Reports & Photos: Rapha Super Cross

Hope Factory Racing and team Hargroves Cycles go to the wire in Ally Pally Finale at the third round of the Rapha Super Cross in London on Sunday

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

By Paul Burgoine | Photos Wig Morland & Paul Burgoine

The series finale of the Rapha Super Cross came to the imposing grounds of Alexandra Palace in North London, a hilly course which demanded a constant effort from the riders with no sections for recovery.

Photo: Wig Worland

As with most large cross events in this country, we try to create the atmosphere that is generated in Belgium or Holland with beer tents and frites etc. I’m not sure we will ever match the atmosphere of a World Cup event but cross Racing in Britain is good in its own right and the cross scene is still gathering momentum and bringing in more participants and spectators all the time.

It was a gloomy and chilly day up on the hill at Alexandra Palace, that’s one thing we can match the Belgium’s at; the weather!

The Men’s senior race was dominated by Nick Craig (Scott UK) who made this two wins in two days, after taking the victory in the Knog Muddy Hell at Herne Hill Saturday evening in equally emphatic style.

When asked how he found the race Nick said “Loved it. Really enjoyed the corners slipping and sliding, loved it…. I was out in Langkawi with Rapha last week mountain biking and only got back a few days ago but I wanted to be involved in this event. This was a very technical course with some very tricky corners and I hope we were a good warm up for the main event”.

In the women’s race, the long time leader Leona Kadir (Sigma Sport) was overhauled in the final lap by Delia Beddis (Vicious Velo). Beddis tweeted “Brilliant course, love a bit of hill suffering”.

The invitation only elite race boasted a small but select field. The first lap saw Steve James (Hargroves Cycles Specialized) take a flyer and open up a gap from Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles  Specialized) and Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) with Adam Martin (Rapha /GB Development) and Ben Sumner ( Rotwild – Forme Coaching) leading the chase ahead of the main group.

It wasn’t too long before Oldham and Crawford reeled in James and Oldham quickly pulled out a small gap on Crawforth with James paying for his fast start and being overtaken by Martin and Sumner.

Oldham established a ten second lead that he never gave up and went on to take the win and a clean sweep in the series. Crawford took second place and Sumner third. The team prize also went to Oldham’s team Hope Factory Racing winning from Hargroves Cycles- Specialized.

Steve James (Hargroves Cycles Specialized) leading the way at Ally Pally

Oldham said after the race “That was hard especially after yesterday. There’s nowhere to rest around here and it’s such a big hill. I was a bit worried for the first few laps when Steve James went off so hard. It was very slippy out there and so hard to recover anywhere, a very difficult race”

Next up for Paul is the National Trophy in Ipswich then a short rest to recover from the long block of racing.

Hugo Robinson (Rapha GB/Development) who rode a good solid race considering it was his third appearance in two days after yesterdays Super Cross and Knog Muddy Hell in the evening. He said “that was so tough, there is so much climbing each lap, it’s so hard to recover after an effort when you go into the red. The first few laps I tried very hard to stay at the front of the race with Paul and Steve, but it was too big an effort so I had to ride my own race at my own threshold”

Sumner and Martin during the race.

“If you get carried away and try and stay with people on this course, it just kills you. Today was my last race of the weekend so I gave it everything, I’ve got another busy weekend next week with the European Championships in Ipswich and the following day the National Trophy race and I really want to defend my Green Jersey”

Sean Dunlea (Rapha/GB Development) said after when asked how his race went “It was awful for me. The rest of my team did OK but I have just come off a three week training bloc and before that I had been unwell. This is a great race and I can’t thank Konrad enough for giving me the opportunity to ride. Hopefully I will have a better race in next week’s National Trophy race and with a bit of luck get selected for the Koksijde world cup race in November”.

Event Press Release
An enthralling encounter in the final round of the Rapha Super Cross Series resulted in defending champions Hope Factory Racing taking the spoils again, but only just. An estimated 4,000-strong crowd packed Alexandra Palace park for the big finale and were treated to a day of thrilling cyclo-cross racing in the Capital.

Hope Factory Racing Celebrate. Photo: Wig Worland.

Hope went into the final round with a healthy two-point lead, but Hargroves-Specialized and ROTWILD-Forme Coaching rode inspired races on the slippery and hilly terrain to push the series leaders down to third on the day. Only count back separated the top two squads, with Hope’s wins in the two previous rounds at Broughton and Misterton giving them the edge.

The rapidly improving ROTWILD-Forme Coaching squad sealed third in the team standings, led home by under-23 winner Ben Sumner. Delia Beddis repeated her previous day’s victory in Misterton after a strorming last lap to catch Leona Kadir in the women’s race.

Once the serious competition was out of the way, entrants in the Fun category were subjected to the compulsory wall of foam and the optional tequila shortcut, both proving popular with the cowbell-toting throng.

Time for a rest for Paul Oldham … not yet, next week, Ipswich!

Delia Beddis

Photo Wig Worland.

A young Hopeful at Ally Pally… Photo Wig Worland.

Young rider from the Hargroves Cycles team. Photo Wig Worland.

