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2011 Perfs Pedal Road Race

February 13, 2011 | Hampshire | by Larry Hickmott
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Ben Stockdale won the biggest race of his career for Team Qoroz when he was the fastest from a small group of riders up the final climb to the finish of the 2011 Perfs Pedal Road Race.

After a fast and attacking event, where former Tour de France stage victor and Paris Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt (Team Youth UK) was much of the driving force at the front of the race, the finale saw a small group of riders sprint it out with Stockdale beating Nicholas Hutchings (GS Grupetto) and former winner Will Bjergfelt of Motorpoint.

Faces covered in mud and grit from almost two hours of hard and fast racing in the rain, a select group of riders contested the win in the 2011 Perfs Pedal with Ben Stockdale celebrating a fine victory ahead of some star names.

The race began fast but with so many fresh legs in the full field, it took a lap or two before a break stuck when three riders got clear; Magnus Backstedt, Wojciech Szlanchta and Nicholas Hutchings. The pace of the chase saw the peloton fragment and a small group including James Cartridge, Tony Locke and David McLean opened up a gap but there was never much of a gap between the leaders and the main group and into the second half of the race, everything was more or less together.

Not for long though as a group containing many of the favourites did manage to force a split on the climb over the final two laps and with the rain and cold visibly getting to many riders, the sprint for the honour of having their name on the roll call for the race went to Stockdale.

Above: The race in photos ...

Post race reactions

Afterwards, a rider many felt honoured to have in the event, Magnus Backstedt, said "it was a good event. A few of us got away early on and it didn't really feel like it was going anywhere and eventually a group came up to us. We (Team Youth UK) had a lot of issues today with mechanicals."

"James Stewart snapped his gear cable and was in 53x11 for the race but did an awesome job with a few laps on the front. My front mech stopped working halfway through so being on the big ring everytime was a bit tough. I felt good today, really good. I was surprised how easily I recovered and even how well I was going up the hills. Hopefully we can show ourselves better in the coming races."

Organiser Mick Waite presents the race's special guest Magnus Backstedt with his winnings for 10th place.

Ben Stockdale explained it was great winning after a 1-2 at Upavon the day before. "It was a hard finish, especially for February. I don't think any one of us had opened our lungs up that much this year. Early on, I thought Magnus was gone but it came back together and then split with two laps to go and we were all there and cruising for the last two laps."

"In the sprint at the end, Magnus went really early and then a guy from Gruppetto kept going and I thought he was gone. Yanto then put the hammer down and I got a nice tow from him and just kept on going for the line. I'm really really pleased. This is such a prestigious race and it's great to add my name to that list."

Yanto Barker: "A little bit of autopilot kicks in when you get a number on your back. I got left at the bottom when Magnus pulled a big turn and I was caught behind Will when he pulled off and two guys got away. I had a bit of a dig and brought them back and then got jumped by the qoroz guy who won who is fairly quick."

"It was miserable weather today and if it had been a training day, I wouldn't have gone out. But I got across a few splits and had a days riding in so I'm happy. The course was hard but is only as hard as you race it. I have to say a big thanks and hats off to Magnus who influenced the race in a very positive way. He was making efforts at times when it makes natural selections and it was such a pleasure to be in a rhythm of racing like continental racing which was down to his influence."

Organiser Mick Waite with the top three in the 2011 Perfs Pedal Road Race. L-R, Ben Stockdale, Nicholas Hutchings and Will Bjergfelt.

Nicholas Hutchings said after the presentation "I followed Magnus up the hill, and then he seemed to crack a little bit so I went past him with about 500 to go and tried to hold on but didn't quite make it. I'm very pleased though with the result."

Will Bjergfelt: "I was a bit unfortunate today to hit a pothole and spend quite a lot of time and effort chasing back on again after I had a puncture. I really wanted to open my account this year with a win for the Motorpoint team but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. This was a totally different race to the one I won. Much harder course in that it climbed up a bit more, was shorter and sharper, and I think I prefer it. I'll be back for sure next year without a shadow of a doubt."

