Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ian Stannard takes the British National Road Race Championships 2012

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HomeRaceRace ReviewsIan Stannard takes the British National Road Race Championships 2012

With the bells of beautiful Ampleforth Abbey peeling in celebration, Sky made it a hat trick of Elite British National Road Race Championships; strong man Ian Stannard following on from Geraint Thomas in 2010 and Bradley Wiggins in 2011.

British National Road Race Championships
Ian Stannard, new British Road Race Champion.
British National Road Race Championships
The college bells rang out to celebrate Ian’s victory.

Team mate Alex Dowsett made it a Sky one-two, with Raleigh’s Russell Hampton taking a well deserved bronze after matching the two Sky riders blow for blow until the last lap of the technical finishing circuit in beautiful North Yorkshire.

Stannard’s win was achieved in the grand manner – right there at the start of the five man break; driving it hard; then, when two of his companions cracked he took longer spells; and when it looked like the move might be brought back, he turned up the watts to put more than nearly eight minutes into what was left of the bunch by the end.

When we asked him at the finish what the Sky tactic for the day was, he replied; ‘keep the title in the team, simple, eh?’

British National Road Race Championships
Ed chats to Ian after his victory in Amble

Big loser on the day was Endura; they missed the break, chased hard, brought the gap down but couldn’t hold the rampant Stannard when he pressed harder on the pedals.

British National Road Race Championships
The Police and Escort Group did a good of job of keeping the front of the race safe, but we heard some grumblings about the riders at the back of the race being left to fend for themselves.

Last year we brought six spectators down for the National Road Race Championship – but this year it was just four; Callum and Dave joining us for the gig.

That’s down to the disbandment of the Dan Fleeman fan club, Scotland chapter – since our boy turned to the MTB it’s just not the same.

We caught sight of the break in the ladies race – Emma Pooley on the front, three on her wheel.

British National Road Race Championships
Emma pulls the break.

One girl was in between, then a yawning gap back to a small group and a dawdling peloton.

British National Road Race Championships
Sharon Laws won.

Our first chat of the day was with Node 4’s James Moss – just back from the Tour de Beauce, straight into the mid-week British Criterium Championship and not sure how he’ll do today.

British National Road Race Championships
Martin (r) catches up with our blogger, Node4’s James Moss.

Former champion, Hamish Haynes is across from Belgium – form has been slower to show this year, but top ten placings in the kermises have been coming and the eternal Haynes optimism is glowing again.

British National Road Race Championships
We brought down some High 5 goodies for him which meant he was even more pleased to see us than usual.
British National Road Race Championships
Scotsman Evan Oliphant was also at Beauce, for Raleigh and came back with three top ten placings.

I’ve been betting Dave large quantities of Scotland’s national drink – Irn Bru – for the last two years that Evan will make the top ten at the British.

We’re treble or quits, this year – I’m due him a truck load of the stuff if Evan doesn’t get up there.

Another Scotsman who’s been riding well, but far from the hills of Beauce is Michael Nicholson – he’s just signed for Belgian/Algerian squad Geofco-Ville d’Algers.

British National Road Race Championships
But Michael is worried that his kermis-friendly build may be a bit too robust for the rolling North Yorkshire terrain.

Former champion, Rapha’s Kristian House is looking sharp and thinks that Sky will go for it from the gun but as he says; ‘there’s 20 guys could win.’

British National Road Race Championships
Kristian’s role today will be to help the young riders on the team go for the U23 title.

Our blogger Dan Patten (Soenens-Glass Construct) is over from Belgium for the ‘big one’ but whilst the twisty bits of the circuit are reminiscent of Flanders, the winding hills of North Yorkshire aren’t.

British National Road Race Championships
Dan suffered a spill the other day, being knocked off by a 4WD, but is okay – he hopes.
British National Road Race Championships
The parcours took in the leafy grounds of the Abbey College.

Scotsman Robbie Hassan (Herbalife) leads the bunch up the leafy little climb from the abbey with Jez Hunt stone last – he needs space to get on top of that 11 tooth sprocket – and the 2012 British elite road race championships are off and running.

British National Road Race Championships
Jeremy takes up the last position for the rollout.

