The one that got away
Courteousy of British Cycling, Larry Hickmott

It was a case of the one that got away for the leaders in the Premier Calendar as an early breakaway group of 13 riders, all working together, saw off the challenge from behind with Simon Gaywood (PCA/Evans Cycles) scoring the biggest road race win of his career with a glorious sprint finish victory over Matt Talbot.

With deep blue skies and a warm spring sun, a field of 100 Riders took to the country lanes of Buckinghamshire for the 52nd running of the Archer Grand Prix supported by Plowman Craven and Rudy Project.

With 115 demanding miles ahead of them over a severely undulating course, it was clear the pace was going to be fast. When the flag was lowered after the neutralised section, the attacks started right away. A group of 20 riders immediately pulled away from the peloton but they were soon reeled in as counter attacks kept the speed high.

Spectators lined the route across the length of the major climb to the prime at Whiteleaf where Matthew Higgins (Team Corley Cycles/Trek), Danny Axford (Arctic Building Services/Shorter Rochford RT) and Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT) took the points at the prime.

But they were now being chased down by a group of ten riders only seven seconds behind the leaders and less than a minute ahead of the main field. It was just the pace and the heat that was taking its toll but the shear incline of the Whiteleaf climb which even on lap 1 was already taking its toll and several riders climbed off including a Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT).

The long fast descent through Lacey Green at the end of the first lap enabled the leading group to swell to twenty riders and at the start of the second lap this group had opened a lead of nearly 2 minutes from a small chasing group with the main peloton at 3½ minutes behind the leading group.

By the turn at the Windmill on the second lap the lead group had increased their lead to nearly 2½ minutes but was now down to a group of thirteen with riders Matthew Higgins (Team Corley Cycles/Trek), Danny Axford (Arctic Building Services/Shorter Rochford RT), Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT), James Stewart (KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles), Alex Higham (Bike & Run London/Maximuscle/Look) Andy Roche (Yellow RT/Rudy Project/Most Continetal), Dean Downing (Rapha Condor RT), Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) James Sampson (Kinesis UK), Ryan Bonser (Recycling.co.uk), Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor RT), Simon Gaywood (Plowman Crave Evans Cycles RT) and Martin Freeman (Team Corley Cycles/Trek).

Over each succeeding lap, the chase behind intensified but the leaders remained solid with Roy Chamberlain of Corley Cycles saying afterwards that there was no nervousness in the group as everyone pulled at the front giving everything until there was nothing left to give.

Over the final laps of the large circuit the chase group constantly fractured and reformed and one by one, the ‘hitters’ had a go at changing the shape of the race; Gordon McCauley, Dave Clarke, Chris Newton and others. They all got involved in trying to formed a committed chase group but nothing was having an effect on the lead of the riders in front in a break which Matt Talbot said was one of the easiest breaks he had been in.

Back at the front, there was an attempt by Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT) to breakaway before arriving at the smaller course but this was quickly prevented by the other riders reacted instantly and stopped the attack in its tracks.

Finishing circuit
As the race entered the short finishing circuit for the first of five laps the chase was now on for the finish line with the leading group now being hotly pursued by a small group of ten riders that included former Archer GP winners Malcolm Elliot (Yellow RT/Rudy Project/Most Continental) and Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk). Behind them though, the race had now splintered considerably and even as early as lap 1 of the finishing circuit, the leaders were starting to catch and lap the back markers from the large circuit.

At the bell, 1 lap to go, the lead group had also splintered and five riders now led the race, Simon Gaywood (Plowman Crave Evans Cycles RT), Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles/Trek), Andy Roche (Yellow RT/Rudy Project/Most Continetal), Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor RT) & Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT) with two groups chasing them down at a fierce pace and the gap reducing all the time.

The large crowd of spectators now eagerly waited along the length of the short finishing climb of Winchmore Hill. As the leaders swung into view at the bottom of the finishing straight, the crowd were to witness, cheering long and loud as they did so, the finish of another epic Archer Grand Prix event.

Heads down, three of the five sprinted as hard as they could up the slopes to the finish, and as he drew clear, the finishing line approaching fast, Simon Gaywood raised his arms, ecstatic as it became clear his name was about to be added to a long list of greats in this long running race. He was clearly delighted with the biggest win of his career, but perhaps not as delighted as Team sponsor Simon Barnes, who burst into tears as Simon himself struggled to get the words out as he was wiped down as he sat in the team car.

Gaywood, who took the win convincingly had won the race from Kiwi Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor RT) in second place and Andy Roche (Yellow RT/Rudy Project/Most Continetal) taking third.

1. Simon Gaywood (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT) 4.46.08 (38.79 km/h)
2. Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor RT)
3. Andy Roche (PinarelloRT /Rudy Project/Most/Continental)
4. Richard Wilkinson (Rapha Condor RT) 0.14
5. Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 0.55
6. Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) 1.31
7. Russell Downing (Team Health Net/Maxxis)
8. Malcolm Elliot (Pinarell RT/Rudy Project/Most/Continental)
9. Matthew Higgins (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 1.39
10. David Clarke (BC Private Member) 1.40
11. Danny Axford (Arctic Building Services/Shorter Rochford RT) 4.50
12. Richard Cartland (Team Corley Cycles/Trek) 4.54
13. Alex Higham (Bike & Run London.Maximuscle/Look)
14. James Sampson (Kinesis UK) 5.05
15. Ryan Bonser (Recycling.co.uk) 5.15
16. Robin Sharman (KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles) 7.00
17. Dean Downing (Rapha Condor RT)
18. James Stewart (KFS Special Vehicles/Sunday Bicycles)

At 1 lap
19. Dan Staite (Bike & Run London.Maximuscle/Look)
20. Pete Williams (Kinesis UK)
21. Alex Atkins (Glendene CC/Biketrax/Maxim/Specialized)
22. Liam Holoham (Merlin RT/Bikelab.co.uk/Pearl Izumi)
23. Matt Kipling (Inkland/MTS Cycle-Sport)
24. John Charlsworth (New Brighton CC)
25. Lee Davis (PinarelloRT /Rudy Project/Most/Continental)
26. Tom Murray (Kinesis UK)
27. Ashley Brown (Sportscover-Planet X)
28. Stuart Gordon (New Brighton CC/Abesco)
29. Adam Bonser (Recycling.co.uk)
30. James Williamson (Wills Wheels CC/Astra Signs)
31. Mark Wordsworth (JE James RT/Giant)