Eddie Soens photo gallery & report
|
 |
By James Maloney in General Published: Friday, 12 March 10 - 09:47 AM (GMT) Last Updated: Friday, 12 March 10 - 09:52 AM (GMT) |
| ||
TEENAGER Joshua Edmondson became only the second junior cyclist to win the Eddie Soens Memorial Race at Aintree in nearly half a century on Saturday.
The Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta rider was part of a clever move by a group of several young riders who took advantage of their three minute handicap start before latching onto the back of the elite riders.
Beijing Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy (Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta) and 2009 Tour of Britain stage winner Ben Swift (Team Sky) were among the pre-race favourites, but they could do little to regain the one lap lead carved out by Edmondson and Co.
The field of 160 riders enjoyed a good start to the day’s proceedings courtesy of sunshine and next to no wind – a rarity for the Soens. Divided into four groups, the juniors, womens and fourth category riders set off first, followed a minute later by the thirds.
Next off were the seconds a minute-and-a-half later, before the elites and firsts were allowed to depart three minutes after the first. But after just a few laps, the juniors had caught up to the Elites and managed to hang on for the entire 30 laps.
Despite continuous attempts to breakaway by many of the big teams, including Raleigh, the 81km race ended with three juniors taking all podium places – Edmondson, Simon Yates (Maxgear RT) and Robert Crampton (Wills Wheels CC).
Joshua, who has now joined Steve Cummings in becoming one of only two juniors to ever win the Eddie Soens, said: “Over the final few laps, I got towed round by everyone. They got me into a good position and all I had to do was sprint from the last corner to the line by myself and that was it.
“I heard the crash behind me, but never saw who went down. It was crazy for the last two laps, everyone was going everywhere.”
“I couldn’t have had better help in the race than what I got from these guys (his Motorpoint teammates). Ed was pretty much carrying me around, making sure I wasn’t going too far back and stuff. They did everything perfect for me.”
“At the start, we went really hard for the first two laps and then they were in sight. Myself and Owain Doull did a lot of work at the start and the Yates’ did a lot at the start too and then attacked as we got close and made it possible to get on the back of the Elite group.”
Provisional Result (Record time, 1.36.33)
1. Joshua Edmondson, Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta
2. Simon Yates, Maxgear RT
3. Robert Crampton, Wills Wheels
4. Chris Nicholson, Team Manx Telecom
5. Adam Yates, Maxgear RT
6. Stephen Smith, Birkinhead NE
7. Declan Byrne, Brooks Cycles
8. Robert Ormrod, Manchester Wheelers
9. Chris Smith, Manchester Tri
10. Martin Spencer, Glossop Kinder Velo
11. Jess Wieckowski, Nemisis GB
12. Mike Gregg, Team ProBikeKit
13. Gareth Owen, VS Cycles
14. Lewis Balyckyi, Team Wallis-CHH
15. Nick Pilborough, Halesowen A&CC
16. Craig Maude, Yorkshire RC
17. Robert Rutherford, West Pennine RC
18. Owain Doull
19. Sam Boast, Cyclesport Pendle
20. S Cotan
First Elite, Tony Gibb, (33rd overall) @1 lap
Have your say on this article:
<-- Back
