Another Win for Eastwood!

Another fast attacking race with numerous breaks forming but never getting more than half a lap before being brought back by the bunch. Primera Specialized once again controlling things by placing a rider or two in all of the breaks but in the end it came down to a sprint. Ian Legg proving his returning form led Jay Eastwood out for two of the 5 remaining laps, a few short attacks were pulled back then with 400 to go Jay opened up with Justin Hoy (Felt) on his shoulder and last week’s winner Phil Reynolds (Hansford Cycles) on the wheel. The only challenge was from sprint specialist Hoy and although very close, Hoy was denied with Eastwood taking win no.2 in as many weeks. Will Stephenson brought the bunch in, making it a first & third for the Primera team.

Primera/Specialized team leader Jason Eastwood said,“We have proven to be a very competitive team already and its only a few weeks into our first year. The four of us work really well together, each rider working to their strengths and being supported by the team in areas where they are not so strong. Will has come a long way and really benefiting from a team environment and despite Ian curiously suffering with poor form (now diagnosed as a tooth infection) he has laboured as our own super domestique for the team ensuring where he can that we are where we need to be in the race. Toby, a super strong breakaway specialist has had the lead outs when needed, with two wins already coming from this and his legs only getting stronger we are expecting a few more.”

Toby Neave Sprints to Goodwood Win

Toby Neave(Primera/Specialized) sprinted to victory at a very cold, wet, and windy Goodwood. Neave attacked after 3 of 13 laps and was joined by 2 others. After 4 laps the break became 7 and the rest were out of it. With 3 laps to go and people missing turns, Neave, Chris McNamara (pedal heaven) and Tim Costello (Southdown Velo) pulled away. Into the finale the Primera/Specialized man went early to win by 4 bike lengths. It was Neaves second win of the season having won at the Mountbatten test track in March. The small, four man Primera/Specialized squad are having a successful year so far, with wins for Neave and Will Stephenson already. Stephenson finished 5th at last weekend’s National Junior Road Race championships in Wales. The South division junior champion will be looking to defend his title at Stockbridge on Sunday. Meanwhile Team leader, Jason Eastwood will be the man to beat at Moreton on Thursday evening. The first round of the UK-BIKING race series was called off after heavy rain had left the course unridable.

RESULT
1 Toby Neave Specialized E 01:03:00 16
2 Chris McNamara Pedal Heaven RT E 4
3 Tim Costello Southdown Velo 2V 17
4 Nick Allen Pedal Heaven RT 2
5 Jason Edwardes GB MS Tina 1V 10
6 Phil Reynolds Peter Hansford Racing 1 3
7 Conall Yates InGear Quickvit Trainsharp 2 4
8 Brock Duncumb Rogers GWR Team 2 @ 2:00
9 Elliott Porter Team Corridori 2
10 Drew Holmes VO2 Development Team 2
11 Adrian Cansfield South Downs Bikes 4V
12 Richard Unwin VC Meudon 2
13 Dean Corney VC Meudon 3 @ 3:00
14 Mike Cownley Norwood Paragon CC 2
15 Liam Yates InGear Quickvit Trainsharp 4
16 Carl Farrell Private Member 4
17 Paul Thatcher Brighton Mitre 3V
18 Richard Phillips-Schofield Hantspol CC 3
19 Andy Shachel VC St Raphael 2J
20 Jack Priddle Eastbourne Rovers 3J
21 Matthew Hill VO2 Development Team YA
22 Ian Donohue Fareham Wheelers 3V
23 Daniel Clark Brighton Mitre 3
24 Matthew Butt Team ASL360 3
25 Dean Frost VC Meudon 3V
26 John Philips Brighton Mitre 2V
27 Gary Brind South Downs Bikes 3
28 Mario Manelfi Team ASL360 3V
29 Sean Yates InGear Quickvit Trainsharp 3V
30 Byron Webb Southdown Velo 4 @ 1 lap 3
31 Albert Ellison VC Meudon 4 1
32 Darron Muggeridge Worthing Excelsior 4V
33 JP Saville Private Member 4V
34 Matthew Bubear South Downs Bikes 4V
35 Paul Gosling Bayeux Cycling Team 3V
36 Steve Calland South Downs Bikes 2V
37 Jason Ginn Team ASL360 4V
38 Neil Fillary South Downs Bikes 3
39 Luke Farren Brighton Mitre 3
40 Dominic Maxwell Worthing Excelsior 4 2
41 Trevor Holmes Crawley Tri Club 3V
42 Philip Phillips Southdown Velo 3V
43 John Powell Team ASL360 3
44 Natasha Barry WXC World Racing 2W
45 Amy Jacobs VO2 Development Team 3JW

