On Sunday the 3rd of September Giles continued his seasons winning ways and won his 1st LVRC road race. The Dinnington RC 75KM event near Doncaster was run off in bright, warm but very windy conditions. Just after half distance a break formed on the only climb of the course which was tailwind at the bottom and strong cross wind over the top. Sensing the danger Giles was last man to get across to the 7 man break making it 8 up front. All 8 worked well together and pulled out a good lead over the main bunch. There were a couple of attacks on the last lap but Giles kept his head, stayed out of the worst of the wind and wasted the rest of the escapees as it split to pieces in the last kilometre. For winning there was £60 and a huge trophy that spookily has Danny Connolly's name on it from 2002! Didn't know he was so old - maybe it's not always been a vets race.
>30/07/2006 Dave Roberts Memorial Road Race – 59 Miles 2nd, 3rd & 4th.
The race started slowly with everyone happy just to ride round in the morning sun. Until a couple of local riders got away but just dangled there for three laps until the bunch got it's act together. A few more fruitless moves formed but nothing serious.
At about half distance the Aire Valley Racing team decided that the time had come to make their move. Giles Pidcock motioned to super fit team mate James (Monkey) Rushton and the two of them steamed away while the bunch ambled along worrying about the approaching climb. Giles and James got a good gap and set off in pursuit of two riders that had clipped off. Giles blew up and gave James a huge push with a couple of words of encouragement before going back to the bunch. James motored up the hill making steady progress across the gap. after the hill a group of three that had jumped way on the climb caught James and working together they caught the two in front to form a break of 6. The group worked well and stayed away from the bunch that was loosing about 5 riders a lap after the climb.
With less than a mile to go Sam Clark (Buxton CC) jumped away from the break and Monkey monstered across to him riding the rest of the break off his wheel. It was then a 2 man sprint for the line that monkey took with ease, hands in the air for the last 50m. A fantastic effort.
Giles salvaged 9th place to complete another successful day for Aire Valley Racing Team. Check Out New Brighton Cycling Clubs web site for more Images > www.nbcycling.co.uk
James roll across the
line to take the honours.
>18/07/2006 Colne Grand Prix
– Support Race 3Rd & 4th.
Earlier in the evening, super sprinter Giles Pidcock (Aire
Valley RT) warmed up the crowd in the supporting event with
an exciting finish on the slightly downhill run in. Pidcock
and his big team of Aire Valley riders dominated the race
with aggressive riding, and the ability to chase down all
the attacks. Merlin Development rider Scott Thwaites took
second place, with the handicap of junior gear restrictions
he had no chance of passing Pidcock at the finish.
Super Domestique Matt
Denby, Turns up the speed for Gile's winning
sprint
>28/06/2006 Otley Town
Centre Race Report – Senior Race.
We all lined up on a gorgeous summer evening for the 2006
version of this race that’s fast becoming a classic.
As usual the field was full of Development Squad Juniors,
various first category riders (masquerading as third cats),
recently promoted second cats and then about 75 legitimate
riders who were only there to make up the numbers and act
as cannon fodder for the race proper.
7.00 the flag came down and the race was on. Off the line
and up Burras Lane with the usual flurry of first lap
attacks by them pesky youngsters with Scott Thwaites and
Simon Holt (Merlin Developments) looking good at the front.
Through the finish for the first time it was Matt Peacock
(Team Chevin) looking powerful on the front.
The race developed into the usual pattern of someone riding
hard through the finish (so that the commentator Mike Smith
would mention their name) and dying on the hill only for
there to be a follow up attack on the hill as rider after
rider tried desperately to escape the main bunch. Each time
someone attacked they were brought back by the main bunch
which was still too keen to be letting anyone escape at
this early stage. On lap three there was an almighty attack
by Merlin’s Scott Thwaites. He tore up Burras lane making
good progress until Matthew Denby riding for Aire Valley
Racing Team took up the chase and brought him back. Just as
Scott was captured on the left hand side of the road Dave
Stephens (Triangle RT) along with Vince Macklam (Yorkshire
Road Club) put in a ferocious attack on the right. There
were cyclists everywhere, gasping for breath, desperately
trying to get the wheel of the two would be escapees. Only
Giles Pidcock from Aire Valley RT managed to bridge the gap
but when he got there was in no fit state to do any work.
Over the bypass bridge and down Bird cage walk the
breakaway rode, with Dave Stephens doing all the work. The
bunch hadn’t given up though and the three leaders were
reeled in as the right turned left back down to the finish.
The bunch, now reunited, tore down Gay Lane only to be
greeted by motorbike marshals and black flags in the road!
A fire engine has been called out and the race was stopped
for a few minutes while barriers were moved and the
appliance made its way through the finish and off the
circuit – to cut some teenagers from a crashed car it
turned out.
The race restarted and everyone’s legs were screaming first
time up the hill after the restart. Again the juniors took
full advantage of their youth to attack straight out of the
box and up the hill stringing the bunch out in their wake.
