on 25th February 2020
Despite terrible weather Team Boss Mick Ives held the first of the new season’s training ride for his “Team Jewson—M.I.Racing—Polypipe—McCann” cycling team at the weekend. A dozen riders presented themselves for the 51 mile tough ride which included 3 very tough climbs—Friz Hill—Sunrising Hill and Avon Dassett—with gale force winds and heavy rain making things difficult.
Amongst the group was Rob O’Connor from Rugby, who is back riding for the Coventry based team after two seasons with a northern based squad. Rob has won many British Championships in the M.I.Race Team colours and was delighted to be accepted once again into his local team back with his old team mates.
Last season Rob scored 15 victories including area 7 Road Champion, and was 3rd in the LVRC National Time Trial Champs, Mountains winner in the 3 day Tour of the Abberleys and 3rd overall in the season long Percy Stallard National Road Race series.
Also back with the M.I.Race Team will be Multi National Champion, John French. John missed the past two seasons whilst living in Spain but now intends to mix racing both here and in Spain. Team Boss Ives said, “I am delighted to have both these excellent riders back in the Team and know that they will get some great results for all of our Team Sponsors during the coming season.” Both are expected to begin their season in two weeks time with a race at Darley Moore, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
This coming week end sees the start of the local Time Trial season with the classic Banbury Star Hard Riders event over 23 miles, which includes the climb of Sunrising Hill on the Stratford to Banbury road. Course and Event record holder Jack O’Neill, from Coventry, is expected to lead the M.I.Race Teams challenge – O’Neill , has won the last two editions.