2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
Chas Messenger 2 day
8th May 2008
Team Plowman Craven competed in The Plowman Craven Chas Messenger 2 day based in Buckinghamshire this Bank Holiday weekend.
Held over 2 days and 3 stages the race sponsored by the Harpenden based Geomatics started with a 5km prologue, in this most specialist of events the Plowman Craven offensive was headed by Tony Gibb who claimed second place 9 seconds behind former Olympic medallist Rob Hayles. With strong performances the team placed members Gaywood, Richardson, Millard and Oliphant in the first eleven places, although Gibb was disappointed with his position he had achieved his objective of a podium place.
With just over an hour between stages, it was no time at all before the riders assembled for the afternoon stage of 120km. The race set off at a fierce pace with a flurry of attacks pushing the average speed close to 45kph, as the riders battled for the upper hand. Each time a small group of riders prised themselves clear of the peleton there was a representative of the pink and blue team present, although no such attempt was allowed any leeway by the rampaging peleton.
As the race reached fever pitch with a lap remaining Russell Downing from the Pinerello Team launched an attack taking a select few riders for company including leader Hayles and Plowman Craven's Evan Oliphant policing the move. With Hayles putting in large turns increasing the speed of the breakaway as behind the peleton tried to reduce the deficit. Coming into the final kilometre Downing powered away from his breakaway companions to win alone 7 seconds ahead of Scottish born Oliphant in 3rd position with Tony Gibb leading the peleton home 19 seconds after Downing for 8th place. With Simon Gaywood receiving the King of the Mountains jersey as a reward for his days efforts.
Sunday morning dawned with warm temperatures as the race rolled out of Winslow. With the flag dropped and the race underway there was little time before Plowman Cravencould be seen at the head of affairs defending Gaywood's lead in the Mountains competition, as they crested the 1st KOM the team massed at the front of the peleton and drove the race in an attempt split the peleton. Conditions it seemed were not difficult enough and the team ceased with this tactic before attacking to try to create a smaller group after several attempts Captain Tony Gibb succeeded and took 2 other riders for company to over a minutes lead and dominating the KOM and sprints along the route eventually running out the winner of the sprint competition and 2nd in the KOM competition to team mate Gaywood.
The trio's freedom came to an end with 2 laps remaining as a combined effort reeled them in. Gaywood taking the penultimate hill prime after a lead out from Tom Barras. The fast moving group now reduced to 50 riders entered the last lap with Plowman Craven waiting for the right time to attack in a bid for glory. As first Tom Barras attempted to escape on the climb to the finish before being swamped in a hectic finish as the riders attempted to find a gap small enough to force their way though. Russell Downing found such a gap with Oliphant finishing in 7th and Neil Colman in 9th position.
After his podium presentation as part of both the winning team and winner of the sprints competition Tony Gibb admitted "I didn't attack with the goal of getting the sprint jersey but out of the three of us in the break only two of us were working and I was the driving force in the break so the other two didn't contest the sprints or KOM points, then when the break got caught, Gaywood gave me a good lead out to get the last sprint points and that was it wrapped up, it meant I had to ride the last lap after getting shelled out on one leg with a bad knee!"
Manager Garry Beckett was pleased with his riders efforts but disappointed that a Premier Calendar win eluded them “We worked hard this weekend but just missed that elusive victory, Tony did an amazing ride on Sunday to secure the Sprints Jersey, and Gaywood secured the climbers jersey. Russ proved once again that he is a class act, it is apparent that the other teams have raised their games.”
Team and race sponsor Simon Barnes "It was a great weekends racing, I was immensely proud of the team, such a shame we weren't able to get a win BUT to get Team, Sprints and Climbers prizes can't be bad! To spend time with the guys and see how well they work together, reflecting my company ethics gives me a real buzz, they are great guys. It was also rewarding to be able to help Ian Chatfield and Mick Clarke who gave their time to keep the race alive, and Lindy and Emma for going out in all weathers to promote the race"
Results
Stage One
1. Robert Hayles Team Halfords-Bikehut 06:37
2. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven Rt @09
3. Russ Downing Pinarello Rt @00:13
Stage Two
1. Russell Downing, Pinarello 2.51.05
2. Matt Higgins, Corley Cycles @ 7 seconds
3. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven RT
Stage Three
1. Russ Downing Pinarello Rt
2. Tom Last Kinesis Uk
3. Robert Hayles Team Halfords-Bikehut
Final Overall
1. Russ Downing Pinarello Rt 6:36:35
2. Robert Hayles Team Halfords-Bikehut @:29
3. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles @:29
4. Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven Rt @:44
8. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven Rt @1:03
8. Simon Richardson Plowman Craven Rt @1:06
14. Alex Higham Plowman Craven Rt @1:12
17. Neil Coleman Plowman Craven Rt @1:14
53. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven Rt @10:51
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