Bec CC RR 2008

A very hot day for the 78 miles 5¼ laps round the Lingfield circuit. Two riders, Toby Roberts (Download Cycles) and David Law (Artic RT) went away in the opening miles, with Tom Hemmant (London Dynamo) bridging across 6 miles later.

After nearly being caught at one stage, the break swelled to 8 riders with Ian Paine (London Dynamo), Jason Roberts (Wildside RT), Steve Gower (Sigma Sport), Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) and Simon Brooks (VC St Raphael) making the junction mid-way round the second lap. Working well together the gap steadily extended to 2+ minutes.

By the final lap the break was down to five riders, Hemmant, Paine, Gowar, Lyons and Roberts. Lyons attacked hard the final time up Holtye with only Hemmant able to follow, establishing a 5-10 second gap over Gower and Paine. With Lyons forced to ride to avoid Hemmant’s team mate getting back, little changed over the final 10 miles with Hemmant winning the uphill sprint from Lyons, about 10 seconds ahead of Paine and Gowar.

Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) led in the chasing group which had overhauled some of the riders from the original break.

1 Tom Hemmant London Dynamo/Cyclefit
2 Andy Lyons Heron Cyclesport
3 Ian Paine London Dynamo/Cyclefit
4 Stephen Gowar Sigma Sport.co.uk
5 Gary Dodd Sigma Sport, Specialized, Sportful
6 Warren Jesse VC Meudon
7 Simon Lawn Sigma Sport, Specialized, Sportful
8 Steven Richards VC Meudon
9 Simon Brooks VC St Raphael
10 Jason Edwards Wild Side Road Team