WINN PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER ENDURA DEFEAT IN LINCOLN
The Lincoln GP did not go exactly to plan for Endura, with Jack Bauer the team's only rider in the top-ten and eighth at that.
However, directeur sportif Julian Winn was philosophical in defeat after what was a rather disappointing performance for the team.
"Wilko [Ian Wilkinson] and Alex [Blain] weren't firing, they were both riding depleted," Winn explained. "They have both been ill this week, that's not an excuse, it's the reality of the situation."
"Evan [Oliphant] rode a good race today though, and was basically in the front group throughout," Winn added.
Jack Bauer was the team's top finisher on the day but still needs time to adjust to the style of UK racing after spending last year racing in Belgium.
"Jack was as strong as an ox, but when it came to the winning move he wasn't quite there," commented Winn. Bauer made the decisive break but didn't quite have the legs in the finale.
"He rode very well for his first Lincoln and I hope he can learn from what happened out there, basically he has had three or four races in the UK now and he is learning the 'UK-way' all of the time."
The team will dust itself off and head to the south of France for the 2.2 Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour.
"I am not panicking," said Winn. "We have had a good early-season, with a couple of tough races in the last few weeks. The guys have got the form, and are all working hard, so things are still in place to turn things around".
Bauer the team's top man in Lincoln
STOREY SETS HER MARK
Sarah Storey showed that she is a clear favourite for the upcoming national 10-mile time trial championships.
The Horizon Fitness rider was a comfortable winner in round four of the Rudy Project Series on Sunday.
Storey set a time of 29-56, beating Michelle King by almost two minutes.
"It was great to get such a fast time in windy conditions," Storey commented. "Now I'm heading to France for my final preparations for the national 10".
SILVERSIDES TAKES BIG WIELERTROFEE WIN
York-born Emma Silversides claimed arguably the biggest win of her career on Saturday at the third round of the Wielertrofee Vlaanderen at Knokke-Bredene.
The Red Sun rider - and CW blogger - crossed the line solo, shaking off Helene Vander Massen late on. The pair had escaped on the penultimate lap of the race.
It is a fine win for Silversides, all the better seeing as it follows a tricky period dealing with throat problems, illness and bad sensations.
The 31-year-old has been racing on the Belgian scene for three years now, competing with Lotto-Belisol before joining her current team. Behind the two escapees, Tour of Flanders winner Grace Verbeke took the bunch sprint for third.
The Wielertrofee Vlaanderen is the season-long premier competition for Belgian women.
1, Emma Silversides (Red Sun) 2-35-00
2, Helene Vander Massen (GKV Cycling Team) at 5secs
3, Grace Verbeke (Lotto Ladies Team) at 9secs
4, Kelly Druyts (Topsport Vlaanderen-Thompson)
5, Sjoukje Dufoer (Topsport Vlaanderen-Thompson) at same time
BRITISH JUNIORS BRILLIANT IN BELGIUM
The battleground may have shifted to Belgium, but the rivals all spoke the same language.
Come the finish line in Saturday's junior kermesse at Zwevegem, there was a British 1-2-3.
In a six-up breakaway sprint for the line, Jack Waller (Team Corley) outgunned Oliver Rossi and Perry Bowater (CC Giro) for the race win.
Sport City Velo's Jack Penrice finished eighth, eight second in arrears.
At the next day's race in Torhout, Perry Bowater finished on the podium, taking third place again to make it a productive weekend across the Channel.
Now back in Britain, the riders will all be hoping to make their mark in the national junior road-race on Sunday in Brecon.
HELMS DESIGNED MUGS NOW AVAILABLE
Mugs designed by CW's longest serving contributer Johnny Helms are now available from the National Cycle Collection, Llandrindod Wells.
The museum has just launched an online cycle history library as part of its website. Several thousand scanned documents available to view.
See www.cyclemuseum.org.uk or tel 01597 825531.
JOIN SEAN KELLY IN THE DOWN 100 RIDE
Sean Kelly will add extra draw for sportivistes in the inaugural Down 100 sportive in June, with the former professional set to ride the event.
The new event is part of the 100 Series of rides run by children's health charity, Action Medical Research.
Taking place against the backdrop of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, there is a choice of two distances: a gruelling 100-miler and a shorter, but still tough, 100km circular route.
Both pass along quiet country lanes through areas of outstanding scenery - a landscape dotted with loughs, castles and mountains in the distance.
"I'm delighted to be taking part in the Down 100 to promote cycling and to support such a worthy cause such as Action Medical Research. Come along for the ride and help establish this great new event and raise much needed funds," Kelly commented.
See www.action.org.uk/down100 for more details.
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