18-Sep-94
18-Sep-94
TOUR OF THE PEAK |
The Premier Calendar climaxed with the JEF Tour of the Peak where Simeon Hempsall scored a runaway win and team-mate John Tanner clinched the overall title.
BATTLE-HARDENED Simeon Hempsall triumphed in the Tour of the Peak on Sunday only 48 hours after finishing the Tour de l'Avenir. Hempsall (Choice Accountancy) was out of luck in the French Tour, finishing third from last after losing more than 20 minutes when he punctured in the superfast stage race.
But 10 days of world-class racing were not wasted on the Sheffield-based professional who blasted the field apart in the 90-mile Derbyshire classic. Attacking just before the decisive climb of Winnats Pass, Hempsall soloed the last 18 miles to finish more than four minutes clear of lone runner-up Jeff Wright (North East RT).
Neil Hoban (Foremost-Karrimor) jumped away from Paul Curran (Optimum Performance RT) to claim third place, both riders shrugging off the effects of the previous evening's national Madison championship.
Hempsall's all-out aggression earned him the £130 winner's prize, plus £40 for being best climber. It was also his third victory in the Premier Calendar, good enough to clinch second place overall.
To complete an outstanding day for the Choice team, John Tanner put in a late charge after missing the decisive break to finish sixth and clinch overall victory in the Premier Calendar.
Choice's strategy had been to place a man in every break. Mark Walsham got into the first promising move on the road out of Buxton. When that was snuffed out by a lively peloton, Hempsall was ready to go with the next big attack after 14 miles.
Ten men were in the initial move, forcing a 10-second gap over a bunch that fought to stay in contact.
The group, which was destined to provide the first five finishers in the race, comprised Hempsall, Hoban, Curran, Wright, Danny Webb (East Bradford CC), Matt Rogers (Team Total Fitness), Gordon Murdoch (VC Astar), Graham Birch (Wrekinsport CC), Ken Stewart (CC Giro), Glenn Holmes (Delta RT), and these were soon joined by Tim Hall (Raleigh) and Mark Lovatt (Optimum Performance RT) to bring the break up to 12-strong.
RACING past Ladybower Reservoir, currently reduced to a puddle by the dry summer, the leaders had 42 seconds in hand over three chasers, Dave Williams (RT Italia), Darren Knight (Delta RT) and Mike Harrison (Congleton CC). Next on the road were Gary Thomas (Leek CC) and Julian Ramsbottom (Dinnington RC) at one minute, with the bunch at 1-46.
Ahead, the Snake Pass heralded the tough mid-section of the race. Hall and Curran drove the break up the climb, but it was Birch who led over the summit, trailed by Lovatt, Webb and Hempsall.
The swoop down to Glossop was followed by the long haul to Chunal Head, where the prime points went to Lovatt from Birch and Holmes.
Meanwhile, the two chase groups had merged, split and then reformed into a new three-man group of Knight, Williams and Thomas, who were closing fast on the leaders.
The three-mile Rushup Edge climb just after half distance saw the end of Stewart's challenge as he slipped off the back, soon to be joined by Birch and Webb.
Then the chase trio lost Knight. His face a mask of agony, he was forced to a dead stop clutching his left leg which was rigid with cramp.
Now the strong men were emerging. Lovatt led over the Rushup summit from Hall, Hempsall and Curran. Suddenly the chasers, who had looked certain to catch the lead group, started to lose ground. From being within 10 seconds of the break, they slipped rapidly out of contention.
A 20-mile stretch of comparatively easy terrain through Calver, Grindleford and Hathersage saw the six leaders conserving their strength in readiness for the final showdown on Winnats and Long Hill. Lovatt had to dig into his reserves when he suffered his second rear wheel puncture of the race. He finally regained the leaders after a three-mile chase and promptly went on the attack along the flat road through Hope Valley.
Then Hempsall sprinted away from the leaders. The acceleration forced Hall and Curran off the back. Wright and Lovatt chased Hempsall down and Hall and Curran also fought their way back after a long chase.
But Hempsall was determined to go clear and with 72 miles covered he launched the decisive attack. He chose his spot well. With Winnats looming, no one wanted to commit themselves to a pursuit.
Chasing his first Tour of the Peak victory, Hempsall raced through Hope village and crowded Castleton to cross the cattle grid that marks the start of the Winnats climb with a lead of 1-10.
Hempsall's attacks splintered the lead group, then Winnats strung them out even more. The lone leader looked to ride well within himself, while behind him his ex-breakaway companions zig-zagged up the unrelenting climb, trying to limit their losses.
THE Choice star crossed the crowd-lined summit with just 45 seconds lead over second man Wright who was trailed by Curran, Hoban, Lovatt and Holmes.
That was as close as they got. Charging along at a steady 30mph, Hempsall was soon two minutes clear of lone chaser Wright, who in turn was being pursued by Lovatt, Curran and Hoban.
