Halfords Tour Series – 2011

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

Halfords Tour Series 2011

Zak Dempster - Rapha Condor Sharp - Halfords Tour Series — Zak Dempster – Rapha Condor Sharp – Halfords Tour Series

Ian Wilkinson - Endura Racing - Halfords Tour Series — Ian Wilkinson – Endura Racing – Halfords Tour Series

Rapha Condor Sharp - Halfords Tour Series 2011 — Rapha Condor Sharp – Halfords Tour Series 2011

Kristian House - Rapha Condor Sharp - Halfords Tour Series — Kristian House – Rapha Condor Sharp – Halfords Tour Series

Round 1 – Durham – 24th May

The Halfords Tour Series cycle race returns for its 3^rd year. This fast & furious city centre circuit race is played out twice a week over 8 rounds that starts in Durham, & finishes in Canary Wharf on the 16^th June.

This season we have 10 teams of 5 men, challenging for the Halfords Tour Trophy. The race is run over an hour & a quarter, with 3 sprints at 15 minute intervals. The prizes on the night are for the Boardman Bike sprints, the stage winner, and the team who collects the most points by finishing as many of their men closest to the top as possible. This is a Team event, so finishing the event will prove crucial as the points amass towards the final round.

The first round is in the leafy, city of Durham. This demanding & technical circuit is probably the most physically challenging of the series. Its 1.4 Km’s in length with cobbled streets, acute corners & steep climbs. The course twists & turns also through narrowed tricky sections. Not only will the rides strength play a part, but also the mechanical reliance of the modern bicycle riding over these harsh road surfaces. Last year we saw the oldest & most experienced man in the professional peloton, (49) Malcolm Elliot – Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta win the race. Can he do it again?

The race got underway at 7.00pm with a couple of circuits neutralized before the first moves were made. A crash by one of the Sigma Sport Specialized (Dan Duguid) riders touching wheels in the opening part of the race allowed eight riders to move away from the bunch including Rapha Condor Sharp’s Andy Tennant & Kristian House along with Team Raleigh’s Ian Bibby. Endura Racing’s Ian Wilkinson is left to chase the escapees with the rest of the peloton in tow.

As the sprint lap approaches Endura Racing’s Dave Clarke helps pull the peloton along, with Liam Holohan & Johnny McEvoy. It was Rapha Condor Sharp’s Kristian House who claims the first sprint points.

Kristian House
Ian Bibby
Scott Thwaites

Endura Racing’s Scott Thwaites makes a dash for the second of the sprints with Motorpoint Pro Cycling’s Johnny McEvoy & Rapha Condor Sharp’s Kristian House in hot pursuit. Approaching the line for the points was Kristian House, who takes the win. Four more rides join them to form another break.

Kristian House
Johnny McEvoy
Scott Thwaites

On the attack after the second sprint was Team Raleigh’s Liam Holohan with Motorpoint Pro Cycling’s Johnny McEvoy & Rapha Condor Sharp’s Zak Dempster. But these were soon to be joined once again by a larger group. It was Rapha Condor Sharpe’s Jonathon Tiernan Locke who led the race along the back section of the circuit, but crashed into the barrier on the tight right hand accent of South Street. It was Kristian House who once again moved to the front & collected the points in sprint 3.

Kristian House
Ian Bibby
Evan Oliphant

Moving into the later stages of the race we saw Endura Racing’s Ian Wilkinson trying to escape with only four laps remaining. House, Holohan & Bibby were soon on his tail. As the quartet passed a bunch of lapped rides, it looked like they were going to stay away. With two laps to go the bunch all came together.

Endura Racing’s Dave Clarke once again lit the touch paper but Motorpoint Pro Cycling’s McEvoy & Bibby took over the lead on the cobbles. It was Endura Racing’s Zak Dempster that powered up the cobbled assent but was unable to shake the bunch. Kristian House leads into the final lap. The tempo once again increased. Bibby charges up the cobbles one final time, but (Aussie) Zak Dempster powers to the front & around the final corner. Dempster wins the final sprint for Rapha Condor Sharp.

Sprint Winner Kristian House Rapha Condor Sharp

Team Leaders Rapha Condor Sharp

Standings