Lap one of the first of three on the big circuit and our picnic (Callum took us up-market, with bread sticks and humus) in Ampleforth is interrupted by a squall.

British National Road Race Championships
Dave and Callum join Martin and Ed in an upmarket picnic.

‘Four clear with eight chasing’ says the announcer’s car.

I almost miss the break, they’re on us at warp speed – Giro grafter Ian Stannard and former Euro time trial champion Alex Dowsett are there for Sky, plus former British criterium champion Graham Briggs (Raleigh) and an Endura, we think.

British National Road Race Championships
Dowsett drives the break at Mach2.

The bunch is one long, long line, swishing over the wet tar in the rain, with Jez Hunt, Luke Rowe and Ben Swift policing the front.

British National Road Race Championships
Hampton sees the danger and gives it everything to bridge.

It could be all over – it’s up to the other teams to bridge across and if they do, the three men with the thin blue lines up their back will counter.

Rapha’s former British champion, Kristian House is off the back – he must have punctured.

Lap two and we have an ID on the break, it’s grown to five – Dowsett, Stannard, Briggs plus Oli Beckingsale (Endura MTB Racing) and another Raleigh, Russell Hampton.

British National Road Race Championships
Adam and Evan safe in the bunch at this point.

Hampton was just beginning to make his move to get aboard the Stannard Express when he passed us the first time – he’s done well to make it up.

There are four at around two minutes: Thomas Moses (100% ME), Nicolas Hutchins (GS Gruppetto), James McLaughlin (Sojasun Espoirs) and Joshua Edmondson (Team Colpack).

And it looks like it’s all over, from where we’re standing.

Endura are chasing at the head of the peloton – three of them, but the gap is yawning into many minutes.

British National Road Race Championships
The Endura guys have to drill it – they’ve missed the break, and the chase group.
British National Road Race Championships
Sky hover, Rapha do too – but they should be helping Endura.

We move to a better spot, at the start of the first of the six small laps.

British National Road Race Championships
It’s still Endura trying to peg the break back.

Chris Boote (Zappi Pro Cycling) ambles past – he was tailed off and stops for a chat with us.

British National Road Race Championships
Chris Boote undertook his Royal Marine physical exam just a few days before the race!

The team is organised by Italian ex-pro Flavio Zappi – who rode the Giro, back in the day – who has a cafe in Oxford.

And major respect to Endura – the four ‘in between’ have gone and the gap from break to bunch is down to 2:40; we didn’t think that was likely, last time round.

British National Road Race Championships
Endura chase, but it’s too late.
British National Road Race Championships
Stannard doesn’t look happy but Endura are rampant.

Kristian House is moving up for Rapha as the trees start to sway in the rising wind – at least it keeps the rain away.

British National Road Race Championships
JTL contemplates the showers.

Evan Oliphant is looking comfortable – he’s won on these roads in the past and doesn’t have to work with two in the break.

British National Road Race Championships
Evan shouts a greeting – we think.

It looks over for Hamish Haynes and Scotsman Robbie Hassan, the peloton has split and they’re in the wrong half.

British National Road Race Championships
Robbie Hassan and Hamish found themselves in the wrong half of the splits.

On the second of the small circuits it looks like Stannard’s discomfort on the previous lap was indigestion – he’s rampant again and Dowsett is gritting his teeth to hang on.

British National Road Race Championships
Alex digs in – there’s no let-up.

Hampton is still there but Beckingsale and Briggs have gone – it’s no surprise, Beckingsale is a mountain bike man and Briggs a criterium specialist.

The gap is out to 3:15 with Sky and Raleigh blocking and Endura looking tired, all of a sudden.

Our favourite for the day, Endura’s Russell Downing, is stone last in the peloton and not looking comfortable.

British National Road Race Championships
An unusual position for Russ.

Behind it’s definitely over for Hamish and Scotsman Alex Coutts.

British National Road Race Championships
Alex and Hamish won’t see the front of the race again.

Coutts is with RTS Racing, this year and is a previous winner of the Tour of Taiwan – but he’s not going to win this one.

