Brenton Jones and Elizabeth Banks win in 2017 Tour of the Wolds
Australian Brenton Jones scores victory for JLT Condor in HSBC UK Spring Cup Series round in Lincolnshire - Elizabeth Banks wins opening round of women's road series
Aussie import Brenton Jones clinched victory in his first UK appearance for JLT Condor, sprinting to victory in the Tour of the Wolds in Lincolnshire.
The 24-year-old from Victoria crossed the line ahead of fellow Australian Steele Von Hoff (One Pro Cycling) at the end of the 103-mile race based on roads near Louth, while JLT Condor made it three riders in the top four with Russ Downing clinching third and Ian Bibby fourth.
Jones benefitted from some excellent team work in the closing stages of the second round of the Spring Cup Series to take the chequered flag.
The race took in three circuits of a loop around Caistor before moving onto four laps of a smaller finishing circuit, and although it was not as demanding as last weekend’s Klondike Grand Prix with its energy-sapping climbs, it gave riders plenty to think about.
>>> Rising British star Tom Pidcock wins Paris-Roubaix Juniors
A strong cross wind scythed the field down in the latter stages, leaving a group of around 15 riders out in front.
The race undoubtedly suited JLT Condor much better than the Klondike Grand Prix, where they managed to place just one rider in the top 20. Frustrated last week, team manager John Herety was happier after the Tour of the Wolds.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“It really is quite bizarre that you get a circuit like the Klondike Grand Prix, with all the hills and how difficult it was, followed by this – a relatively easy circuit.
“You could see what a difference the wind made, and it’s something for the organisers to take note of. It doesn’t need to be so hilly to make it a difficult race.”
Jones, who appears to have slotted seamlessly into JLT Condor’s roster, hailed the team performance that catapulted him to victory.
“It was a phenomenal team performance, the boys really showed their strength and I’m so happy to finish it off for them.”
The race saw a number of breaks throughout but nothing seemed to stick, and JLT Condor worked well together to give themselves every chance of taking victory. And that proved to be the case as Jones came through a sprint finish to cross the line first.
Earlier in the day, SunSport Velo’s Elizabeth Banks took victory in the opening round of the Women’s Road Series, in the same location. Anna Christian of Drops RT was second and Storey Racing’s Chanel Mason completed the podium.
Results
Tour of the Wolds 2017: Men, 103 miles (166km)
1. Brenton Jones (JLT Condor) in 3-43-20
2. Steele Von Hoff (One Pro Cycling)
3. Russ Downing (JLT Condor) at same time
4. Ian Bibby (JLT Condor) at 2 sec
5. Rory Townsend (Bike Channel-Canyon) at same time
6. Jonathan McEvoy (Madison Genesis) at 5 sec
7. Hayden McCormick (One Pro Cycling)
8. Liam Holohan (Metaltek Kuota RT) both at same time
9. Jonathan Mould (JLT Condor) at 10 sec
10. Enrique Sanz (Raleigh GAC) at 19 sec
Women, 63 miles (101km)
1. Elizabeth Banks (SunSport Velo) in 2-34-35
2. Anna Christian (Drops CT) at 1 sec
3. Chanel Mason (Storey Racing) at 2 sec
4. Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT) at same time
5. Natalie Grinczer (Team WNT) at 4 sec
6. Rebecca Durrell (Drops CT) at 32 sec
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Snowdon Sports is a long-established independent sports news agency, which supplies editorial to a range of media outlets - such as Cycling Weekly - as well as sports governing bodies. Snowdon Sports often covers results at Cycling Time Trials events in the UK and has long been a source of information and imagery to Cycling Weekly.
-
'I've never seen the cobbles as bad as this' - Inside one team's Paris-Roubaix recon
Tom Davidson joins British Continental team Lifeplus-Wahoo as they prepare for the most feared race of the season
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Marianne Vos is still boss, Lorena Wiebes raves, and Geraint Thomas issues a warning
While some riders hope to manage one win in their career, Marianne Vos has 250
By Tom Davidson Published
-
British racing scene branded ‘worst it has ever been’ as teams close
The recent spate of domestic team closures is leading some in the scene to brand it the “worst it has ever been”.
By Paul Knott Published
-
JLT-Condor latest team to announce closure
British team JLT Condor is the latest racing team to announce its closure.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Gabriel Cullaigh and Megan Barker win opening round of Tour Series in Redditch
JLT Condor and Team Breeze take the team honours as the 2018 OVO Energy Tour Series kicks off in Worcestershire
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
In photos: Jon Mould wins Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race 2018
Photos from the 57th edition of the annual Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race, held on the Aintree circuit in Liverpool - All photos by Andy Jones
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
Ian Bibby finally wins Lincoln GP; Alice Barnes triumphs for second successive year
Ian Bibby (JLT-Condor) won the 62nd edition of the Lincoln GP, while Alice Barnes (Drops) took the women's honours.
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
JLT-Condor make perfect start to Tour Series with team victory in Redditch
Redditch hosted the opening round of the 2017 Tour Series and Women's Matrix Fitness Grand Prix
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
'Piglets charge for the line' - the best lead-out at the Tour de Normandie isn't from the riders
Photos have been shared online of a wild boar and its family of piglets temporarily halting the race convoy.
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Danny van Poppel takes Team Sky's first win of 2017 with Herald Sun Tour prologue victory
Dutchman Danny van Poppel claims time trial win in Australia as British squad JLT Condor places three riders in top 10
By Nigel Wynn Published