Five cyclists have been taken to hospital after what organisers termed the worst crash in the history of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix cycling race on Sunday. One official said "I've been here for 25 years and can't remember one that bad."
The accident occurred during the first race of the event, at 07.45am, when several competitors collided and caused a pile-up that involved more than 20 riders. "I heard what sounded like an explosion and saw bodies lying all over Valley," said race Operations Director Bob Jones.
Several riders hit the metal barricades with sufficient force to bend them. 35-year-old Rudy Ordaz sustained the worst injuries of those involved, including deep lacerations to his face caused by his spectacles and an unspecified injury to his leg.
Showing posts with label National Road Race Championships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Road Race Championships. Show all posts
Monday, 27 June 2011
Wiggo wows 'em
Bradley Wiggins, fresh from his Critérium du Dauphiné success, stormed ahead to victory in yesterday's Men's Road Race final in Stamfordham and, with a 35" lead over team mates Geraint Thomas and Peter Kennaugh, proved why it is he's Britain's best hope for the Tour de France in many years. Judging by the cheers coming from the spectators, most people had no uncertainty about that anyway. Thomas, meanwhile, demonstrated the sort of skill that has led to him being a part of Wiggins' Tour team by chasing down and pulling back Kennaugh after an attempt on the leadership within sight of the end.
The three formed part of a large breakaway early on in the race and kept the pace high, putting the pressure on the rest of the group and eventually splitting it in two, at which point they began to build up their lead. Various riders dropped away from the second group, finding the effort too much, until it too consisted of just three men - Rapha-Condor's Kristian House, ex-MTB and cyclocross star Ian Bibby of Motorpoint and the Sky boys' team mate Ian Stannard. They kept chasing, but they didn't have the power necessary to catch up. Meanwhile, the rest of the pack languished some seven minutes further back. Even the Manx Missile Mark Cavendish, one of the fastest cyclists to have ever lived, couldn't keep up and so had no chance of taking the final sprint - he finished outside the top ten. However, it's the sprints at which he excels and we can still expect to see him racking up the points in the Tour, which starts this coming Saturday.
23-year-old Ben Swift, who will be joining Wiggins and Thomas in France, also achieved a good result. He may have been 8'13" off Wiggin's time, but it was sufficient to take 7th place. As he matures over the coming four or five years he may well prove to be the man to take on Wiggins' mantle and become Britain's next cycling star.
Towards the end, there was no way of knowing which of the three men was going to be first over the line until Kennaugh decided to attack. Thomas went after him and while their attention was diverted Wiggins surged ahead, finding one last reserve of strength that after 122 miles the other men simply didn't have, and powered across the line ahead of them in what must have been one of the most exciting finishes many of the spectators have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The 31-year-old, who was born in Ghent but has lived in the UK since early childhood, will now have the honour of wearing the blue and white National Champion's jersey in the Tour, but don't expect him to do so for long. He'll be wanting to swap it for a yellow one before too long,
and it's looking more and more like he has the ability to do so.
1st - Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 4h41'08"
2nd - Geraint Thomas (Sky) +35"
3rd - Peter Kennaugh (Sky) received same time
4th - Ian Stannard (Sky) +5'41"
5th - Ian Bibby (Motorpoint) +8'02"
6th - Kristian House (Rapha Condor) +8'05"
7th - Ben Swift (Sky) +8'13"
8th - Yanto Barker (Pendragon) +8'20"
9th - Scott Thwaites (Endura) +8'28"
10th - Andrew Fenn (AN Post) received same time
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| Wiggins used his respectable time trialing skills to great effect yesterday in Stamfordham - having got up to a high rate of knots, he just kept on turning the gears. When it came to the finish, he had one last reserve where others were spent. |
23-year-old Ben Swift, who will be joining Wiggins and Thomas in France, also achieved a good result. He may have been 8'13" off Wiggin's time, but it was sufficient to take 7th place. As he matures over the coming four or five years he may well prove to be the man to take on Wiggins' mantle and become Britain's next cycling star.