RESULTS

Invitation Event

1 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing
2 Jody Crawforth HargrovesCycles – Specialized
3 Ben Sumner ROTWILD – Forme Coaching
4 Steven James Hargroves Cycles – Specialized
5 Rob Jebb Hope Factory Racing
6 Hamish Batchelor ROTWILD – Forme Coaching
7 Seb Batchelor ROTWILD – Forme Coaching
8 Hugo Robinson Rapha/GB Development Squad
9 Adam Martin Rapha/GB Development Squad
10 Andy Hargroves Hargroves Cycles – Specialized
11 Perry Bowater Cycle Premier-Kovert
12 Dave Collins Hope Factory Racing
13 Joe Fox Cycle Premier-Kovert
14 Jake Womersley Endura Racing
15 Lee Williams ROTWILD – Forme Coaching
16 Dan Fleeman ROTWILD – Forme Coaching
17 Jack Ravenscroft Rapha/GB Development Squad
18 Stu Bowers Hargroves Cycles – Specialized
19 Will Bjergfelt Cycle Premier-Kovert
20 Daniel Booth Hope Factory Racing
21 Mathew Webber Cycle Premier-Kovert
22 Chris Metcalfe ChargeBikes
23 Dieter Droger Dirtwheels Cycles
24 Jack Clarkson Hope Factory Racing
25 Robert Watson Dirtwheels Cycles
26 Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing
27 Rob Partridge Endura Racing
28 Danny Fox Rapha/GB Development Squad
29 John Hopkinson Dirtwheels Cycles
30 Simon Maudsley Dirtwheels Cycles
31 Seth Smith ChargeBikes
32 Mark Cotton Dirtwheels Cycles
33 Jon Mozley Cycle Premier-Kovert
34 Sean Dunlea Rapha/GB Development Squad
35 Lawrence Frost ChargeBikes
36 Matthew Denby ChargeBikes
37 Jonathan Watson ChargeBikes

Senior/Junior
1 Nick Craig scott uk
2 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC
3 Charles Coleman Cadence Cannondale
4 Gareth Jones Velo Club Moulin
5 Jack Finch PMRacing
6 Steve Halsall VC Moulin
7 Mark Smith Crawley Wheelers
8 Liam Earl Sutton cc
9 Benjamin Lewis fpcc
10 Chris Pedder AWCycles.co.uk
11 Peter Mollison Kingston Wheelers
12 steve webb Singular cycles
13 Craig Joy Team Toachim
14 Adam Studholme Zappis CC
15 Roger Maidment East London Velo
16 Dan Braid LaFuga Sigma Sport
17 James Hill
18 Chris McGovern Sutton CC
19 Daniel stevens Neon-Digital.co.uk
20 James Wilson La Fuga Sigma Sport
21 Leo Payne N/A
22 Liam Cowell PCA Ciclos Uno
23 David Bamford East London Velo
24 Jonathan Dennis Rollapaluza CC
25 Philip Moore Kinesis Morvelo Project
26 philip deacon Kingston Wheelers
27 Dave Arthur
28 Michael Miach Pretorius Bikes
29 David Barnaville Felt Colbornes
30 james flury team darenth
31 Richard Sanders Las Vegas Institute of Sport
32 Sam Richardson
33 Cameron Fraser La Fuga – Sigma Sport CC
34 Tom Paine VC Jubilee
35 Chris Ball
36 Alex Pettett Private
37 george gori la fuga sigma sport
38 Gordon Byrne team worc
39 Barry Hughes Rapha Condor Club
40 kevin ball Dulwich Paragon
41 Matthew Theobalds C.S. Grupetto
42 Rob Milton Push cycles / hackney gt
43 Philip Diprose The Ride Journal
44 James Spender
45 Kieran Riley
46 David Kleinjan singular cycles
47 Jeff Lawrence Dulwich Paragon CC
48 Andrew Bradshaw VCL
49 Greg Needham Neon digital
50 George Aston Welwyn Wheelers
51 Patrick Tully Las Vegas Institute of Sport
52 Alex Stepney Braintree Velo
53 Chris Conaghan
54 Richard Mitchelson Bayeux Cycling Team
55 Gavin Morton Charlotteville CC
56 Peter Jordan League of Bikes
57 aaron beard
58 Bart Wallbank CC Hackney
59 John Bagnall Brooks Cycles
60 Mark Perryman VC Etoile
61 Chris Linaker
62 Simon Parton Kingston Wheelers
63 Greg Anderson Team ProBike Kit
64 romain blanchard none
65 Riley Craig ASL
66 vojtech blazejovsky brixton cycles
67 Jon Hall Chilterns 1XV

