A little race report: Tour Series Finale, Southend

Last night saw the final round of the Tour Series, a ten round extravaganza of the best in British racing. 50 riders from 10 teams drove the length and breadth of the land to compete in a series of town centre crits, culminating in a showdown on the seafront in Southend (which conveniently is about half an hour down the rail line from my house). The Tour Series is a team competition, in which each team of five must attempt to place their top three finishers as highly as possible to win maximum points in each round, a format which has led to some highly tactical and enthralling racing. Three teams had emerged at the head of the pack as we enetered the final rounds; Halfords Bikehut, containing some well known trackies, CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta, twitchy and sprinter strong, and the suave attackers in black, Rapha Condor. On the night, one point separated these three; the winner would therefore take it all.

Having absconded (with permission!) from work at the blissfully early hour of 3pm, I headed to the seaside early, with my camera but without my suncream. It was rather sunny. My tanlines look quite odd now. These races are pretty fan friendly, with a pit area fully accessible. First stop, the Rapha Condor car to photograph some bling:

I marvelled at Chris Newton's power on the rollers:

 Next door were the CandiTV crew, including former national champ and current Premier Calendar champ Russell Downing, always a chirpy chappie both on the bike and off. As I attempted to take his picture he began to walk away but when I emitted a despairing squeak, he turned back and posed for me. Thank you Russ :-)

I might also point out that they ride pink and white Pinarello Princes. Are you looking Jimbo? Sadly they wouldn't let me take one away as a souvenir....

The third big team, Halfords, were warming up with intent. Here is Rob Hayles, sporting the backwards casquette with some aplomb:

 Ed Clancy was chatty and relaxed:

Only BMC UK had provided a shady canopy for their troops on the sun drenched esplanade:

Sport Beans always look bright....

A puzzle for you: what is that thing under his rear?!

And more Rapha bike porn, because I feel like it....

And so on to the action. I positioned myself on what was imaginitively titled 'Pier Bend', it being just at the top of The World's Longest Pier, and readied myself to cheer Rapha Condor to victory. Or so I hoped. Apologies if this becomes a rather Rapha-centric report from now on! The circuit was flat flat flat and consisted of two long straights connected by two sharp bends. This was a course which would undoubtedly suit the big pursuiter types (read Halfords) and Rapha's best chance was to break the race up and make it as tough as possible, out-positioning Halfords and attempting to nullify CandiTV's fast men.

The early laps were cagey as the top teams joined each other in a succession of attempted breaks, only to be pulled back on each occasion. Rapha did their job and attacked at every turn, with Tom Southam, Chris Newton and Kristian House,with whom I had had a nice chat earlier, all looking strong and alert. House, known to some as The House of Pain (!) eventually attacked alone and built up a sizeable advantage, but the rival teams were not in a mood to risk a breakway winner shovelling up too many points, and he was brought back. After more attempts at breaking the pack from all quarters, a group of ten slipped off the front to form the winning move, containing two riders from each of the three top teams. Much cat and mouse carry on ensued as everyone looked at everyone else before Wouter Sybrandy, the Dutch rider from Sigma Sport made a lone bid for glory. His gallant effort was cut agonisigly short by the charge to the line from behind, which was taken by Rob Hayles ahead of Malcolm Elliot, with Sybrandy third. Halfords, victorious on the night, took the overall spoils too, by one point from CandiTV. Rapha Condor, who threw the kitchen sink at the field, were third. Tactics worked against them in the final analysis; it was not their circuit and not their night. I left disappointed in the result but it was a great night of racing to cap off a great series. It was fitting that it came right down to the wire, or precisely, the rim of a Halfords wheel.