Four members of Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team travelled to Thruxton for the 7th Behind the Bike Shed Summer Series last Tuesday.
Matt Allsopp, Ian Hayden and Stuart Waite lined up with 71 other riders in the 3rd category race of nine laps; and James Ebdon started a minute ahead in the Elite, 1st and 2nd category race of 12 laps with 40 riders.
From the start of the 3rd category race there were riders trying to breakaway from the main group which Hayden chased down taking Waite and Allsopp to the front. Here the three Wightlink-LCM riders showed their strength and soon had the race under control.
This lasted until an attack from four riders broke away, Allsopp decided to jump across while Hayden and Waite slowed the main bunch down but with more riders jumping across to the break away the speed slowed instead of increased.
Allsopp and another rider made another break away riding the last six laps on their own, and the two soon lapped the 4th cat race and had the E12s in sight.
The final lap it came down to a sprint and Allsopp powered through to take his first win of the season. Waite finished 3rd in the bunch sprint and Hayden rolled in in the top 15.
James Ebdon’s race in the 12 lap E12 was a more frenetic affair. The first lap was slow then attacks came from many different riders, including Ebdon.
The Wightlink-LCM rider put himself in a break with seven others and got a gap for a lap, but in the end nothing came of it. Eventually six riders did get away, and Ebdon sprinted with the remainder of the peloton to take a top-15 finish.
On Saturday, Stuart Waite and Ian Hayden of the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team travelled to Redbridge cycling centre to take part in the 3rd category circuit race of 1 hour plus 5 laps.
Soon after the start Waite was off the front in an early two man break with another rider but was brought back by a chasing bunch.
Hayden and Waite then attacked again with another rider and soon had a substantial lead, which was highlighted by their overtaking of the slower lapped 4th category race.
However, in an unbelievable turn of events, the three-man breakaway was told to sit up and allow the chasing pack to catch-up as they were apparently stuck behind the slower fourth category bunch.
With 4 laps to go Waite punctured and despite all the confusion Hayden still managed to finish in a well-earned 8th place.
