onionbagblog

Published as part of the Keep Colchester Cycling project.

Round Four of the Halfords Tour Series rolled out along Colchester High Street as the Town Hall clock struck 7 ‘O Clock on Thursday evening. Ten pro-racing teams competed in the town centre series of criterium races that is being stages across eight locations this summer.

The idea is for a circuit race through some of the leading UK town centres, to showcase cycling in areas that have demonstrated a real commitment to cycling as a sustainable form of local transport.

A combination of Colchester’s Cycling Town status and the historic backdrop for the town was the appeal for the race organsiser to stage the Tour in Britain’s oldest recorded town.

The layout of the town centre provided the perfect sprint course for the race organisers. Taking in the High Street, Head Street, St John’s Street and Queen Street, the 1.6km course presented a technical challenge for the riders.

Queen Street in particular provided a relatively steep climb for the sprinting pelaton. The tight turn past the Castle and into the High Street tested the technical road handling skills of the riders..

With the formalities of the riders signing on (it’s a cycling thing…) the countdown was underway for the 7pm roll out. A large local crowd turned out to watch the criterium, having been treated to an all day celebration of cycling in Castle Park throughout the afternoon.

Nothing quite compares you for the thrill of watching fifty pro-riders speed along your local High Street in a tightly packed pelaton. It was true blink and you’ll miss it moment, with roughly seven seconds being the duration it took the riders to pass by.

An early break away of three riders soon became five, as the pack was left chasing the frontrunners for the rest of the race. Team tactics were crucial here. Five of the teams had placed one of their riders in the breakaway, happy for the sprinters to sort it out for themselves come the finish line.

The structure of the Tour Series still meant that there were plenty of points left to be won in the pack. The klaxon sounded the start of various sprint laps with extra team points up for grabs. The final placings also added an overall tally for each team.

Dean Downing of Rapha Condor crossed the line first shortly after 8pm as the overall race winner. Niklas Gustavsson (Team UK Youth) and Jeroen Jansen (Team Raleigh) joined him on the podium for a smile and a kiss from Mayor Chuah and a Roman Centurion.

Speaking after the race with Councillor Nick Barlow, the cabinet member for Culture and Tourism, it became clear why Colchester had been chosen by the race organisers to stage a race:

“They were very impressed with both the town centre layout, and the backdrop that we can present in our town centre. Our plans for the afternoon of cycling at Castle Park were also well received.

Local businesses are in the main very supportive of this event. The local restaurants and bars all seem to be having a fantastic evening.”

You can watch the highlights from the Halfords Tour Series in Colchester on ITV 4 at 8pm on Friday 3rd June.

Full flickr feed over here.