HAYDEN BURTON (Bath CC) and Lydia Brookes (Sigma Sport.co.uk) were the winners of the Cotswold Veldrijden Men’s and Women’s Road Races held near Malmesbury on Sunday, May 15.
The races form a part of the Cotswold League series.
At one point the race had to be halted for two minutes due to a huge herd of cows crossing the road.
After about 10 miles three riders – Thomas Grigson (Radeon), Simon Ker (Bath CC) and Jack Thompson (Performance Cycles) – made a break.
But they were quickly joined by a further trio – Rory Gilling (VC Montpellier), Tony Kiss and Jacob Pilkington (both Performance Cycles).
Six became five when Grigson suffered a puncture and on the third lap four further riders – Hayden Burton, James Stewart and Matthew Woods (both Performance) and Sean Townsend (Radeon) – swelled the leading group to nine.
As the finish drew closer three riders forced their way off the front with Burton leading home Gilling and Pilkington.
RESULT: 1, Hayden Burton (Bath CC); 2, Rory Gilling (Velo Club Montpelier); 3, Jacob Pilkington (Performance Cycles); 4, Sean Townsend (Radeon); 5, Matthew Woods (Performance Cycles); 6, James Stewart (Performance Cycles).
The ladies' race, which started 15 minutes behind the men, also suffered considerable delays – firstly from cows, then by a crash which forced eight to retire and also by being held up for the finish of the men's event.
Last year’s Cotswold League joint-winner Rebecca Waters (Performance Cycles) was unfortunate in puncturing less than a mile from the finish, and the remaining riders made a dash for the line with Lydia Brookes winning the sprint.
RESULT: 1, Lydia Brookes (Sigma Sport.co.uk); 2, Phoebe Davis (Velo Vitesse); 3, Jennifer Powell (Elitevelo Kalas); 4, Tina Winzer (Dulwich Paragon); 5, Heidi Viles (Somerset RC); 6, Emile Meakin (Mammoth Lifestyle).
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