Wightlink-Wight Mountain cycle team riders Stu Waite, Adam Holleyman, Joe Staunton, Ian Hayden and Matt Allsopp headed to Goodwood race circuit for the first in the summer series on 24th April, competing in the E123 race.
With wind and rain it was full gas from the gun. With Adam and Ian covering moves the team stayed together well within the group in a full field of 60 riders.
After a few laps a small group managed to slip away, which took up the pace. Joe, showing that his hard winter training hasn’t been for nothing, rode very well on the front, setting the pace with Adam and Ian until Stu Waite managed to get away with another group that had attacked using the width of the track to there advantage.
The team controlled the main group to give Waite a big gap and once it was clear the group wasn’t going to be caught.
Allsopp attacked and bridged the gap, taking nearly half a lap with Stu helping him recover. They soon came into the final 2 laps and attacks kept coming from within the main group. Stu took control and attacked and with half a lap to go, with Allsopp on his wheel, Stu gave a perfect lead out through the last chicane allowing Allsopp to sprint to 5th overall.
The rest of the team finished safely in the bunch. A good team result.
On Sunday 29th April Joe Staunton travelled to Chilham in Kent to race in the Tour of the Hopfields Support Race.
Staunton ensured he was well placed towards the front of the race for the 2-and-a-half laps of an undulating circuit. As the bunch approach the final climb together, Staunton led out the final climb for the first half splitting the bunch of 50 remaining riders into a smaller group of 20.
Slight inexperience in his first season meant Staunton worked slightly too hard over the first stages, not leaving enough for the final few hundred metres. Finishing a respectable 14th place out of a field of 60 riders.