Third time up and Stannard is bear-like, Dowsett and Hampton are still there but the gap has really yawned back to the peloton – 5:45.

British National Road Race Championships
Kristian knows it’s a lost cause.

There’s a lone rider in no man’s land, 119 Joshua Hunt (Terra Footware) but he’s 4:15 back – he’ll struggle to bridge that gap, in this wind.

British National Road Race Championships
Another of our bloggers racing today, Tomas Swift-Metcalfe (r) got caught out by the splits too.

Sky are at the front of the peloton, controlling things, Endura seem to have thrown the towel in.

Barring acts of God, it looks like Stannard to us.

The fourth ascent of our wee hill changes nothing – except the gap.

It’s now way over six minutes – Joshua Hunt has gone as the ‘man in the middle’ but one of the Node 4 guys has taken his place.

British National Road Race Championships
100% saving it for another day.

Ben Swift and a 100% ME rider have jumped a fragmenting bunch and are chasing the Node 4 rider.

British National Road Race Championships
Ben Swift puts himself in the gap for those UCI points.

With the wind, distance and Stannard – it’s carnage in what’s left of the peloton.

British National Road Race Championships
A great ride from mountain bike star Grant Ferguson, only 18 years old and hanging in with the best road riders in the country.

But the Sky guys will be conscious of those other precious UCI points – waste not, want not.

British National Road Race Championships
A recent diet of criteriums, and a long hard chase saw Endura’s Ian Bibby slide solo off the back.

Jez Hunt grimaces, maybe the fact that he’s on a gear that a motor paced guy would wince at isn’t helping.

British National Road Race Championships
Jez hurts on his mega gear.

Eight minutes is a long time – that was the gap back to the bunch from the three in the lead – with Swift and Pete Williams (Node 4) at around one minute less than that – the fifth time they passed.

Another year and another Sky demonstration ride.

British National Road Race Championships
Jez attacks to get clear and take some of those UCI points.

We skipped watching the race for the final time on our little climb, and made for the finish.

British National Road Race Championships
Brigg’s nice Raleigh was in the move for a good part of the race, but didn’t see the finish.

The climb on the small circuit was a toughie – a mile, winding up through the trees and a long false flat over the top.

The fast descent gave way to picturesque but technical roads through green countryside, with the finish in the grounds of lovely Ampleforth Abbey.

British National Road Race Championships
Roger Hammond waits for the race to arrive.
British National Road Race Championships
The winner drives for the line.

Stannard slipped his erstwhile companions and rode the tough, gently rising finishing straight with a minute and more to spare over Dowsett, who in turn had dropped Hampton.

British National Road Race Championships
Alex grimaces up the final drag.
British National Road Race Championships
Emptying the tank to try and catch Alex for second spot, Russell rode a tremendous race.

Ben Swift was way back in fourth place, with the bunch close behind – Jez making it four in the first five for Sky.

British National Road Race Championships
Fourth place for Ben.
British National Road Race Championships
You wouldn’t pick a fight with Jez, would you? Maybe Shimano will make a 10 sprocket for him.

Ten minutes late a disconsolate Russ Downing was slumped in a folding chair; whilst a smiling Stannard pedalled off to the medal presentation.

British National Road Race Championships
Russell told us he didn’t have the legs today, but we knew better than to pester him further.
British National Road Race Championships
Ian just has time for a few autographs at the bus, before being called to the podium.

Evan didn’t make the top ten so Dave says that I have to buy shares in AG Barr – producers of Irn Bru – to settle my debt to him.

British National Road Race Championships
Luke Rowe heading for seventh spot.
British National Road Race Championships
A gift for the young fans.

Hamish battled to the finish – he’s not a man to waste a ferry fare, is our Hamish.

British National Road Race Championships
Hamish was happy with his race, given the luck and pains he’s been working hard to overcome recently.

Another British Champs, another Sky win – all we need now is for Brad to win the Tour.

But Dan, we miss you.

British National Road Race Championships
Today’s lucky number.

