2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
Plowman Cravens Evans Cycles close to leading Premier Calendar after McCauley takes third at Richmond
28th May 2007
Gordon McCauley gave Plowman Craven Evans Cycles a third place at the Richmond Grand Prix this weekend (27 May), and put himself within striking distance of the Premier Calendar Series overall lead in the process.
On a wet and windy day’s racing based on the hilly Waitworth circuit outside Richmond in North Yorkshire, McCauley finished the seventh round of the Premier Calendar series 44 seconds down on winner Russell Downing (HealthNet-Maxxis) and 24 seconds behind second placed Dave Clarke (BC Private Member). McCauley, who won the Premier Calendar in 1999 before going on to race on the Continent and in America, now lies in joint third place in the series with Ian Wilkinson (SiS) - who failed to finish the tough Richmond race - only six points behind joint leaders Chris Newton (Recycling) and Dean Downing (Rapha Condor).
Photo © Andrew Kennedy & British Cycling
Richmond GP podium (left to right: Gordon McCauley 3rd, Russell Downing 1st and Dave Clarke 2nd)
"I’m back in the race to win the series”, remarked the combative 35-year-old Kiwi after the event. “Although I was in fourth place before Richmond the points gap was significant, but now only six points separate the top four riders, and I’m confident that with five events left in the series I’ve got a good chance of coming out on top."
McCauley’s third place at Richmond was all the more impressive for the fact that the entire Plowman Craven Evans Cycles squad were suffering the after effects of food poisoning from the night before, with McCauley himself up until the early hours.
"I’m not one for making excuses," explained McCauley, "but the fact is I had a chest infection just before the Lincoln and food poisoning this weekend, so I know I’m capable of improving on third and second places. I was chasing and gaining all the way to the line at Richmond and a Premier Calendar race victory can’t be that far off - with the series so close it could all be decided in the last few events."
Sunday’s race began in the historic town centre of Richmond, taking a nine mile run-out through lower Swaledale before the riders completed seven laps of a 10 mile circuit over the Yorkshire Moors, including the 1 km long, steep and straight Waitwith Bank. The return to Richmond took the riders on a rollercoaster three mile descent off the moor before a final short sharp climb into the town centre and a series of turns and roundabout just before the finish.
Rapha Condor’s Richard Wilkinson attacked from the flag, stringing out the peleton behind him. Gaps began to appear when after only two miles the weather took a turn for the worse and riders were faced with pouring rain and howling winds; the conditions continued to influence the racing throughout the day and of the 100 starters only 24 finished.
The early part of the race saw a number of small short-lived attacks by lesser known riders. McCauley suffered a mechanical problem but Plowman Craven Evans Cycles team mate Brian Biggs helped his fellow New Zealander back to the safety of the main field, and at 40 km a large break of around 30 riders including McCauley and many of the other serious race and series contenders moved clear. McCauley took the first prime at the top of Waitwith opening a small lead of about 10 seconds but he was soon back in the main field as they descended from the moor towards Richmond.
Halfway through the race a group of five including Russell and Dean Downing (HealthNet; Rapha Condor), Robin Sharman (KFS) and Dave Clarke (Private Member) moved clear and opened a sizeable gap of up to 40 seconds. McCauley’s Plowman Craven Evans Cycles team mate and Archer GP winner Simon Gaywood worked tirelessly for almost two laps to close the gap on the leaders and get McCauley back into contention. With two laps to go on the climb up to Waitwith, McCauley, accompanied but not assisted by Richard Wilkinson whose Rapha Condor team mate was up the road, powered away from the chasing group and by the bell on the final circuit they had caught the leaders. Benefiting from his easy ride up to the front Wilkinson almost immediately attacked, taking Russell Downing and Dave Clarke with him. By the top of Waitwith they had a gap of 25 seconds, but Wilkinson was dropped on the windswept moor leaving Downing and Clarke to contest the 8 km run in to Richmond and the finish, with McCauley chasing hard and closing fast.
On the final run-in to the town centre Downing attacked Clarke on a sharp corner and, keeping the pressure on, a small gap appeared which Downing maintained to the line, taking the win by 20 seconds. McCauley, who had caught and passed Wilkinson was not far behind in third, while his Plowman Craven Evans Cycles team mate Simon Gaywood, having buried himself getting McCauley back in to contention, finished in fourteenth some 3 minutes down.
Results:
1. Russell Downing, HealthNet-Maxxis 3:21:44
2. David Clarke, Private Member @ 20 secs
3. Gordon McCauley, Plowman Craven – Evans Cycles @ 44
4. Robin Sharman, KFS Special Vehicles – Sunday B @ 57
5. Richard Wilkinson, Rapha Condor RT Same time
6. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor RT @ 59
7. Lee Davis, Pinarello @ 1:54
8. Malcolm Elliott, Pinarello @ 2:00
9. Matthew Stephens, Sigmasport RT @ 2:06
10. Dave Collins, Scienceinsport-Trek @ 3:02
11. Tom Barras, Merlin Racing team Same time
12. Andy Roche, Pinarello @ 3:05
13. Richard Kent, Scienceinsport-Trek Same time
14. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven – Evans Cycles @ 3:06
15. Matthew Kipling, Inkland MTS Cyclesport Racing @ 3:08
16. Neil Swithenbank, ABC Centreville @ 3:09
17. James Sampson, Kinesis UK Same time
18. Gary Hand, KFS Special Vehicles – Sunday B @ 3:12
19. Alex Higham, Bike & Run London – Maximuscle @ 3:14
20. Matt Jennings, Websters Cycles @ 3:16
21. Kit Gilham, Clifton CC @ 3:33
22. Gareth Hewitt, KFS Special Vehicles – Sunday B @ 8:11
23. Stephen Adams, Merlin Racing Team @ 9:49
24. Kevin Dawson, Pinarello @ 10:27
Next weekend the Plowman Craven Evans Cycles riders will be competing in the 2007 British Cycling Regional Championships across England, Wales and Scotland.
» view full race calender - click here
More information from Jonathan O’Neil: +44 (0) 7956250837 or click here
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