Cæsarean Cycling Club

Caesarean Club Cyclist Chris Spence had another solid performance at the weekend in the 1.5 UCI ranked Archer Grand Prix eventually finishing 23rd. 100 riders lined up for the 118 mile race around Buckinghamshire's rolling terrain. Teams entered included the new i Team Nova from Australia with Giro stage winner David McKenzie, New Zealand National Champion Gordon McCauley and Teams from England, Scotland , Belgium, Holland, Wales and Denmark. From the off the pace was high with lots of attacks but nothing serious developed until about 70 mile mark when a break of 7 including McCauley and McKenzie went clear this group were clear by 1 minute when Chris got into a group of 12 that set about chasing the leaders who were now only 5 riders. After 80 miles of racing the two groups merged leaving Chris at the head of the race in a group of 17 riders. Once the group was one there were constant attacks until with 2 laps of the finish circuit to go 12 miles Chris was tailed off with McKenzie and GB International Chris Newton.At this point Chris found himself alone as McKenzie dropped out and Newton chose to drop back to the chase group. Chris however chose to give it everything and try to stay away to gain 15th but with 5oo metres to go Chris was caught by a small chase group and consequently had to settle for 23rd.

"In such good company I was still really pleased to finish in the placings, if only it had been 100mile race I would have been looking for a top ten still its early days and I'm getting stronger with every race."

Chris is back in action at the end of the month in the Surrey Based Fred Cowley Road Race then in May he has another UCI Race the Lincoln Grand Prix which ascends the cobbled Michaelgate climb 11 times.

Chris's travel is made possible by the Caesarean Cycling Club

Results:

1. Gordon McCauley RDM Flanders
2. Kevin Dawson Compensation Group RT
3. John Tanner Compensation Group RT
4. Mark Lovatt Compensation Group RT
5. Russell Downing iTeamNova.com
6. Gary Baker AngliaSport/Condor
7. Tommy Evans (Ireland)
8. Tino Haakman (BRC Kennemerland/Holland)
9. Colin Roshier (Team Quest/The Bike Shop)
10. Martin Ford (British Cycling PM)
11. Anthony Malarczyk (Atom Elite RT/Cottrills
12. Gethin Butler (Preston Wh)
13. Rory Wyley (www.sdeals.com)
14. Ross Muir (Scotland)
15. Huw Pritchard (Angliasport/Condor) 4m 14s
16. Mathew Stephens (Sigma Sport) 4m 17s
17. Simon Gaywood (CC Luton/Bandon)
18. Chris Newton (Gt Britain)
19. Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport)
20. Mike Jones (Robert Grinsell Travel)
21. Morten Bugge Andersen (Ringsted TCR/Denmark)
22. Stephen Gallagher (Northern Ireland)
23. Chris Spence (Caesarean CC)
24. Martin O’Loughlin (Ireland) 5m 06s
25. Roger Morgan (Liphool Cycles RT)
26. Anders Michaelsen (Ringsted TCR/Denmark) 5m 21s
27. Jesper Larsen (Ringsted TCR/Denmark)
28. Arjan de Heer (BRC Kennemerland/Holland)
29. Co Maas (BRC Kennemerland/Holland)
30. Andy Lyons (Stilton/Parrot Print RT)
31. Rowan Horner (VC St Raphael/Waite Contracts)
32. Graeme Hatcher (Isle of Man
33. Gary Willis (Scotland) 5m 33s
34. Alastair Kay (York Cycleworks)
35. James Flanagan (Team Milton Keynes)