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Richmond Grand Prix Road Race
Story posted August 1, 2010 | by Andrew Kennedy | Premier Calendar Home Page
Former British Road Race champion, Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) has won the final Premier Calendar race in North Yorkshire, the Richmond Grand Prix. After joining the two leaders, Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Jonny McEvoy (Motorpoint Marshals Pasta) in the closing stages, House was able to profit from having teammate Craven with him.
Outnumbered two to one, Motorpoint’s McEvoy was unable to respond to all the attacks and counter attacks from the men in black and House went on to win the race alone. Craven managed to stay clear of McEvoy to take second whilst behind them, overall winner of the series before a pedal had even been turn turned at Richmond, Chris Newton, won the sprint for 4th place to make it an excellent day for the Rapha Condor Sharp team.
The Race
Victory for Kristian House in the Richmond GP. Photo Andrew Kennedy
The day began with fine dry weather at the start and a strong field as the top teams lined up with their best riders mindful the Tour of Britain is just around the corner. The first major challenge for the riders, besides the attacks which are always launched during the opening miles of most races, was the fearsome climb of Buttertubs. A long 15 minute or so climb that rises in two stages, this beast of an ascent comes too early to affect the outcome of the race but does reduce the number of riders in the peloton quite substantially.
First to the bottom of Buttertubs was Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing) who had attacked well before the climb and through the now drizzle and low cloud came Tom Murray (Sigma Sport Specialized) in pursuit. Whilst Thwaites managed to hold off the bunch on the climb to take the KOM points, he was soon caught and it was game on for the peloton as it raced towards the next climb of Scarth Nick.
Scott Thwaites of Endura get to the top of Buttertubs just ahead of the peloton lead by Raleigh's Dan Fleeman.
With the race fast approaching the three finishing circuits of 10 miles each, a break of three went clear with one rider each from three of the top teams; Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp), McEvoy (Motorpoint Marshals Pasta) and Evan Oliphant (Endura Racing). It was a move that would go on to dominate the race.
All three riders looked strong in the break but on the climbs, Craven looked the strongest and it was going to take something special to bring it back. As they came onto the finishing circuit with three ten mile laps to do, the three leaders had 42 seconds lead on the peloton and whilst chase groups had formed and were then caught, finally, a selection of the favourites soon formed and a chase group of around ten were in hot pursuit of the leaders.
With Dave Clarke (Pendragon Le Col Colnago) doing his usual awesome job of driving the group along, the lead started to come down for the leaders. In the chase group were overall winner of the Premier Calendar Chris Newton and his teammate Kristain House, Dan Fleeman (Raleigh), Alex Coutts (Giant Racing), Rob Partridge (Endura Racing), Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing), Marcin Bialoblocki (Wilier/Big Maggies/Prendas), Steve Lampier (Pendragon Le Col Colnago) and of course, winner of the East Yorkshire Premier Calendar event, Dave Clarke.
Dan Craven leads the break of the day with Jonny McEvoy and Evan Oliphant.
As the chase gathered momentum, the three leaders were starting to showing little signs of fatigue and with 12 miles to go, Oliphant went backwards on a climb while in the chase group, Clarke, Fleeman and Coutts continued to pile on the pressure. With the gap coming down to the leaders, House knew he had to do something and he shot out of the group to quickly bridge across to the leaders. Not easing up at all as he caught them, he went straight by and McEvoy had to dig deep to get onto his wheel as did Craven.
House joining the break soon saw the lead of the trio start to increase again whilst behind the chase seem to have stalled whilst what was left of the peloton, was now over four minutes down on the leaders. With the course and the pace of the race having taken its toll on the riders, the race suddenly fell into place for Rapha Condor Sharp and for eight agonising miles for Motorpoint’s McEvoy; House and Craven took turns at attacking him. McEvoy though was not giving an inch and he hung on for mile after mile until with just one mile to go, House made his final effort count as he raced into Richmond and a big crowd awaited the race.
Kristian House approaches the two leaders in the closing stages of the race.
The finale of the race really was a thrilling finish to a great series as House, Craven and McEvoy each gave every ounce of energy they had left to get to the finish line on the cobbles of Richmond. Celebrating first was with House who won by 16 seconds from Craven and whilst McEvoy, rolled over the line completely spent 28 seconds behind the jubilant House.
There was then a bit of a wait for the next group to come in from which Chris Newton won the sprint for fourth with the main peloton of around 30 riders being lead in by Liam Holohan well over four minutes down.
The podium for the Richmond GP, Dan Craven, Kristian House and Jonny McEvoy.
Kristian House Interview
Dan Craven Interview
Race photos from Ian McVety
More Race Photos from Andrew Kennedy
Our thanks to NEG motorcycle pilot John Greatorex for getting the photographer in the right places to get these images.
Riders leave the start in bright sunshine.
Scott Thwaites has a big lead as he solos up the big climb of the day, Buttertubs.
Dan Fleeman found the terrain for the Richmond GP to his liking and here leads the peloton over the climb of Butterworth.
Dan Fleeman puts the squeeze on the TV motorbike piloted by Graham Harper as he leads the chase for the leaders.
Dan Craven shows more of the great form we saw in the first half of the season.
