Culverwell & co thrive among the UK pros
SAM CULVERWELL and his Sarnian allies thrived among professional company at the Perfs Pedal Road Race in Hampshire.
They produced an impressive string of finishes – the 18-year-old taking sixth, Jack English 10th and James Roe 16th in the big season opener over 47 miles.
The fact that one of several Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes professional riders won was little surprise, given the withdrawal of the elite Marcin Bialoblocki, but the three Guernseymen made their presence known regardless.
Disaster struck at the start as Mike Serafin suffered a mechanical, but the three other representatives remained determined to stick to a fierce pace set by the pros.
On the second of five laps, Culverwell got involved in a breakaway effort from Alex Paton – last year’s Tour of Britain sprinter’s jersey winner – but was soon consumed and then passed by a separate break featuring eventual winner and Canyon’s new signing Jacob Vaughan, a total of five cyclists escaping.
Roe and English were riding strongly in the peloton and English soon made his way up to Culverwell, with the pair breaking away in a second group of five as Roe covered any kicks from the trailing bunch.
Culverwell and English worked hard to head their group and while they couldn’t catch the leaders, this left the former in an advantageous position heading into the final sprint.
The pair bookended the five-man uphill finish as Roe took sixth in the main group sprint slightly further back.
‘Awesome results from the whole team,’ said Culverwell after leading the Sarnians home in 1hr 53min. 42sec., two minutes behind winner Vaughan and just pipping his teammate Louis Rose-Davies, with inter-insular rival Rhys Hidrio back in 32nd.
Senior teammate Roe added: ‘Good day out for the boys ... all top 16 in a nearly 90-man field.’
Both Roe and Culverwell have already earned Island Games pre-selection, but English’s high finish and team dynamic bodes well for a potential place.
