Location:   Honley, Huddersfield
Event: 8-9 June 2012

The first ever running of the Holme Valley Wheelers 2-day ended in a one-two for elite rider Simon Wilson and his Metaltek-Scott teammate James Gullen with Ben Ives of We Love Mountains RT in third place. 

The tough event was run over three stages in ‘Last of the Summer Wine Country’ near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. Riders tackled a hilly road circuit on Friday evening followed by a sporting 10 mile TT on Saturday morning and a final 55 mile road stage on Saturday afternoon.

Stage 1

Ben Ives took the first stage at Honley in atrocious conditions with heavy rain and strong winds making the already challenging course into a true test of endurance. Riders tackled a 2.5 mile circuit 12 times with over 300 feet of climbing per lap.

Early attacks by Peter Barusevicus (VC Bradford) and Hugh Carthy (Maxgear RT) were nullified as the race became a war of attrition with the group being whittled down from over 50 to just 15 on the final lap. Ives proved strongest on the climb to the summit finish, winning comfortably from Chris Sherrifs (Team Bglobal) and Dean Parkes (Team iOptix.co.uk)

Stage 1 result

Stage 2

Metaltek-Scott teammates Gullen and Wilson dominated the time trial. They were the only riders under 23 minutes on the rolling course where riders had to again battle strong winds. Michael Ashurst (Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos) took third place ahead of overnight leader Ives in fourth.

In the general classification Gullen now led going into the final stage with Ives second at 40 seconds. Chris Sherriffs of Team Bglobal and Dean Parkes of Team iOptix.co.uk were tied in third place at 1 minute 16 seconds.

Stage 2 result

Stage 3

Stage 3 was run over five laps of an 11 mile circuit previously used for the Yorkshire regional championships in 2011. Simon Wilson (Mataltek-Scott) was an early attacker, going clear on the fast tailwind section through Ingbirchworth on the first lap. He was joined on the second lap by a select group containing his two teammates, Tom Barras and Gullen and many of the overall contenders who together established a lead of around one minute.

In the final two laps it was Barras who applied pressure in the crosswinds to split the group with only Wilson able to stay with him, together they stretched out their advantage. Approaching the finish the teammates decided not to contest the sprint but celebrated another stage one-two for the team and a one-two in the overall. It was Barras who was judged to have crossed the line first to take the victory.

Stage 3 result

Final Overall