THE Yeovil Cycling Club April 2007 Tour of Britain Debut in Somerset Make a note in your diary and book the return to Taunton for a finish in North St. day off, the Tour of Britain is coming to Each stage will have up to three sprint Somerset on Tuesday 11 September and it lines and points for the Green Jersey go to starts on our doorstep at RNAS Yeovilton. the first three past the post. This is a new development for the Tour of There are plenty of opportunities to Britain, with the race visiting our region follow the race and a well planned day for the first time, (but hopefully not the should enable you to see it three or even last as it is intended to have a Somerset four times. More details will be published stage for the next five years). on the Club website as soon as they 16 teams and 96 riders will make are available. Whether there will be an up the field which starts the 2007 Tour opportunity to be involved, marshalling or of Britain in Crystal Palace on Sunday assisting, is not yet known. 9 September. Last year, it included five The race organisers also announced protour teams and the Great Britain initial details of a cyclosportive over the national team. course of the Somerset stage. This is set to Starting at Yeovilton and heading back take place on September 2nd, with entry through Ilchester (now what other fixture limited to somewhere between three and does that?!) the race will then head out four thousand riders, but no details are through Somerton and onto Langport, available – well at least not that I can find out to Othery and across to Taunton. – at present. From the county town it will commence a loop out through Minehead and along Roger Hammond, the coast road to Lynmouth where it will could he be the turn inland and into Exmoor National man in form Park. After the climbs on Exmoor it will this year? descend back to Bishops Lydeard and Stage Two of the Tour of Britain In unseasonably warm conditions Grant Bayton sprinted to victory for the GWR Team at Sundays Ham Hill Road Race beating Marcin Bialoblocki who has shown such amazing form this year. With many riders attempting to break away in the early miles, the pace was high, and a group of seven riders, including GWR Team member Dan Smith built up a lead of 30 seconds as they approached the end of the first circuit. However a very active peloton quickly brought back the attack. As the race began the final lap, five riders had managed to gain a small lead, but approaching the final climb of Coppitts Hill it had once again come together. Polish rider Marcin Bialoblocki (Middrige CRT), after being aggressive throughout the earlier skirmishes, forced his way clear. With a fine tally of over ten victories already this year, Bayton knew Bialoblocki was the man to follow and quickly latched onto the move. It was all he could do to hang on to Ham Hill Bialoblockis back wheel as the pace increased to over 35 mph as the race entered its closing 1 Grant Bayton GWR Team miles. As they entered the finish straight, 2 Marcin Bialoblocki Middridge CRT the pace remained high and with the line 3 Keith Lilley Team Certini approaching, Grant gave his all for the team 4 Dave Bentley Ajchva Limoux with one last attack, Marcin paid the price 5 Robert Willcocks Team Certini for all his hard work on the front allowing 6 Mark Haynes Penzance Wheelers Grant to narrowly draw clear to take victory. 7 Robert Gough John’s Bikes RT 8 Steve Thomas Bournemouth Arrow CC 9 Simon Smith John’s Bikes RT 10 Richard Eastham Bournemouth Jub. Whls 11 Jason Flooks Team Certini 12 Philip Borrett Bikinmotion CC 13 Gary Andrews Team Certini 14 William Bunday RAF CC 15 Peter Kench GWR Team 16 James Smith Team Certini 17 Jonathon Wynn 18 Stephen Atfield Bournemouth Jub. Whls 19 Alec Leslie Ajchva Limoux 20 Stuart Dodd Team Tor 2000 Top Left: Grant Bayton. Right the pack sprint out the remaining places. Top Right: Ian Rees escapes the bunch to clinch victory on the line. Photos: Ann Owens Pittards Road Race safely past the ambulance attending to the injured but we then had to neutralise the race 1 Ian Rees Climb On Bikes RT whilst a cow was being escorted along the 2 Matthew Ewings Exeter Wheelers road just outside Queen Camel! 