Rob Hayles beat the Downing brothers to the line as Round 5 of the Tour Series produced the first successful breakaway.
Hayles (Halfords), along with Tom Barras (Madison.co.uk), Russell Downing (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) and Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) rode clear 45 minutes from the end of the Blackpool circuit. With one rider from all the top four teams in the standings represented in the break, the bunch let them go, despite the late efforts of both Endura and Corley Cycles to pull it together again.
Thirty seconds behind the lead group, round four’s winner Halfords’ Ian Wilkinson edged out Candi TV’s Malcolm Elliott to claim fifth place and contribute to another team-winning performance.
“I tried to get the guys organised at the front of the chase”, Wilkinson told Cycling Weekly, “because I could see splits occurring, and I didn’t want us to get caught out.”
Team results, round five, Blackpool
1. Halfords Bikehut
2. Candi TV–Marshalls Pasta
3. Madison.co.uk
4. Rapha–Condor
6. Sports Beans–Wilier
8. Team Corley Cycles
9. Cyclingbargains.com
Individual results, round five, Blackpool
1. Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut)
2. Russell Downing (Candi TV–Marshalls Pasta)
6. Malcolm Elliot (Candi TV–Marshalls Pasta)
10. Graham Briggs (Candi TV–Marshalls Pasta)
Team standings after round five
1. Candi TV–Marshalls Pasta
2. Madison.co.uk
3. Rapha–Condor
4. Halfords Bikehut
6. Sports Beans – Wilier
7. Team Corley Cycles
8. BMC UK Racing Team
9. Endura Racing
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