Junior Will Stephenson 8th at Les Ingham RR!

Junior Will Stephenson (Primera/Specialized) rode with maturity beyond his years to finish 8th in a quality field at the Les Ingham Road Race in Surrey. Matt Higgins (Node 4)won the race from team mate James Moss.
Brief Results:

1. Matt Higgins Node 4
2. James Moss, Node 4
3. Wouter Syrandy IG Sigma Sport
4. Marcin Biaoblocki Node 4
5. Alex Peters Mosquito Bikes
8 Will Stephenson (Primera/ Specialized)

Will spoke to "E D" after the race:
"It was a really tough course, especially on Junior gearing. I stayed at the front of the race going with attacks on the hills. The winning break of 4 went on the first lap and stayed away with a lead of 2mins. I was constantly attacking on the hills trying to get a break going but nothing was working at first. With about 40miles to go we'd managed to break the field up and I was in a break of 12 chasing the now lead of 3. On the final lap there were a lot of attacks and I had to respond and also close down a lot of gaps. I could feel my legs going a little bit. On the finishing hill I didn't attack as there was a 400m flat at the top. In hindsight I wish I had. In the sprint I was pleased to get 8th place. I'm happy with the overall result an how I rode the race but I'm looking to improve for next time."

Stephenson Delivers Win for Primera/Specialized

Will Stephenson (Primera-Specialized) won his first E/I/2 race after a fine team performance at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth. The Easter Criterium was the first race this year to feature the whole four man Primera team and there was not a move they didn’t cover. Toby Neave escaped with the experienced Rowan Horner (VC ST Raphael/Waites Contracts) the pair stayed away for half the race but were eventually brought back. The final break went with 15 laps remaining and all four Primera men made the selection. 5 laps to go and Neave and Stephenson attacked, with Jason Eastwood and Ian Legg left marking the break it was race over. Neave set Stephenson up and the seventeen year old delivered. Tim Elverson (Pedal Heaven) took second ahead of Neave, whose job was done. Stephenson had been in action the day before at the famous Herne Hill Good Friday track meeting and next week rides the junior Tour of the Mendips.
1 Will Stephenson (Primera-Specialized)
2 Tim Elverson (Pedal Heaven) @ 6sec
3 Toby Neave (Primera-Specialized) @ same time
4 Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael) @ same time

All Photos by Graham Robins

Local Riders,Local Races

Photo,Graham Robins

Toby Neave gave his new team, Primera-Specialized their first win of the season at the Mountbatten centre, Portsmouth. Neave made his move with four laps remaining in the senior race. The bunch hesitated and the Primera rider was clear, crossing the line alone. Neaves teammates Jason Eastwood & Will Stephenson both finished comfortably in the main field. Stephenson had ridden the BJW 20 tt the previous day, finishing 2nd.

Dave Gilham reports on the womens race.......The women’s race came down to a sprint finish and with 2 laps to go the pace went up substantially leaving 3 riders in contention for the sprint. The speed went even higher down the back straight on the final lap shedding Fran Blake (Southdown Velo / Hunter Spring Consultancy), leaving Nikki Wheeler (Wiggle) leading out the sprint with Ellie Gilham (VC ST Raphael/Waites Contracts) on her wheel. Ellie jumped coming into the home straight attacking Nikki on her outside quickly drawing level, then drawing on her track experience, used the height gained from the corner banking and came past Nikki to take the victory by a clear bike length and finished about 11th in the men’s sprint!.....Gilham has just come off a three week intensive training block,her next competitive outing is at the Thruxton motor racing circuit on Sunday 18th March.It will be her first opportunity to race with her VC St. Raphael racing team.
In the supporting men’s race Steve Moss (Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwood) had to settle for second place behind Matt Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles). Harrison Fielding (Poole Wheelers) also took second place in the youth race.

