Kalas Cup Two-Day
June 20/21; 2009; Team Tor 2000
Team Tor 2000 Event Report
The third edition of the event was on paper the toughest to date. Each year the race has grown in popularity and strength with some of the countries top riders travelling to Somerset to battle out for the Kalas Cup. The format was unchanged to previous year’s race; Saturday with a prologue, Circuit race and Team time trial all based at Merryfield Airfield and Sunday a 120km road race. In plus on Saturday there were also support races for 234, youth, women and go race.
Stage 1 - 1.6 km Prologue TT
This flat short circuit was not highly technical but taking the correct lines through the corners could mean the difference between 1st and 20th place. The early pace was set by Gary Chambers with 2:09 then this was soon bettered by Blake Pond with a 2:08, this time looked like it might be the winning time as the wind was getting stronger. Towards the end of the field the tall Sports Beans rider Marcin Bialoblocki blitz round in 2:07 but this only held at the top of the leader board for a matter of minutes as previous event winner Pete Kench (Sports Beans Guest) powered round in 2:06 to take the first Yellow jersey of the stage race.
Stage 2 - Circuit Race 1 hour plus a lap
With primes on laps 2 to 6, this was not going to be an easy race or a slow race. A few attacks went on the early laps but these were soon swallowed up by the fast moving bunch. After the 3rd prime, Greg Sandy (Somerset RC) attacked the main field and was soon joined by Matt Clinton (Sports Beans Guest) and Daniel Davies (Sabbath Clayton).
This proved to be the winning move stretching its lead out to around a 35 seconds gap with several attempts by riders to bridge across all failing. In the closing metres, Greg Sandy injected his turn of speed which was enough to cross the line first and take the yellow jersey shortly followed by Daniel who won enough intermediate sprints to take the Green Jersey. Peter Kench took the bunch sprint though this was unfortunately marred by a chain coming off Kelvin Price’s (Somerset RC) bike causing him to come down and breaking his wrist in the process; we wish him a speedy recovery.
Stage 3 - 20km TTT
It was to be Sports Beans stage again finishing with a full compliment of riders 20 seconds clear of Pendragon Kalas with Sabbath Clayton a further 1:15 minutes down. The Sports Beans performance was enough to retake the yellow from Somerset Road club, but this time it was Matt Clinton’s turn to wear the jersey.
Stage 4 - 120km road race
A slight change this year to this year stage with an extra lap of this wearing 15 km circuit. Once again the Welsh NEG were on hand to control the race. It looked like the race was going to be decided in the early stages as the break containing some of the main contenders escaped but surprising this was reeled in. Lapping in 22 minutes, this was two minutes a lap faster than previous years.
It was not until Wayne Coombs (VC Montpellier) put in an attack which got 1 minute on the bunch that looked promising but within a lap he was joined by a break of around 10 riders. Pendragon Kalas’s Dave Clarke turned the thumb screw in the break and soon the lead group was down to three as he was followed by Will Bjergfelt (Sports Beans) and Ben Stockdale (Qoroz Novatec) with the rest of the break quickly being swallowed up by the bunch.
With one lap to go, Sabbath Clayton, realising that this would be the winning break unless something was done, went to the front and the gap was reduced but not enough to close it. The three riders sprinted to the line and Dave Clarke took the victory by the narrowest of margins from Will Bjergfelt and Ben Stockdale. Second on the stage was enough for Will to take overall. Doug Dewey (Pendragon Kalas) took the best Under 23 rider and up and coming Chris Lobb (Cyclogic) took the best 3rd cat. And it was no surprise that Sports Beans took the overall team.
Many thanks to all of the officials and helpers, without whom the race could not run. Also like to thank the sponsors White lake Cheese, Heck’s Cider, Blooming Linda’s and most of all Kalas Sportswear Ltd.
Report: James Smith, www.rutrainingtoday.co.uk
Photos: Ann & Richard Owen email
The Kalas Cup is renowned for being a brutal and energy sapping race and this year was to be no exception. This was made worse by the fact that Team Tor 2000 have put on some excellent races this year which has enticed some top riders from all over the country to the West Country.
Stage 1 -- 2km ITT
This stage, a time trial, is for the younger experienced rider and so it proved. Each of the four corners were vital and if you didn’t get them just right you’d lose time. Peter Kench was the winner ahead of Marcin Bialoblocki, a Sport Beans one two.
