Craig Stevens made it a near perfect start to the racing for Ciclos Uno at the Rapha/Condor Smithfield Nocturne, when he rode the perfect race to win the Regional A race. The only dampener (apart from the weather!) came when Alex Aldham-Breary succumbed to the notoriously slippery surface on the last lap and crashed out of the race that could quite easily have ended a Ciclos Uno 1-2. Thankfully Alex escaped injury in the fall and will doubtless be up there in the finale again soon.
Alex and Craig made their intentions clear from the gun on the tricky, technical circuit around the famous meat market, attacking together and driving hard to line out the field. Almost immediately the pressure began to show with riders finding the pace too much for them and, as the gaps began to emerge, a fairly select group began to develop at the head of the race with both Craig and Alex instrumental at the front. Craig had made his willingness to race pretty clear from the start and, with about a third of the race gone, launched himself off the front of the group and pulled clear for a lap or two before the bunch, led by London Dynamo and Addiscombe CC, pulled him back into the fold. The attacks continued, with Daniel Santoni the best of the moves, pulling clear to ride solo for about half a dozen laps before being swallowed up by the hard working bunch.
With the race moving into the final stages, a nasty crash changed the shape of the race and it was neutralised for 10 minutes while Sam Finniston (In Gear Development Squad) was treated and taken to hospital. Thankfully, Sam's injuries are not as bad as first thought and is recovering well. The race restarted with just 2 minutes and 5 laps to go and the pace shot up again with the remaining riders all looking for the win. With everyone still together at the bell it looked like it would be a bunch sprint but the last lap crash that claimed Alex's race also put paid to many other's chances and Craig soloed away to take a thoroughly deserved win.
Results:
1.) Craig Stevens: PCA/Ciclos Uno
2.) George Brent: Addiscombe CC
3.) Adam Gent: In Gear Cycling Development Squad
4.) Gavin Ryan: London Dynamo
5.) Guy Powderill: London Dynamo
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