on 18th March 2019
The new 2019 Cycle Race season has only just begun, and already Coventry based team “ Team Jewson-M.I.Racing-Polypipe—McCann” are already reaping success.
On Sunday Hinckley based team member 55 year old, Mike Twelves a current Multi British Champion and former Professional, won Round 1 of the season long “Percy Stallard“ National Road Race series, the first local road race of 2019–held over a tough 40 mile course near Market Harbrough, Leicestershire.
Twelves and 6 other rides broke clear of the main field, early in the race, and constant attacks brought the number down to 4 riders for the final lap. With 1 km to go former World Professional Pursuit Champion, 51 year old, Colin Sturgess attacked, and only Twelves was able to bridge the gap, catching Sturgess at the foot of the steep finishing hill, Twelves led all the way up the climb and with 75 mts to go, kicked hard to leave the former World Champion behind –Mike now leads the overall series.
Conditions were far from ideal, with a strong icy wind and the hilly route, making it hard work for everyone.
A few days earlier Twelves had finished 2nd in a Circuit race at Darley Moor, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, the event was held in gale force winds, driving rain and even snow showers.
In the supporting event at Market Harborough, for riders 60 years and over –Team member, Les Liddiard attacked from the start, and was only caught by 1 rider approaching the finish, –Liddiard finishing in 2nd place. It was a very brave effort by the 63 year old rider, and shows good form for future events.
Team Jewson had already won the 1st local Time Trial of the season, when Coventry’s Jack O’Neill won the Banbury Star Hill event, and Radford Semely member Mark Wise won the Veteran race.