RACING BLOGS, NEWS & REVIEWS

It was a great week for the Sport Beans – Wilier team. Ben Luckwell scored his first win of the season winning round 2 of the Ilton summer circuit race series and at Castle Combe, Grant, Billy, and Mark were getting stuck in to a race that contained riders from Rapha/Condor and Magnus Backstedt’s new team amongst others. Billy proved once again he has a fearsome sprint and powered to a fine win with Grant also making the top 10. Then Jon got his first win in the West Country. This is Will Bjergfelt’s report from Somerset.

2009 Blackdown Grand Prix, Horton Somerset – 17th May 2009, 80 miles E/1/2/3
Sunday brought a different challenge and to our delight, was Marcin’s comeback race. Marcin was given the advice to ride very carefully and take no risks as he only had the operation to pin his collarbone 12 days before. With Marcin being defending champion of this race we all knew that we had to win this one for him and we did not disappoint.
Myself, Jon and Mark made up an early break of five riders that also contained Dave Clarke of Pendragon and Lee Davis of Candi TV/Pinarello.

The break went clear on the ascent of the Blackdown climb on lap one and built up a solid 1m 30s advantage over the chasers that left Ben, Grant and Marcin on chase patrol, stopping further moves from getting across to us and to give us every chance of the win.

By mid-race the weather had really deteriorated and it was cold, raining heavily and very windy – riders started to fall outside the time limit cut off of four minutes. In the break Jon was forcing a blistering pace on the climbs taking all of the KOM points along with it and I was making some moves on the descents gapping the break and forcing Dave and Lee to chase.

With three laps to go the pace started to tell and Lee cracked leaving just four in the break.
On the final lap I attacked on the descent and got a gap – Dave then chased for about 20 seconds before Jon attacked again and within a short space of time Jon joined me and then went over the top as I was by now starting to blow my lights out.

Jon then rode the final climb like a man possessed before descending down to take a very well deserved 1st win of the season for the Team (and for himself) as well as the KOM prize. I was caught by Dave Clarke on the final climb and hard as I tried, had no answer to the pace Dave was setting and the elastic snapped allowing Dave to nab second with me hanging on for third.

Behind, the peloton was no more, it had split asunder and came in, in dribs and drabs on this tough circuit. Ben was chasing hard as he thought he maybe able to catch the break and although he didn’t quite manage it he wasn’t far behind taking 4th with Mark taking 6th and Grant 7th.
 
And Marcin? In his 1st race back after a 4-week layoff due to breaking his collarbone and just 12 days after his operation, yes, he finished…in 13th place – lucky for some! With most of the big guns from the big teams across the water riding the Ras in Ireland, we came to make the racing – we did it in a most emphatic style.
 
Will Bjergfelt.
 
 
Manager’s note: Marcin back with us, Jon settled in and taking his 1st win for the squad, Will riding strongly still, Billy honing his sprint and strong performances from Grant, Mark and Ben – this bodes very well for the upcoming Tour Series and also the Premier Calendar.

Jon Locke rode his first race for the Sports Bean Wilier outfit and took the king of the mountain title and a memorable fourth place at the Chas Messenger memorial race in Buckinghamshire. You can read Jon’s view of the race here, along with team co-ordinator Clive Richardson.

 The CHAS MESSENGER Premier Calendar (more…)

Billy rode the Hog Hill Road Race and managed a spirited sixth place on his prized Wilier Cento Uno. This is his race report. (more…)

Billy Whenman is riding well for the Sports Bean Wilier team now and is a major force in the sprint. In the Hillingdon Crit, on Tuesday 28th April, he devastated the field with a sprint finish and missed out on a win by a whisker. This is his report: (more…)

There was a superb result for the Sport Beans Wilier racers at the Totnes – Vire 2-day race in Devon. Will Bjergfelt took top honours with three SB-W men in the top five. A fine example of teamwork! Also, see the bottom of the post for an update on star rider Marcin’s injury. This is Will’s report: (more…)