Eagle Road Club

Bryan Crump wins again to secure 1st cat status

Report by James Sale.

Today was all about Crumpy’s points and cash.... What can I say, today we showed the other teams how to race, got Crumpy a win, 30 points (which puts him in pole position for the RR trophy), took both primes (one for Damien, and one for me). And just to top it off, we all came home £20 richer.
Just a few points from today’s action:

We tried to get Crumpy away a few times, but nothing was really sticking.  Damien got away in a little group of 3 and then sprinted to the 1st prime. You had to be there, but Crumpy was stressing about it to Damien, and Damien said “I will take care of it”, next thing I see Damien off the front giving it some beans.

Eventually the race started to split up, and Crumpy got away in a nice little group of 6. I managed to get across with 4 others (free ride for me). Now we had a 10 man breakaway, which was shaky to start with, but then settled down. Crumpy was getting concerned about staying in it. But I had to tell it to him straight.... “You are the best for this finish, stay in”.  The gap grew to about 1 and half minutes to the bunch, so it was time to decide what the end game was. A lead-out from the main road on a tight left hander was the plan. 

A little attack went with a couple of K’s to go, but I closed it down, doing everything to save Crumpy’s legs.  The left hander was upon us, and I went full on.... I couldn’t have gone any further of harder. By this point, there was just 3 of us, with about 15 bike lengths to the guys back in 4th, 5th, etc. Crump came through and I told him to “f***** go now!!” Game over, nobody was catching him.  I tried to stay on some wheels, but I was cooked, managed to roll in for 8th place, not that it really matters on a day like this.

I also forgot to mention that Crumpy led me out for the 2nd prime, which ended up shredding the break away apart.... easy!

Thanks to Andy Sheridan for the photo of Bryan winning. To see more photos of the race visit http://sheridan.zenfolio.com/london_phoenix_rr2011

Whitewebbs Circuit Races at Hog Hill

Bryan Crump wins elite race

The Whitewebbs CC Summer Circuits held at Hog Hill (Redbridge Cycle Centre) on August 21.
Lewis Atkins and James Jackson attacked with flair and gained a good lead, but it was a lead that was still tenuous as proved when Bryan Crump bridged the gap to make a three man break.
As the race progressed Jackson fell back, waited for the pack and then pulled out. The leaders kept the pace up and on the Hogberg it was Crump who gained an advantage to win.
The second group were lapped and a number of riders tried to break free and take third spot, including Tom Smith and Richard Da Silva. At the flag it was Todd Hotchkiss who sprinted to the front to claim 3rd.

1 Bryan Crump, Eagle RC 1.18.57
2 Lewis Atkins, Twenty 3C Orbea s/t
3 Todd Hotchkiss, Stourbridge Velo @ 1 lap
4 Tom Smith, Felt-Colbognes
5 James Sale, Eagle RC

Earlier in the day the Eagle had several riders in the Vets race.

Martin Bedaell  went clear almost near race start and although his lead did come down a bit he was able to cross the line with plenty of time in hand.

Towards the end of the race Damien made a solo effort to bridge to Bedaell but run out of time.  He was joined by ex pro Simon Wright with the two of them contesting 2nd and 3rd places.

1 Martin Bedaell CC Luton B
2 Simon Wright CC Sudbury B
3 Damien Foy Eagle RC B

ELV Summer Series victories

Well done the Eagles.

The final point’s classification of the seven events in the East London Velo Summer Criterium Series held at the Redbridge Cycling Centre (Hog Hill) resulted in a clear win in Category ‘A’for David Farrow .

In the Over 60’s categories Chas Wilde  took the honours in Category. ‘H’

Pos. Category ‘A’ (40-44yrs)    Points
1st David Farrow  Eagle R.C .  16
1

Category ‘B’ (45-49yrs)
7th John Beaufoy  Eagle R.C.     1
   

Category ‘C’ (50-54yrs)
5th Carlito Rendoro Eagle R.C.     2
            

Category ‘H’ (75yrs+)
1st Chas Wilde  Eagle R.C.     8

Bryan Crump WINS the Diss & District Road Race

7th August 2011 - Here are a few words from the man himself . . . "Stoked! I am stoked to get this win under my belt along with the additional bonus of it being on the same day as Jamzy and Stoyki move up to the first CAT status.

This victory shares in common with my last in that I did not get much sleep the night before the race due to camping over at a work party in Cambridge. Jamzy set the mood perfect by missing the turn off to pick me up, setting a pressure cooker vibe much like Baldwin running late to the start line.

After some bitter disappointments on previous races from such elementary things as poor tyre choice and loose seat clamp bolts I was keen on a result from the Diss Road race. The course was generally flat and well protected from the wind due to large wooded areas that the race wound through. A point of interest was the 180 deg left hand turn which would naturally create a massive gap in the bunch due to the elastic effect. Leading up to this corner the second time around I pushed up to the front of the race. The strong cross wind and slight up hill was enough to allow three of us to break away and bridge across to the existing three breakaway riders.

Getting in to the last lap I knew that the race was going to be mine. The attacks from my fellow escapees were weak and did not last more than 20m before they dropped their pace back down. Once I saw the 200m to go sign I double clicked on the shifters and gave it full gas. I was pleased to also get another shift in mid-way through my sprint accelerating the whole time"

Road Race Training - Tues evening at Hog Hill Circuit

A quick reminder that the Eagle Road Race training night will be on this tuesday 9th August from 6pm to 8pm. The warm up and group riding practice will be from 6.00 to 6.30. We will then have main training from around 6.45 with sprints practice, team time trials, scratch races in small groups and a handicap race as a finale. All on the lower flat circuit.

The event is open to guests as well as Eagles, and is aimed at riders at all levels - bring your cycling friends too. We pay individually to use the lower circuit.

Willsher 50 (32nd Assoc) Result

A sunny, warm day with a rising southerly greeted the riders today on the occasion of the Willsher 50, conbmined with the 32nd Association 50. The return leg, all 25 miles of it, must have been particularly memorable so congratulations to all those that took part.
There are several good times at the top of the leaderboard with Dave Clarke once again fooling the handicapper. A special mention also to John Skinner taking part in his first 50 and looking remarkably fresh come the afternoon bar-be-que.
As ever, we are indebted to the Eagle support team supplemented on this occasion by volunteers from the Victoria, Shaftsbury, Lea Valley and Chelmer - thanks to all.

The team prize was taken by the Eagle with Mssrs Hersey, Baldwin and Foy recording an aggregate time of 6:11:48

ELV Hog Hill Summer Series Final

4th August 2011 - It must be the 85’ skinsuit! Damien Foy has taken his second win in so many weeks. What a great way to sign off from Thursday night league. I knew that it was only a matter of time before Damien was able to master the circuit as he had done at Eastway. Damien is capable of doing 20 minutes 10’s, so it should have been no surprise to the opposition that he might have a go from a long long way out. A couple of guys were chasing him down, but they died before he turned on the heat and smashed the hill for the last time..... Just look at the effort on his face!

Inverse/Cyclaim Circuits 3

30th July - James Sale managed 3rd place on his first visit to Hillingdon. Here is a short summary of the action....... “Coach Foy had told me that the exercise of going to Hillingdon was for points alone, so just to sit in and wait.... I did exactly that. Pretty boring race really, and even though the average speed was 27mph, it was pretty easy.  I moved up to the front in the last 5 laps and was in a good position position in the last 400 metres. Unfortunately, it got very tight, and I had to back right off, then to make matters worse, I ended up on the wrong side of the road for a little bit of drafting for the sprint.  I pulled right over and started my sprint, I went past a fair few and held on for 3^rd place”