Club News

Week ending 20th June 2004

The National Cycling Time Trial Championships were held at the weekend over a 50 mile course from Barnstaple to Copplestone and back. The event was won by Michael Hutchinson in a time of 1 hour 46 mins and 9 seconds. Greg Sandy came third, in his first 50 mile time trial, in a time of 1:50:38. The times for the Somerset Road Club riders were 1:51:09 for Jon Wynn, 2:05:55 for Tom Cox, 2:09:56 for Martin Pearse and 2:10:12 for Mark Kurpyta (beating his personal best by 2.5 minutes).

Gary Larsen, Somerset Road Club, recently competed as Team Captain of the British Police Cycling team at the annual International Police Weilergala, held in Groningen, Northern Holland.

These races were a 3 day, 4 stage event contested by the best European police riders from 8 countries across Europe.
130 competitors, with several National Champions and 2 riders selected for their country to compete in the Olympics, provided racing at an extremely high level.

The first races consisted of a 4 km prologue, followed in the evening by an 80 km Criterium held on a 5 km circuit through villages and across cobblestones. After these 2 races, Gary was placed 7th overall in his category and a solid ride the following day in the 30km timetrial saw him move up to 4th place behind 3 German riders, one of whom was an ex-professional who had raced for several years in France.

The final day was a 120km road race on a flat, fast exposed course of 7k, with speeds up to a constant 30mph.
Gary, helped by members of the British and Belgian National Teams, held on to his place
winning the final bunch sprint to end in 4th place, only 8 seconds down on the winner.

Michelle Bergstrand, British womens captain and a local competitor from Cheddar, competed in the womens race, across the same distances and roads, earning a bronze medal against tough German opposition.

Back.