Le Page clinches last race
CHRIS LE PAGE celebrated his first road race win in the final race of the Guernsey Velo Club season.
CHRIS LE PAGE celebrated his first road race win in the final race of the Guernsey Velo Club season. Le Page's fierce pace from the off put riders under pressure very early on, as some were notably struggling over the Dos d'Ane and Reservoir climbs.
From as early as lap one riders had dropped from the peleton, but twice World duathlon champion, Alan Rowe, was looking strong and climbing comfortably.
By lap three, Espoir rider Stuart Le Tissier looked in trouble as he fought to stay with the pack approaching the top of the Reservoir climb and soon lost contact with the group.
Mike Dean dropped off a few laps later and fought hard to try to get back on.
However, Le Page was quick to increase the pace again to finally finish off Dean.
Notably Danny Guille-mette was keeping very quiet at the back of the peleton, but by lap five he had thrown in the towel.
This left Le Page, Rowe and Ann Bowditch setting the pace with Mike Brehaut having the race of his life, but having to work hard to stay with the leaders.
With just over a lap remaining, Le Page made his move at the Dos d'Ane, Rowe reacted and caught Le Page within a few hundred metres bringing Bowditch with him.
Brehaut had no answer and completed his final lap solo.
The final lap saw the usual pre-sprint tactics as the three riders watched each other closely.
As the three riders approached the final climb towards the finish at Mont Varouf School, it was Rowe who attempted to break. However Le Page launched himself off Rowe's wheel in convincing fashion and won the sprint by two seconds from Bowditch with Rowe taking third.
In the six-lap category two race, the experienced Bob Green took the victory from Lars Persson with Tobyn Horton putting in a good performance to take third.
Keith Brown, meanwhile, won the category three race over four laps with Ben Walden second and Steve Taylor third.