Club News
Week ending 19th September 2004
On Wednesday
15th of September 2004 , Greg Sandy of the Alcan –Bianchi cycling team
, was up in Manchester for the qualifying for the UCI Masters World Pursuit
Track Championship over 3000m.
In the first of his rounds he rode a very quick time of 3.38.14 for the distance
which was good enough to see him through to the finals of the event on the Thursday
evening. With over 400 competitors from 31 different countries Greg made sure
of a medal in the ride off for the bronze with a fine pursuit series and an
improved time of 3.35.12 for the medal position.
Following up on this ride Greg then made the long trip back down to Taunton
in the early hours of Friday morning, to recover before travelling up to ride
the Masters National Road Race champs in Oakley.
The race which was ran over a distance of 145km was contested by over 80 of
the countries to rank racers .The activity of the race was fast and frenetic,
after the second of the nine opening laps the race was split into three distinct
groups with Greg being pro active at the head of the race. Moving on the final
of the nine laps on the finishing hill, Greg escaped to record a fantastic victory
and secure the Masters national champs.
This has been a wonderful season for the Alcan-Bianchi rider which has now been
crowned in the best possible way with his 27th victory and highlight of the
year.
Meanwhile, Somerset Road Club riders, Tim Reeves and Mark Kurpyta rode the Mid Devon 10 mile TT on the S4 course at Buckfastleigh. Both riders were competing in their final TT of the year after a lengthy season of racing and they found the going tough, especially with the last 1.5 miles into a rising headwind! Mark finished in 23.22 and Tim in 23.54.
Finally, other SRC riders travelled to Andover for a double time trial. The 10 mile TT on Saturday was cancelled due to the weather. The spray from the cars would have been too dangerous but ironically by the time the SRC riders were due to start, the weather had improved. On Sunday, they rode the 25 mile TT in conditions that were not easy. Leigh Pinchen showed he has good late season form to record his personal best with 58.22. Martin Pearse showed consistency with his 59.30 and Kevin Sayles finished in 1.1.06, a time that disappointed him but a lot of riders would be pleased with. Other recent results include Ed Worthington doing a PB 10 in the Weston Wheelers' mid week event with 21.12.