RACING BLOGS, NEWS & REVIEWS

 Team Sport Beans Wilier distinguished themselves with a superb second and third in the Springtime Pursuit in Exeter. And to add to their glory all four riders sprinted home ahead of the great Jeremy Hunt who was riding on his home turf. Sat 23rd Feb
 
Springtime Pursuit Series E,1,2,3 Handicap, Exeter: Sport Beans – Wilier riders Ben Luckwell, Grant Bayton, Marcin Bialoblocki and Marc (’Dino’) Perry This was the second of three races in the all-category Springtime Pursuit Handicap near Exeter.With the distance being only 32 miles, the racing here is always fast and furious, with each group tending to quickly organise themselves doing ‘through and off’ in an effort to catch the group in front and not be caught by the group behind.
 
Added excitement came courtesy of 1st Division Pro Credit Agricole rider Jeremy Hunt, taking part during a short stay at home before returning to his Team on the Continent.Jeremy will ride in the top Pro Races in Europe, namely the early season one-day Classics. Maybe all the local riders heard about this because a record field of 120 lined up at the start!The race came together at roughly midway with refugees spread far and wide in their wake and immediately Sport Bean Wilier’s Dino Perry attacked, taking Grant Bayton and eight others with him. Team Manager Ben Luckwell and Marcin Bialoblocki stayed back in the bunch and discouraged further attacks. Jeremy Hunt managed to miss the break too and it forged ahead with a furious chase ensuing behind. The remaining 16 miles soon passed and the end hove into view. Grant attacked up the final long uphill drag and took John Locke (Mid-Devon CC) with him. As the finish line approached Locke got the better of him and Dino flew past Grant but was just unable to reach Locke who crossed the line in 1st place.By this time the bunch was breathing down their necks and Grant just managed to hold off the gallop, which had begun with Jeremy Hunt riding virtually everyone off his wheel as he gave it big guns all the way up the drag. Ben and Marcin cannily tucked in behind the top Credit Agricole Pro and both came round him at the line to make it a great result for Sport Beans – Wilier.Wilier’s Colin Bath said: “To beat Jeremy Hunt like that was a feather in all our caps. It was a big field and the whole team excelled.”Team Results:
2nd. Dino Perry (Sport Beans – Wilier)
3rd. Grant Bayton (Sport Beans – Wilier)
…
11th. Ben Luckwell (Sport Beans – Wilier)
12th. Marcin Bialoblocki (Sport Beans – Wilier)
Ahead of……13th. Jeremy Hunt (Credit Agricole)