If it’s the first weekend of the month and the snow drops have burst through – it must Scottish Super Six time.
VeloVeritas caught up with the first Super Six winner of the year, 19 year-old Dumbarton man Robert Hassan (Endura/PedalPower Development: Team) the day after he’d triumphed over 65 miles of beautiful East Lothian countryside in the Edinburgh Road Club promotion at Gifford.
Congratulations on the win, Robert – you’re with Endura/PedalPower this year, a good move?
“A great move, it’s a good bunch of guys who are all keen to race; and the team provides kit and financial help with racing expenses.”
A wrench to leave the Glasgow Wheelers?
“No, this is an upwards step and the club wishes me well.”
Is your uncle Dave happy — he was a Wheelers man?’
“Oh yes — he sees at as a step up and I have to take it to move on.”
Tell us about your win at Gifford, what was the team’s game plan?
“To cover every move and not leave it to a bunch sprint — that’s too risky.
“The winning move didn’t form until the last lap; it’s a difficult circuit for a break to be successful on — there were a lot of moves coming and going.
“My team mate Gary Hand was in the break with me and we agreed a strategy to mark the two danger men — Ben Greenwood (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Tom Last (Sigma Sport) I took Greenwood and Gary took Last.
“It worked perfectly because it meant that the one had to chase the other if they went because there was one of us with them.
“We had a decent gap over the last half lap so didn’t have to go through too hard; at the finish it came down to a sprint and I won it comfortably with Gary in second place.”
How did your winter training go?
“The first half of the winter I just do long runs at the weekend and mid-week with The Wheelers.
“But the second half of the winter has been pretty dodgy for me, I’ve been ill on and off all the time — the last two weeks I’ve had a bad chest.
“My legs are strong but I don’t have any real form.”
How do you fit training in around university?
“I did my first year at Strathclyde last year, but this year I’m taking a year out to concentrate on the bike — I can always go back to uni.”
Do you have a coach?
“No, my dad was a good rider ten years ago and I work with him; he has a lot of experience and we sit down agree what I should be doing.”
The Premiers?
“Yes, they’re a target; we’ll definitely be doing the two in Scotland and also the National road race at Newcastle – I got my entry back last year but I’ll be there, this year.”
Doon Hame?
“Definitely, that’s my first major target of the year; last year I was 27th which was a good result in my first senior year, but this year I want to improve upon that.”
The Commonwealth Games 2014?
“I’ll definitely be up for that but there’s a long time until then — I’ve got four years of racing to do.
“My goal is to be a professional by then but it’s certainly something which I’ll focus on.”
Do you fancy a spell in Flanders like Dougie Young and Michael Nicholson did, last year?
“I was going to go last year but it didn’t work out.
“This year I hope to be spending some time in July racing down in the Pyrenees; I think the hard, hilly racing down there would suit me better.”
The Super Sixes — a good thing?
“Definitely, whilst the course at Gifford was good, it was very hard to establish a break, I just hope that there will be Super Sixes on harder courses with more hills, which suit me better.
“It’s a shame that some of the classic road races from the past have disappeared, they were hard races and as I said, I just hope that all of the Super Sixes don’t end up on flat courses.”
And who’s going to win at Rosneath in the next Super Six?
“Me, hopefully!
“That’s my home turf; I was actually out on those roads today — it’s a hard hilly course and I’m looking forward to it.”
You’ve been warned!
