 Premier Series - Tour of the Peak (UK)
Sunday 16th September By Gerry McManus
Lovatt at the Peak
Mark Lovatt (Pro-Vision - Ribble - Kairfree) climbed to his fourth consecutive
victory in the Peak District on Sunday 17th September.
He powered his way across the undulating countryside, taking all but one of the
eight mountains primes in the 85-mile Premier Calendar Race.
The warm sunshine was largely ineffective due to the prevailing wind and the
riders who were dropped on the first of the 5-mile climbs up Snake Pass were
destined to stay that way.
 On the first of two laps, Lovatt was already
flexing his muscles and had escaped at the Bradwell Climb with a sole rider
temporarily glued to his back-wheel. By the time they reached Snake Pass for the
second time, any elastic to a chasing group of six had snapped. Lovatt's lead
was up to 1min 10sec as he powered up the hill in the big ring.
The select chasing group behind contained Ross Muir
and Alexander Ross (both Scotland), Gavin Evans (JE James RT), Matt Stephens
(Sigma Sport RT), Kevin Dawson (Pete Read RT) and Julian Gromett (Cottingham Cou.
RT). Playing the policeman role, Lovatt's teammate John Tanner was closing fast
at a further 15 sec with David Cook (Middridge RT). Late entry Jamie Burrow (US
Postal) had missed the vital move and was going backwards through the field.
Tanner's late move enabled him to finish on his own for second spot, nearly
three minutes behind; with Stevens in third only a few seconds back. Julian
Gromett took the verdict in the six-man group that followed.
James Dobbin (Bath Univ.) came in 68th and lantern
rouge at over half-an-hour behind, proving the severity of the scenic course.
The UCI 1.5 ranking hardly seems adequate.
Best of the Irish was Denis Lynch, who continues to
adapt to the longer distances, was placed fifteenth and in the prize money.
"I'm just getting used to the distance and the standard of riding is higher
than in Ireland", he said. "It's hard training for events like
this" Lynch still had enough strength to win the sprint in his finishing
group.
Meanwhile Denis Easton came in for 19th position in
the first outing for the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team, in UCF
colours and Kieron McMahon in 26th spot and first of the Munster team.
Tour of the Peak - International Cycle Road Race
Sunday 16th September 2001
 OFFICIAL RESULT
Race distance 137 km/85 miles Average speed
39.804kph/24.878mph
Number of starters 113
1 Lovatt Mark Pro-Vision/Ribble Cycles /Kairfree
3:25:35
2 Tanner John Pro-Vision/Ribble Cycles/Kairfree 3:28.04
3 Stephens Matthew Sigma Sport Pro Cycle Shop 3:28:15
4 Gromett Julian Cottingham Cou. RT/Pete Dunn/T 3:30:16
5 Dawson Kevin Pete Read RT/Caygill Cycles/Roh 3:30:18
6 Cook David Middridge CRT/Middridge Enginee st
7 Ross Alexander SCOTLAND st
8 Muir Ross SCOTLAND st
9 Evans Gavin JE James RT/ JEJ/Daccordi/Miche st
10 Malarczyk Anthony Atom Elite RT Atom Cycle Frame 3:33:09
15 Lynch Denis IRELAND 3:34:31
19 Easton Denis Northern Ireland Commonwealth 3:35:58
26 McMahon Kieron MUNSTER 3:37:50
38 Cahill Richard MUNSTER 3:40:47
49 Kiernan Mark Classic Walls/Snap Printing/NCBI
50 Prendergast Shane Classic Walls/Snap Printing/NCBI
51 Horgan John MUNSTER
60 Hogan Thomas IRELAND
61 McQuaid Gary IRELAND
Pictures Copyright Gerry
McManus 2001
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