Dave Clarke leads Alex Coutts (left) and Dan Fleeman (to Clarke's right) in the chase after the leaders.
Jonny McEvoy leads the break after Evan Oliphant had been dropped.
Alex Coutts puts the hammer down in pursuit of the break.
Dan Craven attacks whilst Kristian House makes Jonn McEvoy do the chasing.
Great ride by Jonny McEvoy to fight so hard to stay with the two Rapha riders.
Chris Newton is presented with a prize for winning the Premier Calendar.
Dan Craven is presented with the prize for the KOM competition from an event sponsor.
RESULT
1. Kristian House Rapha Condor Sharp E 03:10:47
2. Dan Craven Rapha Condor Sharp E @ 16
3. Johnny McEvoy Motorpoint - Marshals Pasta 1 u23 @ 28
4. Chris Newton Rapha Condor Sharp E @ 1:31
5. Dave Clarke Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago E @ 1:33
6. Marcin Bialoblocki WillierBigMaggys.com st
7. Daniel Fleeman Raleigh E 03:12:21 st
8. Alex Coutts Giant Asia E 03:12:22 st
9. Rob Partridge Endura Racing E 03:12:22 st
10. Evan Oliphant Endura Racing E @ 1:49
11. Liam Holohan Raleigh E u23 @ 4:08
12. James Williamson Sigma Sport - Specialized @ 4:17
13. Andrew Tennant Motorpoint - Marshals Pasta st
14. Scott Thwaites Endura Racing 1 u23 @ 4:19
15. Steve Lampier Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago E @ 4:21
16. Jack Adams Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago st
17. Peter Williams Motorpoint - Marshals Pasta st
18. Will Bjergfelt WillierBigMaggys.com st
19. James Sampson Motorpoint - Marshals Pasta st
20. Kit Gilham Sigma Sport - Specialized st
21. Stephen Adams Sigma Sport - Specialized st
22. Dale Appleby Raleigh st
23. Ross Creber Endura Racing E st
24. Simon Richardson Sigma Sport - Specialized st
25. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles st
26. James McLaughlin Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago st
27. Simon Richardson Sigma Sport - Specialized 4:27
28. David McLean Frezza Pasta Montegrappa st
29. Gareth Montgomerie Sigma Sport - Specialized st
30. Ashley Cox Team Corley Cycles st
31. Dan Shand Raleigh st
32. Tom Murray Sigma Sport - Specializedst
33. Robert Hassan Glasgow Wheelers 1 u23 st
34. Zak Dempster Rapha Condor Sharp st
35. Tom Barras Raleigh @ 4:32
36. Richard Handley Raleigh E u23 st
37. Dan Kogan Orbea - For Goodness Shakes 1 u23 @ 4:34
38. Andy Coupe Teamwallis cch Racing Team @ 4:35
39. Darren Lapthorne Rapha Condor Sharp @ st
40. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Rapha Condor Sharp @ 4:43
41. Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor Sharp @ 4:52
42. Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport - Specialized @ 7:16
43. Adam Cotterell Flanders Racing st
44. Andrew Hawdon Herbalife - Wheelbase st
45. Steven Burke Motorpoint - Marshals Pasta st
46. Ash Finn www.Cyclepremier.com - Metaltek st
47. Ashley Brown Team Sportscover E u23 03:18:03 7:18
48. Rob Carter Velo 29 Cycling Team st
49. Alexandre Blain Endura Racing @ 7:30
50. Gary Chambers Southfork Racing @ 12:26
51. Dom Munnelly Activ Cycles - Fentiman RT@ 12:34
52. Richard Tanguy Pendragon - Le Col - Colnagost
53. Colin Humphrey Team Sportscover @ 12:47
54. Jake Tanner Team Sportscover 1 u23@ 13:15
55. Alistair Robinson Team Leslie Bikes - Right Move @ 13:20
56. Dillon Byrne Herbalife - Wheelbase @ 13:22
57. Ben Stockdale Team Qoroz 1 u23 @ 13:25
58. Matthew Stephens Sigma Sport - Specialized st
59. Matthew Kipling MTS Cyclesport - Inkland RT st
60. David Coulson Frezza Pasta Montegrappa E st
61. Hugh Wilson Team Qoroz st
62. Jack Cutsforth Star RT 2 u23 st
63. Jack Bauer Endura Racing st
64. Matt Ewings Orbea - For Goodness Shakes @ 15:29
65. Matt Ullmer Team Qoroz 1 u23 @15:38
66. Joe Skipper Team Zappi's Eu23 @16:32
67. Ben Thompson Orbea - For Goodness Shakes E @16:35
68. Mark Wordsworth Team Corley Cycles 1
69. Chris Mark Adept Precision RT 2
70. James Alder Blackhawkbikes.com 2 u23
71. Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing E
72. Gareth McGuinness Energy Cycles 2
73. Luke Dunbar Team Qoroz 2 u23
74. Nathan Wilson Cottingham Coureurs 2
Dales Bike Centre" Sprint (Fremington, 10 miles): Ian Wilkinson (Endura Racing)
KOM Overall
1st Dan Craven 15 pts
2nd Scott Thwaites 12 pts
3rd Jonny McEvoy 9 pts
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