Result
A Race
1 Robert Hassan Endura/PedalPower Development Team 1 2 hrs 42′ 07″
2 Gary Hand Endura/PedalPower Development Team 1
3 Tom Last Sigma Sport/Specialized CT 1
4 Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor Sharp 1 @ 3″
5 Alistair Kay Herbalife/Wheelbase 1 @ 46″
6 Alister Watt Granite City RT V2 @ 54″
7 Eddie Addis Velo Ecosse 2 s
8 Dougie Young Endura/PedalPower Development Team 2
9 Graham McGarrity Dooleys RT V2
10 Craig Adams GJS Racing Team 2
11 Stuart Reid Herbalife/Wheelbase 1
12 Eddie Cowle Stirling Bike Club 3
13 Stuart McCluskie Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows J3
14 Matthew Macdonald Thebicycleworks.com 3
15 Finlay Young Velo Ecosse 2
16 Gerald Grant GJS Racing Team 3
17 David Murdoch East Kilbride RC 3
18 Andrew Brierley Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows V3
19 Andrew Davies Thebicycleworks.com
20 Greg Brown Dooleys RT J2
21 Keith Laird Glasgow Couriers – DB Developments 3
22 Alan Thomson Glasgow Couriers – DB Developments 2
23 David Lindsay Thebicycleworks.com V2
24 Jack Barrett Stirling Bike Club J3
25 David Lines Endura/PedalPower Development Team E
26 Simon Baxter Herbalife/Wheelbase 1
27 Tommy Murray Glasgow Wheelers 2
28 Paul Newnham Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows 2
29 Gordon Murdoch East Kilbride RC 1
30 Dave Henderson GTracingUK 1
31 Tom Fernie Velo Ecosse 3
32 Neil Taylor Edinburgh RC 3
33 Gary McCrae Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows V2
34 Hans Forhaug Glasgow United CC V3
35 Rich Semple East Kilbride RC 3
36 Ian Taylor Herbalife/Wheelbase E
37 Richard Mcdonald Stirling Bike Club 3
38 Allan Clark Sandy Wallace Cycles 2
39 Andrew Hood Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows 3
40 Andrew Matheson Musselburgh Roads CC V2
41 Jordan Stokes Endura/PedalPower Development Team 3
42 Stephen McCain West Lothian Clarion
43 Craig Moffat Falkirk Bicycle Club 3
44 Keith Robertson Granite City RT V2
45 Brian Duncan Granite City RT 3 sa
46 Ross Creber Cycle Premier- Metaltek E
47 Ross Crook Edinburgh RC V2
48 James McPake GJS Racing Team 2
49 Steven Robertson Team Icarus 3
50 Barry Crumlish Glasgow Couriers – DB Developments 3
51 Nicky Cronin Glasgow Wheelers 3
52 Peter Murdoch East Kilbride RC 2
53 Ciaran O Sullivan Velo 29 2
54 Scott McCrossan Endura/PedalPower Development Team 2
55 Matthew Hamilton Team Deschuytter KWSC Westkerke 2
56 Jack Cutsforth Herbalife/Wheelbase 2
57 Lewis Oliphant Velo Ecosse 3
58 Lindsay Gordon Thebicycleworks.com 3 @ 1′ 7″
59 Alastair McNicol Thebicycleworks.com 2
60 David Griffiths Glasgow Wheelers 3 @ 1′ 15″
61 : Keith Johnston Lakeland CC 3 @ 1′ 56″
62 Craig Wallace Granite City RT J3 @ 2′ 00″
63 Liam Cowie Endura/PedalPower Development Team 3 @ 2′ 6″
64 Andrew Wilson Falkirk Bicycle Club @ 3′ 4″
65 Andrew Leith Dooleys RT 2 @ 4′ 25″
66 Derek Walker East Kilbride RC 3
67 Andrew Ralston Perth United CC V2 @ 5′ 11″
68 Paul Mcinally Rock Road Cycles 3 @ 1 lap
