THOUSANDS DESCEND ON CENTENARY GOOD FRIDAY MEETING
By Larry Hickmott
Take
half a dozen international roadman who are also pretty adept on the track,
add another load of track stars including World Champions from the Great
Britain team, mix that with the best weather that this country can muster
up and you have a recipe for a huge crowd to turn out and make a race
meeting suddenly become an historic event. And that was how Good Friday
was with some truly spectacular racing.
There was so much going on, it's hard to remember it all and I am sure
everyone who attended (the track was three of four deep right the way
around plus the crowds in the stands) will go away with different memories
that will last for a long time to come. The day started as the riders
in the White Hope sprint warmed up the crowd with their qualifying runs
with Ben Elliot (VS St Raphael/Waite Contracts) fastest. The pace got
hotter as the riders in the Classic Walls Sprint did their qualifying
runs with Mark French, Junior World Sprint champion last year, finishing
a couple of tenths ahead of Ross Edgar and a very disappointed Jamie Staff
who admitted afterwards to being very tired after doing a lot of travelling
this year. Jamie (pictured below right) has just returned from Cape Town
where he won a Gold medal (Team Sprint).
And
how about Great Britain's Chris Newton. He went away from the race meeting
having not won anything but man did he try in any event he contested!
Also replendent is his World Champions jersey, he got away in an early
break in the Golden Wheel along with O'Grady, Huw Pritchard, Kristain
House, an American and Dutchman.This break was to stay out front for most
of the race. Then, after the race came back together, he cheekily attacked
the field with a handful of laps to go in the only to be swamped in the
final bend and for an Aussie champion, Stuart O'Grady to take the winners
cheque denying Tony Gibb who wanted it sooooo much!.
A rider who has won stages in the Tour de France, worn the famous Yellow
Jersey and as well the Green one, and also won medals on the Track, Stuart
O'Grady spoils Tony Gibb's Party as O'Grady wins the Golden Wheel Click
for a larger image.
Immediately after the race when I asked Stuart for a word to sum the
race up, it was simply "awesome". It was O'Grady's second win
of the day, after taking all in the Derny race as well, another nail biting
event where the pace at the end was wound up and up and up until only
the best were left sprinting for the line. Phew!!!
And if Gibby was dissapointed not to have won the Golden Wheel event,
he at last had the consolation of winning the Points event where Wiggins
crossed the line first but Gibby's point scoring during an attacking race
saw him the victor.
It
was Tony's second win of the day after he held off Newton to win the IMPSPORT
clothing 'Super Elimination Race' as both Newton and Gibb went to the
line elbow to elbow, shoulder to shoulder with little between them. Top
stuff!
IMPSPORT Super Elimination Race
1. Tony Gibb PCA/Orbea
2. Chris Newton Great Britain
3. Dominic Hill Bec CC
Golden Wheel Scratch Race
1. Stuart O'Grady Credit Agricole
2. Tony Gibb PCA/Orbea
3. Huw Pritchard Condor/Anglia Sport
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