Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 1st June

Reading's leading sportivistes take on tough opposition in the Tour of
Wessex.

Photo caption: Reading's team in the Tour of Wessex: Nick Crocker, Mike
Fenwick and Greg Woodford
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Tour of Wessex three-day Sportive

Reading CC's Mike Fenwick and Nick Crocker achieved high placings in the
Tour of Wessex three-day sportive event. Fenwick was the highest placed
rider in his age group. Greg Woodford rode with them but a mechanical
issue with his bike forced him to drop out on the third day.
The Tour of Wessex is the only multi-stage sportive in UK. The three
daily stages add up to a total of 329 miles (527 km). The route takes in
locations such as Glastonbury Tor, Cheddar Gorge, the Jurassic Coast,
and Exmoor National Park. The Reading riders noted the high quality of
the field with several ex-professionals featuring in the results. Local
rider Tim Hyde of GS Henley was fastest over the three days aided by
team support that included a bike swap with a team member when his own
bike broke.
Mike Fenwick: "A tough three days, especially day 2 with a return into
strong wind. Day three saw the biggest climb to Dunkury Beacon in
Exmoor. A well organized event with many good cyclists."
Nick Crocker: "The weather on the first day was abysmal. We came in 30
mins behind fastest ! On the second day the weather improved. On the
third day me and Mike worked hard & well together until the finish. We
were a good little group and slightly disheartened to not do better."
Woodford: "We had a great Tour of Wessex, the rides were beautiful and
the campsite friendly and convenient. I was physically prepared for it
and the rides were not too hard, certainly not as hard as some I have
done. We took it a little steady on Saturday in the rain, but Sunday and
Monday we worked better and harder together. Unfortunately my bike did
not live up to my physical abilities, puncturing on the Saturday and
breaking a spoke on the Monday effectively ending my tour. The quality
of the field was also astonishing, whereas our team would be expecting
to at least finish in the top ten in most sportives, we did not come
anywhere near that this year. Next year we will know better and achieve
more."

Tour of Wessex 3-day, selected results (277 finishers):
1. Tim Hyde, 16:24:09 (30-39 age group)
24. Mike Fenwick, 18:20:33 (50-59 age group)
26. Nick Crocker, 18:23:14 (40 - 49 age group)

Time Trials
Reading CC Championship '10'
Nick English as expected won the club's championship '10' in a
championship record time of 20:12. Steve Bale and Simon Notley filled
the remaining podium places, with Barry Quick the winner on veteran's
standard time. The event took place on the Aldermaston course on a calm
but dull evening.
English: "Turned out to be quite quick. 20:12 felt remarkably
straightforward."

Result:
1. Nick English 20:12
2. Stephen Bale 22:35
3. Simon Notley 23:22
4. Ken Buckley 23:27
5. Greg Woodford 23:44
6. Ben Oakes 23:49
7. Barry Quick 24:34
8. Dean Preston 25:12
9. David Bartholomew 25:55
10. Gary Henwood 26:58
11. David Gaida 30:30

Road and Circuit Racing
Joe Harris raced at Upavon on Bank Holiday Monday in an E/1/2 circuit
race. Harris: "It was a very active race with breaks getting off the
front regularly. Coming into the final lap there were two racers off the
front. There were a lot of attacks on the last lap and people kept
trying to go clear which spread the group out making it hard for me to
decide what to do. I was near the front of the bunch and stayed patient.
Coming into the final straight i was well positioned third wheel in the
bunch with a few riders still dangling off the front when I lost
patience and started to sprint too early. I got past the four in front
but as we got closer to the line a group of riders came past me and I
came in 11th. I could have got a better result if I hadn't gone early
but I'm pleased with the result, it's nice to get some more points. It's
good to be racing well and reading the race better.

Sunday Clubrun
All groups leave Reading Market Place at 9am on Sunday.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club