Revolution #18 (Manchester)
17-Nov-2007

Report & Images: Larry Hickmott & Andy Whitehouse

Revolution 20km Points Race

The penultimate event was what most people had been waiting for with world class endurance talent filling the track all the way from the black line to the perimeter fence. With a wish list of tactically astute and mega talented riders on track it was always going to be points feast. Newton and Marvulli started the race as ones to watch, amongst others.

However a breakaway group of four riders containing Alex Dowsett and Russell Downing spoiled the party early on, with Dowsett taking the first sprint. However it didn't take Newton long to take the race by the scruff of its neck, breaking away with Tauler and David O'Loughlin and taking the next sprint, gaining a lap and the lead jointly with O'Loughlin. Marvulli immediately responded with a heroic solo lunge and took the next sprint.

O'Loughlin found the strength to come through to the head of the field to take the 3 points and the overall lead. Newton wasn't going to let O'Loughlin slip and broke away with Schep, Marvulli et al. The peloton saw the danger and quickly reeled the escapers back. The shelling out began with 32 laps to go, with two riders retiring as the unrelenting pace and the night's packed racing schedule taking its toll.

Tauler, third overall then broke away with two other riders with a four man chasing group containing Newton in hot pursuit. Newton took one point and stretched his overall lead over David O'Loughlin. Keisse persisted with a breakaway for a few laps before the penultimate sprint, taken in assured style by Newton. With Newton seven points ahead of O'Loughlin, victory was assured, making the final sprint a formality as far as the victory was concerned. However, O'Loughlin still had work to do to keep his second place from Tauler just 4 points behind. At the line Tauler did enough to steal the 2nd place, level on points but snatching the victory due to his higher placing in the final sprint.

1 Chris Newton Recycling.co.uk
2 Toni Tauler Illes Balears
3 David O'Loughlin Pezula Racing –Ireland
4 Franco Marvulli Switzerland
5 Russell Downing HealthNet-Maxxis
6 Alex Dowsett 100%ME
7 Tom Murray Merlin RT
8 Sergi Escobar Grupo Nicolas Mateos
9 Erick Rowsell Team Corridori
10 Bradley Wiggins Cofidis
11 Russell Hampton 100%ME

1km Madison Time Trial

The Downing brothers opened what is possibly the most thrilling of the Revolution's signature events. The pocket powerhouses whipped up the crowd and threw down an early marker of 1.01.633. Keisse and Schep were next and brought a bit of Six Day glitz and a sub 1 minute ride. It didn't stand for long, with an electrifying 57.896 from Ben Swift and Johnny Bellis. Even the classy pairing of Llaneras and Marvulli couldn't depose the Swift and Bellis pairing. The awesome pairing of Wiggins and Newton were last up and tension was palpable. However it was to be the young guns' day, with Swift and Bellis keeping the top spot.

1 Ben Swift 100%ME 57.896
Johnny Bellis 100%ME

2 Bradley Wiggins Cofidis 58.671
Chris Newton Recycling.co.uk

3 Peter Schep Holland 59.566
Iljo Keisse Belgium

4 Russell Downing HealthNet-Maxxis 1.01.633
Dean Downing Rapha-Condor

5 Juan Llaneras Spain 59.842
Franco Marvulli Switzerland


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