Reed feels stronger than ever
SAM REED proved himself man of the week on the local cycling scene with an impressive double.
Coming off a solid burst of racing overseas, victories in Sunday’s Coudre/Vazon Road Race and Thursday’s Rocquaine Criterium confirmed that the 17-year-old is back in top shape after a road incident earlier this year.
Reed won Sunday’s 55-miler by edging out some of Guernsey’s top senior riders in a five-man bunch sprint.
The lead pack had hung tight throughout, with any breakaway attempts failing to prosper, but Reed sprinted in strongly to win in 2hrs 18min. 30sec. as Marc Cox and James Roe took the remaining podium positions split-seconds behind.
Fellow youngster Hannah Brehaut took the women’s honours over 44 miles after out-sprinting Jo Watts and Danielle Hanley.
This followed on from Thursday’s race in which Reed emerged victorious from a nine-lap duel against Commonwealth Games cyclist Jack English.
The pair were level right from the start, but Reed triumphed on the sprint to cross the line in 22-30.3 to English’s 22-31.1, as Watts held off Maddie Wilson to come in one lap and 14secs. behind the leaders and claim first woman.
Reed’s recent form is sterling given that he was hit by a drink-driver while out cycling in late April, which necessitated an operation.
‘I am super happy with my progress – about three months ago I was lying on a hospital bed not able to walk,’ he said.
‘It’s got to the point in three months where I’ve come back and I’m at the the strongest I’ve ever been, so I’m super happy with where I am – and there’s a lot more to come.’
Reed recently claimed a good run of UK results in his efforts towards a second-category road licence, giving him more options on the national scene as he vies with the island’s other top cyclists for a Gibraltar 2019 NatWest Island Games spot.
This started on Tuesday 24 July by winning category three in race 16 of the the West Thames Series, a feat that Reed followed up the next day with second place in a track crit at Mountbatten, Portsmouth.
Following a one-day respite, he backed this up with fifth against tough opposition on the Preston Park track and sealed off the week with fourth in the Ride Sussex Summer Road Race.
