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2010 Blackpool Nocturne
August 21, 2010 | by Larry Hickmott in Blackpool | Event Website
Downing Rocks Blackpool with Sharp Victory
It was Rapha Condor Sharp’s night in Blackpool as they, with some help from Simon Richardson and Dave Clarke, put the rest of the best riders in the country to the sword on an exciting circuit in the heart of the seaside resort. Winner was Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp), who was the only rider able to respond to an attack by Simon Richardson (Sigma Sport Specialized) very early on in the race and these two dominated the Nocturne with Downing getting the better of Richardson in the sprint.
Video of the Evening's Racing
Photo slideshow of the Nocturne
For more pictures from the Nocturne, click here.
Race Report
Podium after the Elite event and Dean Windsor, Dean Downing and Simon Richardson pose with the mayor and mayoress of Blackpool.
Blackpool’s Cycling Light Show
The Elite Men’s Circuit race was the climax of an exciting evening’s entertainment on two wheels and with most of the major teams racing the event, it was certainly a brutal contest where many of the biggest names in crit racing were left with no answers on how to contain the leading quintent and subsquently were left trapped back in the peloton which was lapped.
The early stages of the race was dominated by Sigma Sport Specialized rider Phil Sykes who held sway at the front on his own for five or so laps. A crash, which split the race wide open, then caused some confusion but it quickly came back together before the race really got going and Syke's teammate, Simon Richardson had a dig off the front.
It was already by now pitch black when Richardson made his move and Dean Downing joined him. The two leaders are so very different on the bike, Simon Richardson the roadman looking mildly in discomfort as he pushed hard on the pedals out front in complete contrast to the circuit race specialist Downing, who’s like a Yorkshire terrier complete with the growling look that shows no mercy as he rips the legs off his rivals.
Dean Downing leads Simon Richardson through the lights in Blackpool.
These two never looked in danger despite the early efforts of the Motorpoint Marshals Pasta Team who had National Champion Ed Clancy steaming along on the front of the chasers trying to bring the leaders back. It was to no avail and instead the effort saw riders being shed out out the back of the peloton as Clancy and Tennant did their best to get back into the bike race.
Their efforts though were to bite themselves hard when, after they had used up all their firepower, Rapha Condor Sharp simply hit them again with Dean Windsor and Kristian House going away with Dave Clarke (Pendragon Le Col Colnago).
These five were the only riders to stay on the same lap with the rest of the riders being lapped by the two leaders. While the middle section of the race saw all the action in the chase group, towards the end, Richardson and Downing started to attack each other as well but neither was able to distance the other. Behind them however, after House had got away for a good six or more laps on his own only for Clarke to bring him back, Dean Windsor then went away before Clarke too brought him back.
Three of the five riders who stayed on the same lap, Kristian House leads the chase after the two leaders with Dave Clarke and Dean Windsor.
It was a very strong performance again from the Pendragon rider but alas, Rapha wanted that third sport on the podium and in the sprint for third, the Aussie Dean Windsor ripped through the Birley Street light show and into the S bend before the finish to take a few seconds out of his teammate House who was fourth with Clarke fifth.
"It’s taken me four years to win one of these,” laughed Downing after the finish. See the video at the top of the page for more interviews or click here to view.
Downing’s win was the second on the night for Rapha Condor Sharp with Dan Craven, not a rider who enjoys a crit, lining up in the Folding Bike Race instead and winning that as convincingly as Downing had won his race. The folding bike race was just one of many events through the evening.
The Hire Bike Race final is off!
Members of the public qualified over two heats for the Cycle Hire Challenge, celebrating the success of Blackpool’s scheme, which is set to expand to 500 bikes. Chris Johnson was first across the line on his yellow hire bike, with the bright Dynamo-powered lamps lighting up the circuit. A convincing breakaway from Jamie Shirlaw (Herbalife / Wheelbase Team) and Will Penn (Mammoth Lifestyle RT) split the Cycling Weekly Support race, with a lot of the field strung across the circuit. The pair established a good lead, and it was Shirlaw who took the victory, proving just a tad too strong for Penn. David Everett (Team ProBikeKit) came in third.
Joe Fox dominated the Youth Race, who repeatedly took to the front on pushed up the pace. Now riding for the Rapha Condor youth squad, Fox will be happy with a ‘home’ victory at the Rapha Condor supported Nocturne. In the Girls’ standings, Abby-Mae Parkinson (Aire Valley Racing Team) took first. The Dahon Folding Bike Race was a spectacle, as ever. Cyclists dressed in business attire started at the Red Bull Arch and raced towards their folding bikes at the start line. After a quick unfold, Rapha Condor Sharp professional Dan Craven established an early lead, leaving regular folding bike riders chasing. In the end, Craven’s notable cycling prowess was too much for the men and women in suits.
The Nocturne Series now ends for 2010, but many of the riders will enjoy a similar electric atmosphere at the upcoming Revolution series at Manchester Velodrome, which starts on 23rd October 2010, tickets on sale now.