3 Stephen Crutcher Bournemouth Arrow CC The pace of the race remained high and 4 Simon Breakwell Team Tor 2000 the field was slowly deminishing, but a 5 Iansaing To strong bunch started the final lap. However 6 Julius Renn-Jennings Gillingham and Dst Whs even that was not without incident, a bit 7 Mark Rickaby Clevedon & District RC of switching as the bunch turned onto the 8 Craig Humphries New Forest CC Yeovilton finish for the final time saw yet 9 Mark Millergill Camel Valley C & TC more riders eating tarmac, thankfully no 10 Eamonn Deane Bournemouth Jub Whls serious injuries this time. After all that Ian Rees managed to escape Well the second race was nothing if not from the bunch to clinch victory by a narrow eventful. Another full field of riders set out margin from a charging pack. from Yeovilton at a quick pace, an attack I am pleased to report that the injured along the Ilchester straight was countered riders are out of hospital. One sustained and the field was back together cuts and was discharged quickly whilst the after the first climb of Coppitts. other had a broken collar bone which needed Having negotiated the usual pinning, so he will be off the bike for a few hazards of Combe St Lane and months. Mudford Road the concentration Despite the mishaps it was a great days in the bunch must have lapsed racing and thanks to everyone that helped. as they approached Mudford. All the marshals, the car drivers and officials A touch of wheels on the fastest and the motorcycle outriders who were worth part of the course led to 10 their weight on gold controlling the traffic riders going down. Two of which and ensuring a safe passage for both events. needed hospital treatment. Our As always our thanks to Shaun for organising first aiders were immediately on the whole event with such efficiency and the scene and an ambulance was special thanks to Carol, Shauns wife, who summoned. Meanwhile the race did such a great job on the first aid – nothing continued on with some more personal but let's hope we don't have to call minor attacks. Lap two saw us on your services again soon! Thursday evening TTs and Try It events this year, one in June to coincide with Bike Week, the other in July We are already well under way with to follow the publicity of Le Tour starting this seasons events and it is very in the UK. There are pleasing to see some new faces some posters available each week out at Podimore, Yeovil Cycling Club to promote the event, especially as there are some UP FOR A one is included with this new Juniors this year. The PERSONAL newsletter, if you would competition is already hotting CHALLENGE? HOW QUICKLY like to get some work up for the Points Cup with CAN YOU CYCLE colleagues or friends Mike Loader, Hugo and Shaun 5 MILES? Yeovil Cycling Club involved then please tightly packed at the top of host a ‘come and try it 5 mile time trial ’ put this up. If you need the league at present. Thursday 21 June on and 19 July 2007 some more pick one up Doug Dewey has already HQ is at Nuffield Sports Pavilion at RNAS Yeovilton (opposite Museum entrance) and the course starts just on a Thursday evening equalled the course record east of the HQ and goes to Ilchester and back. Meet at 7:00, first rider off at 7.30pm and at one minute intervals thereafter. or give David Notley a on the 5 course and we are Everyone is welcome, the only limit is that riders must be over 12, and under 18s must have a parent or guardian with them. ring on 01963 440291 hoping to see an even faster Just turn up and try it. www.yeovilcc.com and a copy or two can be ride on it this year, preferably posted to you. The HQ on with a rider in a YCC top! these nights will be the The 10s push off next week, Clive Brooks' Nuffield Sports Pavilion at RNAS Yeovilton, course record of 19:55 is probably a little hopefully with some tea and coffee to safer, unless we get a really good night. make it a more sociable occasion. We are running a couple of Come Dist Date Event Helper Start 10 3 May Colin Williams 19:00 10 10 May (2 up) Gary Swain 19:00 10 17 May Hugo Baldacchino 19:15 10 24 May James Hector 19:15 10 31 May Jo Callow 19:15 10 7 June John Clemit 19:30 10 14 June Mark Askill 19:30 5 21 June (come and try it) Nick Young 19:30 10 28 June Paul Denman 19:30 10 5 July 19:30 10 12 July Reuben Walsh 19:30 5 19 July (come and try it) Shaun Walsh 19:30 10 5 July Simon Morton 19:30 10 12 July Steve Pym 19:30 10 26 July Andy Mortimer 19:15 10 2 August Dave Driver 19:15 10 9 August (Club Handicap) Arthur Vince 19:00 10 16 August Michael Loader 18:45 5 23 August Phil Whaites 18:45 5 30 August Rod Bowditch 18:45 5 6 September Darren Edmonds 18:45 5 13 September Paul Sparks 18:45 HC 7 October High Ham 10:30 NOTE: If road conditions affect visibility, the 10 event(s) will be substituted by a 5 mile event on the U30/5 course.