One climb remained, Long Hill, the final four-mile obstacle standing between the leader and the finish line in Buxton. Barring accidents Hempsall was heading for victory. The rest were battling for second place. Wright, suffering but sticking with it, ground his way up the spectacular climb, clearly visible to Curran and Hoban - both past winners - who had dropped Lovatt on the lower slopes.
Hill-climb star Wright was also having to contend with a freewheel that appeared to be on the brink of disintegration. A lock ring had unscrewed leaving the sprockets rattling ominously and denying him his highest gears.
Meanwhile, Hempsall was racing into Buxton, sprinting up the final drag and under the finish banner in the Market Place where a small crowd applauded him home. Wright deservedly held on for second place ahead of the other heroes of the 76-mile breakaway, who were strung out over more than six minutes.
TANNER was determined to finish his victorious Premier Calendar campaign with a flourish and sprinted home in sixth place after dropping the rest of his chasing group on Long Hill. Chris Lillywhite (Foremost-Karrimor), who had also figured in the chase, came home in 10th place to confirm his third spot in the Premier Calendar.
The South Manchester RCC promotion, which dates back to 1943, had again provided superb racing, made possible by escort work by Derbyshire Police and sponsorship by JEF Scaffolding.
One of the few British events to genuinely warrant a 'classic' tag, the Tour of the Peak numbers all-time greats like Dave Bedwell, Bill Bradley, Robert Millar and Peter Buckley among its winners. Here's hoping that the sponsorship crisis that threatened its future has been averted and that the 53rd edition will be on the Premier Calendar next season.
'Early on my legs were heavy from the Tour de l'Avenir. I didn't know how I'd be until the end when I hit Winnats Pass, which was obviously the major obstacle. So I was just waiting.
'Then Mark Lovatt started the attack. There were some good climbers in the group like Tim Hall, Jeff Wright, Paul Curran, also Neil Hoban was going well, and I didn't know how I'd go over Winnats. So I attacked and took the chance to eliminate a few before the climb. I didn't really think I'd be on my own at the bottom. I just went up Winnats steady. I sat down most of the way and freewheeled over the top, then really went for it. By the time I got to Long Hill I was getting twinges of cramp so I stayed in low gears and just rode in. I knew the gap was two and a half minutes so I could afford to look after myself a bit.'
'I'm off to South Africa next, riding the Bowland Bank event with a composite team of Mark Waisham, Chris Lillywhite, Neil Hoban and Malcolm Elliott, and then it'll be winter and time for a holiday.'
JEFF WRIGHT:'I didn't have particularly high expectations today - this was my first road race for four weeks. On Winnats I just blew myself apart, but I knew we wouldn't see Simeon again.
'Then, on Long Hill, I could see the chasers so I just buried myself.'
PAUL CURRAN:
'Simeon could have left us at any time. My legs were sore from the Madison and got worse. When they started jumping about I got dropped with Tim Hall, but then we got back on and when it got steadier I was OK.'
MARK LOVATT:
'The first time I punctured I was given a wheel with a 13-18 block, so I had to stop and change it again. Then I punctured again just before Simeon's attack. The chase didn't take a great deal out of me but all these things add up in the end.'
1. Simeon Hempsall (Choice Accountancy) 90m in 3-49-17
2. J. Wright (North East RT) at 4-02
3. N. Hoban (Foremost-Karrimor) at 4-57
4. P. Curran (Optimum Performance RT) at 5-01
5. M. Lovatt (Optimum Performance RT) at 6-15
6. J. Tanner (Choice) at 6-56
7. G. Holmes (Delta RT) at 7-23
8. G. Murdoch (VC Astar) at 7-25
9. C. Langley (CC Luton) at 8-30
10. C. Lillywhite (Foremost-Karrimor) at 8-33
11. D. Axford (VC Vents) st
12. T. Hall (Raleigh) at 9-50
13. M. Rogers (Team Total Fitness) at 11-07
14. G. Thomas (Leek CC) at 11-32
15. R. Thompson (GS Metro)
16. D. Webb (Bradford Olympic)
17. P. Coggins (GS Orion) all st
18. R. Hughes (Wolverhampton Wheelers) at 11-46.
Lowfher King of the Mountains.- Hempsall 17 pts; Lovatt 13; 3, Wright 11.
John Tanner (Choice Accountancy) 336pts; 2, Hempsall 310; 3, Lillywhite 233; 4, Walsham 196; 5, Hoban 159; 6, D. Rayner (Lex-Townsend) 142; 7, S. Farrell (Tunstall Wh) 141; 8, G. Coltman (Raleigh) 116, 9, Holmes 112; 10, M. Stephens (North Wirral Velo) 108; 11, C. Walker (Lex-Townsend) 103; 12, M. Postle (Delta RT) 93; 13, B. Burns (Aire Valley) 90; 14,1. Gilkes (RT Italia) 86; 15, R. Holden (Muddy Fox) 84; 16, R. Prebble (Wembley RC) 84; 17, P. Eyk (Choice) 83; 18, P. Curran (Optimum Performance) 83; 19, D. Williams (RT Italia) 82; 20, J. Clay (Team Orange) 72.