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The Smithfield Nocturne
7th June 2008
Saturday 7th June saw the criterium season in full swing with a star studded 1 hour criterium held around the famous Smithfields Market in London.
Team Plowman Craven fielded a strong team including Evan Oliphant, Simon Gaywood, Simon Richardson, Tony Gibb, Neil Coleman and James Millard despite being plagued by illness and injury the team were prominent at the head of the race from the first few metres, as Team Captain Gibb led the field around the tight 1 kilometre circuit lined by thousands of spectators.
The day light faded and the speed increased as the riders blitzed around and within minutes the pace saw a large majority of the riders out of contention. The constant speed caused an inevitable split as with only 15 minutes covered Simon Richardson's aggressive style saw him move away from the main field with Dean Downing, Rob Hayles, European professional Geraint Thomas and team mate Simon Gaywood.
The five formed a solid workman like unit and forged a strong lead, behind the other members of the team led the peleton controlling any attacks and insuring the breakaway held onto to its growing advantage. With 30 minutes covered Simon Gaywood succumbed to the pace and following recent illness drifted off the pace leaving Richardson alone, following a lone chase Downing's team mate Graham Briggs made contact with Richardson's group.
The leader's advantage now stood at 30 seconds, with Rob Hayles and Giro D'Italia star Geraint Thomas putting in massive efforts to drive the pace up on the long start finish straight. The daylight had now completely disappeared and now a light drizzle began to fall making the circuit treacherous and hampering the chasers behind. The lead group was beginning to split under attacks from Hayles and Downing, as the race reached its final few laps Richardson suffered a rear wheel puncture and after a quick wheel change was back in contention. Now the lap board was counting down the final 5 laps of the slippery circuit, Richardson could be seen wrestling his bike around the corners hampered by the smooth tyre on the rear wheel he had received from the pits. With only a few laps remaining Richardson was tailed off after an attack through the last corner by Geraint Thomas. Behind Plowman Craven's Evan Oliphant had escaped the peleton with a small group for company, the group quickly closed in on the leaders picking up Richardson on the last lap of the race.
Kicking out of the final corner the lead group sprinted for the line with Thomas the victor ahead of Hayles. Oliphant and Richardson finishing a few metres behind, and the peleton finishing 20 seconds in arrears.
Results
1. Geraint Thomas, Barloworld
2. Rob Hayles, Team Halfords
3. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor
4. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor
5. Simon Richardson, Plowman Craven
9. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven
11. Tom Barras, Plowman Craven
15. Tony Gibb, Plowman Craven
21. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven
29. James Millard, Plowman Craven
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