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Night of threes · 07/09/09

3rd and 6th in Warwick, 3rd in National Time Trial Champs

In a frustrating night for the men in black, the Rapha Condor team took 3rd and 6th at the Warwick round of the National Circuit Series whilst over in Buckinghamshire, Chris Newton took the bronze medal in the National Time Trial Championship behind Bradley Wiggins and Michael Hutchinson.

Chris declared himself pleased with his ride:

considering the flat nature of the course I was happy with that and I’m looking forward to the Tour of Britain next week.

In Warwick, the team rode an excellent race putting Matt Cronshaw in the first split of a night that was fast from the moment the flag was dropped. He joined Malcolm Elliott and Ed Clancy in the break and as a counter attack formed it was Dean Downing who worked with Wilkinson and Briggs making it two from Rapha Condor, Candi TV and Halfords in the front.

As the race’s finale approached, the attacking began and it was Dean Downing, Malcolm Elliott and Ian Wilkinson who made the decisive break. As the final bell rung it was clear the winner would come from that trio. Out of the final corner it was Wilkinson who lead and whilst Downing and Elliott both made attempts to get around him there was only going to be one winner.

Speaking after the finish, Dean was a frustrated figure;

It’s my own fault, it’s a tough race, and it’s a tough circuit. We had a good break, it was working really well and coming into the finish Wilko had a good kick, he got a perfect gear I didn’t and it was a blanket finish…6 of the best crit riders in the UK, it was always going to be difficult.

Back in the bunch Kristian didn’t contest the finish, satisfied to have done his work for the team:

…there were cowboys going everywhere for 8th place and I don’t need to get involved in that with the Tour of Britain only a week away now.

Reflecting on a frustrating night, John Herety commented:

Wilko lead it out from miles but Dean was just in too big a gear, he (Deano) got gapped and never got it back. Matt was riding like ten men early on but he’s still got a lot to learn in those situations. He made the early break but maybe gave a little too much.

Dean has consolidated his lead in the National Circuit Race Series, so that’s a positive for the night and with Kristian riding strong after completing the Tour Ride earlier in the day with the guys from Sharp, he looks in a good place for the Tour of Britain.

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