Town Centre Road Races
Guildford: 11/07/07
by Paul Howard
The annual Guildford Crit's are always an event that's worth going to watch, especially with the lure of local bars to keep the spectators refreshed and the post Tour de France sendoff in everyone's minds.
For the racers it's a tough evening out - the circuit maybe only a mere 500 metres round but it's known as one of the hardest criterium courses, due in no small part to half of it ascending the cobbled High Street 40 times. John, Dean, Ben and I all rolled up to support Hoppy in the thirds who lined up with a few familiar faces from the local mountain bike racing scene.
From the off everyone is redlining it and in no time at all riders were shelled out the back. An eventual group of 10 riders formed the break that would go to the finish despite a few digs here and there particularly from the young Interbike rider (an under 16) that didn't last. At the bell Hoppy jumped from the pack and instantly gained 5 lengths, concerned that if it came to a group sprint for the line he wouldn't have the legs to challenge. Waiting with baited breath we saw him re-enter the High Street in the lead which he held to the line. A fine race winning move.
The evening concluded with the Elites/1st/2nd Cat race which was dominated by the Plowman Craven Evans Team and a solo breakaway win.
Not quite the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, but rough enough to pile on the pain
as Hoppy opens a gap over fellow Masters mtb rider Nick Onslow (PedalOn)