Also: James Smith from RUTraining & Team Primal Europe (29th) has a report of the race: click here

Related Feature: Interview with organiser Mick Waite

Result (thanks to Mick Waite and Sue Knight)

1  Ben STOCKDALE Team Qoroz /Prostate Cancer Charity/Velo+ /Alfa Romeo/ Continential / SRAM /
2  Nicolas HUTCHINGS CS Grupetto
3  William BJERGFELT Motorpoint Pro Cycling Team / Motorpoint / Pinarello
4  Yanto BARKER Pendragon-Colnago-Le Col
5  David McLEAN Pasta Montegrappa-Zheroquadro
6  Matt GREEN VLTechnics-Abutriek/Basso Bikes/VLTechnics/AS Abutriek
7  Martin FORD Mammoth Lifestyle RT / Mammoth / Specialized
8  Niklas GUSTAVSSON Team UK Youth
9  Chris McNAMARA Team Corley Cycles / Cervelo
10  Magnus BACKSTEDT Team UK Youth
11  Alexander MURISON Asfra RT
12  Russell FALDER Mammoth Lifestyle RT / Mammoth / Specialized
13  Wojciech SZLACHTA Pasta Montegrappa-Zheroquadro
14  Tom STOCKDALE Team Qoroz /Prostate Cancer Charity/Velo+ /Alfa Romeo/ Continential / SRAM /
15  Ben SIMMONS Team Wiggle
16  Dante CARPENTER Asfra RT
17  David McGOWAN Team UK Youth
18  Max WEBBER VC St Raphaël / Waite Contract / Hewitt Cycles
19  Fredrick JOHANSSON Team UK Youth
20  James STEWART Team UK Youth
21  Tavis WALKER ADEO Cadence RT
22 Robert KING awcycles.co.uk/ Giant / Fulcrum
23  Grufff LEWIS Team UK Youth
24  Allan RIDLER Team Cycle Kingdom
25  Jamie NEWALL Team Corley Cycles / Cervelo
26  Rowan HORNER VC St Raphaël / Waite Contract / Hewitt Cycles
27  Simon BROOKS VC St Raphaël / Waite Contract / Hewitt Cycles
28  Michael THELWELL Team Qoroz /Prostate Cancer Charity/Velo+ /Alfa Romeo/ Continential / SRAM /
29  James SMITH Primal Europe powered by Rutrainingtoday.co.uk/Bike Chain/ Ricci
30  Matthew THEOBLADS CS Grupetto
31  Philip BORRETT Team Tor 2000/Overtlocke/White Lake Cheesecake/Kalas/Scorpion CS/Peloton Racer
32  Jake MARTIN Pendragon-Colnago-Le Col
33  Will KEMP One Life Development Squad / Holmes Couriers /Progressive Cycle Coaching /
34  Robert WARD VC St Raphaël / Waite Contract / Hewitt Cycles
35  Harry BULSTRODE Cannondale Racing / Cannondale
36  Filip RUDENSTAM Team UK Youth
37  Anthony MOYE CC Luton / Eddingtons / Bandon
38  Greg MANSELL Team UK Youth
39  Stoyko BUSSAROV Eagle Road Club
40  Jamie Caldwell St Ives CC
41  Chris SEVIOUR Team UK Youth
42  Scott LAWS Team Qoroz /Prostate Cancer Charity/Velo+ /Alfa Romeo/ Continential / SRAM /
43  Jason WHITE Cycle Premier / Metaltek
44  Jon LEWIS Charlotteville Cycling Club
45  Declan HIGGINS Twickenham CC - Evans Cycles
46  William MACKE awcycles.co.uk/ Giant / Fulcrum
47  Joe HARRIS Reading CC / Mar Cleaning Services / Hale Partnership
48  Gavin SPIERS awcycles.co.uk/ Giant / Fulcrum
49  Daniel STEPHENS Sotonia CC
50  Jason EDWARDS GB MSTina RT / Colnago
51  Leyton FLEET VC St Raphaël / Waite Contract / Hewitt Cycles
52  Stuart THOMPSON banjocycles.com