Maureen Bain Win For Tom

Another great weekend for Team Sportscover, Saturdays race saw five of us head up north to Stanfordham in Northumberland for the Maureen Bain Memorial road race. A race where last year I took 6th and my teammate, Tom Stewart came 1st, although a different course to lasts years edition, the new one included the infamous Ryals climb, a serious strength sapper and also used in the Beaumont Trophy, a Premier Calender event.

                              

                                        Slightly mucky after the race, myself, James King, Tom Stewart & Ben Ives

Early on in the race a very strong break went clear of the bunch and soon gained a couple of minutes advantage, which at its best went up to five minutes! Paris-Roubaix winner and legend Magnus Backstedt and his team MG Maxifuel drove the gap down to around a minute after losing two men from the break with punctures, so with team mates James King and Ben Ives in the break myself and Tom could take it easy in the bunch. On the last lap just before the final climb to the finish Tom attacked with a few others to close the gap to the break before attacking again to eventually take the win in the sprint. Although I missed the moves I had a strong finish riding clear of my group up the climb for the last 2k on my own.

Two years in a row now! Nice one Tom.

A few words from Tom after the race courtesy of Larry Hickmott from VeloUK;

“I haven’t raced since Severn Bridge and it feels really good to get off on the right foot. The break went on the first lap and I was gutted I missed it. I know though round here it’s difficult and they are long races and you can bring back five minutes on the last lap if you need to.”

“I had two teammates in the break so that was good for us and let me keep my powder dry and wait for a counter move. My climbing has got better over the winter for sure. I felt great on the Ryals. Matt (Cronshaw), Tommy (Bustard) and me got away on the second bump of the Ryals. We got away on the first bit but opened the gap on the second bit.”

“At the end, with three of you away and you’re all on the limit working together, it is everyman for himself and there was no messing about until the end. Fair play to Tommy because he did a big pull on the front at the end there.”

“Tom led it out and was nailed and I think happy to take third. I have been in a situation like that before, not a lot, a few times and have messed them up. I don’t have a lot of experience of them but I knew I had to be on his (Cronshaws) wheel because he is a good sprinter but I knew I he’d be tired so I didn’t give up and sure enough just nicked it. Couldn’t believe it.”

"Just nicked it"

Looking ahead, Tom says first and foremost he wants to finish his degree and when that is done he says “I’ll do what I can on the bike. I have had a good winter and in this team with a lot of strong young lads, I am sure we’ll be pushing above our weight this season.

Two weeks of solid training now for myself before my next race.

Sam