Bleasdale overcomes top handicap to take victory

TONY BLEASDALE finished the season with a win on Sunday in the Guernsey Velo Club's last road race of the season. The race was handicapped and contested over four laps of the hilly reservoir circuit.

The elite riders starting last would have a disadvantage of some 3min. 45sec. over the first group to set off containing, among others, Phil Touzeau, recent winner Oliver Tracey, Callum Hill-Smith, Gary Wallbridge and Pierre Paul.

The second group started with a 2-30 handicap and contained the likes of Matt and Jon Osborn, Ann Bowditch and Tim Holmes.

Finally the scratch group including Island Games riders Bleasdale and Josh Gosselin and talented climber Dan Arblaster set off and started the unenviable task of bridging the gap to the leaders handed to them by the handicappers.

As the race progressed, the first group started to break up on the climbs, with Hill-Smith, Tracey and Wallbridge prominent in the first half of the split.

The second group were keen to make the most of their advantage over the elite riders, with Bowditch, Osborn and Holmes doing the lion's share of the work.

Meanwhile, the scratch riders were demolishing the lead of those who had started before them, working well together with the only break in rhythm coming from Arblaster forcing the pace on the climbs.

Approaching the end of the second lap, Bleasdale, Arblaster and Gosselin had bridged the gap to the second group and set about the task of catching the leaders, who by now consisted of Hill-Smith, Tracey and Wallbridge.

The junction was finally made when Jon Osborn attacked from the main group on the third ascent of the reservoir, closing the gap to the leaders.

The group stayed together, however, until the final lap.

Approaching the reservoir for the final time, all eyes were on Arblaster and sure enough the inevitable attack came.

Bleasdale and Gosselin reacted immediately while Bowditch showed tenacity in staying with the trio.

As the four approached the finish, first Gosselin then Arblaster attacked and were immediately countered by Bleasdale who held on for the win from Arblaster, then Gosselin.

Bowditch rode a strong race to take fourth spot.

Hill-Smith rode well to take fifth spot and was the first of his group to finish, ahead of Tracey and Wallbridge.

Holmes took ninth spot with Touzeau completing the top 10.