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Jones Wins Glendene Summer Classic

Great Saling, Braintree, Essex, 87 miles
Event: 10th July 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports

TEAM Raleigh's Matt Jones secured victory in the Glendene CC Summer Classic Road Race in Essex on Sunday, sprinting clear of his breakaway rival Jake Hales (Crawley Cycles) at the end of the 87-mile race.

Jones, 21 and from Milton Keynes, came across to the break late but saved just enough to hold off Hales by a narrow margin, while the remains of the winning break rolled over the line 25 seconds later.

On a new course around Great Saling near Braintree, the first break of the day went towards the end of the first lap, with six riders gaining 40 seconds.

But after around four laps of freedom the bunch began to chase hard and had caught the escapees by the next lap.

However, as soon as they had been caught another six riders attacked, including the promoting club's junior Jim Lewis, who was second in the previous week's National Junior Championships.

Eventual winner Jones sat in the bunch, and only chased the break inside the final 15 miles. After latching on to the front men, he upped the pace in the closing miles to drop Corley Cycles duo Ashley Cox and Roy Chamberlain.

It needed a photo finish to split the front two in a thrilling sprint finish, while Cox took third, 25 seconds back, and Chamberlain fourth, at 35sec.

Result:
1 Matt Jones (Team Raleigh) 3-19-55
2 Jake Hales (Crawley Cycles) @ same time
3 Ashley Cox (Corley Cycles) @ 25sec
4 Roy Chamberlain (Corley Cycles) @ 35sec
5 Mike Wragg (Python RT) @ 1-00
6 Andy Hastings (Finchley RT)
7 Steve Golla High Wycombe CC)
8 James Jackson (RG Active)
9 Paul Crook (Beyond MTB)
10 Jason White (Cycle Premier-Metaltek) all @ same time.