up for the 50 minute plus three lap third category race. The team’s plan was to use Ebdon’s good form of late and force a breakaway with him in it.
The pace was fast from the gun and after only five minutes of racing, Ebdon attacked from the front of the bunch to try and bridge the gap to two early breakaway riders. Shortly after, six other riders joined the trio and they all started working well together.
Seeing this Baker and Foster disrupted the chasing pack and slowed the pace of the peloton down. This meant that the nine breakaway riders soon had half a lap up. Coming into the finish, Ebdon left his sprint to the last possible moment because of the headwind on the finishing straight. Lunging for the line he took fourth place overall.
Image: Ed Sutton leading the breakaway in the decisive move of the day
