The Plymouth Corinthian Summer Road Race hosted the Open South West & South Regional Championships on Sunday morning around the five-mile Brentor circuit, near Tavistock.
Supported by the Pump & Pedal Okehampton, the 66-mile race was packed with talent given the honours on offer.
Luke Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs) was the first rider to strike out and hold an advantage over a motivated peloton; stretching out to and holding around a ninety second solo advantage for several laps of the five mile circuit.
Allowing his three team-mates to sit easy in the bunch, Barfoot was eventually reeled back in after a commendable effort.
Eventual overall podium finishers, Charlie Genner (Halesowen A&CC) and Matt Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) established a gap over the peloton once Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs) had been swallowed up.
Several chasers attempted to join them but couldn’t latch onto the duo who were already up the road and working cohesively. Attacks flew off the front of the peloton for several laps, but nothing stuck or got close to the duo already out front.
With a handful of laps remaining, a group of approximately eight riders broke clear from what remained of a dwindling peloton, worn down by the relentless finishing straight climb.
The group appeared to almost catch the two riders out front, but Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) broke clear of the rest and joined the existing breakaway, contributing to the power they needed to stay away to the line.
A tiring peloton eased up with a lap or so to go, whilst Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) made his bid for victory on the penultimate lap, encouraged by the crowd gathered around the finish line. The race looked all but won, but over the final lap, Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) and Genner (Halesowen A&CC) had continued to work together relentlessly and cut down the advantage Giles had gained on the climb less than a lap ago.
In the final mile, Genner (Halesowen A&CC) powered away from his breakaway companion on the steeper section of the climb to secure second overall. Almost never in doubt, Giles’ advantage held steady as he crossed the line, hands aloft to win the Spry Memorial Trophy & South Regional Championship.
Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) crossed the line a handful of seconds after Jenner (Halesowen A&CC) to secure silver in the South region competition. The Halesowen rider had travelled down from the West Midlands this morning, his podium finish more than making up for the 5am start & journey down to Devon.
A three-up sprint decided fourth to sixth position overall, with Saint Piran’s Will Roberts first to the line.
After his breakaway exploits early on, Primera’s Luke Barfoot recovered well and finished sixth to secure a South Region bronze medal for the Bournemouth-based outfit; who used their strength in numbers to secure two medals in the South Divisional Championships.
Devon’s Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) retained his South West regional title, crossing the line seventh overall.
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) continued his excellent run of form to finish just behind with silver in the South West region. Cornwall’s Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) rounded out the South West podium a handful of seconds further back.
Top three overall:
Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek-DAS)
Charlie Genner (Halesowen A&CC)
Matt Gilmour (Primera TeamJobs)
South West Divisional Championships:
Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme)
Steven Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling)
Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching)
South Divisional Championships:
Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek-DAS)
Matt Gilmour (Primera TeamJobs)
Luke Barfoot (Primera TeamJobs)
Top 20:
Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) | SOUTH
Charlie Jenner (Halesowen A&CC) | Other
Matthew Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) | SOUTH
William Roberts (Saint Piran) | Other
Daniel Piercy (Unattached) | Other
Luke Barfoot (Primera TeamJobs) | SOUTH
Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) | SOUTH WEST
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) | SOUTH WEST
Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) | SOUTH WEST
Piers Mahn (Halesowen A&CC) | SOUTH WEST
Matty Beecher (05/03) | SOUTH WEST
Bobby Buenfeld (Velo Club Venta) | SOUTH
Alistair Stubbs (Royal Navy Cycling) | SOUTH WEST
Steve Lampier (Kernow Racing) | SOUTH WEST
Ben Millar (Primera-TeamJobs) | SOUTH
James Pearcy (Mid Devon CC) | SOUTH WEST
Oliver Wade (KSV Deerlijk VZW) | SOUTH WEST
Andrew Davenport (Team Tor 2000 Kalas) | SOUTH WEST
Edward Ayes +1 lap (Reflex Racing) | SOUTH WEST
Thomas Munn +2 laps (Mud Dock Racing) | SOUTH
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