2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
McCauley wins final Premier Calendar race at Pendle.
13th August 2007
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Gordon McCauley has won the final Premier Calendar race of the season, the 140 km Tour of Pendle, beating Tour de France rider Bradley Wiggins into the bargain. His win confirms the form that has seen him selected to ride for his native New Zealand in the World Championships in September and for his Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Team in the Tours of Ireland and Britain. He has also just been voted New Zealand Cyclist of the Year.
McCauley's win is the third Premier Calendar race victory for the Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Team this year; in April Simon Gaywood won the Archer GP and in July Tony Gibb outsprinted a quality field to win at Blackpool.
"To be honest this win is a relief," remarked a delighted McCauley. "Although selection for the World's is fantastic, at the end of the day I'm paid to win Premier Calendar races for Plowman Craven Evans Cycles and I was beginning to run out of time!
"I'm happy with second overall place in the series; Chris (Newton) thoroughly deserves his win and I'm pleased for him," he continued.
McCauley's modesty belies his reputation as one of the most aggressive and committed riders in the peleton. His attacking and competitive style has brought him a string of results this season, as well as selection for the World's and the UK's major tours.
Simon Barnes, team founder and boss of Hertfordshire based Geomatics company Plowman Craven added:
"The whole Plowman Craven Evans Cycles Team is delighted for Gordon. He has worked so hard for us this season. Gordon is the complete professional – his commitment is total and no-one gives more than him in a race."
The Tour of Pendle is McCauley's first Premier Calendar victory of the season, although he has finished second on three occasions and third four times as well. Victory at Pendle sees him clinch second place overall in the 12 race series behind Chris Newton of Recycling. He remains the only overseas rider to have won the series, in 1999.
Having missed the early break of the day which included Wiggins (Cofidis) and Malcolm Elliot (Pinarello), Plowman Craven Evans Cycles moved to the front of the main group and, working with the SportscoverPlanetX Team, brought the race back together after 15 miles.
A second break saw three Pinarello riders, including Elliot, sharing the work with Recycling and SportscoverPlanetX, to gain a good advantage over the group. Once again Plowman Craven Evans Cycles team mates Simon Gaywood and James Millard organised the chase, eventually getting the main group close enough for McCauley, together with Newton and Robin Sharman (KFS Special Vehicles) to get across to the leaders.
With splits constantly driving off the front of the leading group, McCauley, Wayne Randle (SportscoverPlanetX) and David Clarke (Independent) were soon away on their own and, when with 20 miles to go, they were joined by Rob Partridge (Recycling) the chasers sat up, most Teams having a rider in the lead group.
On the final climb of the day, with around four km to go, Partridge attacked and McCauley was quickly on his wheel, the pair working well together to establish a decisive lead. With 1 km to go the co-operation stopped and in the sprint for the line McCauley's legs were the better.
McCauley's win is an indication that his form is coming good just at the right time.
"Everything is falling nicely into place," he remarked. "With two tours and the World's to look forward to my form is good – not only have I won Pendle but I was the only domestic rider to finish with the European based pair of David Millar (Saunier Duval) and DFL'S Daniel Lloyd in last week's National Road Championships.
Plowman Craven Evans Cycles had a big training camp last week and although I was tired afterwards I obviously recovered well, which is good news for the Tours of Ireland and Britain and the World's. The plan now is to taper until the start of the Tour of Ireland."
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