The Stockbridge Down Road Race hosted by Andover Wheelers, saw three Sotonia riders – James Peckham, Brook Elgie and Ben Scott-Munden take the start line this year after junior, Red Walters was forced to pull out with a knee problem. For this tough E1/2 National B race, they were up against the likes of UCI Continental team, BIKE Channel Canyon and in a race of 80 miles, 5,700ft of climbing and speeds over 24mph, it’s a hard job just to finish in the bunch. Brook and James both excelled with top 30 finishes – well done guys!
Brook: “A grippy, attritional race where the splits were determined by Winton Hill, and who could either stay with the front group, or bridge over to it before Crawley. I tried to follow the moves in the first couple of laps, but missed the split that stuck. Unlike some years, it was windless and sunny, so a fast day. Fairly smashed by the last lap, and finished somewhere in the top 25.”
James: “It was a super hard race, break went quite early and then me and Brook were in the chasing group. Got progressively harder, at the start of the fifth lap, our group split and we had to work really hard to get back in. Brook put in a big effort to bring us back. I paid for it on the penultimate time up Winton hill, dropping off the group. Brook finished just outside the top 20 and I managed to hold off the next group for hopefully a top 30. Thanks for all the support out there today and to Penny for marshalling.”
Thanks to Andover Wheelers, the marshals, commissaires, NEGs and everyone who made for another top event.
