Cycling: Armstrong ready for national test (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cycling: Armstrong ready for national test

10:20am Thursday 29th December 2011 in Sport By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

WHEELBASE rider Tom Armstrong had the perfect preparations for the National CycloCross Championships next week with a SuperCross seventh place in Macclesfield.

As the starting pistol went it was clear that Armstrong had joined the elite as he lined up against Liam Killeen, Paul Oldham, Ian Bibby and Nick Craig.

The group moved away from the rest of the field with Armstrong holding his own, but it was Oldham who made the first move as he split the group, taking Killeen, Dave Fletcher and Bibby with him.

Following the selection Armstrong looked comfortable in a group with Craig, Clarkson, Drake and Last.

Craig put in several big attacks which saw the end of first Clarkson’s chances and then Drake’s.

Last lost contact during the effort as well, leaving Craig and Armstrong to battle it out for fifth place.

As the race passed the hour Armstrong started to crack and with one lap to go he gave an all-or-nothing attack breaking clear as Last got back to the group.

Armstrong gained a gap but was reaped in by Craig towing Last with him. The race ended with Paul Oldham winning, Killeen second, Fletcher third, Bibby fourth, Craig fifth, Last sixth and Armstrong, still a junior rider, seventh, with the nearest under 23 and Junior riders being a long way back.