CycloCross: Young retains veteran title in Ipswich (From The Westmorland Gazette)

CycloCross: Young retains veteran title in Ipswich

5:00pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 in Sport By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

WHEELBASE/Cannondale rider Chris Young retained his veteran 45+ National Cyclocross Championship in Ipswich at the weekend.

Young, one of the team’s newest recruits, also finished on the podium in the veteran 40 class as Wheelbase filled two of the top four positions.

While Tom Armstrong and Lewis Craven were still praying for rain and mud, Young and Noel Clough set off in the veteran’s championship, but it was Pedalsport CC’s Mike Young who took an early lead.

Clough was just behind the leading duo for the duration of the race but Young powered through the filed and was up to fourth at the end of the second lap, just four seconds behind Young.

On the third lap he had overhauled Clough and went in search of the leaders but Darren Atkins and Jim Bryan had built a lead and in the end Clough and Young had a sprint for the line, with Young just pipping his teammate.

Young was awarded first place in the vet 45 category while Clough had to settle for bronze in the over 40s championship.

A fine day on Sunday meant conditions were not suited to young riders Armstrong and Craven and it was new signing Mathew Gee who led the Wheelbase team in the U23 event.

In a close finish the top five riders crossed the line within 24 seconds of each other but Gee, in his first outing for the team, had a top ten finish as he picked riders off on the last lap and is sure to be one to watch for the future.

Armstrong took to the next stage for the junior championship and had an interesting battle with 2010 champion Hugo Robinson, Joe Moses and trophy series contenders Alex Welburn, Adam Martin and Jake Walmersley, but he had to settle for fourth spot in a sprint for the line.

A brave effort by Craven in the senior race went unrewarded as he came home in 25th place.

A group of five riders had pulled clear of the pack but Craven dragged a group of riders almost up to the wheel of eventual sixth-place man Nick Craig but he paid the price for his effort and slipped down the field in the closing stages.

Mike Cotty though made amends for a slow start by ploughing through the field to finish 22nd, with Clough (30th) and Steven Clarke (40th) not far behind.