More city centre criterium/bike racing; this time from the second round of the Tour Series Professional City Centre Cycle Races held in Exeter last Thursday with television coverage on ITV4 the night after each stage. The photograph above is the race winner Rapha-Condor team rider and current National Criterium Champion Dean Downing, celebrating as he crosses the finishing line; Downing took the win comfortably by several bike lengths. Watching the TV highlights the next day I could see that the race was won in the final corner; Dean went into the narrow turn at the front of the pack and carried momentum while the chasing riders slowed, giving the Rapha-Condor rider a huge advantage and a clean sprint to the finish. Having spoken to a couple of the riders, I know that racing on a 1.5KM circuit for 1 1/4 hours isn’t necessarily the most exiting prospect for the athletes but the Tour Series bike races make for a great event and attract a lot of spectators plus good TV coverage thanks to the city centre location and short closed course. Below is Team Halfords rider Ed Clancy who won the sprint competition, and some podium photos featuring the Exeter Tour Series round winning rider Dean Downing, winning team Rapha-Condor, and series leaders the Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta team.
