Walsham toughs it out
By Keith Bingham. Photos by Phil O’Connor

Mark Walsham won the 40th Lincoln Grand Prix with a classic last lap lone break launched on the penultimate ascent of the cobbled Michaelgate climb.

FOR a cliffhanger finish they don't come much better and the Lincoln GP produced another cracker.

It was anyone's guess which rider from the 20-man group, which escaped after only three laps, would have the strength to carry off the victor's spoils. That man was Mark Walsham (Tritech) who, suffering like he's never suffered before, stormed to his first victory in this Premier Calendar event, covering the 102 miles in a time of 3-59-30.

Walsham beat disappointed young amateur star Chris Newton (North Wirral Velo), who took second place at 27 seconds, and held off Roger Hammond (South Western RC), who was third for the second consecutive year.

Neil Hoban (Peugeot Cycles) was outstanding in winning the Lincolnshire Echo King of the Castle Hill competition. Three times first up the one-in-six cobbled ascent in the city, and three times second, he was on song until the rear mech jumped into his wheel with about five laps to go. Two bike changes later he battled back to finish 13th at 1-44. His Peugeot team-mate Chris Walker, the winner last year, was also a leading player in the front group before he abandoned at halt-distance.

A cold, blustery but sunny morning saw the race start fast, with Ken Stewart (CC Giro) first away, as the race flew down the one-in-six descent through Burton Village at the far end of the 8.5mile lap. He was joined by Matthew Postle (Team Energy) and this pair energised the race as it sped with a cross-tail wind down the A57, back towards the famous cathedral atop the hill they were due to climb 13 times.

It meant the splits came early and thanks to the superb police control and closed roads along part of the route, riders could put their heads down and go for it. For this was a race from the front and, for once, that usual formidable talent Paul Curran (Optimum Performance), who has won this race a record four times, made his move too late. First Newton got across to Postle and Stewart and then a whole host of others, including local hero Richard Hobby of the promoting Velo Club Lincoln. Fittingly, Hobby was first to the top of Michaelgate on the first ascent.

After two laps the bunch had split, with four up front, 11 chasing, two more in no-man's land and the rest wondering what had hit them. After only three laps, a 16-man break was established with Walker prominent, taking the Michaelgate prime from Hoban. Previous winner John Charlesworth (CC Giro) and Matthew Stephens (North Wirral Velo) were also in this group, plus Chris Lillywhite (Karrimor), winner of the previous weekend's Thwaites Grand Prix, Richard Prebble (Wembley RC), the RTTC `25' and `50' time trial champion, Hammond, the former junior world-cyclo-cross champion, Tim Hall (Ambrosia-Dyna-Tech), and Ray Eden (Optimum Performance).

Clearly, the boat was on fullahead and late boarders had to look lively. Four of them were coming up: Dave Williams (RT Italia) whose 13-stone was ultimately to prove a race-losing handicap when Walsham made his move much, much later, plus Mark Dawes (Irish Heritage CC), Mark McKay (RT Italia) and Ian Knight (Olympia Sport). They had a hell of a crossing, taking two laps, fighting tooth and nail, to make the junction after 46 miles were covered, as the race headed once more back into the city along Long Leys Road.

The main bunch was at 1-50 and the lap board showed eight to go as the growing crowd lining the narrow city streets cheered them up the hill beneath the imposing towers of the Minster. At half distance a counterattack came from the bunch, led by Steve Farrell (Tunstall Wheelers) with five men for company. With the leading 20 riding at the double, these six had their work cut out. Besides Farrell they were Simon Bray (Team Energy), Stephen Calland (CS Purbeck), Mark Lovatt (Optimum Performance), Andrew Perks (CC Giro) and Roddy Riddle (Moray Firth RT). Curran then led a third group of five away from the main field, now nearly three minutes behind with five laps and 40 miles to go. Within one lap they had caught the Farrell group, making it 11. But they were too late, for the leaders having created themselves space, ripped up their truce. Walsham drew ahead on Michaelgate with four laps to go, and Hammond battled and rattled across the granite cobbles to join him, while three others also made it - Lillywhite, Eden and Postle in that order.

They quickly opened a 30-second gap on the rest. The lead group swelled as one by one other riders made it across and Williams made it 10 - briefly - for he went straight by.

They were on the A57 again and there were barely 12 miles to go, but significantly, two climbs of Michaelgate! Williams's attack drew out Walsham and blew gaping holes in the group as everyone dived for what cover they could find, leaping after wheels to the left and right. It all happened at the wrong time for Charlesworth, who had punctured as Williams took off. But with a superhuman effort, he rejoined what had now become the chasing group. Again Charlesworth stopped, right at the foot of the Michaelgate climb. His wheel needed further adjustment before heaving himself up the climb to once again rejoin, within two miles - courtesy of a service vehicle with a magnet in its boot! By then, Walsham and Williams were riding like demons, only about 25 seconds clear of Newton, Hall, Hoban, Ellingworth and Hammond. Williams finally cracked on Michaelgate, but he only allowed three others to pass him, Newton, Hammond and Hall, hanging on to take fifth place.

The glory was all Walsham's, after his sprint victory at the Welwyn-Hatfield GP, he showed he could break clear and climb to victory, too. But if victory was sweet for Walsham, second-place tasted bitter for Newton who accused the pro's in the break of not taking up the chase.

1. Mark Walsham (Tritech) 102m in 3-59-30
2. C Newton (North Wirral Velo) at 27sec
3. R Hammond (South Western RC)
4. T. Hall (Ambrosia-Dyna-Tech) at 38sec
5. D. Williams (RT Italia) at 40sec
6. R. Ellingworth (Ambros' Dyna-Tech) at 47sec
7. C. Lillywhite (Karrimor) 1-11-?
8. M. Postle (Team Energy) at 1-21
9. M. McKay (RT Italia) at 1-29
10. R. Prebble (Wembley RC)
11. B. Wilson (CS Purbeck) 1-34
12. A. Naylor (FIT Italia) at 1-40
13. N. Hoban (Peugeot) at 1-44
14. J. Charlesworth (CC 1-50
15. R. Eden (Optimum Performance)
16. M. Dawes (Irish Heritage CC) at 2-2
17. J. Tanner (Tritech) at 6-35
18. S. Farrell Wh) at 6-39
19. P. Curran Performance) at 6-41
20. S. Bray (Team ?) at 6-49

King of Castle Hill.- Neil Hoban (Peugeot Cycles) 37pt; 2, Hammond 36; 3, C. Newton 30

What they said

A WEARY MARK WALSHAM SAID: `I got away with Dave Williams with about 10 miles to go. He went first and I went across to him. But Dave was suffering on the climb and I left him on the climb with a lap to go. I was on my knees. I was on my own and I only had about, oh, I think I had between 12 and 19 seconds all the way round.

`It was a nightmare. I was having kittens. I know how fast a group behind can go if they arrive at a climb relatively fresh, as opposed to myself getting there already on the rivet and I was half-expecting them to come past me on the climb. I knew I had about 15 seconds at the bottom, so it wasn't too bad. But the last 50 metres were a nightmare. The legs were screaming. I didn't know who was behind. I couldn't look.'

CHRIS NEWTON, who earlier this year won the Archer GP, explained what happened after he caught Dave Williams on the climb with one lap to go: `Mark was still away and there was about five of us. But the Ambrosia's (Hall and Ellingworth) just kept sitting on. It just disrupted the race really. They just ride for second place all the time.'