Report/Results: Day 1 – Tour of Reservoir « A Report « velouk.net

DAY 1 – Road Stage – 77 miles – Hilly

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215 pictures of the whole stage, the attacks, the chases, the climbs, the descents and more …

via Report/Results: Day 1 – Tour of Reservoir « A Report « velouk.net.

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Road: Opie draws first blood in Reservoir

The 25 year old Truro rider took full advantage of strong support from team mates Yanto Barker, Rob Partridge and Nicolas Gustavsson, to sprint away from the lead group up towards the dam wall at Derwent Reservoir.

The day set off with a three man group striking out on the first long ascent from Blanchland to Bale Hill. The trio was led by Simon Yates (100%ME), followed by Tom Scully (Raleigh) and Mike Northey (Node4 Giordana). The 130 riders had been warned by organiser Mike Hodgson that the long tortuous climb would sort out the strongmen, and he was proved correct. To be climbed five times Bale Hill was a real stinker. On the first ascent the peloton was split across three distinct groups, by the end of lap four there were five significant groups.

Early in the race Yates and Co. were joined by a group that included Andy Tennant (Madison Genesis), Ben Greenwood (Hope Factory Racing), Rob Partridge, Chris Opie and Nicolas Gustavsson (UK Youth), Peter Hawkins and James Moss (IG Sigma), Tom Stewart (Sportscover), Matt Holmes, Evan Oliphant and Rob Britton (Raleigh), and Steve Lampier (Node4 Giordana).

The whole of the Rapha Condor team had missed the break, and Madison Genesis team rider Ian Bibby was positioning himself at the front of the chasing group ready to try and bridge to the leaders.

The unsettled weather played its part in making the racing difficult, the winds were strong across the moors and the riders had to contend with hale-storms and showers.

Ian Bibby was one of the first riders to bridge across to the leaders, quickly followed by Yanto Barker (UK Youth) and Wouter Sybrandy (IG Sigma). The pace in the front group was relentless and within a few miles Bibby paid for his efforts by yo-yoing out of the back of the group. Matt Holmes and James Moss had similar problems, soon to be back with the chasers.

With one circuit of the 77 mile race left Simon Yates (100%ME) attacked the leaders. He was joined by Raleigh rider Rob Britton and together they built up a maximum lead of 22 seconds. Behind the might of the UK Youth team had taken a grip of the chase and with Yanto Barker leading, Yates and Britton would soon be reeled back in.

Into the final 2km and the chasers were closing in fast on Yates and Britton. Rob Partridge for UK Youth caught them in the final 1km and it was all set up for a sprint finish to the Dam wall.

Chris Opie launched a strong attack with 250 metres to go, followed by Yates, but Yates had put too much effort into his breakaway, having to settle for second. UK Youth completed the podium line up with Nicolas Gustavsson claiming third place.

What They Said

Afterwards a jubilant Chris Opie told British Cycling: “I could cry with joy, it’s taken me years to get back up there and win again, I could do it at junior level, but it’s taken me till now at 25 to win at senior races.

“The course today was tough, that long drag up to the feed zone was horrible.

“Into the final last few km there was still a break away, including Simon Yates. But they must have stopped working, Rob Partridge attacked across to them and brought them back.

“I started my sprint at 250 metres to go and was expecting to be caught, but as I looked back I realised I’d got it.

“I probably won’t sleep tonight, but after a good massage I should be ready for tomorrows stage. We will discuss with the team tonight how we are going to race the next stage, but we will definitely be trying to win.”

Results:

Stage one:
1 Chris Opie (Team UK Youth) 2:55:00
2 Simon Yates (100 Per Cent ME) @ 1sec
3 Niklas Gustavsson (Team UK Youth)
4 Tom Stewart (Team Sportscover)
5 Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport)
6 Mike Northey (Node 4-Giordana)
7 Andrew Tennant (Madison Genesis)
8 Rob Partridge (Team UK Youth)
9 Rob Britton (Team Raleigh) all @ same time
10 Steve Lampier (Node 4-Giordana) @ 5sec

CREDIT to www.britishcycling.org.uk

via Road: Opie draws first blood in Reservoir.

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