Tough weekend as the HSBC Road Series moves on to the Isle of Man

Last weekend saw five Saint Piran riders crossing the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man for the penultimate leg of the HSBC National Road Series.

Steve Lampier was joined by Joe Evans, Ollie Maxwell, Cam Jeffers and Will Harper. The ninth of the 10 race series was a demanding three-day, four-stage affair. A 50-lap, 35-mile criterium opened proceedings on the Friday. Saturday saw a 3.8-mile time trial hill climb in the morning, followed by a 65 mile, 15-lap circuit race in the afternoon and the event was rounded off on Sunday with a 3-lap, 113 mile road race on the iconic TT circuit. 

Lampier described Stage 1 as ‘tough and sketchy’ and he came in 15th, just ahead of Ollie Maxwell and Joe Evans.

The team leader had targeted the Stage 2 hill climb but admits that his pacing was off and finished 6th. “Frustrating, but I couldn’t have done anything more.”

Stage 3 saw Joe Evans initiating a break and although they were ultimately caught by the peloton, his performance pleased Lampier who said, “Joe was like a man possessed. Very impressive in the break”

Going into the final ‘Queen’ stage, Lampier was 6th overall, just 20 seconds down on the leader and hoping to improve on his overall GC standing. However it wasn’t to be and the Saint Piran man finished 12th to leave him in a very respectable 10th place on GC at the end of the weekend.

Will Harper pulled a strong 12th place finish out of the bag in the final stage to lift him to 16th place on GC.

 Overall then a mixed bag for the Cornish team but all part of the learning process for some of the younger riders. Joe Evans summed it up, saying, ““I’ve taken a lot from this weekend, mostly things to improve on, and had a great time racing with the boys as always!” 

Next up for the team is the final round of the HSBC Road Series, The Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix on Sunday 18th August.

Photo: Velo UK