Endura Racing’s run of victories in Britain continued as they won the Individual with Scott Thwaites and the Team award as well.
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Scott Thwaites wins the drag race to the line ahead of Bernie Sulzberger and Rico Rogers.
The BIG Photo Album of the main race from Kirkcaldy
Event Press Release
It was fitting for The Halfords Tour Series’ first ever Scottish round that Livingston based Endura Racing took the honours, with Scott Thwaites leading the team home with an individual victory to go alongside the team win and Series lead.
After a fast-paced start to the 2012 season of team-based racing, Thwaites outsprinted an Antipodean trio of Bernard Sulzberger, Rico Rogers and Dean Windsor around Kirkcaldy’s tough 1.4 kilometre circuit. With teammates Windsor and Jonathan McEvoy placing fourth and eights, Thwaites’ Endura team also took the team honours to pull on the five orange Halfords leader’s jerseys.
It was a brutal start and seemingly much quicker and tougher than previous years.Â
A strong performance by Team UK Youth saw them place four riders in the top ten, but with Cornishman Chris Opie their highest rider in fifth, the charity backed team narrowly lost out to Endura.
The first round of the 2012 season saw action from the off, with the peloton lined out around the circuit. A brief escape containing Olympic Gold medallist Ed Clancy and former British Champion Kristian House of defending champions Rapha Condor Sharp, plus Endura’s Windsor briefly flourished, but were reigned in setting up a thrilling finale.
The final laps saw Team UK Youth to the fore of the lead group, with Yanto Barker leading out a well drilled team. Thwaites though entered the finishing funnel second wheel, jumping out of the slipstream with several hundred metres to go to power to victory.
Rapha were in control early on with two in the break (Kristian House & Ed Clancy) and only one Endura Racing, Dean Windsor.
Speaking afterwards, Thwaites, who also won last year’s Stoke-on-Trent round of the Series, said; “It’s a good race, the circuit’s really good. I think everyone was a bit shocked with it being the first crit of the season. It was tough so got the heart going.
“We (Endura Racing) said that we weren’t going to go for a leadout, as that automatically writes one guy off, so it was all four of us trying to stay on the front.
“I was second and thought I might as well take it up now, about 500 metres out. You’ve got to take a few risks to win, and I took a few. I absolutely ragged it all the way to the finish.â€
Defending Halfords Tour Series Champions Rapha Condor Sharp enjoyed a miserable start to their title defence, finishing fifth on the night, with Commonwalth Games Bronze medallist James McCallum their highest placed rider on the night in 12th position.
Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing) adds another Tour Series win from his previous wins.
In the Boardman Bikes Sprints Competition Marcel Six recovered from an early spill to win the first and third sprints, with it the lead of the season long competition after Round One.
The racing took part a short stones throw from the sea.
Dean Windsor was in the early move and when that was brought back, was in a load of others as well showing great form for his team, Endura Racing.
Marcel Six showed that his yellow Sprint jersey in the early rounds of the Halfords Tour Series last year before he crashed out was no fluke as he was in fine form in Kirkcaldy.
THE SUPPORT RACES PHOTO ALBUM
THE LIVE PHOTO ALBUM
Provisional Results
1. Scott Thwaites, Endura Racing
2. Bernie Sulzberger, Raleigh-GAC
3. Rico Rogers, Node 4
4. Dean Windsor, Endura Racing
5. Chris Opie, UK Youth
6. Yanto Barker, UK Youth
7. Niklas Gustavsson, UK Youth
8. Jonny McEvoy, Endura Racing
9. David McGowan, UK Youth
10. Graham Briggs, Raleigh GAC
11. Marcel Six, Scott Metaltek
12. James McCallum, Rapha Condor Sharp
13. Tobyn Horton, Raleigh GAC
14. Matt Cronshaw, Node 4
15. Evan Oliphant, Raleigh GAC
16. Ed Clancy, Rapha Condor Sharp
17. Mike Northey, Node 4
18. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Sharp
19. Peter Hawkins, IG Sigma Sport
20. Will Bjergfelt, Cycle Premier Kovert
Teams
Team Result, Round One
1) Endura Racing
2) Team UK Youth
3) Team Raleigh – GAC
4) Node4 – Giordana Racing
5) Rapha Condor Sharp
6) Metaltek Scott
7) Team IG – Sigma Sport
8) Cycle Premier – Kovert
9) Team Hope Factory Racing
10) Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes
Vanilla Bikes.com &Â Pedal Power/Endura
Team Standings, post-Round One
1) Endura Racing, 10pts
2) Team UK Youth, 9pts
3) Team Raleigh – GAC, 8pts
4) Node4 – Giordana Racing, 7pts
5) Rapha Condor Sharp, 6pts
6) Metaltek Scott, 5pts
7) Team IG – Sigma Sport, 4pts
8) Cycle Premier – Kovert, 3pts
9) Team Hope Factory Racing, 2pts
10) Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes, 1pt
Boardman Sprints
1. Marcel Six
2. Bernie Sulzberger
3. Kristian House
4. Scott Thwaites
5. Ed Clancy
6. Dean Windsor
7. Matt Cronshaw
8. James McCallum
9. Yanot Barker
10. Ben Grenda
YOUTH RESULTS
Youth A
1. Stuart Balfour
2. Hamish Carrick
3. Sean Noon
4. Rhys Donnelly
5. Lewis Champion
6. Bryan Moodie
Youth B Boys
1. Jack Crombie
2. Stephen Dent
3. Grant Martin
4. Joseph Nally
5. Stuart Turvey
Girls
1. Flora Gilles
2. Rhona Callendar
3. Erika Allen
4. Helen Mitchell
5. Lulu Barlett
6. Phillappa Sampheir
7. Eleanor Strathdee
8. Katie Allen
9. Jenny Holt
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