Two stage wins for Newton

OLYMPIC team pursuiter Chris Newton (North Wirral Velo) held off a determined challenge from Controlware professionals Mark Walsham and John Tanner to emerge a clear winner of the Tyne Velo two-day road race at the weekend.

The second edition of the Tyne event attracted a quality field, containing many of the country's top roadmen, for a total of 144 miles' tough racing over courses based on Edmundbyers, Co. Durham.

Newton, enjoying a trip home from his base in Geneva, quickly took command when he won the opening time trial over a sporting seven mile course. The Middlesbrough rider put a minute into many of his expected rivals for overall victory, his time of 13-03 giving him a margin of 26 seconds over his nearest challenger against the clock, Wayne Randle (GS Strada). Russell Thompson (GS Metro), third in the previous week's RTTC circuit series event at Stamfordham, was a further 18 seconds back.

Five laps of the tough Derwent Reservoir circuit were covered in record time in Saturday's 62-mile opening road stage. Numerous attacks were neutralised in the early stages and, with the bunch already strung out, attacking riding from Wayne Randle led to the formation of a four-man race winning break.

Also present were Rob Holden (Deeside-Cannondale), the ever-present Newton, and Randle's Strada team-mate Duncan Moralee. On the second lap, a chasing group of Tim Gill (Pace Racing), Darren Bendelow (Morley CC) and Controlware team-mates Mark Walsham and Scott Gamble went in pursuit.

With Newton doing most of the driving, the four leaders never looked in danger of being caught. Rather than leave it to a sprint, Newton attacked on the final climb of the prime hill at Carterway Heads, soloing the last two miles, crossing the line 30 seconds ahead of Holden. Walsham clipped off the chasing group to take fifth place, more than three minutes down.

Five gruelling laps of the Blanchland circuit, containing the feared ascent of Horseshoe Hill to Crawleyside, reduced the field to just 21 finishers in Sunday's final leg. The race split on the first climb, leaving a lead group which contained all the favourites.

Randle's race ended when a sheep strayed on to the road, causing him to crash heavily. The group slowed to give him chance to get back on but Randle, second on GC, was badly grazed and played no further part.

The slowing of the leaders allowed most of the field to regroup. Chris Golightly (Wheelbase CC) attacked on the descent and was quickly joined by Trevor Greener (GS Metro), Tim Gill and Scott Gamble.

Content to have Gamble up the road, Walsham and Tanner left the chasing to Newton and Moralee. Golightly was dropped by the leaders on the third lap. The other three were reeled in on lap four and, at the top of the final climb, Newton, Walsham and Tanner were clear. Walsham attacked on the run-in to win the stage by a margin of 18 seconds over Newton, with Tanner a further nine seconds back.

Stage 1 (7m TT).

1. Chris Newton (North Wirral Velo) ...... 13 03
2. W. Randle (GS Strada) ............... 13 29
3. R. Thompson (GS Metro)............. 13 47
4. G. Stirzaker (Middridge CRT) .......... 13 55
5. A. Hornby (Brough Wh) .............. 13 57
6. N. Giles (Norton-Radfords) ........... 13 59

Stage 2

1. Chris Newton 62m in 2-21-00
2. R. Holden (Cannondale-Deeside) at 30sec
3. W. Randle
4. D. Moralee (GS Strada) all s
5. M. Walsham (Controlware) at 3-16
6. S. Gamble (Controlware) at 3-41.

Stage 3

1. Mark Walsham 75m in 3-02-55
2. C. Newton at 18sec
3. J. Tanner (Controlware) at 27sec
4. T. Gill (Pace Racing) at 2-51
5. S. Gamble at 4-54
6. C. Anelay (VC Voodoo) at 6-02.

Final Overall

1. Chris Newton 144m in 5-37-16
2. M. Walsham at 3-55
3. J. Tanner at 6-33
4. T Gill at 8-11
5. D. Moralee at 9-52
6. S. Gamble at 9-55
7. D. Bendelow (Morley CC) at 10-45
8. W. Hart (Perth-Durham-Pine) at 13-07
9. R. Eastham (Lakes & Lancs Div) at 13-09
10. C. Anelay at 13-11.

KoM.- Chris Newton.