The Dallaglio Rugbyworks Trackfest took place at Goodwood Circuit yesterday (Sunday 9th June) with Wightlink-Wight Mountain riders Kev Chant and Matt Allsopp racing in the Nat B E12 event.
Both riders managed to get into the break after 10 minutes of the 35 mile race. The pair yet again raced well together covering attacks all the way through the race with Kev Chant putting in a huge effort in the last lap enabling Allsopp to sprint to 3rd place after some great team work.
It has been a busy period for the team, with other riders travelling across the country….
Tour of Cambridge
James Veal made the long trip to Peterborough on Sunday 2nd June to compete in this year’s UCI road race. This year’s route had been extended to 100 miles – an extra 20 over last year and the additional mileage was felt by most of the riders.
The usual scrambling for early positions, which is normal for road races, took place but the main peloton stayed together. A few attacks were brought back with James helping to do the chasing down.
7 riders managed to break away and with the remaining bunch not able to form a combined plan to bring them back James and another rider decided to try and bridge the gap. This effort took its toll on the pair of chasing riders and after 5 miles the bunch caught the 2 chasers but were still not willing to chase down the lead group. This huge effort took its toll on James and with 20 miles to go, he began to cramp in both legs which drastically reduced his ability to chase attacks and sprint out of corners.
With clever riding, he managed to hold his position towards the front of the peloton and even gained a few places in the final sprint but the 7 riders from the earlier break stayed away. James was just outside the top 10 but inside the qualification for the World Championships in Poland later this year. A fantastic result on a very tough day bike racing.
Goodwood – 4th June
Team rider Matt Allsopp raced in the E12 race at Goodwood on 4th June.
In what was a lively race, Allsopp was in most of the breaks although they never seemed to stick.
Being chased down by the main bunch until the 3 lap boards came out, a small group of riders got away with team riders sitting on the front of the main bunch slowing the race down. Allsopp decided to make chase instead of sitting in for a bunch sprint with little points. With only a couple of riders chasing they managed to catch the break in the final straight with Allsopp finishing in the bunch.
Portsmouth Omega Circuits @ Mountbatten Centre
4th Cat Race
Wednesday 5th June once again saw Dave Cooper travel to Portsmotuh’s Mountbatten track to race in the 4th cat event. With a small field and Dave needing only a few points to go up to the next category, the race was going to go 2 ways.
After a quick opening few laps instigated by a rider from Portsmouth Northend the race settled down before the first serious attack took place. A rider went clear of the bunch and at one stage gaining near 3/4 of a lap. This gap was gradually eroded and eventually closed by Dave and the rider from Portsmouth Northend organising the bunch to chase.
By the time 3 laps to go was shown the bunch was together up until 2 laps to go when it splintered. Dave it would seem having overcooked it earlier in the race found himself empty for the sprint and finished towards the back of the bunch.
3rd Cat Race
5 riders from Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT entered the 3rd Cat race at the Pompey track on the same day. For 2 of the guys, it was their first race of the year so with fresh legs it was all to play for. The race comprised of 35mins + 3 laps round the external track at Portsmouth.
From the gun, the attacks started with Clint Oliver riding an aggressive race making many attempts to escape in a break. Unfortunately, every attempt was chased down. On the final 3 laps Jerry Cooper, Andy Ward and Clint Oliver made their way to the front of the bunch to assist Russell Thomson in a bid for what was sure to end in a sprint finish. Cooper and Ward injected some pace into the last lap and with Thomson on Olivers wheel he managed to sprint to 3rd place in his first race of the season.
2nd Cat Race
Team rider James Pett also travelled to Portsmouth Mountbatten centre on 5th June to take part in his first E/12 race of the season.
The race started with a comfortable pace with lots of small breakaway attempts – Pett being part of them all but none were successful. Trying to conserve energy, Pett sat in the group and a 4 man break formed, managing to stay away. With tired legs Pett dropped off the back of the surging group spending a number of laps on his own.
The lead group of 4 riders leaped the field and Pett used them to bring himself back to the group crossing the line first out of the chasing group, but is unsure of position.
