Recycling demonstration event
Courtesy of British Cycling. Photos by Larry Hickmott

It was sunny with an ice cold wind blowing as 139 riders took to the roads around Aintree race course for the 44th running of an event that has a long history of having star winners. This 2005 edition of the race was no different as Rob Hayles attacked on the final lap to escape a small group of teammates, with Hayles having just enough time to adjust his jersey and raise his hands as the latest winner to be added to the rollcall of honour for this event.

The event was notable for the way the Recycling team quickly tore the field apart with four of them escaping before halfway and the only rider to resist them was junior Ian Stannard (Planet-X). But even Stannard, who had been an earlier break, was unable to go the whole way and with a handful of laps left, and despite a tailwind, he sat up after apparently 'blowing' big time. That left the four Recycling riders to contest the finish themselves with Hayles doing what Chris Newton had done in the Perfs, and going it alone before the remnants of the break rolled across the line, arms aloft with Dean Downing second, Russell Downing third and Chris Newton fourth.

Also a special mention for a large group of riders from Cardiff Ajax who made the long trip to Liverpool and continued to race for the full distance even after being dropped. Many of these young girls (and boys) have been racing in the Revolution Track series and were also invited to the Olympic Development Training camp and deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in the cold and windy conditions.

RESULTS

1. Rob Hayles recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E 1:46:53
2. Dean Downing recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E @0:16
3. Russell Downing recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E st
4. Chris Newton recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E st
5. Ian Stannard Planet X RT J @1:44
6. Robin Sharman recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E @1 lap
7. Evan Oliphant recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E st
8. William Wright Wills Wheels CC 1 st
9. Phil West VC St Raphael 1 st
10. Adam Blythe Planet X RT YA st
11. Ian Wilkinson Giant Racing E st
12. Mark Lovatt Planet X RT E st
13. Mike Jolley Onimpex RT E st
14. Leigh Cowell recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E st
15. Ben Swift Kinesis UK J @2 laps
16. Mark Thwaites Kinesis UK J st
17. Paul Oldham Giant Racing E st
18. Chris Belsham York Cycleworks 2 st
19. Jack Hill Leigh Premier 1 st
20. Mike Moss Cottingham Coureurs 2 st
21. Mark McNally Liverpool Century RC J st
22. Chris Daddy Star Bikes RT E st
23. Stephen Rudkin Kinesis UK J st
24. William Smyth BC PM 3 st
25. John Cosgrove Onimpex RT 4 st
26. Jonathan Fletcher KW Heist-Zuiderkempen 2 st
27. Pete Williams Kinesis UK 1 st
28. Emmanuel Guitton Wills Wheels CC 3 st
29. Ben Greenwood recycling.co.uk/MG X Power E st
30. Matt Clinton Specialized Racing Team 2 st
31. Sam Thompson Kinesis UK J st
32. Peter Kennaugh Jnr Manx Road Club YA st
33. Graeme Hatcher Manx Viking Wheelers 3 st
34. Richard Barnett Tunstall Wheelers 2 st
35. James Drummond Merlin Development Squad J st
36. Dan Walker Clayton Velo 2 st
37. Kristian Poole BC PM 2 st
38. Paul Lally BC PM 3 st
39. Mark Bateman Triangle RT J st
40. Kevin Wilkes MK Cycles 3 st
41. James Rutherford Wills Wheels CC 2 st
42. Chris Lockyer Manchester Wheelers 4 st
43. Jonathan Kennedy Team Chevin Cycles J st
44. Mark Powsney Manchester Wheelers 2 st
45. Paul Robinson Ystwyth CC 3 st
46. Giles Bett Weaver Valley CC 3 st
47. Luke Rowe Cardiff Ajax YA st
48. Chris Ellis Team Orrell 3 st
49. Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes Cycles J st
50. Kev Shand West Pennine RC 4M st
51. Roger Leather Getmeabike.com 2 st
52. Jimmy Froggatt Wills Wheels CC 2 st
53. Phil Valentine GS Surosa 2 st
54. Neil Higgins Preston CC 3M st
55. Tom Diggle Southport CC J st
56. Ian Donohue Team Axiom 2M st
57. Charlie Evans Knaresborough CC 2 st
58. Mike Marshall University of Birmingham 3 st
59. John Kent Birkenhead North End CC 4M st
60. Gary Spencely Lakes RC 2 st
61. Robert Palmer www.thebicycleworks.com 1 st
62. Dafydd Dylan Ystwyth CC J st
63. Jon Cannings VC St Raphael 2 @3 laps
64. Michael Kerr Glasgow RC 4 st
65. David Walker BC PM 4 st
66. Brian Nicol Clayton Velo 4M st
67. Cherie Pridham Merlin Development Squad EW st
68. Rachel Davies Cardiff Ajax YAW st
69. Alexandra Greenfield Cardiff Ajax YAW @7 laps
70. Lucy Richards Cardiff Ajax YAW @8 laps

Points Competition
1. Chris Newton recycling.co.uk/MG X Power 9pts
2. Rob Hayles recycling.co.uk/MG X Power 4pts
3. Dean Downing recycling.co.uk/MG X Power 4pts

Category Awards
2nd Cat: Chris Belsham, York Cycleworks
3rd Cat: William Smyth, BC PM
4th Cat: Christopher Lockyer, Manchester Wheelers
Junior: Ian Stannard, Planet X RT J
Woman: Cherie Pridham, Merlin Development Squad
Master C+: John Cosgrove, Onimpex RT 4M