Bad start for top bike rider

SO NEAR, yet so far away from more National Championships for Team Jewson MI Racing Polypipe McCann riders at the British National Cycling Cyclo Cross Championships at Bradford over the weekend.

The big target for the team was to lift the Team Championship once more in the 50+ Championship, and also hope for at least one podium place.

It all went pear shaped when former World Champion Phil Roach, broke his chain just 200 yards after the start.

Most riders would have called it a day and gone for an early bath but not Roach, he is made of tougher stuff than that.

He worked his way to an incredible 22nd place, catching and passing two of his team mates in the process, and finishing one place behind another in an amazing performance.

Best placed team member was Midland Champion Kirby Bennett from Hinckley who was always up with the leaders to finish in 8th place.

The weekend ended badly for rider Harvey Levann after racing on Saturday his three top of the range Ridley Race Bikes and his wife’s Trek Mountain Bike, which was purple, were stolen from the roof of his car despite being heavily locked up.

The front wheels remained inside the car.

Just a few more Cyclo Cross events remain with the Midland Series Championships still to be decided, MI Racing riders are expected to be involved in the Championship tussle.