Overall, it had been a brilliant night of racing made all the better by the summery weather and the exciting circuit.
Photo Report from the Evening (see many more on Flickr)
Dean Downing celebrates a hard fought win after a brutal race in Blackpool.
Before the countdown had go to 1 the riders are off on the final event at the Blackpool Nocturne.
Dave Clarke was able to respond to constant attacks from Kristian House and Dean Windsor but unable to contain them in the sprint and finished fifth after yet another gutsy ride.
Dean Downing's devilish grin as he leads Simon Richardson in the near race long break.
Ed Clancy did his best to bring the break back but it wasn't enough and the National Champion retired to fight another day.
Former Tour stage winner and yellow jersey Rubens Bertogliati found it tough going in a British crit but hopefully enjoyed the light show.
Dan Craven looking spiffing on his folding bike and on his way to another victory for his team.
The light show in full swing.
It appears like a right free for all at the start of the Folding Bike race.
Sprint in the Support race for fifth place won by Bill Nickson.
After a long break with WIlliam Penn, Jamie Shirlaw attacked in the closing laps to go solo and won the Support race alone.
It was a battle royal in the Youth race in the sunshine of Blackpool.
Even the event director gets involved in the racing as James Pope powers his way along in the Folding Bike Race.
Official Results
Elite Event
1. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Sharp 1.03.27
2. Simon Richardson, Sigma Sport Specialized @ 3 secs
3. Dean Windsor, Rapha Condor Sharp @45 seconds
4. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Sharp, @47 seconds
5. David Clarke, Pendragon Le Col Colnago @st
@ 1 lap
6. Graham Briggs Rapha Condor Sharp
7. James Stewart - Raleigh
8. Johnny McEvoy Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
9. Jerone Janssen Kuota-Road CC
10. Jefte De Bruin Kuota-Road CC
11. Rob Hayles Endura
12. Richard Hepworth Cycle Premier - Metalek
13. Malcolm Elliott Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
14. Tom Last Sigma Sport Specialized
15. Tom Murray Sigma Sport Specialized
16 Jamie Newall Team Corley Cycles
17 James Sampson Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
18 Zak Dempster Rapha Condor Sharp
19 Dan Craven Rapha Condor Sharp
20 Matthew Gee Raleigh Racing Team
21 Andy Tinsley Kuota-Road CC
22 Chris Newton Rapha Condor Sharp
Support Race
1 Jamie Shirlaw Herbalife / Wheelbase Team
2 William Penn Mammoth Lifestyle RT
3 David Everett Team Probikekit
4 Matthew Pilkington Dulwich Paragon
5 Bill Nickson Bill Nickson Cycles RT
6 Adam Cairns Chevin Bang & Olufsen RRT
7 Milan Sihelsky Kuota-Spinergy-gsg
8 Richard Wilkinson ProBikeKit.com
9 Tom Armstrong Ribble Valley Juns
10 Dan Evans Rhos on sea C.C.
11 Stuart Spies London Dynamo Prologue
12 James Alder Blackhawkbikes.com
13 Matthew Robinson Allterrain Cycles
14 Ryan Mullen Planet X
15 Craig Cath York Cycle Works
16 Samuel Jackson TBC
17 Alastair Wood Aire Valley RT
Youth A/B Boys
1 Joe Fox Rapha Condor CC
2 Thomas Armstrong Ribble Valley Juniors
3 Ollie Wood Aire Valley Racing Team
4 Ryan Mullen Planet X
5 Alastair Hepworth Batley CC / Hargreaves Cycles
6 Leon Gledhill Planet X
7 Jack Sadler Wheelbase Gore / Cannondale
8 Joey Walker Dinnington
9 Ashley Cltheroe Red Rose
10 Matthew Flynn Salt Ayre Cog Set
11 Danny Fox Solihull CC
12 Matt Galland Ribble Valley Juniors
13 Sean McGavan Eastlands
14 Jamil Gaida Palmer Park Velo
15 Sam Turton Liverpool Mercury Dolan
Youth A/B Girls
1 Abby-Mae Parkinson Aire Valley Racing Team
2 Mellissa Bury Sportcity
3 Jessy Walker Dinnington
4 Lauren O'Brien Wakefield Junior Tri Club
Folding Bike Race Final
1 Dan Craven
2 Stuart Green Brompton
3 Kilian Palop Brompton
4 Mark Sandamas Brompton
5 David Garoner Brompton
6 Claire Beaumont Dahon
7 James Pope Dahon
8 Adam Tranter
9 Niall Jordon Brompton
10 Darren Palfreyman Dahon
11 Robin Hunter
12 Bruce Powell Dahon
13 Peter Schofield Brompton
Blackpool Hire Bike Challenge
1 Chris Johnson
2 Paul Rowlands
3 Diane Lee
4 Paul Gaida
5 Ryan Naylor
6 Patrick Moran
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