VETERANS/WOMEN
1 Greg Simcock Team Scott UK 45:20.6
2 chris rathbone unattached 46:23.9
3 kenny johnson team scott uk 47:01.1
4 Kevin Knox ViCiOUS VELO 48:46.1
5 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park CC 49:54.2
6 Dougie Fox Crawley Wheelers 50:28.8
7 russell Jones Hackney GT/Push/Vico 51:22.1
8 Richard Collins Imperial Racing Team 51:49.4
9 Andy Newman Team WORC 45:31.3
10 Simon Scarsbrook Mosquito Bikes Racing Team 46:54.2
11 Dean Taylor Velo Club Moulin 47:17.1
12 Nigel Langridge Crawley Wheelers 47:18.6
13 James Stephens Hackney GT 47:30.2
14 Sam Williamson Hemel Hempstead CC 47:52.5
15 Alex Peeke Welwyn Whs 48:01.6
16 simon guard Sotonia cc 48:06.7
17 Craig White The Crown Estate 48:13.4
18 Delia Beddis ViCiOUS VELO Female 48:22.1
19 Shaun Williams SFA Racing Team 48:24.6
20 leona kadir Cyclelab/Ritte Female 48:32.4
21 graham freer Mosquito Bikes 48:33.3
22 Hugh Vivian Finsbury Park CC 48:35.4
23 David Hemming VIP 49:01.1
24 Mark Jary VC Londres 49:12.4
25 Kevin Barker Ciclos Uno 49:35.4
26 Gareth Williams Edwardes Elite Cycling 49:42.8
27 kevin carter Hackney GT 49:47.1
28 Andrew Diprose The Ride Journal 49:47.2
29 Rob Fountain Dirt Magazine 49:57.3
30 Simon Howard Rapha Condor Cycle Club 50:01.9
31 Paul Gibbs Pearson CC 50:18.5
32 Philip Burnett Mosquito Bikes 50:41.5
33 Gavin Spurling Southfields CC 50:58.3
34 Matthew Levett Brixton Cycles CC 51:05.6
35 Rachel Fenton AWCycles.co.uk Female 51:39.1
36 simon stockley team MK 51:52.2
37 Stuart McGhee Private member 51:52.7
38 melissa brand Pretorius Bikes Female 52:03.0
39 Mark Palmer Thanet RC 52:05.8
40 Ian Watson Finchley RT 45:32.5
41 Pete Lawrence Bike Science / Boardman Elite 45:32.7
42 Charles Codrington Dulwich Paragon 45:47.2
43 Dave Dickie Finchley RT 45:49.7
44 Verity Appleyard xcracer Female 45:59.9
45 Astrid Wingler London Phoenix CC Female 46:14.4
46 Tony Bartlett Team Corridori 46:17.4
47 Jamie Bishop Stortford Tri 46:19.9
48 Roger Flury Darenth 46:30.3
49 Tim Medway-Smith Southgate cc 46:32.9
50 Andy Murray Norwood Paragon C.C. 46:43.4
51 rexford pennington 47:07.1
52 Adam Platts dulwich paragon 47:17.2
53 Andrew Postings Archer RC 47:20.5
54 Jason Battle Stowmarket Cycling Club 47:55.3
55 Richard Pearce 47:56.1
56 robin worman Royal Navy/Royal Marines CA 48:29.9
57 Philip Millard VC Monte Martre 49:07.6
58 Lee Rae-Byford 49:14.6
59 David Steele Unattached 49:24.8
60 Grant Venter CC London 49:26.6
61 Lisa Routledge VIP Female 50:03.1
62 Joe Richardson 50:41.5
63 steve wood pearson cycles 51:07.5
64 peter douglas Finsbury Park CC 51:07.9
65 Jamie Swanston G.S. Henley 51:15.6
66 Kevin Jones Twickenham CC 51:21.3
67 Abigail Armstrong unattached Female 51:45.9
68 Neil Graham RCCC 52:32.5
69 Sue McIntyre Female 52:54.4
70 Lisa Millar Dromara CC Female 53:15.3
71 Jo-Anne Perry Deal Triathlon Female 53:30.0
72 Tiffany Hore Becontree Wheelers CC Female 54:23.7
73 Amy O’Halloran Female 48:58.2
74 Robert Farago 51:24.0
75 180 Nicky Hartle Dirtwheels Cycles Female 51:38.0

First under-23: Ben Sumner (ROTWILD-Forme Coaching)
Team of the Day Award: Cycle Premier-Kovert

Rapha Super Cross Series Final Standings
1. Hope Factory Racing
2. Hargroves-Specialized
3. ROTWILD-Forme Coaching
4. Rapha-GB Development
5. Cycle Premier-Kovert
6. Endura Racing
7. Dirtwheels Cycles
8. Charge Bikes

Under-23 series winner: Steve James Hargroves-Specialized

Novice/Fun/Youth
1 Abi Van Twisk VCL Y Girl 28:58.0
2 Rachel Jary VC Londres Y Girl 30:15.1
3 lexie white lvycc Y Girl 30:19.3
1 daniel Tullett hargroves cycles Y 27:18.8
2 David Barnes Condor Cycles Y 29:49.0
3 Anthony Anderson La Fuga – Sigma Y 31:19.1
1 James Hampshire Trek Bicycle Store Male 27:47.7
2 Uldis Karklins k2ride/kuldiga Male 27:54.3
3 adrian wain Male 29:17.3
1 sam hart none Female 29:38.9
2 Lan-Lan Smith London Skaters Speed Team Female 30:29.4
3 Sally Stubbs Imperial Female 31:20.6
4 lucy khatun Female 29:26.2

 

 

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: , ,