Thwaites wins Lincoln GP

Scott Thwaites wins the 2011 Lincoln GP

Scott Thwaites wins the 2011 Lincoln GP (Image credit: Rob Lampard)

Storm clouds swept across a bright and breezy Lincolnshire sky line heralding the start of the day for everyone involved with the 56th Lincoln Grand Prix.

The historic Castle Square was once again the focal point and finish area for this year's race and as early as 6am the sounds of a well practised team of volunteers could be heard preparing it for the several thousand spectators which were expected to be there at the finish.

The race got off to a prompt 10am start with a full field lining up to tackle the eleven laps of the 86 mile race. So with the waving of flags and blowing of whistles, the race convoy pulled out of the Yarborough Leisure Center, and with that the clouds parted the sun shone down with the promise of a fantastic day’s racing.

With a strong wind still blowing conditions were more suitable for a tactic of wait-and-see and try and hide from the wind within the main bunch of riders, but as the sun dried out the roads the racing proper started and it became clear that quite a few of the stronger riders were going to take it on head first.

The first three laps were dominated by a group of four riders; Kristian House, Tom Murray, Scott Thwaites and James Stewart. They created a small lead and it slowly build to over two minutes.

The Rapha Condor Sharp team were sat on the front of the bunch and with their man in the lead break they were happy to control the speed and give the breakaway every chance. One or two brave riders tried to make the gap but on your own even 10 seconds can seem like an impossible distance to cross. With the main field now averaging about 19 minutes a lap the tempo was high even by last year’s very fast time and the course began to take its toll on the leading few, perhaps if they had had another couple of riders to share the work load it might of stayed away. As the inevitable began to happen and the riders in the main field got more organised and the shouts of their managers became more vocal, the gap came down to under a minute.

With strong winds still blowing across the run into Lincoln it was hard work for many riders to hold onto a wheel and the race strung out creating a brilliant sight for the spectators on the bottom half of the course and convoy of cars, motor bikes and riders made exciting viewing.

With five laps to go the leaders had held only a few seconds lead over the main peloton and as they made the 1 in 6 Michaelgate climb the race was all back together with a surprising amount of riders still in contention and some of the bigger teams still to show their hands.

Kristian House had been the driving force in the breakaway and had built enough points to win the Brian Cossavella Michaelgate trophy with Scott Thwaites taking second and the Aussie Zac Dempster in third place. This competition once again highlighted the strength and fitness of the majority of riders this year with many of the 600 strong sportive riders in the Saturday event remarking that they found it hard going just tackling the climb once.

Building on the success of last year’s schools event which saw young riders tackle the climb, British Cycling - Go ride organised an inter schools competition with four local schools taking part in a two lap mini race taking in Castle Square and The Minster Yard. The races were held in-between laps and proved popular with the crowds in and around the finish area and as usual the gave all the young riders fantastic support, and who knows we might of seen a future champion in the making, with the riders averaging 19mins to complete the full circuit.

With three laps to go in the race, the big teams had got finally organised and tightly packed splashes of colour could be seen trying to support their stronger riders as they pushed hard for the finish line.

There were still a good eighty riders in contention for a top place and although weary and tired all perhaps dreamt of a podium finish.

Magnus Backstedt of UK Youth Team had put in a good effort, with the big man himself keeping an eye on proceedings from back in the bunch. The previous winner of the Paris-Roubaix although not in the form of his earlier years is still a strong competitor and the UK Youth charity with the backing of former Formula One racing driver Nigel Mansel did much to raise awareness of their cause. Nigel Mansel was even there on the day driving the team car and his son Greg was competing in the race.

With the closing few laps of the race getting ever closer Ian Bibby and the Motorpoint team were not far off the front with Marcin Bialoblocki, a Polish rider who has been over in the UK for the last year doing an excellent ride.

As the race took to the countryside again, a group of some seventeen riders had escaped off the front of the main pack with Rapha Condor once again with a healthy contingent. Sigma Sport had also made the break with Kit Gilham in with a good chance along with Simon Gaywood and riders from Team Raleigh. Scott Thwaites was in the thick of it again after his earlier breakaway efforts with House and Dempster.

David McCann of the ever-popular and hard working Irish team, who had earlier had to pick himself up off the floor and use his energy and skills to get back onto the back of the peleton had not only made the breakaway but amazingly had the energy to spare to jump off the front and try and go for a solo effort. His team mate Philip Lavery, last year’s second place rider and tipped for a good finish again, played more of a supporting role this year but the Irish riders were always up and amongst the front of the race.

