Scottish Road Race Championships 2010

A unique viewpoint for this event, from one of the lead cars. in the race convoy, so perhaps saw things a bit differently to those at the side of the road, plus missed absolutely everything that was happening away from the very front of the event, www.veloresults.co.uk should have all that info covered soon with their usual high quality and informative overview, saw them interviewing the winners and out on the road taking photos along the way.

Lap 1, couldn't get the radio working even after it had been fine on the check, so missed a load of info about what was happening, but gather a load of riders were getting shelled and one unfortunate puncture for one rider only 2 miles in, unlucky Mr Holmes, I know you're going well. The pressure appeared to be on as we saw a group form towards the end of the lap, about 7 or 8 riders containing at least 3 Endura's and some other of Scotlands top road riders, Rob Wilkins (Striling BC) as expected, in form Euan Pope (Glasgow Couriers), plus a Glasgow Wheelers rider I think (please comment and I can update the full contingent).

Radio now working after dismantling and reconnecting. These riders pulled a minute gap immediately, holding that for a couple of laps, time checks were coming in 56 seconds, 1:10, then back to a minute, the guys in the break looked like they were pushing it, so there must have been a load of lung bustung going on on the pointy end of the bunch, heard later it was Glasgow Wheelers, so the rider in the break may not have been from them.

On lap 3 up the A77, there was a time check at 45seconds, on the long straights the bunch could be seen, so something was going to snap, saw a flurry of attacks go and the lead group split into 3, the front two small groups formed together and the others appeared to slip back, the larger numbers of black jerseys in the group let us know this may be getting the hammer put down, it did. Radio crackled one rider was leaving the bunch too and going across, appeared to be Creber, but will also confirm that later. Through the climb up the feed zone and waiting for the riders, 2 appeared, matching black kit and white booties, 2 Endura boys, can't be good news for the others, tactics coming into play. Group behind containing Wilkins, seemingly driven by him (what else could he do, either sit up or get jumped by lone Endura rider sitting on, as he would, can't chase the team-mates).

4th lap and we hear that chase group has been attacked by McCallum, going across to 2 leaders, now 3 Endura off the front, we see him in the distance now, but he's not making fast inroads to the leaders, they don't know. Some roadside info passed up and Oliphant and Hand see Jamesey coming across, speed drops, rider joing the front and now 3 medalists, all from same team off the front, impressive stuff.

Timechecks coming in, the leads flying up now, pegged around the 4 minute mark, no way anybody will catch them now on the last lap. Wasn't sure what would happen, but looks like they all wanted the win and some attacks and suddenly Evan is just clear with about 3km to go, behind McCallum and Hand are weaving across the road, neither wanting to make the effort to catch Evan it seems, Evan crosses the line, followed closely by Jamesey and Gary Hand. Further down the road, last years winner Creber looks to have pushed right through some groups and slips in for 4th place, Endura 1,2,3 & 4.

After some good riding from the Glasgow Wheelers, they get Robbie Hassan in 5th, a really strong ride from the guy with a big future, he looked dejected though, which in some way is encouraging, means he wanted more.

No idea what happened back down the road, excellent race again from the VC Astar, excellent circuit and a sunny day, what more could you ask for, we knew roughly what was going to happen before the event, hopefully this is raising the level in Scotland, it really is starting to look that way, the Endura's had to fight to get themselves in that position.