Race results
National Trophy Series round one | Oct 7-8 | Derbyshire
efending champion Ian Field made a strong start to the National Trophy Series, sprinting to victory in the opening round ahead of rival Yorben Van Tichelt, while in the women’s race Beth Crumpton was a convincing winner at Moorways Leisure Centre.
Field (Hargroves-ridleymontezumas) lost out to Van Tichelt in the opening round at the same venue 12 months previously. But as the Belgian’s chain came off on the final lap, Field attacked and took the win, laying down a marker for any riders intent on challenging for his crown.
Billy Harding (PH MAS-PAUL Milnes) had attacked from the gun, but Field took over at the front on the third lap while Jeremy Durrin (Neon Velo) joined them towards the front.
Van Tichelt was gradually closing in, and a big push on the penultimate lap saw him on their wheel. Field attacked over the hurdles on the final lap, and when Van Tichelt unshipped his chain on the final corner, the race was won.
But chain problems or not, Field was confident that victory would ha`ve been his.
“I find it hard to believe Yorben would’ve come round me,” said a confident Field, who came into the race in good form after two altitude training camps in Andorra and four races in America, including two World Cups.
“I made sure I attacked going into the hurdles for the last time, I got there first which gave me the advantage heading into the last climb.”
But Field’s ride wasn’t perfect, and he added: “I didn’t mean to be at the front so early on. It was so windy out there and really hard work.”