Endura Racing’s Zak Dempster with a fire burning inside after a dissapointing result in the London Nocturne, came into the round at Woking feeling strong enough to win and that’s what he did, saying “I went wack as soon as I could and was able to get past him (Yanto Barker) with 120 to go”.
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The leading team in the Halfords Tour Series showed their strength in Woking with three wins, Individual, Sprint and Team and with only Stoke to go, are getting stronger as the moment they are crowned champions gets ever closer.
Zak Dempster all smiles after showing again just how strong he is riding right now with big ambitions for the rest of the season in Europe.
The rider of the night was Zak Dempster of Endura Racing. He was warming up on the circuit when the women came to do their warm up and his lone attack early in the race showed just what great form he has right now.
When that attack failed, he went again, and then again and in the end, still won the bunch kick after a great last lap by Ian Bibby (Endura Racing). As Bibby went for the win, Yanto Barker reacted but all that did was give Dempster the platform to go for his second win in the series.
Whilst the race was dominated by Endura Racing, the overwhelming memory of it was just how attacking it had been but how even on a tough circuit like Woking with a long drag through the start finish each lap, there was still a lot of riders left at the end. Whilst it was the attacks by Dempster that were the highlight of the race, other riders also featured with their own moves. Dean Downing had a go, James McCallum and Kristian House for Rapha also tried it on to no avail.
In the Sprint competition, Bernie Sulzberger continued to rack up the points in that as well but the night in Woking was all Endura Racing.
Event Press Release
Endura Racing have moved to within touching distance of their first ever Halfords Tour Series title after taking their seventh team win from the ten rounds held so far. An impression display of dominance in Woking saw Endura riders fill three of the top five places, with Zak Dempster the star of the show in Surrey.
The Australian was on song throughout the Woking round, the fourth year in succession that The Halfords Tour Series has been hosted by the Borough, going on an early solo attack, taking the evening’s Boardman Bikes Sprint competition before rounding things out with the individual victory.
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Despite their commanding lead in the Series standings, Endura Racing spent much of the evening on the front foot, with Dempster, Scott Thwaites and Jonny McEvoy all taking their turns to have periods on the attack.
With the battle for spots two to five in the team standings still agonisingly close, teams were unwilling to let any rider take the advantage for long. As every move got reeled in, the race, in a first for the Woking circuit, boiled down to a bunch sprint, with the Halfords orange leaders jersey across the front of the field.
A powerful turn from Ian Bibby on the final lap stretched the field out, with Endura Racing riders filling the top spots. Dempster opened the sprint up from far out, coming past Bibby and Yanto Barker, with spots two to five spread across the road behind the 24-year-old from Australia.
There was further success for the riders from Down Under, with Bernard Sulzberger claiming the yellow jersey for the Boardman Bikes Sprint classification thanks to insurmountable 27-point lead.
While Endura are 17-points clear heading into the Stoke-on-Trent Grand Final, The Potteries sees 20-points up for grabs as Britain’s ten leading teams tackle the Tommy Godwin Team Time Trial at 3pm, before the final circuit race of the Series at 7.30pm. Barring a dramatic final day turn around, the title will be Endura Racings to celebrate in Stoke-on-Trent.
Race report in Photos
After a wet start to the day, the course was largely dry for the men as they lined up behind their mascots in Woking for the fourth running of the event in the Surrey town.
Endura Racing are called to the line for a race they were to dominate.
Zak Dempster arrived early, warmed up for a long time as he did in Canary Wharf and then spent the next hour on the attack before winning the sprint. A ‘motorbike’ was how one rider described his performance…
Matt Cronshaw of Node4 was another rider at the front of the race if not off the front!
Good to see a rider for whom the Tour Series means a lot and through illness at the wrong time has not yet been able to win another round to add to the five he’s won since the series began, Dean Downing on the attack.
One of countless moves, this one from Jonny McEvoy and James McCallum.
Dempster throws the bike at the line to deny Bernie Sulzberger (out of shot) maximum points in a mid race sprint.
Kristian House early on was very aggressive in bringing back Zak Dempster and throwing in a few of his own moves.
Yet another of Zak Dempster’s attacks…
That’s a pretty convincing victory for Zak Dempster and the two orange Halfords speedsuits in the background shows the team were all over the finish. Three in the top five…
Series leaders Endura Racing celebrate on the podium in Woking. Only Stoke to go …
Jill Douglas interviews Julian Winn after his teams victory
The leader of the Sprints competition, or is that winner with only one round to go, Australia’s Tasmanian devil, Bernie Sulzberger of Raleigh GAC.
The Halfords Tour Series, Round Ten, Woking, Provisional Results
Round Ten Individual Result
1. Zak Dempster, Endura Racing
2. Yanto Barker, Team UK Youth
3. Graham Briggs, Team Raleigh – GAC
4. Ian Bibby, Endura Racing
5. Jonny McEvoy, Endura Racing
6. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Sharp
7. Tobyn Horton, Team Raleigh – GAC
8. Marcel Six, Metaltek Scott
9. Marcin Bialoblocki, Node4 – Giordana Racing
10. Niklas Gustavsson, Team UK Youth
Round Ten Team Result
1. Endura Racing
2. Team Raleigh – GAC
3. Team UK Youth
4. Rapha Condor Sharp
5. Node4 – Giordana Racing
6. Metaltek Scott
7. Cycle Premier – Kovert
8. Team IG – Sigma Sport
9. Team Hope Factory Racing
10. Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Ten
1. Endura Racing, 94pts
2. Rapha Condor Sharp, 77pts
3. Team UK Youth, 76pts
4. Team Raleigh – GAC, 76pts
5. Node4 – Giordana Racing, 71pts
6. Cycle Premier – Kovert, 45pts
7. Team IG – Sigma Sport, 36pts
8. Metaltek Scott, 33pts
9. Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes, 22pts
10. Team Hope Factory Racing, 19pts
Boardman Bikes Sprints winner Woking: Zak Dempster (Endura Racing)
Boardman Bikes Sprints standings, post-Round Ten
1. Bernard Sulzberger, Team Raleigh – GAC, 93pts
2. Marcel Six, Metaltek Scott, 56pts
3. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Sharp, 38pts
4. Graham Briggs, Team Raleigh – GAC, 27pts
5. Zak Dempster, Endura Racing, 26pts
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RESULTS
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