The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Last week saw Spalding Cycling Club riders past and present racing across England in various national and local races.
One of the club’s junior second claim riders, Tom Wright raced in the Monmouthshire Junior Grand Prix in South Wales for the seventh national round of the year.
The tough course of 75 miles consisted of 6,000 feet of climbing – featuring the infamous Grosmont climb, which they ascended four times.
The weather remained perfect with 24 degree heat and a light wind allowing for the juniors to average 23.2mph over the three-hour race.
Out of the 100 riders to start, only 53 finished with Wright managing 39th and crucially staying with the front group for the entire race with some of England’s best juniors racing.
Meanwhile, ex-Spalding rider Matt Ellis, now riding for French team Charvieu Chavagneux Isère Cyclisme, rode both the national time trial and road race championships.
He finished 43rd in the under-23 time trial, covering the 17.1 mile circuit in 37.38mins.
In the road race, Ellis finished as 89th Elite and 32nd under-23 rider, racing and beating a few professional riders from the likes of team INEOS (formerly Team Sky) on the 118-mile circuit averaging 28mph over the rolling terrain along the North Norfolk coastline.
Also racing was Spalding CC’s Andy Bowser in the Alford Velo 99, where speeds averaged 23.5 mph. After a hard race he managed to sprint to sixth place. Team-mate
Frazer Wallis finished comfortably in the bunch.
Elsewhere, James Bramma represented Spalding in the Witham Wheelers 25 mile TT, clocking 1.05.28mins.