Results - British Road Race Championships 2012


Mens' Championship


1. Ian Stannard Sky Pro Cycling 4:48:43
2. Alex Dowsett Sky Pro Cycling @ 1:14
3. Russell Hampton Team Raleigh – GAC @ 1:24
4. Ben Swift Sky Pro Cycling @ 7:45
5. Jeremy Hunt Sky Pro Cycling @ 7:59
6. David Clarke Node4 – Giordana Racing @ st
7. Luke Rowe Sky Pro Cycling @ st
8. Jonathan McEvoy Endura Racing @ 8:02
9. Simon Richardson Team IG – Sigma Sport @ 8:05
10. Michael Cuming Rapha Condor Sharp @ 8:07
11. Matthew Holmes Team Raleigh – GAC @ 8:09
12. Robert Partridge Endura Racing @ 8.10
13. Peter Williams Node4 – Giordana Racing @ st
14. Yanto Barker Team UK Youth @ st
15. Joshua Edmondson Team Colpack @ 8.15
16. Mark McNally An Post – M.Donnelly @ 8.16
17. Liam Holohan Team Raleigh – GAC @ 8:22
18. Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh – GAC @ st
19. Richard Handley Rapha Condor Sharp @ 8:31
20. Ben Greenwood Vanillabikes.com @ 9:00
21. Samuel Harrison 100% Me @ 9:57
22. Thomas Last Team IG – Sigma Sport @ 11:35
23. Adam Yates UVCA Troyes @ 11:39
24. Russell Downing Endura Racing @ st
25. Jack Kirk UVCA Troyes @ st
26. Luke Grivell-Mellor Rapha Condor Sharp @ st
27. Natan Edmondson SC Cene Valle Seriana @ 11:46
28. Chris Bartlett Marco Polo – Donckers Koffie @ 11:50
29. Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes @ 12:03
30. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles @ 14:53
31. Grant Ferguson Boardman Elite @ 16:35
32. Gruff Lewis Team UK Youth @ 18:38

Under 23

1. Michael Cuming Rapha Condor – Sharp
2. Matthew Holmes Team Raleigh – GAC
3. Joshua Edmondson Team Colpack


Ladies' Championship


1. Sharon Laws AA Drink – Leontien.nl 3:11:50
2. Elizabeth Armitstead AA Drink – Leontien.nl @ 1:36
3. Emma Pooley AA Drink – Leontien.nl @ 1:41
4. Nikki Harris Young Telenet Fidea @ 2:43
5. Sarah Storey Escentual For VioRed @ 3:52
6. Nicole Cooke MBE Team Raen – Honda @ 9:02
7. Catherine Williamson Team Bizhub – SCF @ 9:04
8. Katie Colclough HTC – High Road @ st
9. Emma Trott Dolman Boels @ 9.44
10. Natalie Creswick Mulebar Girl @ 9:51
11. Sarah Byrne Cycle Premier -Kovert @ 10:08
12. Claire Galloway Escentual For VioRed @ 16:34
13. Penny Rowson Matrix Fitness – Prendas @ st
14. Annabel Simpson Matrix Fitness – Prendas @ 16:36
15. Gemma Neill Team Leslie Bike Shop @ 16:40
16. Rebecca Heath VC St Raphael @ 16:48
17. Corrine Hall Node4 – Giordana @ 18:03
18. Eileen Roe Team Ibis Cycles @ st
19. Laura Massey Abergavenny RC @ st
20. Hannah Barnes Team Ibis Cycles @ 18:09
21. Lowri Bunn Abergavenny RC @ 18:13
22. Delia Beddis Dirtwheels Cycles @ 18:14
23. Nicola Juniper Corvida Allpress @ 18:22
24. Kayleigh Brogan Team Ibis Cycles @ 18:28
25. Karla Boddy High Wycome Cycling Club @ 19:10

Under 23

1. Katie Colclough HTC – High Road
2. Penny Rowson Matrix Fitness – Prendas
3. Annabel Simpson Matrix Fitness – Prendas


British National Road Race Championships
It’s Ian’s number one bike – or was it a prediction?
Ed Hood and Martin Williamson
Ed Hood and Martin Williamson
Ed and Martin, our top team! They try to do the local Time Trials, the Grand Tours and the Classics together to get the great stories written, the quality photos taken, the driving done and the wifi wrestled with.

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