SERRL
Road Race League #14 Hildenborough, Kent Sunday, June 17th 2007Gareth McCullough continued
his excellent season with a good second place in SERRL 14 on Sunday with
a strong third place in this 50 mile event on the rolling Sevenoaks Weald
course. With three wins to his credit already this year, Gareth found
that he was a marked man, being closely marked each time he attacked.
He persisted in riding aggressively throughout the event but strong team
riding by the Citihub riders finally enabled winner Tom Burke to escape
to time trial to the finish, Barry Stewart who was originally in the
break was the last rider to be dropped by Burke and did well to hold
off a fast finishing Gareth who lead in the bunch as they sprinted up
the rise to the finish. Jayson Weale continued his recovery from a serious
virus with a good top 20 placing, having worked hard to put Gareth in
a good position for the finish. Meanwhile, down at Fowlmead near Deal
Rob Kennison was competing in the British Cycling National Masters event
promoted by VC Deal. the event was contested over 20 laps of the 2 mile
circuit. On this circuit with no hills and little in the way of shelter
the wind is usually the main problem. Racing was hectic from the start
with a constant stream of attacks from the moment the flag dropped. Within
a lap and a half renownwd strongmen Colin Roshier (Quest) and Matt seaton
(Rapha) had forced a 100yard gap with a couple of other riders, Seeing
the danger Rob attacked from the peloton making contact after a short
but furious chase. there were now five in the leading group which settled
down to establish a lead, each rider was taking turns on the front pulling
the group steadily clear of the chasing bunch. Within a couple of very
hard laps the lead reached a minute and the break was able to relax a
little, the lead however continued to grow until the last 5 laps when
Roshier and Seaton started to rip the group apart with a series of sustained
attacks. Each time one went off the front their was a violent response
from the others as the tempo rose and fell, eventually something had
to give and at the bell Roshier forced a gap of 30 yards, Rob frantically
tried to cross the gap but found he was unable to close the final couple
of lengths, swinging over he found the remainder of the group had sat
up with him, and it was at this instant that the race was won and lost.
When the chase was resumed it was too late, Roshier was well away and
anyone chasing was throwing their chance of second away. Seaton was first
to jump 200m from the line but Rob superior speed saw him fly past for
second place.Rob
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