2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
McCauley wins Warwick and takes title
18th September 2007
Gordon McCauley gave Plowman Craven Evans Cycles their fourth national title of the season when he won the final round of the Elite Circuit Series at Warwick on Sunday (16 September). His win in the one hour plus five laps race saw him leapfrog team mate and series leader Simon Gaywood to take the overall title
McCauley's victory provided some consolation for the New Zealander who had to withdraw from the Tour of Britain with a mechanical problem on Stage Two, and will be a boost to his confidence before he competes at the World's at the end of the month.
"Having to abandon the Tour of Britain was a blow and meant I couldn't properly judge my form before the World's," commented McCauley, "but it also meant that my legs were fresher than a lot of the guys in the race who had finished. I'm pleased to have won the race but it's unfortunate that it resulted in me overtaking Simon to win the Series."
Gaywood – who won the Elite Circuit Series the first year it was held in 2003 - had led the overall rankings the for most of the season, but a clash of dates with the Tour of Britain meant that he missed the penultimate round, the London GP, as it took place on the day of the Crystal Palace prologue, and had to ride the final race, at Warwick, the day after he completed the final stage of the Tour. Nevertheless, Gaywood was pleased that Plowman Craven Evans Cycles had managed to win the overall series.
Photo © Richard Robotham & British Cycling
McCauley wins Warwick and takes title
"Obviously I'm disappointed not to have the won the Series again, but Gordy's legs were always going to be better than mine on the day and the important thing is that the Team won it. I'll now have to make sure I win the National Madison Championship at the end of the month."
Despite having only finished the Tour of Britain in Glasgow the day before, Plowman Craven Evans Cycles set a blistering pace from the start at Warwick, taking control of the race and stringing out the field behind them. A crash in the first dozen laps involving around 10 riders allowed a select group of five to get away - McCauley, Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello), Warwick Spence (Cyclefit Serotta), Kristian House (Navigators) and Tom Barras (Merlin) – with the main field splintered into three groups behind them. After half an hour of racing the five leaders had lapped most of the field, giving the chasers a tough task. For a while there was confusion as lapped riders attached themselves to both the leading and chasing groups, and the Commissaries seemed reluctant to get involved.
Keen to ensure Gaywood finished as far up the field as possible, the Plowman Craven Evans Cycles squad took it in turns to take him to the front of the chase. James Millard and James McCallum, despite bleeding heavily from the earlier crash, both rode hard to close the gap on the leaders, and team mate Tony Gibb turned in an awesome ride, sacrificing himself to get Gaywood into sixth place.
With about ten minutes of racing left, McCauley jumped away from the other leaders as they climbed the slope to the finish, gaining a five second advantage. With the hour fast approaching all the lapped riders were withdrawn from the race leaving only the five leaders and 11 chasers. McCauley quickly built up his advantage to 12 seconds and caught Gaywood and Gibb, and despite House and Elliott closing fast McCauley held his nerve and crossed the line together with team mate Gaywood.
Photo © Richard Robotham & British Cycling
House (L), McCauley (C) and Elliott(R) on the podium
Results
1st Gordon McCauley - Plowman Craven Evans Cycles 1:06:33
2nd Kristian House - Navigator Insurance 1:06:36
3rd Malcolm Elliott - Pinarello RT 1:06:36
» view full race calender - click here
More information from Jonathan O’Neil: +44 (0) 7956250837 or click here
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