Metaltek – Knights of Old took their first ever Pearl Izumi Tour Series victory in Redditch on Tuesday evening, benefiting from confusion amongst teams and riders after Team Raleigh’s Tom Scully had impressively lapped the field.
The Raleigh rider attacked from an earlier five man move and forged on alone to relegate the entire peloton a lap on the testing Redditch circuit. With the field then also being passed by Liam Holohan, Chris Opie, Kristian House and Mike Northey there was confusion as to which lap would count towards the final results, with Metaltek – Knights of Old benefiting for a first ever team victory.
As a result Team UK Youth’s lead was clipped back to five points over Team Raleigh with five points paying rounds to go, with Madison Genesis third a further four points behind on 54.
The first significant move of the evening in Redditch contained the five riders who would shape the race, with House and Scully trading blows at the opening two IG Sprints as both riders set their sights on the new-for-2013 gold jersey.
The quintet slowly extended their lead, which suddenly swelled to over a minute. At the third IG Sprint with three quarters of the race done, Scully and House edged clear to leave Opie, Holohan and Northey behind.
The Raleigh man then also left House alone, riding away from the Durham individual winner with around ten laps to go in a move that smacked of folly. It was the race changing moment however, as Scully comfortably overtook the peloton who were then in turn overtaken by his former breakaway companions.
The New Zealander smoothly celebrated his first Pearl Izumi Tour Series round win, while Holohan jumped away from the remaining four on the climb up to the finish area, heading home Opie.
With the majority of the field now in the unusual position of having been lapped but still battling for vital placings for the team competition new territory was being broken and teams appeared confused as to when the placings of lapped riders would be taken.
Metaltek – Knight’s of Old were the benefactors from this, grabbing sixth, seventh and eighth to take a surprise, but heard earned, first team victory in the Series, building on impressive results and performances in earlier rounds.
Team Raleigh took the runners up spot for the second round in succession enabling them to peg back Team UK Youth’s lead by two points.
Scully’s night was completed by a further three appearances on the post-race podium to go with his individual win. The Kiwi rider picked up the Costa Express Fastest Lap of the night and also took the IG Sprint competition in Redditch to move in the IG Sprints jersey, on countback ahead of House.
Highlights of Round Seven in Redditch will be shown on ITV4 at 10pm on Wednesday 5th June, with a repeat at 10.30am on Thursday 6th June.
Round Eight sees The Pearl Izumi Tour Series visit the world famous business and shopping district of Canary Wharf on Thursday 6th June for the only Tour Series event in London.
Supporting the professional race will be the Cyclist Magazine Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix, which sees thirteen corporate teams battle it out in a ProAm relay around the iconic 1.1 kilometre circuit.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series, Round Seven Redditch, Provisional Results
Round Seven Redditch, Individual Result
1) Tom Scully, NZL, Team Raleigh
2) Liam Holohan, GBR, Madison Genesis
3) Chris Opie, GBR, Team UK Youth
4) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
5) Mike Northey, NZL, Node4 Giordana Racing
6) Dale Appleby, GBR, Metaltek - Knights of Old
7) Ben Stockdale, GBR, Metaltek - Knights of Old
8) David McGowan, GBR, Metaltek - Knights of Old
9) Dan Barry, NZL, Node4 Giordana Racing
10) Roman Van Uden, NZL, Node4 Giordana Racing
Round Seven Redditch, Team Result
1) Metaltek - Knights of Old
2) Team Raleigh
3) Node4 Giordana Racing
4) Team UK Youth
5) Madison Genesis
6) Rapha Condor JLT
7) MG Maxifuel
8) Team Hope Factory Racing
9) Spin Rotor - Primal - C-Originals
10) Team IG Sigma Sport
Team Standings, post-Round Seven
1) Team UK Youth, 63pts
2) Team Raleigh, 58pts
3) Madison Genesis, 54pts
4) Rapha Condor JLT, 49pts
5) Node4 Giordana Racing, 44pts
6) Metaltek - Knights of Old, 40pts
7) MG Maxifuel, 31pts
8) Team Hope Factory Racing, 18pts
9) Team IG Sigma Sport, 18pts
10) Spin Rotor - Primal - C-Originals, 10pts
IG Sprints winner Round Seven Redditch: Tom Scully, NZL, Team Raleigh
Costa Express Fastest Lap Redditch: Tom Scully, NZL, Team Raleigh
IG Sprints standings, post-Round Seven
1) Tom Scully, NZL, Team Raleigh, 50pts
2) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 50pts
3) Alexandre Blain, FRA, Team Raleigh, 37pts