Towards the end, there was no way of knowing which of the three men was going to be first over the line until Kennaugh decided to attack. Thomas went after him and while their attention was diverted Wiggins surged ahead, finding one last reserve of strength that after 122 miles the other men simply didn't have, and powered across the line ahead of them in what must have been one of the most exciting finishes many of the spectators have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The 31-year-old, who was born in Ghent but has lived in the UK since early childhood, will now have the honour of wearing the blue and white National Champion's jersey in the Tour, but don't expect him to do so for long. He'll be wanting to swap it for a yellow one before too long,
and it's looking more and more like he has the ability to do so.
1st - Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 4h41'08"
2nd - Geraint Thomas (Sky) +35"
3rd - Peter Kennaugh (Sky) received same time
4th - Ian Stannard (Sky) +5'41"
5th - Ian Bibby (Motorpoint) +8'02"
6th - Kristian House (Rapha Condor) +8'05"
7th - Ben Swift (Sky) +8'13"
8th - Yanto Barker (Pendragon) +8'20"
9th - Scott Thwaites (Endura) +8'28"
10th - Andrew Fenn (AN Post) received same time
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Cooke's cooking
Twice winner of the Tour de France Feminin Nicole Cooke looks set to do all she can to beat her rival Emma Pooley and regain her Women's road race champion title in a sprint finish at Stamfordham on the 26th of June. Cooke, aged 28, who missed out on much of 2009 due to illness, has a lot to ride for - the illness brought an end to her nine year winning streak and she needs to start bringing in results. There are personal reasons, too, as she believes that Pooley's Garmin team - which features such heavy-hitters as track champion Lizzie Armitstead, the lightning-fast 22-year-old world track champion who will doubtless also be looking for success and probably has the best chance of catching Cooke in a sprint - have deliberately used questionable tactics to bring her down.
Meanwhile, Pooley herself is a force to be reckoned with as she too has won a Tour de France Feminin in 2009 when the race was last held before being discontinued due to lack of sponsorship. Cooke says that team riding is not permitted in National Championships and will be alone in tomorrow's race, whereas Pooley will be backed up by Armitstead, Sharon Laws and Lucy Martin; this being what's worrying for Cooke who refused to shake hands with Pooley when beaten by her in the past, later hinting that the Garmin team had ganged up against her in order to achieve victory.
Much of the cycling press seems to have forgotten Nicole over the last year, during which she hasn't won any races. However, if they've written her off for good they may well be shown to look foolish later. When she was at her best, she was one of the fastest and most skilled female riders the world has yet seen and with her future career to fight for there's a high likelihood that we'll see a return of her trademark grit, determination, speed and excellence in Northumberland tomorrow. The event, featuring a variety of important races over the weekend, is virtually guaranteed a high turn-out with several of Sky's male riders - including Dauphine winner Bradley Wiggins, rapidly becoming as close to a cycling superstar as it's possible to be in Britain and Cooke's countryman Geraint Thomas - making an appearance, but it might be the women who produce the most interesting race.
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| Nicole Cooke's past victories are numerous. |
Much of the cycling press seems to have forgotten Nicole over the last year, during which she hasn't won any races. However, if they've written her off for good they may well be shown to look foolish later. When she was at her best, she was one of the fastest and most skilled female riders the world has yet seen and with her future career to fight for there's a high likelihood that we'll see a return of her trademark grit, determination, speed and excellence in Northumberland tomorrow. The event, featuring a variety of important races over the weekend, is virtually guaranteed a high turn-out with several of Sky's male riders - including Dauphine winner Bradley Wiggins, rapidly becoming as close to a cycling superstar as it's possible to be in Britain and Cooke's countryman Geraint Thomas - making an appearance, but it might be the women who produce the most interesting race.
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