As the field swung round for the final lap into Lincoln it was hard to pick a winner. In previous years it had come down to only a select few but this year the massive crowd in the square would see something of a bunch sprint finish with riders attacking up the steep climb of Michaelgate which they had already seen ten times before. As usual there was hardly a place to stand on the pavements of the climb as the crowds had picked their spots as early as 9am and roared on their favourites to one last push.

The bottom of the hill saw Scott Thwaites of Endura Racing with a fantastic effort on the cobbles, helped by his team mates effort, managing to pull a couple of yards out on Motorpoints' Ian Bibby and the under twenty three rider crossed the line first and took the glory and the applause of an appreciative crowd, a deserving winner of the 56th event and one of the most dominant riders in this year's race. Ian Bibby held on for second place and his team mate Johnny McEvoy took third. A rush of wheels and gears saw a mass finish for the rest of the field with many sprinting hard for the minor places.

Once again The Lincoln Grand Prix had lived up to its reputation of the best one day event in the country and had given the riders and spectators alike a fantastic day's racing to enjoy.

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Full results
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)3:21:58
2Ian Bibby (Motorpoint)Row 1 - Cell 2
3Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)Row 2 - Cell 2
4Luke Rowe (100% ME)Row 3 - Cell 2
5Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Liam Holohan (Team Raleigh)0:00:03
7Robert Partridge (Endura Racing)Row 6 - Cell 2
8Martyn Irvine (Team Ireland)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Yanto Barker (Pendragon-Le Col-Colnago)0:00:17
10Marcel Six (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Rob Sharman (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 10 - Cell 2
12John Tanner (Sportscover Strategic Altura)Row 11 - Cell 2
13David Clarke (Endura Racing)Row 12 - Cell 2
14Peter Hawkins (Team Ireland)0:00:23
15Tom Moses (100% ME)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Joe Perrett (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Niklas Gustavsson (Team UK Youth)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Mark Christian (100% ME)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 21 - Cell 2
23David McCann (Team Ireland)0:01:00
24Andrew Tennant (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 23 - Cell 2
25James McLaughlin (Pendragon-Le Col-Colnago)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Simon Yates (100% ME)0:01:51
27Matt Cronshaw (Team Raleigh)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Frederik Johansson (Team UK Youth)Row 27 - Cell 2
29David McLean (Pasta Montegrappa Zheroquadro)0:02:10
30Simon Richardson (Sigma Sport – Specialized)Row 29 - Cell 2
31David McGowan (Team UK Youth)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Richard Handley (Team Raleigh)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Andrew Griffiths (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Rafa Rodriguez Segarra (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Pete Williams (Motorpoint)0:02:29
36Gael Le Bellec (Team Raleigh)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Sam Redding (GWR Team)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Jonathan Mould (100% ME)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Rob Carter (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Hugh Wilson (Willier Goselfdrive.com)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Adam Yates (Maxgear Racing Team)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Chris McNamara (Team Corley Cycles)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Martin Ford (Mammoth Lifestyle RT)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Jon Mozeley (Pendragon-Le Col-Colnago)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Wojciech Szlachta (Pasta Montegrappa Zheroquadro)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Douglas Dewey (GWR Team)Row 46 - Cell 2
48S. Adams (Sigma Sport – Specialized)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Tom Barras (CyclePremier.com-Metaltek)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Alex Coutts (Giant Kenda Racing Team)Row 49 - Cell 2
51James Moss (Endura Racing)Row 50 - Cell 2
52James Sampson (Motorpoint)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Oliver Beckingsdale (Endura MTB Racing)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Ashley Cox (Team Corley Cycles)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Alistair Rutherford (Science in Sport)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Matt Ullmer (Team Qoroz)Row 55 - Cell 2
57Chris Mark (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 56 - Cell 2
58Tom Southam (Rapha Condor Sharp)Row 57 - Cell 2
59Daniel Smith (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 58 - Cell 2
60Adam Norris (Vanillabikes.com)Row 59 - Cell 2
61Ian Wilkinson (Endura Racing)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Anthony Move (CC Luton)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Kevin Dawson (Sportscover Strategic Altura)Row 62 - Cell 2
64Marcin Bialoblocki (Motorpoint)Row 63 - Cell 2
65Kit Gilham (Sigma Sport – Specialized)Row 64 - Cell 2
