2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
Gaywood wins Archer Grand Prix
16th April 2007
Simon Gaywood won the 52nd edition of the Archer Grand Prix Premier Calendar road race this weekend in convincing style for Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Racing Team . Better known as a track and criterium rider, Gaywood found his road legs to take a clear victory on the 115 mile hilly Buckinghamshire course, on a day when the leaders of the Premier Calendar series all failed to make their mark.
As with previous races in the Premier Calendar series, the race began at a fast pace, which remained high throughout. The first part of the race comprised five laps of the larger of two circuits, including the climbs of White leaf Hill and Longdown. On a day when the heat, hills and fast pace caused many of the 100 starters to abandon, Gaywood was part of an early break formed when Matt Higgins (Team Corley) sprinted for the first prime in the King of the Chilterns competition sponsored by Plowman Craven. As Higgins led the riders over the 1 in 7 Whiteleaf Hill a group of twenty broke away and quickly gained a 2 minute advantage on the chasing group, with the peleton almost another 2 minutes behind them.
By the start of the second lap the leaders had increased their lead to over three minutes but reduced in number to thirteen, including Gaywood. The group worked together well to maintain their advantage while the chasers constantly broke up and reformed without making any real impact.
When Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor) attempted to break away from the leading group during the transition to the smaller circuit he was quickly reined back, and as the race began the first of five shorter laps the leaders were still together with over two minutes on the chasing group of ten riders, which included Plowman Craven Evans Cycles team mates Gordon McCauley and Freddie Johannson. Behind them, the peleton had splintered dramatically and the leaders began to catch and lap back markers until the organisers began diverting riders to the finish.
The leaders maintained their high pace throughout the smaller circuit, and as the bell sounded for the final lap the group had reduced to five – Gaywood, Chamberlain (Team Corely), Andy Roche (Yellow), Talbot and Wilkinson (Rapha). Behind them, a group comprising former Archer winners Chris Newton (Recycling) and Malcolm Elliot (Pinarello), together with Russell Downing (Health Net) were chasing at a fast pace, picking up the remnants of the leading group and steadily reducing the gap. Just before the climb at Penn Street, Talbot and Chamberlain attacked but Roche and Gaywood countered, catching the pair and together with Talbot went clear.
As the three swung off the small circuit and onto the uphill finishing straight into the village of Winchmore Hill, Gaywood had Talbot's wheel and, putting his track speed to good use, came round him to take the win in convincing style in 5 hours 6 minutes. Roche finished third in the same time, with Wilkinson and Chamberlain hanging on for fourth and fifth respectively. A frantic sprint for sixth place saw Newton extend his overall lead in the Premier Calendar series by beating Downing and Elliot. Only 31 of the original 100 starters finished.
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles remain top of the National team rankings and Gordon McCauley still leads the individual rankings.
Speaking after his victory, Simon Gaywood said:
“That was a hard race, not just the climb at Whiteleaf but the also the long drag on the main road on the finishing circuit. At times it was difficult being on my own in the breakaway with three riders from Team Corley and two from Rapha, and the last few laps were particularly hard with the Rapha boys working well together. In the finishing sprint I pulled my foot out of my pedal but managed to use Talbot's wheel for an almost perfect lead out."
“I was worried about the length of the race, but I've put the miles in this winter and it's clearly paid off. Hopefully people will see me as an all-rounder now rather than a track specialist.”
Simon Barnes, Team founder and boss of Herts based geomatics company Plowman Craven, burst into tears as Gaywood crossed the line:
“What a day of contrasting emotions! I was following the lead group in the team car and listening at the same time to the race radio as one by one our riders abandoned or dropped out of contention behind us. Soon all our hopes were squarely on the shoulders of Simon Gaywood, and although everyone commented that he's better known as a track rider, and despite having two Rapha boys working together against him, he didn't let us – or himself - down. I'm so pleased for him and so proud of him.”
You can watch coverage of the race by cycling.tv on British Eurosport on 25th April.
Result
1. Simon Gaywood (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT) 4.46.08 (38.79 km/h)
2. Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor RT)
3. Andy Roche (PinarelloRT /Rudy Project/Most/Continental)
4. Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT) 0.14
5. Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 0.55
6. Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) 1.31
7. Russell Downing (Team Health Net/Maxxis)
8. Malcolm Elliot (Pinarell RT/Rudy Project/Most/Continental)
9. Matthew Higgins (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 1.39
10. David Clarke (BC Private Member) 1.40
11. Danny Axford (Arctic Building Services/Shorter Rochford RT) 4.50
12. Richard Cartland (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 4.54
13. Alex Higham (Bike & Run London.Maximuscle/Look)
14. James Sampson (Kinesis UK) 5.05
15. Ryan Bonser (Recycling.co.uk) 5.15
16. Robin Sharman (KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles) 7.00
17. Dean Downing (Rapha Condor RT)
18. James Stewart (KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles)
Next week the Team travel to Reading for the AW Cycles Reading Spring Road Race.
» view full race calender - click here
More information from Jonathan O’Neil: +44 (0) 7956250837 or click here
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