It took a couple of laps for the race to settle down and
then Vince Macklam made a strong bid for victory on his
own. Again Matt Denby applied his considerable talent and
strength to the task of bringing him to heel and by the
time the race was back on Birdcage Walk Vince had safely
been reeled in. It was becoming clear now that Aire Valley
were the dominant force in this race, whose tactics were to
construct a vice like grip on affairs laying the
foundations for a win by their “demon sprinter” and pre
race favorite Giles Pidcock.
Denby brings back another
attack. Whilst Pidcock suffers. Scott Thwaites looking
cool.
Two more laps, half a dozen
minor attacks later and Mike Smith announces that there are
only five laps remaining. Upon hearing this Vince Macklam
and Dave Stephens launch another major attack up Burras
Lane and pull out a huge lead as the bunch fail to react.
All sense of purpose seemed to have been lost by the bunch
as the two leaders consolidated their position at the head
of affairs. Matt Denby again rose to the challenge towards
the top of Burras Lane. He dragged himself over the bypass
bridge and accelerated relentlessly down Bird Cage Walk
gathering speed as he went. What was left of the bunch was
strung out to breaking point behind as slowly but surely
the gap closed. By the time the bunch tore through the
finish again it was all together but this time Matt Denby
stayed on the front and kept the pace high – for the next
two laps. No one attacked during this period believing that
to do so would be quite pointless with Aire Valley
controlling the race in such a dominant fashion. Into the
last lap things slowed on the hill as the tension rose in
anticipation of a massive bunch gallop. It was becoming
extremely gladiatorial as the race climbed Burras Lane for
the final time and there was much pushing and shoving as
the sprinters fought their way to the head of the race. It
was a time for strong nerves and commitment to the business
of a winning bike race. The weak were squeazed out of
contention.
The deadlock was broken with an attack near the top which
was countered strongly by Kevin Stuart (Leeds St
Christophers) who steamed down birdcage walk in a bid for
victory. Unfortunately it was too near the end and all the
main players were in hot pursuit. More pushing and jostling
as a 35 mph maelstrom of racing cyclists made their way
rapidly down Birdcage walk, all desperate to get to the
corner in the top three or have their chances destroyed.
Into the last corner it was Jason “Conan” Novell in the
lead followed by James Moss, Simon Holt and Giles Pidcock.
Conan Novell monstered down the hill leading the bunch down
towards the finish at breakneck speed and at such a pace
that no one could move up. Into the last corner and Simon
Holt makes his move accelerating and late braking into the
final corner outside Chevin Cycles. On his wheel is
diminutive power house Giles Pidcock who grabs the inside
line. Both riders accelerate out of the corner wheels
skipping across the tarmac as they struggle to get the
power down. Holt initially pulls away but Pidcock wound up
his powerful little body and surged towards the line.
Crowds five deep on either side watched as Pidcock pulled
away and then exploded like a jack in a box with his hands
aloft, victory assured and the rest of the bunch trailing
in his wake.
Simon Holt finished second with James Moss coming in third.
Congratulations to the Aire Valley Racing Team on a
commanding performance.
Pidcock and Denby
Celebrate – As the rest of the bunch begin to comes to
terms with defeat
Words & Pictures Supplied by G Pidcock
>01/05/2006
The first race in two series of four took place on the
Walshford to Boroughbridge course under TLI rules, and was
hugely successful with the riders involved.
Four groups set out with an 8 minute gap between the front
and scratch group for the 30 mile course and included
complete novice riders through to the more experienced
seasoned racers.
The gap between groups was quickly reduced on the first
lap, with some groups working better together than others.
After starting at a rapid pace, the first attacks started
to come from the scratch riders with current TLI junior
national champion, Liam Holohan (Batley/Hargreaves Cycles)
and the Dave Rayner funded James Sampson (Stilton
RT/Specialised) escaping off the front. Despite working
together well, the chasing pack had organised themselves
and caught them just a few miles short of all four groups
merging.
With just 5 miles to go, all four came together and attacks
started to come thick and fast. Simon Beldon (Team
Swift-Allsports) managed to escape alone and held off the
chasers with the finish in sight. Again, a well organised
bunch brought him back with just half a mile remaining,
despite the blocking of Russell Mclean (Clayton Velo) and
Paul Kirk (Bob Jackson RT)
The final uphill sprint finish proved to be very
competitive with ex Star Trophy rider, Giles Pidcock moving
clear to take the win.
Team Swift-Allsports rider, Ruth Dorrington, completed her
first road race ever finishing as the sole woman rider in
the bunch.
1. GILES PIDCOCK AIREVALLEY RT
2. LIAM HOLOHAN BATLEY/HARGREAVES CYCLES
3. JAMES SAMPSON STILTON RT/SPECIALIZED
4. RUSSELL MCLEAN CLAYTON VELO
5. NIGEL GOSCINSKI OBRICOACHING/PLANET X
6. IAN HOLOHAN KNARESBOROUGH RT
7. PHIL BIXBY CLIFTON CC/CYCLE HEAVEN
8. STUART SPENCER KNARESBOROUGH RT
9. DAVE WILKINSON TEESDALE CRC
10. STEVE WOODRUP YORKSHIRE ROAD CLUB
1ST LADY. RUTH DORRINGTON TEAM SWIFT/ALLSPORTS