Twelves claims third victory
MIKE Twelves, riding for Coventry’s Team Jewson MI Racing Polypipe elite cycling team, claimed his 3rd, and the team’s 12th, National Championship win of the 2017 season when he sprinted to victory in the LVRC over 50’s circuit race championship in Birmingham on September 3.
Twelves broke clear of the field after only three miles of the 30 mile race with one other rider.
He gradually built up an impressive lead of around 40 seconds by half distance.
Although maintaining an average speed of 28mph on a flat but windy circuit, the main bunch started to make inroads and as the leaders took the bell the gap was down to just 15 seconds.
But digging deep, Twelves put in a huge effort into the headwind section and still had enough in reserve to outsprint his breakaway partner, coming in only a few metres in front of a rapidly closing bunch.
It was Twelves’ second LVRC circuit race championship win and comes after winning the 8km Scratch Track Championship and 70 mile road race this season, demonstrating his versatility.
Mike Allen added to a successful weekend for the team.
He won a bronze medal in the over 70s event, and Derrick Woodings, in his last road race before hanging up his racing wheels, placed fourth in the over 75s event
Warwick leading racer, Jon Stephenson came back from a horrific training accident which left him with a broken eye socket only two months ago to win the over 50s Stratford Road Race on the tough Brailes Circuit near Shipston on Stour.
Another rider returning from injury, Les Liddiard, took a creditable 6th place in the Dulwich Paragon Road Race.
The opening round of the West Midlands Cyclo Cross league saw many of the team members performing well, former national champion Steve Knight leading a 1-2-3 in the over 50s race, backed up by Ian Wright and Pete Busby with Harvey Levann in 6th place.
Tim Stowe took the over 60s event and new team member Sally Reid won the Women’s over 50 race.
Other notable performances in the women’s events were from Lyndsey Newman, Clair Wadham and Enya Tabram, taking 2nd, 3rd and 6th in their respective events.