Dave Pickering (BJW) won round 4 of the inter-club series. Pickering clocked 48.16 for the 20 mile two lap circuit at Furzehill. Will Stephenson (Primera-Specialized) 48.45 took second place, with Cliff Rowe (BJW), 50.16, third.

The following day on the Wareham –Gallows Hill 15 mile circuit, Gary Dighton (Poole Wheelers) won round 5. Several riders went off course but Dighton had no problems, recording 35.03. Tim Wallis (SUCC) 37.41 finished a distant second.

VELO Club St Raphael’s Andy Rivett was the only rider to better 25-mph in New Forest Cycling Club’s first 10-mile time trial of the season. Bob Jolliffe reports.......He was on the rivet right around the tough Holmsley-A35-Burley Lawn-Burley loop which this year was made even more difficult with a cyclo-cross element thrown in for good measure where a cattle grid is being replaced in Lyndhurst Road.Veteran club member Chris Gannaway took charge of the adjoining access gate to ensure livestock did not get onto the A35 while competitors took to the mud for a few yards.Despite the short delay, Rivett took full advantage of the sunny but cool conditions to clock 23-55.

His time was 29 seconds faster than those of New Forest CC’s Gary Lock and GA Cycles’ Ray Claridge who tied for second with 24-36.Sotonia CC’s Stuart Martingale was a further 24 seconds off the pace with 25-00 for fourth, while Rivett’s teammate Bryce Dyer took fifth with 25-20.There followed a trio of good times from NFCC riders with John Heffernan clocking 25-30, Ben Boardman 25-37 and Colin Humm 25-41.Women’s 25-mile competition record and multi-national champion Julia Shaw (Drag2Zero) followed up her winning ride in the recent Mersey Tunnel time trial with 26-09 for ninth place, while New Forest CC’s Stuart Ward made a welcome return after a broken wrist kept him out of competition last season with 26-15 for tenth.There was a record turn-out for the event, with 40 signed on and one non-starter.Other times (NFCC) unless stated: Peter Wilson (Bournemouth Arrow CC) 26-25, Chris Grant (private trial) 26-35, Chris Hughes 26-40, Stuart Peckham 26-42, Geri Robinson 26-52, Steve Roberts and Lee Hookem tied with 27-13, Rob Brinsden 27-32, James Bannister 27-50, Richard Mason 27-51, Ben Saunders 27-57, Gary Plumb 28-21, David Wilson 28-40, Richard Rajski 28-44, Phil Underwood 29-01, Nick Williams 29-06, Konner Bracher-Walsh 29-23, Mike Ahearn 29-31, Stuart Grace (GA Cycles) 29-44, Nigel Gemmell 30-22, Antony Moyle 30-26, Peter Weaver 31-21, Bob Jolliffe 31-35, Donna Shaw 32-23, Chris Mills 32-26, Peter Hawker 32-45, Nick Cooper 33-19, Martin Balk 34-34, Andrew Bunch 35-09.This Sunday’s (MARCH 18) event, the second in the Forest Aggregate Series is over 12.8 miles starting from Holmsley and taking in Brockenhurst and Rhinefield before returning south along the A35 to Holmsley. Event HQ is Goatspen car park and the start time 9.31am.

Mark Chadbourne (Ridebike.co.uk) reports on the Gorrick MTB series Rnd 3 at Crowthorne Woods in Berkshire.

