VeloResults

Yesterday when I woke up, I was able to step out onto my patio and eat my breakfast in the warmth of a July morning. Now, 24 hours later, it felt like late October!

A strong wind was bringing the rain in at 45 degrees and the temperature was barely above zero. After picking up a few requirements for the riders going over to the Junior Tour of Ireland straight after the race, and stopping off at Asda to replace the missing card for my camera, I made my way out to the 'Lang Whang' to view the 5th installment in the Scottish Power Renewable's Super Six series. 

- Review by Gregor Russell -

The top riders today. (L to R) Winner Gordon Murdoch (PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT), second placed Michael Nicolson (Glasgow Wheelers), and Scott Macrae (PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT).

As the rain continued to fall I remembered doing my first 10m Time Trial on the old ERC course which used to start just outside Balerno on the edge of Edinburgh and go out the A71 for 5 miles where it turned half way down a hill. My mind also wandered to all the sporting events on today, stage two of Le Tour, F1 British GP, the Men's final at Wimbledon, and here was I heading out to West Lothian for a bike race.

As I was running late I decided to pick the race up at the turn off to Halburn Golf course. When I arrived however, the marshals were wondering where the bunch had got too, after a quick call to organiser, Ollie Fox it transpired that race had also had a late start.

Soon they appeared on the horizon and the break of seven riders was dangling about 20 seconds off the front.

The Pedal Power team, seen here in a previous Super 6 event, well to the fore again this time.

Among them were Scott Macrae and Gordon Murdoch from the promoting club, Callum Wilkinson (Bike Works), Michael Nicolson (Glasgow Wheelers), Alan Quinn (Glasgow United) and Colin Humphrey from South of the Border.

To begin with they struggled to get the gap as neither the bunch nor break seemed interested in racing in these conditions. However after another lap-or-so the gap had grown steadily with the bunch neutralised by Macrae and Murdoch's team mates, and everyone was contributing different amounts of effort in the break.

An early casualty was Arthur Doyle (Dooleys), who was seen heading back to the strip. Surprisingly, as I followed the race round to the hill prime on the south eest corner of the course, the roads were dry - but the rain and dark low cloud could be seen hovering over the rest of the course and it was clearly on for the day.

Macrae was picking up the sprint primes on laps 1 and 3 whilst Murdoch shared the two hill primes with him. It all looked quite familiar until they approached the start of the last lap and Wilkinson came by with Nicolson on his wheel, there was a 40 yard gap to three chasers, towed along by Murdoch, who looked on the limit.

Callum Wilkinson (The BicycleWorks).

Wilkinson however showed his lack of experience and was not totally committed: looking round every few yards to see what was happenining and not giving it 100%.

As they headed over the South Lanarkshire boundary they became five, with the casualties being left to be swallowed up by the now depleted bunch. After his effort Murdoch glued himself to the back to recover while Macrae stretched the others legs.

As they continued the drags and climbs up to the Lang Whang it was clear what was going to happen as they turned onto the main road.

Wilkinson continued to work as Murdoch continued to recover then as they turned left into the head wind, Murdoch made his move down the inside.

Only Nicolson was alert enough to counter and the two sat with about a 10s gap down the main road. Humphrey's and Wilkinson tried in vain to pull them back when it felt that one big effort would have got them over. With Macrae sitting on, Wilkinson was now beginning to realise that the race was slipping away from him and looked round hoping his former team mate would come through, but that was never going to happen.

Meanwhile Nicolson was riding to his best result this season and the man from Inverness showed ability and class well above his three years in cycling, only the last teo being competitive.

Sharing the work equally with his more experienced companion they were together as the sharp left took them into sight of the chequered flag, but as the sprint began Murdoch pulled away to win and increase his lead in the overall series.

Big Gordon looks like he hasn't raced yet.

Macrae then clipped away to take the final podium position with Wilkinson left just out the medals, he will have to learn quickly if he hopes to survive in Belgium next season.

Humphrey's was the last survivor of the original break, holding on to take 5th, while Gary Hand (Pedal Power) 6th had clipped away with Stephen Couper (Dunfermline CC) 7th and Phil Brown, (Equipe Velo Ecosse) 8th while Graham Mcgarritty (Dooleys Cycles) brought home a very wet bunch.

I caught up with Michael Nicolson after the race and asked him how the race went for him; "I followed Gordon's attack and the break formed around us".

Have you had any other results this season? "Not really, I've had quite a bit of bad luck with punctures and crashes."

Have you ridden all the races so far in this series? "Yes and I will be riding the last one too."

At 22 you rode very well today for someone with so few racing years, have you come from another sport? "Yes, I played football in the U16 at Caley and also Rugby up until a few years back, going to a few tournaments."

Well done to him and everyone else who took part on such a dreadful day.

Organiser Ollie Fox thanked all the competitors, marshals, sponsors and catering girls one of whom was Lorna Mcbain, who many will remember used to run everything down at Meadowbank and was on hand to present the flowers to the winners.

The promising Colin May took the B race with ERC team mate Claire Thomas adding the woman's prize to her very successful season.

