National Crit Series - Bikeshow 2003, 26th April '03

I nearly turned around and went home. After only a couple of miles from home I was caught up behind a jack-knifed milk tanker. It was blocking the road and the only way around was an additional 15 miles and all on a singletrack road. The cars were not moving so I went for the detour - the trouble was so had many other cars and it was a nightmare. I gave up after a while and turn around, I reach where the tanker had been 50 minutes later and there was not a car in sight. So, with four and a half hours before the race set off for Birmingham.

I arrived with an hour to spare before the 3pm start, signed on, looked at the circuit, warmed up and was ready to race. The course was very tight and narrow - you had to make a good start.

There were many crashes and far too many people trying to get around the tight circuit. It was very hard to split the field except for the incidents. One rider (Steve Higgins) managed to escape and the bunch held him at 40 seconds for most of the race. The structure of the prizes did not really encourage the bunch to chase. First prize was a whopping £600 and second £400, still a big prize. With some of the best races trying to fit around the circuit it was a very strange race. It was also the second race in the National Crit Series.

Steve Higgins stayed clear and then it was a sprint, I managed to finish 5th but only as I had stayed in the top 6 all race!

After the race I had a look around the Bikeshow which seemed to be like a car boot sale!

Senior Results

 1. Steve Higgins        Unattached British Cycling Member.
 2. Simon Gaywood        CC Luton/Bandon   @1.00
 3. Scott Gamble         Ashfield RC  @st
 4. Malcolm Elliot       GS Pinarello
 5. Barrie Clarke        Giant Racing
 6. James Flanagan       Team Milton Keynes
 7. Martin Ford          Arctic Shorter/Rochford
 8. Stuart Dangerfield   Camel Valley CTC
 9. Andy Collis          Team Lichfield
10. Keith Haddon         Ashfield RC

Link to:  British Cycling report

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(written 27/04/03)