A typical Gorrick course, with lots of fun, twisty singletrack with a few short sharp climbs to tire the legs. At first glance its not to tough, but if you race it, the constant accelerations out of the corners will take their toll by the end.
Liz Gilmour got her first win in the Masters women and looked very comfortable as she crossed the line. Stu King had a fantastic start that saw him leading at the end of the first lap with a small gap. However luck wasn’t on his side as he had a slow puncture and had no choice but to fix it. Stu was pleased to be back on his Top Fuel again and knows he is in shape. Mark Chadbourne had his first race back and spent it dicing with his main rivals from last year. Lacking that little bit of a racing edge he was content to watch the sprint unfold and rolled in for a satisfying 3rd. Steve Moors was sampling the Grand Vet racing for the first time this year. Finding he was very quick in the technical stuff but losing out on the fire roads meant that he was playing catch up. Despite this he recorded a great 2nd place and has the opportunity to take a look at his rivals for the season ahead. Other Locals in action included, Mark Hardwicke & Ash James (Bournemouth Arrow) & Garrett Hill & Ashley Sutton (UK Biking-Primera). The first round of the Southern series is this weekend at Checkendon,Kent

Parkstone cycle clothing specialists, Prendas Ciclismo are to continue their support for one of the country’s top women’s teams.

The Matrix Fitness-Prendas Ciclismo team includes Great Britain Olympic hopefuls, Dani King and Jo Rowsell and has a full programme of national and European races. The average age of the team is just 20 with former British Champion Chris Walkers daughter, Jessie, the youngest at just 17. Mick Tarrant of Prendas said: “They all make great role models for other girls looking to get into the sport, they don’t get supported like the guys do, so it’s great for Prendas to put something back into the sport” (HARGROVES CYCLES have announced they will also be sponsoring the team this season)

Will Stephenson Looks to the Future

After progressing from a Youth rider to 1st Cat in just one season, Will Stephenson took the opportunity to assess his current condition, to plan the winter training programme. Will is already getting the "miles in" and is a regular with the Bear Cross group on Sunday mornings. The hills of Dorset in the winter can test the legs but Will is a strong climber and just gets on with the hard work.

Coach Alan McRae said "The Power Ramp Test confirmed where the results this season came from in terms of excellent top end power and power to weight data. The most important knowledge gain however came from the Body Composition and Sub Maximal Tests which highlighted some opportunities needing specific development. For Will to fullfill his true potential and meet his long term goals it was vital to put the foot on the ball for a minute and check all the basics are in place. We have a follow up test planned prior to the start of the season so we can monitor progress in the highlighted areas".

"Will is riding for a "Primera" team next season, he feels that he needs to ride in a "team" which is something the Arrow are unable to offer at this time. His 2012 targets are the National Junior Road Series, Road and Track Championships. However it is his longer term aims as a Senior on the road that are shaping his winter programme. I wanted to investigate some particular areas of Will's physiology and, after carrying out some research, selected Dr Gary Palmer who runs his Sportstest programme from Le Beau Velo in London. Here a whole range of bespoke services are offered which are not cheap but I believe are some of the very best on offer in the country. Gary's background in exercise physiology and knowledge gained from hundreds of tests is invaluable when interpreting the data".

Stephenson will be riding for the soon to be launched, Primera-Specialized Team. Its a logical step for the talented youngster but McRae is understandably protective of the rider he has coached since a juvenile."My hope is to keep a hugely talented athlete on track, it is now down to Will to deliver". The reality is, Stephenson could not find the "team dynamic" he needs to learn his trade with any of the local clubs.The Primera team will consist of only 4 riders, so Stephenson will still be somewhat isolated in some of the Junior races. The full race programme has yet to be decided but Will will get the opportunity to be team leader in the tougher,hilly races.

"The winter is going ok at the moment" Stephenson told "E D", he went on "the test outlined a lot of things which I need to work on for next year. Hopefully over the winter I will be able to improve them. Areas of things I thought were my strengths have been highlighted as areas which need a lot of work. At first this was a little demoralising but like Alan said if I got the results I did last year, if I can improve on my weaknesses further, then next year should be even better. I am looking forward to next year loads,riding for Primera Specialized, except I'm conscious that I need enough time over the winter to prepare for it".

The learning curve will undoubtedly get steeper for Stephenson but he has good support, a coach who has invested in him and natural talent. He could go far!

*Team Primera-Specialized will be launched soon. The 4 man team,Jason Eastwood,Toby Neave,Ian Legg and Will Stephenson will be targeting mainly races in the South, including the season opener,The Perfs Pedal Race in February!