1 Peter Kench
2 Marcin Bialoblocki
3 Blake Pond
4 Matt Clinton
5 Gary Chambers
6 Matt Rowe
7 Daniel Davies
8 Douglas Dewey
9 Greg Sandy
10 Jean Spires
Stage 2 Circuit race Ilton
I have raced around Ilton many times but I don’t think I have done it as fast as this day. There was more than one occasion when I found myself at the back chewing my handlebars. As I suffered, Rob Willcocks was casually marking Marcin, winner of the Girvan race this year.
When the pace relented though, I attacked and quickly opened up a small gap. Josh Yetman (Quoroz Novatec) came across but we were quickly swallowed up by the fast moving peloton.
As we passed the prime line, Greg Sandy (Somerset RC) attacked quickly followed by Matt Clinton guesting for Sport Beans and Daniel Davies (Sabbath Clayton). This was to be the winning move and although the break never got more than 30 seconds lead, it was enough.
When the break approached the finish line. the legendary turn of speed of Greg Sandy was enough to win him the stage and the yellow jersey. It was not all good news for us though. Kelvin Price (Somerset RC) crashed and in the process broke his wrist. We hope you recover soon Kelvin.
1 Greg Sandy
2 Daniel Davies
3 Matt Clinton
4 Peter Kench
5 Ian Rees
6 Marcin Bialoblocki
7 Ben Stockdale
8 Will Bjergfelt
9 Gary Chambers
10 Joshua Cunningham
Stage 3 Team Time Trial
This was supposed to be the ace up our sleeve, but after Kelvin’s crash we were down to three men. We did a pretty good job though getting third on the stage but we were beaten by the Sport Beans and Pendragon A teams.
1. Sport Beans
2. Pendragon Kalas A
3. Somerset RC
4. Sabbath Clayton
5. Pendragon Kalas B
6. Dragon Rider Composite
7. Northover Vets
8. VC Montpellier
9. Qoroz Novatech
10. In Gear Development Team
Stage 4; 120km road race
This looked tough on paper and we were not disappointed. The race began fast and pretty much just got faster from then on. We were subjected to eight tough climbs in the race and a really grippy drag to the finish.
With the relentless pace at the front of the peloton, none of the riders who dared attack stayed away until the last few laps. As we slowed, I noticed that Rob Willcocks was sat right on the front of the bunch.
I drifted past him and said “sit up” which he duly did and I drifted off the front. Soon, I had a 30 second gap very quickly and began chasing Wayne Coombs who had already got away.
It was not long before I was joined by a number of riders including Will Bjerfelgt (Sport Beans) and Dave Clarke of Pendragon. This group worked pretty well and as we crested the climb on the 7th lap, we were already 1.50 up on the bunch.
This was great for me because now I was lying third overall. Dave Clarke had other ideas though and put in a massive acceleration dropping half the break in the process. He was followed by Will B and Ben Stockdale (Quoroz Novatec) and this was to be the winning move. I still thought we could stay away but behind, Sabbath Clayton were not going to give up that easily.
Within half a lap they were on us and I knew that I was in for a lap of pain. The stage was won by Dave Clarke with the overall going to Will Bjergfelt. Well done to Sport Beans who dominated every stage. A massive thank you to Team Tor 2000 and Anna Ellington for providing great racing and a big thanks also to the NEG who made for a safe race. A special mention to Chris Lobb who is rapidly making a name for himself by taking the best third cat prize and some cheese.
1. Dave Clarke
2. Peter Kench
3. Ben Stockdale
4. Will Bjergfelt
5. Jean Spires
6. Hugh Wilson
7. Paul Standen
8. Adam Cotterell
9. Richard Tanguy
10. Mike Bisson
Final Overall
1. Will Bjergfelt
2. Dave Clarke
3. Matt Clinton
4. Marcin Bialoblocki
5. Peter Kench
6. Douglas Dewey
7. Tom Collier
8. Jack Adams
9. Richard Tanguy
10. Ben Stockdale
11. Robert Willcocks
12. Daniel Davies
13. James Smith
14. Kieran Frend
15. Joshua Andjelkovic
16. Gareth Hewitt
17. Dave Coulston
18. Hugh Wilson
19. Jon Pain
20. Ed Griffin
