Tony Woodcock showed a clean pair of heels to current over 60’s World Champion, Roger Iddles, as he pulled clear for the win at the Fleche Waltone LVRC RR over-60’s race, which took place in Lutterworth.

The 75-kilometre race showed clear signs of Tony’s increasing form necessary to compete in the World Championships in Austria next Saturday. His performance at Lutterworth was even more impressive due to the quality of the field which also included the over 60’s ex National Champion Lance Ravenhill.

Glendene would like to wish Tony the ‘Best of Luck’ at next weekend’s Worlds and for his future races.

Mixed fortunes for Juniors in National RR Championship

A very wet and windy race brought 72 of the countries best juniors up to Bridgnorth, in Shropshire, to take part in the prestigious 2007 Junior National RR Championships. Before the race started two members of the team, Daniel Kogan and Joe Perrett, had to pull out, both suffering with sickness.

The race left the HQ with a very tough 17 mile loop, which would make up a 68 mile race. The first and also the deciding move of the day was made up the climb in Bromley on the first lap where five of some of the strongest riders in the race, made their move. These were pre- race favourite Peter Kennaugh, Johnny McEvoy, Erick Rowsell, Mark McNally and Glendene rider, Toby Meadows. With the gap to the peloton rising to 1 minute 36 seconds Glendene duo Ben Plain and Andrew Griffiths, accompanied by two other riders, set out to bridge the gap, yet their bid was short lived as the bunch soon reeled them in.

Now, with the gap dropping significantly, the break held a diminished 40 seconds lead. Realising this they upped the pace and, in turn, dropped Toby Meadows who was reeled in by the bunch with a lap to go.

On the final climb the break was clearly going to succeed as the gap reached 50 seconds. Yet with 6 miles to go there was a charge by 4 riders off the front of the bunch including Glendene’s Sam Webster. The four riders working well together pulled back the gap to the four breakaway riders to a mere eight seconds by the finish but it was just too late as Peter Kennaugh took the win, followed by McEvoy in 2nd and Rowsell in 3rd. Sam Webster was first Glendene rider in 7th, followed by Andrew nearly a minute later, but leading the bunch in 9th with Toby Meadows not far behind - 13th, Ben Plain - 16th and Mark Christian - 18th.

Alice shows strongly in Elite Women’s National RR Championships

Saffron Walden played host to the 2007 Women’s RR championships which was a very wet 70 miles through the Essex countryside. Eight riders including the defending National Champion, Nicole Cooke, got away on lap 3 and soon opened a huge gap. Alice Monger-Godfrey, coming back from some sensational results in Belgium, unfortunately missed the break yet rode a strong race and chased tirelessly to bring the break back, yet to no avail. Coming to the finish Nicole Cooke had opened a minute’s gap on her fellow breakaway companions to take a 9th National RR title. Rachel Heal and Helen Wyman took the two remaining podium places.

First under 23 was Nikki Harris followed by Elizabeth Armistead, both remnants of the break. With the final spot on the under 23 podium still for the taking Alice demonstrated her impressive sprint to finish 10th overall and 3rd under- 23 of the day. A well deserved 3rd that shows her amazing potential and strength, which she will, without doubt, better in the next few seasons.

Glendene Riders in Belgium Read all about our Junior Team's efforts in Belgium.

Glendene Juniors in Johan Museeuw Classic Read about it.

Junior Team in Belgium (final report)

On 13th August Bob Griffiths writes:
The team are now on the ferry home having completed races mid week and this weekend.On Wednesday Sam Webster got third and Andrew Griffiths 5th with Dan Kogan and Ben Plain having taken a couple of primes finishing in the bunch.Saturday Andrew was 4th with Sam and Dan in the bunch,Ben unfortunately punctured early on.

On Sunday Andrew played Taxi driver and didn't race but Sam was 10th, Ben 11th, and Dan about 20th. Alice Monger Godfrey missed mid week but got 4th on Saturday and with Andrew at the roadside got third on Sunday winning several primes along the way.The primes must have been sponsored by a kitchenwear supplier as she has now got enough tupperware dishes and kitchen gloves to last a lifetime!

All in all the team had a great time,getting good results making many new friends and learning the Belgian way of life.Many thanks to Tim and Jocelyn Harris for the accomodation the team certainly want to be back next year. Many thanks John.


Belgium Invaded!

from our Special Correspondent at the front.

Three of our active veteran racers, Colin Mannakee, Phil Thomerson and former World Champion Tony Woodcock, recently set off for a week in Belgium to ride this year's ICF World Championships at Hillegem, near Ghent.

As last year, accommodation was at the excellent Hotel Prado (now renamed Lepelbed Hotel) in Melle, right on the Ghent boundary on the N9 road, under the culinary care of Norbert, chef to the Belgian National Squads and, occasionally, pro team CSC, and son Bart, now co-owner. Joining us for the week there were track multi-World medallists Brian Dacey (De Laune) and Roly Crayford (San Fairy Ann) and we went to all four races together; it was a great group in all respects.

As a warm-up, on 2 August, we rode 52km against 92 starters at Affligem in the F2 over 50s category; Colin persuaded the organisers to permit Phil to ride the same race despite his 44 "tender years", as a result Phil took 7th (unofficially of course), Tony 8th and Colin 12th; all were in the prizes.

Next came the Worlds themselves on Sunday 5 August, after two days of clubruns (first with a party of Brits from the North along beautiful canal paths to an eatery near Eeklo and second just the five of us doing a "recce" trip to Hillegem and back).

This time Phil had to ride in the 40-49 race, 162 starters, and he thrilled us old 'uns with a really gutsy performance to stay in contact over all but the last few kilometres and place 105th for the 80km, covered in 1 hour 45 minutes in 32 degrees Celsius; who said vets cannot dig in and ride fast!

Tony and Colin were in the 60s and over race, which was equally furious albeit with a smaller field. Forced by circumstances to start from the back of the huge pack, our "boys" had to negotiate a crash in the first 400 metres and then chase hard to regain the leaders by the next junction and the first downhill section. Thereafter, there was lots of jostling for position, during which five slipped away to form the winning break which gained almost a minute at one point, only to be pegged back to 36 seconds at the finish. Left with the lesser placings to contend, it was nonetheless a madcap mass sprint for the line at the end of 49km with Tony and Colin almost tying in 28th and 29th places, 2nd and 3rd best Brits; Ken Haddon (MI Racing) was GB's best in 13th; Terry Devine (a former Glendener) managed 55th.

The next day saw the Brits (about 12 in all) at Merelbeke Station, for 50km in pouring rain; only Tony and Colin "braved it" against 84 Belgians while Phil, Brian and Roly stayed safe under umbrellas! Our intrepid duo rode powerfully, but couldn't better last year's results (2nd and 6th) and came home 7th and 11th.

Our last full day, Tuesday 7 August, saw all five of us take the line at Destelbergen for a real road race course over 55km. Phil started the 40+ race , but suffered mechanical troubles (B/B came undone on his Colnago!) and had to retire early. Tony (lots), Colin and Brian were all active at the front, but found themselves up against the usual overt Belgian "combines" - to ensure the Brits are not able to get clear, only Belgians! As a result, two "locals" went away at the start of the last 6km lap for a narrow victory and in the eventual big bunch sprint (for 3rd place), Brian was deemed to be 7th overall, Colin 13th, Tony 17th and Roly 32nd.

Colin Mannakee