Stan Robson Trophy
13-Jul-2003

By Graham Snowdon

On the first of two blank weekends in the Premier Calendar series, it was business as usual as three of the top four riders took the major honours in yesterday's Stan Robson Trophy road race in North Yorkshire.

Victory went to comeback rider Malcolm Elliott, the former Tour of Spain points classification winner from Sheffield, who outsprinted local favourite Chris Newton - the world points race champion on the track - at the end of an 85-mile course based on Stokesley.

John Tanner, who will be resuming his defence of the Premier Calendar leadership in the Manx International road race on July 24, salvaged third place, although more than four minutes behind the leading pair.

Elliott, following up his win in the Four Dales road race over an adjacent course in May, had broken away on the first of six laps along with Newton, Shaun Snodden and Scottish Under-23 rider Russell Anderson.

Snodden lost contact after a lap, but later recovered to win the bunch sprint, while Anderson was dropped half a lap later and failed to finish.

Tanner, Dave Coulson and Kieran Page gave chase to halve the leaders' three-minute advantage and, as Page dropped back on the final climb of Leven Bank, Tanner and Coulson stayed together to contest third and fourth places as Elliott and Newton pulled clear again.

Kevin Dawson, Tanner's Life Repair CRT team-mate from Doncaster, finished in 11th place and gained some valuable training miles after yesterday's national 100-mile time trial championship was called off because of maintenance work on the A50 between Derby and Stoke. It is unlikely to be rearranged before September.

Stokesley Leisure Centre E/1/2/3/4; 141km

1. Malcolm Elliot GS Pinarello
2. Chris Newton Corima RT
3. John Tanner Life Repair RT
4. Dave Coulson JE James
5. Richard Sutcliffe York Cycle Works
6. Shaun Snodden JE James
7. Mark Wordsworth Doncaster Wheelers
8. Peter Hinchcliff Race Scene
9. Jeff Capper Sigma Sport
10. Chris Clarke VC York
11. Kevin Dawson Life Repair
12. Bryan Poole Anderson Racing
13. Mathew Armitage Race scene
14. Alistair Kay York Cycle Works
15. Matthew Robinson Regal RT
16. Jamie Sharp York VC
17. Phil Axe Rutland CC
18. Mike Harrison Tunstall Wheelers
19. Mike Pluckrose Anderson Racing Team

19 Finishers



Home