BACK IN STYLE
By David Taylor for Snowdon Sports Editorial

Making it two wins from two rides, world points race champion Chris Newton made a successful return to the North Road.

THREE years after his winning debut in the North Road CC hardriders' event, Chris Newton (Corima RT) slipped effortlessly back into time trial mode to take the early season classic after riding in the opening round of the World Cup track series in Moscow.

In a clean sweep of the top three places by former winners, Newton covered a roadworks reduced 22.2 mile course in 51 03 to finish with 31 seconds to spare over Julian Ramsbottom (Race Scene), who was the top seed in Sunday's field following his winning ride last year.

Gethin Butler (Preston Wheelers), the North Road winner in 1995, 1996 and 1999, was able to salvage the final podium place with his 52 10.

Although the sunny weather of the previous two days had disappeared and there had been some overnight rain, conditions were relatively good on the technical circuit based on Brookmans Park, near Potters Bar through the Hertfordshire lanes.

Butler was seeded number 110 in the starting order, Newton 115 and Ramsbottorn 120, although there was plenty of early action before the big hitters took centre stage.

John Wood (Finsbury Park CC) was a local favourite, having finished eighth last year. His time of 57 28 briefly put him at the top of the results board, but in the end he was well down the listings in 19th spot.

Wood, however, was laying the foundations for a Finsbury Park CC team success. With colleagues lan Turner and Dave Kendall turning in 1 02 33 and 1 02 39 rides respectively, the North London club scored a deserved success to go with individual wins back in 1961 and John Bombas and John Winstanley's double in 1968 and 1969.

It was new veteran Nigel White (Sherwood CC) who first displaced Wood, a 53 25 giving White the race lead for half an hour.

A minute behind him, 58 year old former professional John MacMillan (Kenton RC), winner of the North Road event in 1971 and 1972, had a reputation to live up to.

With a little more weight to carry up the climbs of Newgate Street and Essendon Hill than 30 years ago, McMillan got on with the job and his 1 00 26 earned him the veterans' standard prize, a small part of the total £1,000 on offer on Sunday.

James Dear (In Gear RT), second in the previous weeks Kingston Wheelers sporting TT, was unable to dislodge White from the top spot, and his 54 23 was good enough for an eventual ninth place. Aaron MacCaffrey (Team Milton Keynes), fifth to Newton in 2000, went back to eighth this time out, just getting inside the 54 minute barrier.

Third behind Ramsbottom and Michael Hutchinson last year, Matt Bottrill (Race Scene RT) raised the game as he entered the fray with the day's first sub 53 minute ride at 52 42.

It took Gethin Butler to unseat Bottrill, but before that the experienced and talented Stuart Shawcross (Dataphonics RT) and Gavin Pardoe (Stourbridge CC) finished in 53 29 and 53 49 respectively.

The twisting Hertfordshire lanes hold no surprises for Butler, who finished in 52 10 with only Newton and Ramsbottorn left to challenge him.

Newton was first back, and his 51 03 put him firmly in command after a trouble free ride. Ramsbottom's 51 34 then went up on the board good enough for second and, for many, the ride of the day against such exalted opposition.

"I WAS MOTORING"

THREE years after first winning the North Road event, Chris Newton was happy to put his name in the record books for a second time. Back in 2000, Newton was a man on a mission. He had lost his place in the Linda McCartney Foods professional team and was out to prove he had a future in racing at the highest level.

That win gave him the kick-start he needed, and success followed success. His performances on the home front eventually won him a place on the World Class Performance Plan (WCPP) which culminated with his World Championship win last year.

"I'm happy to be able to ride a domestic event," Newton said after sandwiching the North Road classic between the Moscow World Cup track meeting and the Eddie Soens Memorial.

"We [the WCPP] have been criticised in the past for ignoring the home events, but hopefully that will change this season. It's good to win today. The course was fine, and I had no trouble with any traffic. I found it fine on the flat. I was motoring, but I was suffering on the hills. I've got plenty of speed in my legs, thanks to the six days and other track racing I have been doing."

"On the hills, I just had to keep my gears down."

While Newton has opted for the Eddie Soens event rather than the first round of the new National Circuit Race Series at Eastway on Saturday, he will be chasing national points on the road.

Outlining his plans for the coming season, Newton explained: "We expect to be riding the Premier Calendar events in March and April, starting with the Archer Grand Prix."

"It will be good to get back racing with John Tanner and Mark Lovatt they have a high standard. Then we have some stage races lined up, and I may even be able to fit in a time trial or two. Then, in August and September, we have more stage races in the run up to the World Championships where the team pursuit and points race will be my targets."

"Winning the points race was hard for me, but having the rainbow jersey is worth everything more than an Olympic medal as far as cyclists are concerned.
I got a lot of support today and it was certainly worthwhile making the long journey from the north."

RESULTS

Chris Newton (Corima RT) ..............51 03
J. Ramsbottom (Race Scene) ............ 51 34
G. Butler (Preston Wh) ......................52 10
M. Bottrill (Race Scene) ....................52 42
N. White (Sherwood CC) ....................53 25
S. Shawcross (Dataphonics RT) ..........53 29
G. Pardoe (Stourbridge CC) . ..............53 49
A. McCaffrey (Team Milton Keynes)..... 53 58
J. Dear (In-Gear RT) .........................54 23
R. English (Southport CC) ..................54 29
T Bayley (Arctic-Shorter Rochford RT)..54 48
D. Dent (SP Systems- Wigh t1ink RT) ..56 02
A. Birley (Team Lichfield) ...................56 49
T Melville (Cambridge Univ CC) ............56 49
N. Rothwell (Science in Sport.com) ......56 53
M. Arnold (API Bikes.com) ..................56 55
L. Smith (N. Bucks RC) ......................56 59
M. Metayer (Team Sport & Publicity) ....57 19
J. Wood (Finsbury Park CC) ................57 28
G. Oram (N Bucks RC) .......................59 20

Team, Finsbury Park CC (John Wood, Ian Turner 1-02-33, Dave Kendall 1-02-39) 3-02-40.
Veterans on std.- John McMillan (Kenton RC) (1-00-26) +15-03,
Fastest veteran.- Nigel White.
Juniors, Tom Hurst (Lea Valley CC) 1-01-53. Tricycles- Ralph Dadswell (Antelope RT) 1-03-09.