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Team Plowman Craven unite
4th July 2008
Following on from the race at Rochdale 48 hours earlier, Team Plowman Craven lined up on the famous Golden Mile under the imposing Blackpool Tower.
The one mile long circuit contained just two 180 degree corners making it hard to control the pattern of the race without a large number of riders. The early attacks came thick and fast as the riders battled to get the right combination of both teams and riders clear of the peleton. At first Tony Gibb moved clear with the victor in Rochdale Chris Newton, they were quickly joined by 4 other riders their freedom was however short lived.
Next to make his move was Evan Oliphant going clear with Ben Greenwood and Andy Tinsley the trio gained a significant advantage, behind Rapha Condor led the chase as they were unhappy about the presence of team mate Greenwood being away with 2 faster finishers. After a few laps freedom they succumbed to the chase and once again the race was together again.
Now another counter attack went clear. After their constant efforts Team Plowman Craven had missed the move due their numerical disadvantage over some of the other powerful teams. Now as the group moved clear the front of the peleton was headed by Team Plowman Craven as they fought to bring back the breakaways. Time was running out and the break split under the pressure with 3 riders going clear led by Rob Hayles. With just a few laps remaining the remnants of the break were swept up as Plowman Craven led the charge. 3 laps to go and Team Captain Tony Gibb sacrificed himself in a last ditch attempt to pull back the trio, the peleton stretched into a long line under the pressure he was applying at the front.
With only half a lap remaining James Millard hit the front with team mates Tom Barras and Evan Oliphant on his wheel in attempt to overhaul the leaders in the final metres with a mass sprint finish, Oliphant's hopes were dashed inside the final 300 metres when a spoke broke in his front wheel. Losing ground after freewheeling the final metres Oliphant finished 15th just 5 seconds behind the leaders with National Road Champion Rob Hayles taking the honours.
After the race Evan Oliphant expressed his opinions "I managed to get away with Greenwood and a guy from Pearl Izumi but we got brought back, we tried to control the race but struggled with the numbers of riders other squads had. We rode really well as a unit and if I hadn't of broken that spoke in the finale I would have achieved a much better result."
Results
1. Rob Hayles, Halfords Bikehut
2. Russell Downing, Pinarello
3. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor/Recycling
15. Evan Oliphant, Plowman Craven
30. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven
31. James Millard, Plowman Craven
32. Tom Barras, Plowman Craven
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