Essex ace Alex Dowsett won the Richmond Grand Prix on Sunday, crossing the line almost three minutes ahead of his nearest rival at the end of the 82-mile North Yorkshire event.
The 21-year-old 100% ME rider has seen little road race action recently, having missed out on a place in the Tour of Ireland and Tour of Britain, but he grasped his chance for victory with both hands.
After breaking away with six rivals, Dowsett attacked over the first climb of Waitwith on the finishing circuit and soloed to victory by 2-43 as he crested the cobbled finishing climb in Richmond.
With many of the top domestic riders in the Tour of Ireland, the Richmond Grand Prix gave many other riders their chance to shine, and aside from Dowsett’s win, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Sport Beans-Wilier) was second, while second category rider Owain Lovell (Ashfield RC) was third.
“I was a bit worried I would be caught but I got the gap so I kept it going,” said Dowsett afterwards. “I was surprised it was so much at the line, because there were seven of them chasing me.
“I wanted to get some racing in, because I missed out on the Tour of Ireland and Tour of Britain, so the Premier Calendar was the best option.
“In many ways it was just as tough out there as usual. Because the big-hitters were elsewhere, everyone wanted to take advantage, and that made it a tough, fast race because everyone was hungry for victory.”
Richmond Grand Prix (North Yorkshire, 82 miles).-
1 Alex Dowsett (100 Per Cent ME) 3-18-35
2 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Sport Beans-Wilier) at 2-43
3 Owain Lovell (Ashfield RC) at 2-59
4 Liam Holohan (Rapha Condor) at 3-01
5 James Moss (KUK Kinesis) at 3-04
6 Tom Murray (KWK Heistzuidenkempen) at 3-06
7 Russell Hampton (Team Magnus Maximus) at 3-14
8 John Tanner (Sportscover) at 4-01
9 David Clarke (Pendragon Kalas) same time
10 Evan Oliphant (Endura Racing) at 4-03
Premier Calendar overall.-
1 Russell Downing (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) 773 pts
2 Ian Wilkinson (Halfords Bikehut) 530
3 Marcin Bialoblocki (Sport Beans-Wilier) 353.
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