Cycling: Asher's last lap sprint seals'mini Tour De France' glory
Crowds gathered on the Knoll at Redgrave to see a spectacular and colourful cycle road race in superb weather.
The annual race, known locally as Redgrave's mini Tour de France, had the riders amazed to see the number of people out on the roadside cheering them on.
Everyone round the circuit has a list of the riders. On the Knoll Bernie Cresswell kept the crowd entertained with his witty commentary and pleas for advice on his own venture to ride the perimeter of the county of Suffolk in two days for charity.
As the flag fell for the start it was all action as the riders vied for the front as the race headed off into the narrow lanes.
The lead motorbike and a lead car heralded the arrival of the race as the 40-strong bunch of riders sped through the lanes at an average 25 miles an hour.
There were many attempts by riders to break away on the first lap, but they were rapidly hauled back as the field was aware that at the end of the second lap was a prize for first across the line.
Coming up the hill for the end of the second lap Italian Giancarlo Checchi and Robert Hunt from Yaxley managed to steal a 50-yard advantage, and Hunt outsprinted Checchi to take the prize.
On the third lap, previous winner Mark Farrow from Norwich and Cambridge rider Ralph Keeler made repeated attacks and managed to gain 100 yards, but despite the attempts by their two teams to hold back the other riders they were caught halfway into lap four.
The sprint for the prize on lap four was won by Dan Zagni, with Matthew Cook from Thetford in third spot, but as they eased up after the sprint Tim Snook of Ipswich made a classical attack which came to no avail.
As they all came through into the last lap Andrew Knowles from Norfolk and Timothy Heseldine from Stowmarket, were in the lead. But then everything changed.
Simon Asher of Beccles was able to gain a 20-second advantage after catching the bunch unawares going down the narrow Slade Lane.
Taking advantage of the bunch not being able to see him through the right angle bends along Fen Street he courageously defied his hurting legs and maintained his advantage.
Then at the crossroads, with half-a-mile to go, they were back hard on his heels at 15 seconds.
He only needed to survive the uphill to the finish, and somehow he found the last reserves of his strength to triumphantly cross the line as the winner.
The bunch sprint was a thrilling spectacle of incredibly fast riding, elbow to elbow, with Robert Hunt being edged into third by Mark Cotton with Mike Auger from Norwich taking fourth from Luton’s Anthony Moye and Junior Tom Fitzpatrick from Kenninghall coming a fine sixth.
The Redgrave Road race, which has been running for 12 years, is an event where the whole community is involved in marshalling and organisation, together with Redgrave Rangers Football Club, Redgrave Amentities Trust, and Diss & District Cycling Club.
Thanks go to all who helped make the day such a success, and to Suffolk Police for their permission and support.
Result: 1 Simon Asher VC Barracchi 1-22-23; 2 Mark Cotton Bycka Sport Racing at 10 secs; 3 Robert Hunt API Metrow same time; 4 Mike Auger VC Norwich same time; 5 Anthony Moye CC Luton same time; 6 Tom Fitzpatrick API Metrow same time; 7 Trevor Banham Diss & District CC same time; 8 Patrick Hawkins shavedlegs.co same time; 9 Basil Moss Cambridge CC same time; 10 Eric Gowland Cambridge CC same time.
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Weather for Diss
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
