CERTINI 2 DAY

Andrew Hitchens, Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles bade farewell to the lower ecehelons of local cycling when he was upgraded to first category status following a run of good results. His last race as a second category rider was the 4 stage Team Certini promoted race on the slopes of Western Dartmoor. His typical aggresive approach to racing saw him take third place overall with two second places in the two road races. Had he performed better in the short time trials then he may well have been first or second.

The opening stage was over half of the Brent Tor circuit and was won by Glenn Borrett, Bikinmotion CC, with a strong performance. His time was 7 mins 46 seconds. Team mate Alex Fitzgerald came in seventh with 8 mins 7 seconds while Hitchens languished in twentieth place a further 9 seconds back.

The afternoon road race was 100 km which equated to 12 laps around the roads close to Brent Tor.

Soon in the thick of the action was Fitzgerald along with 3 other riders including Doug Dewey, Team Tor 2000 who at the end of all four stages was fifth - mainly due to his strong time trial performances where he was second each time. The bunch seemed content to let them dangle off the front with a lead that was never more than 1 minute.

With four laps to go the break started to disintigrate and on the next lap Hitchens, his team mate Adam Holmes and Robert Smail, Ystwyth CC were instumental in setting up the winning break. Initially 10 riders were at the front but the pace soon told and with one lap to go four slipped back to the main bunch. One of those to succumb was Holmes.

In the dash to the line Smail had at least 4 lengths in hand over Hitchens with Tom Copeland a talented junior from Eastbourne was third and Ben Anstie from Chippenham fourth.

After a ninety minute break there was another time trial over the same route as the morning - this was indeed a test for legs full of lactic acid. Remarkably Hitchens was one of a few riders who improved. He was seventh and 6 seconds quicker with his second effort. He was now third on overall time behind Copeland and Anstie.

On Sunday morning the race switched to the 30 mile Roadford circuit - one with long dragging hills that had to be covered twice. No sooner had the race begun when 3 riders broke clear. None were a real threat to the race leaders. Holmes worked tirelessly for Hitchens neutralising any dangerous moves. As the final miles approached the one time breakaway was caught though the last rider was not overhauled until the penultimate hill was being climbed.

Hitchens tried his usual tactic of attacking at the base of the last hill but the rest of the 27 riders were alert to this and in the final yards he was overhauled by Guy Wilkins, Bikinmotion CC. Matt Ewings, Exeter Wheelers CC was third.

Final overall standings:-

1    Tom Copeland, Ingear Quickvit  RT
2     Ben Anstie, Chippenham  & District CC @ 8 secs
3    Andrew Hitchens, Mid-Devon CC @  14secs
4    Russell Bazely, Leisure Lakes  RT @ 31 secs
5    Doug Dewey, Team Tor 2000 @ 49  secs
6    Robert Smail, Ystwyth CC @  51 secs
8    Alex Fitzgerald, Bikinmotion  CC@ 1min 5 secs
14    Adam Holmes, Mid-Devon  CC 
20    Guy Wilkins, Bikinmotion  CC
32    Andrew Peters, Mid-Devon  CC
37    Simon Gibbs, Bikinmotion  CC