Reports for Palmer Park Velo
Essex International Youth Tour
Palmer Park youth rider Lara Wann (15) took first place in the U16 girls category of the Essex International Tour, held over 5 race stages on the Bank Holiday weekend. In the first race of 40km Lara rode wheel to wheel with some of the best U16 boys in the UK and broke away from the other U16 girls, eventually gaining two laps on her nearest rivals. The next day in a fast a furious criterium, she stayed with the boys pack once again as speeds reached 55kph, giving her a lead of almost 9 minutes by the start of the final 35km race. In the final event she took the sprint finish from her rivals to take 1st overall in this round of the National Circuit race series. Recently Lara has also been taking 1st and 2nd places in senior women’s races and Hillingdon and has been known to give the 4th cat men a run for their money, which has moved her to 2nd in the National road race points standings. Chris Legg of Palmer Park also road a smart and aggressive set of races, attacking on many of the stages, and placed 7th overall in the U14 boys competition. Other Palmer Park riders performed well in their categories included: Matt Legg, Hugh Chadwick, Richie Barlow, William Mackie, Jamil Gaida, & Jason Pitt.
For Hugh, Ritchie,William & Jason, this was their first ever major event. They have gained valuable information from the weekend. I think now that they understand the importance of the Bin race. With the tight bends in the crits and getting lines right with no braking. Chris Legg told me that his total mileage for the two day event was 90miles.
Riders must be prepared for this, eating & drinking adequate supplies, before during and after.
On the Saturday at Eastway the wind was strong with the sun blazing down. Many riders were not taking in enough liquid and others were kitted out as if it was winter. Some were getting out of the saddle right into the head wind. Others were riding the peloton on the wrong side for the wind direction.
The riders had a bunch race with various distances (depending on their age group) in the morning, then had a time trial in the afternoon.
Then all pack up and move venue to the golf club near Stanstead. Prepare for Sunday’s racing. Arrive, eventually, shower and eat. Some of boys had a session on the driving range, as the swimming pool was closed.
Sunday, up early, shower and breakfast (big). Check out the course’s.
Started with a time trial, same distance for all age groups, except the U8’s & 10’s.
Now for the crits, short sharp racing clockwise, got underway. This progressed during the morning and it got faster and faster.
Later it was crits again but anticlockwise on a bigger circuit for all groups. Again this was not for the faint hearted, it was flat out all the way.
After it was back to the club for swimming and food, then the final presentations of the jerseys, cups & flowers.
This is a must event next year for Palmer Park riders, it’s so close to racing abroad. There again it would be as the organizer Patrick Schils is from Belgium and an ex pro himself.
The results underscore the strength of Palmer Park Velo in developing youth riders of the highest quality and in the past PPV has produced two National Youth Champions (Bridie Hindle and Mark Baxter) and currently has two riders on the British Cycling