Ev2 Race Report – 16th March

No sooner had we recovered from the first event which saw record entry numbers; we were back at Darley this weekend to host event 2. This promised to be a big day, with a full schedule of racing including two Fusion Media Womens Series sessions. 

To borrow a phrase from a lesser known sport, the general theme was a day of two halves. In the morning, we were blessed with a golden yellow thing I’m led to believe is called the sun, with very little wind. Unfortunately this didn’t last for the full day and the afternoons racers did get caught in some showers; however, it never dampened the spirits and there was some excellent racing throughout. 

We started with the Open Cat 4 again, unlike last week this this stuck together despite multiple attacks and as it approached the later stages, it looked like it was going to be a bunch finish. Unfortunately with about 10 laps to go, a few wheels crossed and around 10 riders came down on the back straight forcing the race to a brief pause. Once riders were treated, the race restarted with a shortened target of two laps to go. The pace was furious and the top 10 spots were hotly contested to claim those all important BC Points. 

The following Open E123 race started again at.a furious pace right from the off. Unconfirmed reports suggest BCC Huub rider Adam Kenway is to blame but we can’t confirm these allegations. What we can confirm is the racing was fierce, a lead group got away, then multiple chaser groups formed but never quite made the catch and the minor BC points were swept up by the sprinting peloton. Leon Mazzone from Trainsharp Orro Elite was the overall winner from a stacked field that included last weeks winner Damien Clayton, Max Rushby, from newly formed crit specialists Ribble Rebellion, and John Archibald of Derbados own Huub Wattshop fame.     

The riders in the Open 3/4 race must have been watching the E123 as they followed a similar pattern. A group of 2 riders initially managed to escape off the front of the peloton who were later joined by George Pittock as he bridged the gap. As we were greeted by a light drizzle in the closing stages, the chasing peloton never quite made the catch and sprinted to take places 4 through to 10. The breakaway of Sam Walsham, Chris Childs and George Pittock battled it out for places 1 to 3 and finished in that order.  

The remainder of the day was made up of the Fusion Media Womens Series. The first session saw 10 riders brave the elements to take part in an intro to racing, coached by British Cycling. Last race of the day was round 2 of the Women’s 3/4 race, which was fiercely contested by 24 riders. Unfortunately there was a minor spill but two of the three downed riders were able to rejoin the pack. Again, there were attacks throughout the race but nothing was able to stick, which resulted in a bunch sprint for all the marbles. Rebecca Woodvine from Run and Ride took the spoils after a text book sprint that even Lotte Kopecky would have been proud of. 

I hope you’re still with me and awake. Apologies for the long winded ramblings but we really do enjoy the racing and want to showcase you riders! To conclude I need to call out our amazing partners, NRG Chains, who are providing prizes for the most combatitive rider in each race throughout march. In the Cat 4 race, Craig Lamont for Velo Bavarian wins a jockey wheel. John Archibald wins wax lube for his pesistant chasing in the E123. Similar effort from George Pittock in the 3/4 wins himself a waxed chain and rounding up the prizes is Charlotte Day who also wins a waxed chain.

As usual we have included links to all our media friends below along with full results (to the best of our ability past the BC Ranking places)  

Lastly, we have our final race in March this weekend and there’s plenty of spaces. You can enter online before midnight on Thursday or enter on the line for an extra £5 on the day. Hopefully see you all there! 

Haus Race Team