CYCLING: Rugby rider Roach in top form again

Team Jewson-MI Racing-Polypipe-McCann won their 12th British Cycling Championship at the weekend, along with seven second places and three third places, to make another great weekend for the team.

Current British Cycling 10km Scratch Track Champion, Mike Twelves (Hinckley team member), won the LVRC National 10km Track Championship at Newport Velodrome on Sunday making up for races lost through a mid-season road accident, which resulted in an operation to his broken hand and the loss of the second half of the road racing season. It was only recently Mike has been able to train on the Derby Velodrome, which is the nearest to this area.

He completed a fantastic weekend by finishing second in the Team Pursuit, third in the Points race and third in the Team Sprint.

Team mates Derrick Woodings finished second in the 10km Scratch Championship for riders 70+ and Mike Allan second in the 10km Scratch race for riders 65+.

New team member and ex-professional rider, Rob Muzio finished third in the Team Pursuit, his first ride for his new team. Rob is also a Level 2 Coach, a very valuable addition to the squad.

The team’s cyclo-cross riders were also in top form. Current UCI World Masters 55+ Champion Phil Roach (Rugby) finished second in the 50+ race at

Liverpool then a few hours later on Sunday morning he won the 50+ race at Kempton Park,London.

At the latest round of the Midland series at Baggeridge Park, Hinckley member Kirby Bennett had a run away victory in the 50+ race and also

won the 55+, with team mate Peter Busby (Coventry) second. In the early stages of the race both riders were dicing with each other and Pete came

off worse when he got tangled in the course marking tapes. The tough course was made to look easy by Bennett, who rode every section except the two wooden hurdles, even a very steep bank that only a few managed to ride.

Lindsey Nell achieved her best ride this season, finishing second in the Lady Veteran race. Barrie Mitchell from Marton was second in the

65+ race and his team mate and current UCI World Masters 75+ Champion Mick Ives (Baginton) won the 75+ race.

In the afternoon race for Veterans 40 and over Steve Knight finished second best 45+ rider.

PICTURED: Kirby Bennett and Peter Busby at Baggeridge Park

Friday sees one of the major events of the year for Team MI Racing. The team dinner and awards evening will take place at Dunchurch Park Hotel, with Chief Guest Nicole Cooke MBE, a former Olympic and World Road Race champion. Nicole started her cycle racing career under the guidance of Mick Ives, with Team MI Racing at the age of 12. Now retired from racing she is one of the team’s Patrons.

Over 90 guests will attend the dinner including team President Peter Hindle MBE and representatives from the team’s many sponsors.

Organiser of the event is team owner and director Mick Ives.