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9-May-91

TOUR OF LANCASHIRE

Boardman Silences Critics

IF there was any doubts about Chris Boardman's ability, they were silenced after the Tour of Lancashire ended, writes Dennis Donovan, in Chorley on Monday, as the Manchester Wheeler, riding for the North-West Centre of Excellence, excelled in every department, from winning the time trial, to controlling the breaks and winning the race.

Paul Curran, starting to show the class which we all know he is capable of, proved a worthy team-mate, riding himself into the ground to protect Boardman against the might of the top professional teams.

Stage 1, Scorton-Harris End Fell tt, 3.3m.

In a class of his own

IF there are any doubts about the all-round ability of Chris Boardman, then they are fast disappearing.

His win in the Star Trophy Hope Valley Classic proved that there is more to Boardman than just being the fastest time triallist around, and his win in this uphill starter to the Tour of Lancashire brought respect from those who had previously derided him.

Boardman didn't just win, he annihilated his opposition with a ride of 8-17.21 in the wind and the rain, over 26 seconds faster than Paul Curran, and 29 seconds faster than Jon Clay (Banana-Falcon).

The result was a repeat of Boardman's second national hill-climb championship, when, as a young upstart, he took on the all-conquering Curran to win on Nick O'Pendle, not too far away from this climb.

Scorton is a well-known cyclist watering hole, but this village formerly the driest village in Lancashire until the Priory cafe became licenced to sell alcohol, was anything but dry as the rain started to come down at 6:30pm.

As the evening went on, so the rain increased and at the top mist added to the hazards and the last riders were only able to finish by courtesy of team car headlights.

Clay was the first to beat nine minutes on the course, described as a 'big ring job' by his team manager Keith Lambert.

His time of 8-46.44 looked to be the winning one as one by one riders failed to get anywhere near it. The nearest was Clay's team-mate Chris Walker with 8-49.61, a good ride from the big sprinter.

The big talking point however was the ride by Jeremy Harrison (South East Midlands) who caught Joey McLoughlin (Townsend Cycles), the former Milk Race and Kellogg's Tour of Britain winner on his way up: Harrison to finish eventual 10th, and McLoughlin, last but one.

An hour and seven minutes after Clay had posted his time, it was finally beaten by Curran, riding as a reinstated amateur for Manchester Wheelers. His time of 8-43.26 reviving memories of the days before he turned professional when he seemed to win at will.

No one was sure what Boardman would do, but the Manchester Wheeler, riding this time for the North West Centre of Excellence A team, always prepares well.

He raced up the hill on 52 x 13, 17, 19, and confessed that he had gone too easy on the climb. He looked at his watch as he crossed the line, whereas others had been in a state of collapse.

His time was 8-17.21, 26 seconds faster than Curran, 29 better than Clay, and a staggering 2-28 better than McLoughlin.

The yellow jersey was his, but tomorrow?

1. Chris Boardman (NW Centre of Excellence A) 8-17.21
2. P. Curran (Manchester Wh) 8-43.26
3. J. Clay (Banana-Falcon) 8 -46.44
4. C. Walker (Banana--Falcon) 8-49.61
5. K. Reynolds (Banana-Falcon) 8-51.20
6. R. Holden (Banana-Falcon) 8- 53.04
7. B. Clarke (Raleigh) 8-55.75
8. T. Doyle (The European) 8-58.93
9. S. O'Brien (Manchester Wh) 8-59.10
10. J. Harrison (SE Mids) 9-2.09
11. A. Timmis (British Eagle) 9-6.05
12. P. Longbottom (Yorks & Kumberside) 9-6.51
13. G. Foord (Wembley RC) 9-6.94
14. B. Luckwell (PCA A) 9-8.15
15. G. Coltman (Raleigh) 9-9.16
16. M. Walsham (GB Pros) 9- 9.79
17. D. Baker (Raleigh) 9-11.00
18. H. McMurdo (PCA B) 9-11.06
19. J. Charlesworth (Ace RT) 9-11.83
20. T. Hall (Ace RT) 9-12.33.

Final overall

1. CHRIS BOARDMAN (NW Centre of Excellence) 11-3-7
2. H. McMurdo (PCA B) at 20sec
3. R. Holden (Banana-Falcon) at 30sec
4. M. Walsham (GB Pros) at 40sec
5. T. Hall (Ace RT) at 44sec
6. A. Timmis (GB Pros-British Eagle) st
7. B. Luckwell (PCA A) at 54sec
8. I. Wright (SE Midlands) at 1-23
9. S. Farrell (Tunstall Wh) at 1-33
10. P. Curran (Manchester Wh) at 3-47
11. C. Walker (Banana-Falcon) at 4-3
12. J. Clay (Banana-Falcon) at 5-13
13. T. Doyle (PCA A) at 5-37
14. S. Douce (GB Pros-Daes) at 5-40
15. D. Baker (Raleigh) at 5-43
16. P. Longbottom (Yorks & Humberside) 5-45
17. G. Foord (Wembley RC) at 5-47
18. M. Postle (Wales) at 5-54
19. N. Martin (Dinnington RC) at 5-56
20. R. Langley (Solihull CC) at 6-16.