66Llewellyn Kinch (GWR Team)Row 65 - Cell 2
67Mike Cuming (Twenty3c-Orbea)Row 66 - Cell 2
68James Sparling (Team Raleigh)Row 67 - Cell 2
69James Stewart (Team UK Youth)0:03:42
70Simon Wilson (CyclePremier.com-Metaltek)Row 69 - Cell 2
71Matt Jones (Team Raleigh)Row 70 - Cell 2
72Jeroen Janssen (Team Raleigh)Row 71 - Cell 2
73Magnus Backstedt (Team UK Youth)Row 72 - Cell 2
74Samuel Harrison (100% ME)Row 73 - Cell 2
75Rob Hayles (Endura Racing)Row 74 - Cell 2
76Stuart Reid (Herbalife/Wheelbase)Row 75 - Cell 2
77Andrew Hawdon (Herbalife/Wheelbase)Row 76 - Cell 2
78Richard Wilkinson (Renault Rotor Colbert RT)Row 77 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Smail (CyclePremier.com-Metaltek)Row 78 - Cell 2
DNFCollin Humphrey (Sportscover Strategic Altura)Row 79 - Cell 2
DNFIan Knight (Team Corley Cycles)Row 80 - Cell 2
DNFChris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge)Row 81 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Dunbar (Team Qoroz)Row 82 - Cell 2
DNFBen Simmons (Team Wiggle)Row 83 - Cell 2
DNFLee Tunnicliffe (Planet X Racing Team)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Dunbar (Team Qoroz)Row 85 - Cell 2
DNFChris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge)Row 86 - Cell 2
DNFJoe Norledge (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 87 - Cell 2
DNFIan Knight (Team Corley Cycles)Row 88 - Cell 2
DNFRussell Falder (Mammoth Lifestyle RT)Row 89 - Cell 2
DNFJack Rees (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 90 - Cell 2
DNFMike Auger (Velo Club Norwich)Row 91 - Cell 2
DNFNick Busst (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 92 - Cell 2
DNSAdam Armstrong (Eurocycles Cycling Team)Row 93 - Cell 2
DNSRichard Lambert (Cottingham Coureurs)Row 94 - Cell 2
DNSStephen Gallagher (CyclePremier.com-Metaltek)Row 95 - Cell 2
DNSAlex Blain (Endura Racing)Row 96 - Cell 2
DNSSam Parker (Forme Procycliste Sanlamere)Row 97 - Cell 2
DNSAndrew Magnier (Motorpoint)Row 98 - Cell 2
DNSMatt Myers (Pasta Montegrappa Zheroquadro)Row 99 - Cell 2
DNSMikey Thelwell (Team Qoroz)Row 100 - Cell 2
DNSCiaran O'Sullivan (Velo29 Cycling Team)Row 101 - Cell 2
DNSJack Cousins (Wills Wheels)Row 102 - Cell 2
DNSMichael Gregg (WyndyMilla– Maxifuel)Row 103 - Cell 2
DNSGiancarlo Checchi (WyndyMilla– Maxifuel)Row 104 - Cell 2
DNSMark Thomson (St Ives Cycling Club)Row 105 - Cell 2
DNSStephen Henson (Ellis Briggs Racing Team)Row 106 - Cell 2
DNSHarry Wickham (leslie bikes/rightmove windows)Row 107 - Cell 2
DNSMartin Wheeldon (Doncaster Wheelers)Row 108 - Cell 2
DNSJames Newall (Team Corley Cycles)Row 109 - Cell 2
DNSMike Rudling (Wightlink Racing Team)Row 110 - Cell 2
DNSMark Baines (Spirit Racing)Row 111 - Cell 2
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Under-23 classification
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)
2Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)
3Luke Rowe (100% ME)
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Brian Cossavella Michaelgate Trophy
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)15pts
2Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)9Row 1 - Cell 3
3Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp)7Row 2 - Cell 3
4Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)7Row 3 - Cell 3
5Robert Partridge (Endura Racing)6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ian Bibby (Motorpoint)5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)3Row 6 - Cell 3
8Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp)3Row 7 - Cell 3
9Matt Cronshaw (Team Raleigh)3Row 8 - Cell 3
10Luke Rowe (100% ME)2Row 9 - Cell 3
11Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp)2Row 10 - Cell 3
12Richard Wilkinson (Renault Rotor Colbert RT)2Row 11 - Cell 3
13David Clarke (Endura Racing)1Row 12 - Cell 3
14Jonathan Mould (100% ME)1Row 13 - Cell 3
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Prime 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Luke Rowe (100% ME)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 4
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tom Murray (Sigma Sport – Specialized)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 6
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Robert Partridge (Endura Racing)3pts
2Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jonathan Mould (100% ME)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 7
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Robert Partridge (Endura Racing)3pts
2Richard Wilkinson (Renault Rotor Colbert RT)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Matt Cronshaw (Team Raleigh)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 8
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Matt Cronshaw (Team Raleigh)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3David Clarke (Endura Racing)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 9
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp)3pts
2Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 10
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ian Bibby (Motorpoint)3pts
2Zak Dempster (Rapha Condor Sharp)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Prime 11
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing)3pts
2Ian Bibby (Motorpoint)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint)1Row 2 - Cell 3

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