Pedal Heaven & Team Breeze Win In Redditch

Last updated : 27 May 2016 By Tour Series

Pedal Heaven and Team Breeze came away from the Redditch round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series with their first ever victories, as the squads took the honours in the men and women's events respectively.

Pedal Heaven headed Madison Genesis and Team Raleigh GAC, with just two seconds separating the top three times on the night.  The Worcestershire event also saw a rare off night for leader's JLT Condor presented by Mavic, with their lead over Madison Genesis being reduced to just two points, the consolation being the individual win for Jon Mould.

In the second round of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series, the Drops Cycling Team maintained their lead, but Team Breeze took the win on the night, both for the team prize and an impressive individual victory with Annasley Park.

Blue skies and big crowds greeted the fifth occasion that Worcestershire has hosted a round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series in Redditch.

The Matrix Fitness GP race saw Team Breeze's Park take a 20-second win from Jessica Roberts, who led in Grace Garner at the head of a 17-rider group.  The win gives Park a thirteen point lead over teammate Hayley Jones in the individual standings as well as the lead in the Sprint classification.

After their win in Round One in Motherwell, Drops Cycling Team took second in Redditch to maintain an 18-point lead over Team Breeze, with Podium Ambition presented by Club La Santa a further 19-points in arrears.

The men's event turned into a race of attrition with several teams losing riders from the front group amidst a face pace.  Team Raleigh GAC looked the strongest, with all five riders still in the leading group, while rivals Madison Genesis and Pedal Heaven had both lost a man, and JLT Condor enduring an uncharacteristic off night with three riders, including Edinburgh winner Graham Briggs off the pace.

At the finish it was Mould heading Pedal Heaven's Jack Pullar and Team Raleigh GAC's Albert Torres, as a 21-rider group contested the finale.  A trio of Pedal Heaven riders in 9-10-11 helped them to their first ever team victory in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, cue joyous celebrations

The individual victory for Mould means JLT Condor maintain a 100% record of race wins in the 2016 Series, while it edges him to within one victory of teammate Ed Clancy in the all-time standings.

JLT Condor's lead is trimmed to two points over Madison Genesis with Pedal Heaven five points more behind.

Richardsons Trek took the early lead in the South competition for Guest teams ahead of Catford CC Equipe Banks, with Luke Ryan taking a highly creditable eighth on the night, and teammate Kieran Brady also sticking with the front group.
 
In the Chain Reaction Cycles Sprints competition, Rory Townsend maintains his hold on the blue and white jersey, eight points ahead of 2015 winner Morgan Kneisky.  Townsend also won the Brother Fastest Lap award for Round Four.

Highlights of the Redditch event will be shown on ITV4 at 2100 on Saturday 28 May with a repeat on Sunday 29 May at 0825.  Highlights are also available on demand via the ITV Player.

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series returns to action on Friday night in Aberystwyth for the Series' only Welsh event, a part of the Aberystwyth Cycle Festival.  Support events get underway from 1400 with the elite race at 1930.