Author: Chris Maher, Pictures Courtesy of Chris Maher | Photography
Tour of the Reservoir 27th & 28th April 2013
Preview
This year the Tour of the Reservoir opens up the Prem1er Calendar 2013 cycling Road Racing Series. For the first time the Northumbrian Water Cycling Race will be run over two days, with a new five lap course running out of Blanchland on the Saturday and covering 120 kilometers. And the Sunday race around the traditional 165 kilometer circuit of Derwent Water, finishing by the reservoir tower via the short climb from the gated entrance.
Course
Day one 5 laps out of Blanchland anticlockwise via Bale Hill, Meadows Edge and Endmundbyres, totaling 75 miles.
Day two 7 laps of the Derwent Water circuit with 5 prime points at the Manor House Inn, totaling 105 miles.
Race 1 Results
- Chris Opie Team UK Youth
- Simon Yates 100% ME
- Nikolas Gustavsson Team UK Youth
- Tom Stewart Team Sportscover
- Peter Hawkins Team IG – Sigma Sport
- Mike Northey Node Giordana Racing
- Andrew Tennant Madison Genesis
- Rob Partridge Team UK Youth
- Rob Britton Team Raleigh
- Steve Lampier Node Giordana Racing
Race 2
The peloton soon split on the first circuit through Edmundbyers into at least four groups, and headed up towards the Manor Hill Inn. By the second circuit, two main groups had formed ahead of the peloton and the race settled in to it’s rhythm through the blusty April showers whilst Rapha Condor JLT man Richard Handley, clipped off the front of the leading group to amass his King of the Mountains victory.
Team UK Youth maintained control of the race throughout, setting a steady tempo as the finish became ever closer.
“Letting them control the race” (Team UK Youth) said stage 2 winner, Team Raleigh’s Evan Oliphant on the podium, “Meant I could reserve my energy for the backend of the race”. “I woke up & my legs felt good”, “I knew I could win this race, they would of been many sore legs after yesterdays hard race, I thought”, “But mine were fine”.
Oliphant sat behind Team UK Youths procession around Derwent Water and broke clear on the final lap to take the victory. There had been several attempts to get away over the course of the race, but Opie, Hawkins, Harper, Tennant, Stewart & Norris all rode the escapees back. There was a long wait at the finish line to check the timings of the top men & finally it became clear the Oliphant had won the overall race by a mere seven seconds over race one winner Chris Opie.
This was Evan Oliphant’s first Premier Calendar Victory since 2006 and he was thoroughly delighted.
Race 2 Results
- Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh
- Chris Opie Team UK Youth
- Peter Hawkins Team IG – Sigma Sport
- George Harper Colbourne Hargroves
- Tom Stewart Team Sportscover
- Lachlan Norris Team Raleigh
- Andrew Tennant Madison Genesis
- Steve Lampier Node Giordana Racing
- Mike Northey Node Giordana Racing
- Rob Partridge Team UK Youth
Standings after Round 1
- Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh
- Chris Opie Team UK Youth
- Peter Hawkins Team IG – Sigma Sport
- Tom Stewart Sportscover
- Andrew Tennant Madison Genesis
- Mike Northey Node Giordana Racing
- Steve Lampier Node Giordana Racing
- Rob Partridge Team UK Youth
- Ben Greenwood Team Hope Factory Racing
- Rob Britton Team Raleigh
British Cycling | Premier Calendar 2013 Series
27th & 28th April Tour of the Reservoir (Northumberland)
12 May University of Lincoln Grand Prix
Race Results
- Peter Kennaugh Isle of Man Cycling
- Marcin Bialoblocki Team UK Youth
- Lachlan Norris Team Raleigh
- Richard Lang Team Raleigh
- Tobyn Horton Team UK Youth
Standings after Round 2
- Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh 146
- Chris Opie Team UK Youth 140
- Peter Hawkins Team IG – Sigma Sport 139
- Tom Stewart Sportscover 122
- Marcin Bialoblocki Team UK Youth 114
The next round is…
30th June Beaumont Trophy (Northumberland)
07th July Stockton Velo29 Festival of Cycling
14th July Grand Prix of Wales
28th July Ryedale Grand Prix (Yorkshire)
Official Results Sourced from www.britishcycling.org.uk
Premier Calendar Photos on Flickr
Facebook Photo’s
Updated May 15th 2013