Marcin Bialoblocki took his highest profile win to date at the Girvan three-day as a new generation of riders is breaking through to challenge the dominance of the inimitable Russell Downing.
The odds were stacked against the affable Pole from the get go, with only one other Sports Beans team-mate for company in the shape of Will Bjergfelt in the composite team.
Bialoblocki made the decisive break of 16 riders, which formed soon after Tairlaw Summit on the final stage of the race. Erstwhile leader, Tom Murray, missed the break; with many of the riders in the break within reach of the yellow jersey, the pace was ferocious as the peloton, already sizably reduced thanks to an earlier crash, was rapidly distanced.
Whilst Downing and Ian Wilkinson (Halfords Bikehut) fought it out for the stage win, Bialoblocki coasted over the line with his arms aloft, knowing he had done enough to wrestle the lead from the shoulders of Murray.
?This is the biggest win of my life. I am very happy because everyday I get stronger. Only Will [Bjergfelt] was with me from the composite team.
?He is very strong. They should take him for the Sky team?.
Plowman Craven?s Tom Murray took the lead on the first stage after sneaking away from the peloton in a seven-man break.
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Murray held onto his slender ten second lead going into the final stage, with the second and third stages finishing in bunch sprints.
Plowman Craven missed the decisive break on the final stage, containing most of the key favourites, with Murray struggling over the final climb.
?I ran out of steam just before the top and, unfortunately, it was spotted by the other teams and the made the most of,? Murray explained to Cycling Weekly.
?Fair play to them. Up to that point it was looking great?.
For the Sports Beans team it was a sweet victory, made all the sweeter because there were only two of them in the race. "I'm absolutely amazed," said team manager, Clive Richardson.
"We could only get two riders up to the race, but you couldn't get any more dedicated riders [than Bialoblocki and Bjergfelt]. The difficulty of the race suited Marcin. Downing has a killer instinct, others are good climbers but Marcin is just a very strong all-rounder who puts in a phenomenal amount of [training] mileage.
"Marcin is over the moon with the result and we're hoping to get a bigger squad into some of the other Premier Calendars. It's quite good being the underdog sometimes and we see ourselves as the occasional giant killers".
GIRVAN THREE-DAY ON TV
The Girvan is scheduled to be shown on British Eurosport on Sunday April 19 (16:30 and 21:00) and Wednesday April 22 (15:30).
RESULTS:
STAGE ONE:
1. Tom Murray (Plowman Craven Madison)
2. Pete Williams (CandiTV-Pinarello)
3. Martin Bialoblockski (Sports Beans Willier)
STAGE TWO:
1. Graham Briggs (CandiTV-Pinarello)
2. Ian Wilkinson (Halfords Bikehut)
3. Kristian House (Rapha Condor)
STAGE THREE:
1. Russell Downing (CandiTV-Pinarello)
2. Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles)
3. Malcolm Elliott (CandiTV-Pinarello)
STAGE FOUR:
1. Russell Downing (CandiTV-Pinarello)
2. Ian Wilkinson (Halfords-Bikehut)
3. Kristian House (Rapha Condor)
OVERALL:
1. Marcin Bialoblocki (Sports Beans-Wilier)
2. Andy Tennant (Halfords-Bikehut)
3. Peter Williams (CandiTV-Pinarello)
4. Ian Wilkinson (Halfords-Bikehut)
5. Russell Downing (CandiTV-Pinarello)
6. Kristian House (Rapha Condor)
7. Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles)
8. Will Bjergfelt (Sports Beans-Wilier)
9. Tom Murray (Plowman Craven-Madison)
10. Gareth Montgomery (Sigma Sport)
POINTS JERSEY:
Kristian House (Rapha Condor)
MOUNTAINS JERSEY:
Ian Bibby (Halfords Bikehut)
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SUPER TEAM CHALLENGE
After taking an early lead in the CW Super Team Challenge thanks to Andy Tennant's win in the Tour of the Reservoir, Halfords Bikehut stay top of the table thanks to Tennant's second overall at the Girvan.
Snapping at their heels are CandiTV-Pinarello with three stage wins and third overall bagging a mighty 27 points.
Sports Beans Wilier stay in the hunt thanks to Bialoblocki at the weekend.
Plowman Craven make their first appearance on the points table after Tom Murray?s stage win, while Rapha Condor languish at the bottom of the league. It?s a funny old game.
Halfords Bikehut 38 pts
CandiTV-Pinarello 37 pts
Sports Beans-Wilier 20 pts
Plowman Craven 5 pts
Rapha-Condor 4 pts
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MAN OF THE RACE
TOM MURRAY
After an impressive showing at the recent Cinturon Tour of Majorca, Plowman Craven?s new signing Tom Murray rode well at the Girvan and could be one of the revelations of the year.
RELATED LINKS
Marcin Bialoblocki wins the Girvan
Downing back to winning ways in Scotland
Plowman Craven strike first in Girvan
Bikehut take the spoils at the Reservoir
Halfords to sponsor Premier Calendar
Cycling Weekly Rider Profiles
Cycling Weekly British team profiles
Who will be crowned the best British team of 2009
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