British Cycling - Road Tour Series

Halfords Tour Series 2012 | Durham Round 2

Halfords Tour Series 2012

Round 2 – Durham– 17th May

Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography

The Halfords Tour Series cycle race returns for its 4th year. This fast & furious city centre circuit race is played out twice a week over 11 rounds starting in Kirkcaldy, Fife & finishes in Stoke-on-Trent on the 14th June.

This season we have 10 teams of 5 men, challenging for the Halfords Tour Trophy. Although local guest teams will fill out the field. The race is run over an hour and a quarter, with three Boardman Bike Sprints at 15 minuet intervals. There is a stage winner, but the Team who collects the most points by finishing three of their men closest to the top as possible will win the (Tour) Series trophy. This is a Team event, so finishing the event will prove crucial as the points amass towards the final round.

The second round is in the leafy city ofDurham. This demanding & technical circuit is probably the most physically challenging of the series once more. With cobbled streets, acute corners & steep climbs, the course twists & turns through narrowed sections. Not only will the riders strength play a part, but also the mechanical reliance of their machines riding over these harsh road surfaces. Each rider will be allowed two individual laps out for mechanical faults but will have to get back to the pit area by foot if necessary.

The 1.4 kilometre circuit race got underway at 7.00pm with a sighting lap. The course was damp, so crashes came thick and fast on the bottom corner. A group soon formed of around fifteen riders, including National Crit Champion Graham Briggs and round one winner Scott Thwaites. It was Kristian House that broke away after taking the first sprint of the evening. Spinning his legs up the climb easily, House kept out of danger whist many of the other rides got tangled up or punctured.

House was joined by three more riders including Graham Brigg and Jonny McEvoy, but by the second sprint lap the chasing group had caught them up. House then went on to take sprint number two to increase his tally to 10 points.

From this point on, Rapha Condor Sharp’s Kristian House made a solo effort the stay out in front. A third group formed, but was a lap behind. To make things more difficult, this third group got trapped between House and the chasers. House went on the take the final sprint and the jersey from round one that Marcel Six won.

Team mate Andrew Tennant road closely in the chasing group, but Rapha Condor Sharp were missing their all important third man. Crossing the line to take the stage victory, House did an epic solo victory, having come close in previous years. It was Endura Racing that won the main event, finishing three men over the line in the top five to retain the Tour Series Leaders Jerseys

Standings After Durham                 

  1. Endura Racing                                           20
  2. Team Raleigh – GAC                                 16
  3. Rapha Condor Sharp                               15
  4. Node4 – Giordana Racing                      14
  5. UK Youth Cycling Team                         13
  6. Cycle Premier – Kovert                          10
  7. Team IG – Sigma Sport                             9
  8. Metaltek Scott Pro Cycling                    5
  9. Herbal Life – LeisureLakeBikes.com  4
  10. Team Hope Factory Racing                 4

 

Durham Race Top 10

  1. Kristian House                                    Rapha Condor Sharp
  2. Scott Thwaites                                     Endura Racing
  3. Ian Bibby                                            Endura Racing
  4. Graham Briggs                                    Team Raleigh – GAC
  5. Jonny McEvoy                                    Endura Racing
  6. Andrew Tennant                                 Rapha Condor Sharp
  7. Yanto Barker                                     UK Youth Cycling Team
  8. Peter Williams                                     Node4  – Giordana Racing
  9. Steve Lampier                                     Team IG – Sigma Sport
  10. Simon Richardson                               Team IG – Sigma Sport

Round 1 – May 15th    –           Kirkcaldy

Endura Racing’s Scott Thwaites wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    10 points
  2. UK Youth Cycle Racing        9
  3. Team Raleigh –  GAC             8

Round 2 – May 17th   –           Durham

as above

Round 3 – May 22nd              –          Oxford

Endura Racing’s Scott Thwaites wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    30 points
  2. Rapha Condor Sharp              23
  3. UK Youth Cycle Racing        22

 

Round 4 – May 24th   –          Redditch

UK Youth Cycle Racing’s Niklas Gustavsson wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    40 points
  2. UK Youth Cycle Racing        31
  3. Rapha Condor Sharp              30

 

Round 5 – May 25th   –           Aberystwyth

Rapha Condor Sharp’s Kristian House wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    47 points
  2. UK Youth Cycle Racing        41
  3. Rapha Condor Sharp              39

 

Round 6 – May 29th    –          Peterborough

Rapha Condor Sharp’s Ed Clancy wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    56 points
  2. Rapha Condor Sharp              47
  3. UK Youth Cycle Racing        46

 

Round 7 – May 31th    –          CanaryWharf

Endura Racing’s Zak Dempster wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    66 points
  2. Rapha Condor Sharp              55
  3. UK Youth Cycle Racing        53

 

Round 8 – June 05th   –           Torquay

Node4 – Giordana’s Marcin Bialoblocki wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    74 points
  2. Rapha Condor Sharp              62
  3. Team Raleigh – GAC              60

 

Round 9 – June 07th   –          Colchester

Team Raleigh- GAC’s Graham Briggs wins the race

  1. Endura Racing                                    84 points
  2. Rapha Condor Sharp              70
  3. UK Youth Cycle Racing        68

 

Round 10 – June 12th             –          Woking

 

Round 11 – June 14th –           Stoke onTrent

 

For further information, reports & results go to the official website www.tourseries.co.uk

 

You can catch the racing on ITV4 the following day at 8.00pm

Share
Shares
error: Content is protected !!