Lewes Crits Report #2

Again this comes courtesy of Mark Winton and once again another great performance by Driss who took a first in one of the primes and finished in the top six and now places 2nd in the overall for the series.

This week's first place was taken by young John Powell. Well done to him and I now understand why I suffered so much trying to stay with him in our local chain gang.

Mark reports.

Lewes Wanderers Cycling Club – Evening Criterium Series 41st EditionRound 2 – 7 June 2007

Overall leader from round 1, George Higgs was first to show his colours claiming the points for General Classification at the end of lap 1. Lap 2 saw another bunch sprint for the prime, this prime saw a repeat of the round 1 race result with winner Dris Jones taking full marks, Paul Gosling taking second and George Higgs third. With the overall leaders from round 1 watching each other in the prime sprint a group of riders 5 managed to clip off the front of the main bunch, Marek Siwicki took the sprint for the final prime. As most of the local clubs were represented in the group, the chase never quite got fully organised despite concerted chases by all the entire Brighton Excelsior riders, the Lewes Wanderers own Peter Barling and Dris Jones. The break away was never allowed to gain more than 15 seconds despite the best efforts of Stuart Nisbett (Crawley Wheelers) to break the elastic. With 3 miles to go the breakaway still had just 15 seconds and as they came into the finishing straight they were visibly tiring and the groups were just behind winding up for the sprint. Fortunately the breakaway didn’t play any games, keeping the pressure on right to the line where John Powell emerged the winner with a whoop of delight. Marek Siwicki finished second and Martin Brass third. Powerhouse of the break Stuart Nisbett could only manage 4th just pipping the last of the breakaway Ian Jones.Week 1 winner Dris Jones took the bunch sprint to claim the last available point towards the overall classification. Just for a change the judges managed to place the riders right down to 9th place. Thanks to Sussex Medical Services and the Roebuck Inn (Laughton) for the continued support. Dris Jones closed the gap on overall leader George Higgs to just 2 poins, but with double points on offer for the final week, the overall classification is still very much up for grabs.
Race 2 Result
1st John Powell (In –Gear QuickVit RT)
2nd Marek Siwicki (Mosquito Cycles)
3rd Martin Brass (Pendle Forest)
4th Stuart Nisbett (Crawley Wheelers)
5th Ian Jones (Bayeux Landscapes)
6th Dris Jones (VC Etoile)
7th Nicholas Jeffrey (Ewhurst Controls)
8th Lee Oliver (Ewhurst Controls)9th Mark Paton (Sussex Nomads)
Prime 1 Result
1st George Higgs (Brighton Excelsior)2nd Nicholas Jeffrey (Ewhurst Controls)3rd Neil Lewold
Prime 2 Result
1st Dris Jones (VC Etoile)2nd Paul Gosling (Brighton Excelsior)3rd George Higgs (Brighton Excelsior)
Prime 3 Result
1st Marek Siwicki (Mosquito Cycles)2nd Stuart Nisbett (Crawley Wheelers)3rd Ian Jones(Bayeux Landscapes)
Overall Points after race 2 including primes
George Higgs 22
Dris Jones 20
Merek Siwicki 14
Paul Gosling 12
John Powell 12
Nicholas Jeffrey 9
Doug Baldock 8
Stuart Bisbett 8
Martin Brass 7
Ian Jones 6
Andrew Comben 5
Charlie Sayer 4
Paul Winkley 3
Chris Howard 3
Neil Lewold 1