Club News

Week Ending 27th June 2004

A race long effort saw Alec Leslie (Somerset Road Club/Bicycle Chain) take second place in the 83km North Devon Road Race on Sunday, based on an 18 mile circuit from South Molton.

Warm sunny conditions greeted the riders as they moved away from the start in South Molton on the first of their three laps of the tough circuit. It did not take long for the first move to happen. Alec Leslie and 6 others broke away and soon opened a gap of nearly a minute.

Other riders tried to bridge the gap but did not succeed as the front group kept the pace high, especially on the climbs. The relentless pace at the front took its toll and gradually riders were dropped, leaving Alec Leslie and Nicholas Hodgson (Severn RC) out front. The main field were now over 4 minutes down.

Neither Leslie or Hodgson were willing to show their hand too early and did not use Ash Mill hill to launch an attack. They reached the foot of the climb to finish as a pair, but after working hard for 50 miles Alec could not outsprint Hodgson and finished second by 8 seconds.

Other SRC riders, Richard Holloway and Dean Robson, finished in the same group for 18th and 20th positions overall. Dean was also the 3rd junior, continuing his promising form in his first racing season.

SRC 10 mile TT at Honiton

The 10 was unfortunately abandoned after 18 riders were dispatched from the time keeper. The event start time was put back approx 15 mins due to mist which cleared. However a further 15 or so mins later the mist returned with a steady rain and it was felt in the interests of rider safety that we should stop the event. This was a shame as 20 mins later it was a perfect evening and the race could have gone ahead.

Oh well better luck next year!

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