JAMES MCLAUGHLIN has chalked up another impressive win in one of the longest events in the Guernsey Velo Club’s calendar, the 100km road race around eight laps of the L’Eree circuit.
Despite an early start time, 22 riders began the race and, in a move popular with most competitors, the first ascent of Pleinmont hill was neutralised, meaning that everyone was still together at the summit.
The first few laps were a cagey affair with no one wanting to push the pace on the flat, fearing they could get dropped on the next hill.
On the fourth lap, McLaughlin (pictured) seized the initiative and wound up the pace on the climb. Only a handful of riders were able to stay with the youngster, despite having half the race left ahead of them.
Two laps later McLaughlin attacked his breakaway companions on the climb, distancing the rest of the group.
When the road began to level out, Matt Osborn attacked Stuart Le Tissier and Tony Bleasdale and heroically caught McLaughlin before the end of the lap, but was promptly left in McLaughlin’s wake on the next ascent of Pleinmont hill.
This move proved decisive, with McLaughlin taking the victory in 2hr 40min. 36sec. and Osborn 1min. 20sec. behind in second position.
Bleasdale narrowly beat Le Tissier in the two-way sprint for third a further 57sec. down the road.
The next group of riders finished 1min. 17sec. later with Leon Ogier beating Ann Bowditch, Jamie Burtenshaw, Ian Scholes and Alan Rowe.
Tim Holmes, Paul Jackson, Jon Osborn, Graham Le Maitre, Tim Luscombe and Richard Stapley completed the finishers, with several riders not finishing due to various mechanical problems. McLaughlin, Bowditch and Rowe set new junior, women’s and over-40s records respectively.
With the mountain bike Tour of Guernsey taking place all this week the next road events are the double Petit Bot hill climb on 17 July and six laps of the reservoir circuit on 20 July.
Article posted on 7th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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