Day 1 – Veteran 40 Men and Veteran Men 45+
Whilst Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) and Lewis Craven (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) were still praying for rain and plenty of mud Chris Young (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) and Noel Clough (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) took to the start line of this years Veteran National CycloCross Championships. With fine weather prevailing after days of rain it was a dry but sticky course suiting the faster riders with a more criterium feel to it.
Pedalsport CC’s Mike Young led into the first corner but by the time the leaders had reached the hurdles Bryan had hit the front with Atkins, and it was to stay that way for the duration of the race.
Noel Clough (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) was just behind the leading duo in third, while Greg Simcock (Corley Cycles), Mike Young and Chris Young (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) were all close behind as they approached the end of the first lap.
After they passed the pits on lap two the same three led, but Chris Young (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) had made his usual heroic effort to power his way up the field as the race drew on and was by now up to fourth spot and pushing hard, just four seconds behind Clough (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) and only eight behind the leaders.
By lap three he had overhauled Clough (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) his teammate and moved into third spot going in search of the leaders.
But Atkins and Bryan were pulling out a good lead, now 13 seconds ahead of Young (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale). Noel Clough was still only four seconds down and as the last lap approached turned the race into a sprint out to the finish between himself and Young. Chris Young just held out taking third spot.
Chris Young WHEELBASE.co.uk/Cannondale V45 National Champion. Top Ride Chris!
This meant that Young (Wheelbase.co.uk /Cannondale) was also the over 45′s winner taking a National championship Gold for Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale with Clough also taking Bronze in the Over 40′s Championship. A great day for the old guard, and the two newest members of the Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale Team.
Noel Clough WHEELBASE.co.uk/Cannondale take 3rd V40 2012 National Champs
Day 2 – Junior Men, U23 Men & Senior Men
Day 2 saw disappointment for Armstrong and Craven as it was another fine day meaning fast and furious crit style racing.
Mathew Gee was first up on Sunday, a new signing for Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale. Steve James (Hargroves Cycles) continued his domination of Under-23 cyclo-cross with a winning performance.
But in a close finish which saw the top five riders cross the line within 24 seconds of each other, he did not have it all his own way and was made to work hard for victory. A fast pace saw James at the front along with Scott rider Kenta Gallagher and Ben Sumner (Beeline Bikes), while behind them Jack Clarkson (Hope Factory Racing) was closing fast.
Mathew Gee (Wheelbase/Cannondale.co.uk) for his first outing with the Wheelbase team had a top class ride. With National Trophy contenders all around him he improved as the race progressed. Picking off riders with every lap, his confidence seemed to grow as he moved into the top ten places.
Eventually finishing tenth Gee (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) is definitely one to watch for the future.
Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) took to the stage next, getting off to a hesitant start, mixing it with Hugo Robinson, last years Champion, Joe Moses, National series leader Alex Welburn Adam Martin and Jake Walmersley. All of them contenders right through this years Trophy series.
It wasn’t long before the order was set in the same format as previous National races, Robinson leading Moses second, and Welburn, Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale), Walmersley and Martin battling it out behind them. But this was no ordinary race, Welburn struck out first launching a massive attack to go after Robinson, at one point getting up to his wheel and leaving Moses behind him. Armstrong coolly watched as they one after the other launched attacks.
Then with fifteen minutes left Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) made his move, steaming up to Moses with Walmersley gripping his wheel as he struggled to hold the pace. Having caught Moses, Walmersley and Moses thought that they would settle for a race for third place and the Yorkshire boys started to one, two Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale).
Tom was having none of that, he had sensed that the leaders were cracking and went after them, closing the gap from 40 seconds to around 20 metres by the finish. Despite launching his own convincing attack with just 1 lap to go and most of the crowd shouting ‘GO ON TOM’ Moses and Walmersley managed to hang on with him to the final bend. Now just yards from the leader they sprinted up the hill to the finish, Moses leading out from the bend and Armstrong (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) closing fast. Moses saw what was coming and reacted as any racer would, squeezing Armstrong out of the medals by only inches.
This was by far Tom’s best ride of the season and probably of his life. Just 13 seconds off the winner, a worthy contender, narrowly beaten and surely a selection for the World Championships in Belgium in three weeks time.
Next up, the senior contingent. Lewis Craven, Mike Cotty, Noel Clough (up for a second punishing race of the weekend) and Steven Clarke facing a truly international class field containing the likes of Ian Field, Paul Oldham, Liam Killeen, Nick Craig and Roger Hammond.
With the leading group of five riders including, Fields, Oldham, Killeen, Fletcher and Crawforth set, Craven (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) continued his form of the last few weeks having a great ride pulling a group of six riders almost up to the wheel of eventual sixth placed rider, Craig. Craven (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) doing all of the work to get there paid the price towards the end of the race slipping backwards a little.
Meanwhile Mike Cotty (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) having had a slow start ploughed his way up the field towards him with Clough and Steven Clarke (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) not far behind.
Cotty (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) eventually overhauled Craven, who clearly suffered for his early efforts finishing highest placed of the all in a creditable 22nd place.
A great weekend for Wheelbase with medals, a National Champion and some great prospects for the future.
A word too, for the support staff without whom none of our riders would be able to contest at Nationals Level; Billy Reid, Matt Woods, Mike Armstrong, Stuart Ried, John Sowerby, Matt Hoyle and Tom Bainbridge. Before every event they race-prep each bike with meticulous precision, and on race day they power wash bikes, make running repairs and keep Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale professional and in the race! All the riders and support crew are immensely proud to be part of Team Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale when the boys bring home the bacon, as they did this weekend.