Unluckiest man of the day was Hamish Mclain who broke a spoke and stopped for service, he needed a 9spd Shimano and after not knowing how to open the boot, the service car eventually gave him a 10spd one. As they came by him he pointed out the mistake so they sped off up the road to find one in the car. Half a mile later they stopped him to say; " here you are!" - a Shimano 9spd, only for Hamish to point out that it was his original wheel with the broken spoke!

'A' Race Results

1 Murdoch Gordon Pedal Power.org.uk/Endura RT Elite 03:19:18
2 Nicolson Michael Glasgow Wheelers 4
3 Scott Macrae Pedal Power.org.uk/Endura RT 2nd 01:15
4 Wilkinson Callum www.TheBicycleWorks.com 2nd 01:28
5 Humphrey Colin Activecycles-corbridge 1st 01:40
6 Hand Gary Pedal Power.org.uk/Endura RT Elite 03:14
7 Kermode John Dundee Thistle 2nd V 03:16
8 Brown Philip Velo Ecosse 03:54
9 Mcgarrity Graham Dooleys Cycles Racing Team 1st V 04:31
10 Russell Stephen East Kilbride RC 3rd 04:33
11 Blathwayt Tim Edinburgh Road Club 3rd 04:35
12 Cameron Neil Falkirk BC 04:38
13 Thomson Chris VC Astar Anderside 2nd V 04:41
14 Ash Colin Anderson's Racing 1st same time
15 McInally Paul East Kilbride RC 04:45
16 Oliphant Lewis Velo Ecosse 04:46
17 Bayliss Russell GS Metro 3rd same time
18 McIntosh Steve Granite City Racing Team 04:48
19 Coopland Martin Falkirk BC 3rd 04:54
20 Lines David Pedal Power.org.uk/Endura RT 2nd 04:59
21 Cusick James Glasgow Couriers / Bennett Deve 05:01
22 Couper Stephen Dunfermline CC 3rd same time
23 Macgregor Stuart Velo Ecosse 1st V 05:30
24 Smith Keith Glasgow Wheelers 3rd 09:39
25 Turner Ray Activecycles-corbridge 3rd 11:21
26 Jason Roberts Glasgow Nightingale CC 3rd 11:22
27 Armstrong Kenneth Ayr roads/ Harry Fairbairn 3rd 11:45
28 Martin Dean Velo Ecosse 26:38:00
29 Davidson Magnus Square Wheels Cycles Junior same time
30 Calum McLean Rock and Road Cycles 3 29:42:00

'B' Race Results

1 May Colin Edinburgh Road Club 02:02:37
2 Young Douglas Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Ca J 4
3 Mcpake James Falkirk BC 3rd 8
4 Whieele Chris Deeside Thistle 13
5 Henderson Dave PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT 16
6 French Paul Unattached 4th V 17
7 Cowie Liam Aberdeen Wheelers J 19
8 Brierley Andrew Spokes RT same time
9 Neagle Graeme Glasgow Wheelers same time
10 Anderson Lee East Kilbride RC 4th same time
11 Walker Greig Edinburgh Road Club 4th 21
12 Cranstoun Barry East Kilbride RC 4th 22
13 Greengrass Jeremy Glasgow Nightingale CC same time
14 Crowther Stevie Team Leslie Bike Shop / Rightmo 24
15 Scobie Graham PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT 27
16 Soutter Bob Peebles CC V50 29
17 McDiarmid Scott Edinburgh Road Club 4th V 30
18 Robertson Steven East Kilbride RC 4th 31
19 Dickson Stephen Falkirk BC 4th 32
20 McLean Alan Johnstone Wheelers CC 39
21 Sammon Peter Edinburgh Road Club 4th 41
22 Mott Karl TheBicycleWorks.com 42
23 Laurie David Glasgow Nightingale CC 4th same time
24 Addis Eddie Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Ca 4th 46
25 McCluskey Kieran Team Icarus 4th same time
26 Milliken Brendan PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT 48
27 Avraam Georges Edinburgh Road Club 4th 01:47
28 54 Willcox Ian Unattached 02:10
29 3 Murray Tommy PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT 4th 04:12
30 22 Thomas Claire Edinburgh Road Club W 04:19
31 30 Adams Craig Falkirk BC 4th 04:30
32 18 Wilkie Bill Edinburgh Road Club 4th 04:31
33 26 Bell Gary Edinburgh Road Club 07:05
34 Aitken Niall PedalPower.org.uk / Endura RT 4th 09:08
35 Bullivant Scot Unattached 09:55
36 Johnstone Niall Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Ca 10:18
37 Del Corto Olivier Edinburgh Road Club 4th 12:09
38 Crawford Neil Dundee Thistle RC 4th 12:53
39 Robertson Billy Ayrodynamic 13:47
40 Kennedy Jamie Glasgow Courriers CC same time
41 Hornby Paul Glasgow Ivy CC V40 19:52
42 Ewing Anne Edinburgh Road Club W 21:35
43 Jackson Gordon Unattached 4th 23:50
44 Findlater George Elgin Cycling Club 3rd 25:42:00
45 Anderson Kenneth Hawick CC V60 30:23:00

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