B Race
1 85 Ross Green Stewartry Wheelers J 1 hr 37′ 06″
2 31 Geoffrey Martin Nevis Cycles RT 4
3 40 Ricky Sutherland Royal Albert CC 4
4 20 Ray Williams Edinburgh RC 4
5 6 Euan MacPherson Dunfermline CC 4
6 44 Malcolm Gibson Stirling Bike Club 4
7 26 Duncan McIntyre Glasgow Nightingale CC V4
8 36 Scot Bullivant Rock and Road 4
9 14 Francis Hepburne Scott Edinburgh RC 4
10 89 Dale McCallum Thebicycleworks.com J
11 49 Steve Macluskie VC Glasgow South V4
12 22 Gary Cross Falkirk BC V4
13 83 Bradley Stokes Pedal Power RT J4
14 74 Lee Craigie Torq Performance W
15 56 Craig Marshall West Lothian Clarion V4
16 50 George Roberts VC Glasgow South V4
17 88 Cameron Milne Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows J4
18 65 Stephen Dickson Falkirk BC 4
19 76 Laura Murray Velocity 44 Stirling W
20 81 Peter Hale Falkirk BC J4
21 53 Gavin Mooney Velo Club Edinburgh V4
22 5 John Paterson Dumfries CC 4
23 32 Brian Hamilton Pedal Power RT V4
24 39 Darren Stewart Royal Albert CC 4
25 21 Ewan McDougall Elgin CC 4 @ 8″
26 63 John Milligan Dundee Wheelers CC V4
27 4 Paul McSkimming Dooley’s-cycles.co.uk V4
28 52 Michael Fong Velo Club Edinburgh 4 @ 18″
29 86 Ryan Fenwick Stewartry Wheelers MPG Cycles J @ 21″
30 1 David Thomson Johnstone Wheelers CC 4 @ 33″
31 51 Matthew Ansell Velo Club Edinburgh 4 @ 37″
32 54 Peter Ward Velo Club Edinburgh 4
33 43 David Lawtie Spokes RT V4 50+ @ 48″
34 84 Sam Waterston Peebles CC J4 @ 49″
35 90 Owen Philipson Stirling Bike Club 4 @ 51″
36 33 Fraser Law Pedal Power RT 4 @ 1′ 00″
37 9 Graeme Small East Kilbride RC V4 @ 1′ 05″
38 19 Cameron Stewart Edinburgh RC V4 @ 1′ 08″
39 59 Andy Douglas Pedal Power RT V4
40 23 Bruce Fullerton Falkirk BC V4 @ 1′ 17″
41 47 Andrew Kilpatrick Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows V3 50+ @ 1′ 32″
42 8 Brian McCardle East Kilbride RC 4 @ 1′ 51″
43 16 Scott McCallum Edinburgh RC 4
44 11 Georges Avraam Edinburgh RC V4 50+ @ 2′ 32″
45 48 Raymond Reidy Team Leslie Bikeshop – Right Move Windows V3 50+ @ 2′ 48″
46 46 Keith Jones Team Icarus V4 @ 3′ 07″
47 62 Christopher Walsh Unattached 4 @ 7′ 52″
48 3 Bradley Carroll Deeside Thistle CC 4
49 12 Jarlath Flynn Edinburgh RC 4 @ 8′ 46″
50 25 Paul Hornby Glasgow Ivy CC V4
51 37 Steven Brennan Royal Albert CC 4
52 17 Robin Millar Edinburgh RC V4 @ 9′ 11″
53 42 Sandy Wallace Sandy Wallace Cycles V4 60+
54 75 Jane Barr Velocity 44 Stirling W @ 9′ 16″
55 18 Graeme Scott Edinburgh RC 4 @ 9′ 20″
56 80 Luke Johnstone Chryston Wheelers CC J4 @ 9′ 23″
57 29 David Lang Glasgow Wheelers V3 60+
58 57 Alexander Stuart Ythan CC V4 @ 9′ 45″
59 7 John Farrell East Kilbride RC 4 @ 22′ 31″
60 10 Chris Allen Edinburgh RC V4
61 34 Kamil Pompe Pedal Power RT 4
62 27 Timothy Drysdale Glasgow Wheelers 4
63 45 Buchanan Paterson Stirling Bike Club 4 @ 22′ 40″
64 41 Olivier Camy Sandy Wallace Cycles 4 @ 24′ 03″
65 28 Kallen Kerr Glasgow Wheelers 4 @ 27′ 58″
66 15 Robert Hillis Edinburgh RC 4
