Kiss Shows Class at Cricklade Kermesse!

Tony Kiss (Performance Cycles) won the 55 mile, Ride 24/7 Cricklade Kermesse, attacking late on the last lap, Kiss soloed to a deserved victory in Wiltshire. The Performance Cycles rider was part of a twelve man break that went away on the second of fifteen 3.4 mile laps around the historic Saxon town. A group of four riders led by Lee Davis (Velosure-Giordana) tried to get across but chased in vain.

The adventurous dozen included, Luke Nolan (Live2Ride), Ride 24/7 pair Mark Perry & Charles Rees, Adrian Lawson (Cadence RT), Steve Thomas (Dream Cycling), Ross Evans (Radeon Cycling), David Billings (VC ST Raphael), Simon Coles (Norwood Paragon), Matt Dunsbeer (Veloton Team), Tim Wiggins (Team Wiggle), & Daniel Guest & Kiss,(Performance Cycles) and while the bunch looked at each other the gap started to grow. From 20 seconds on lap 4 to 1:32 on lap 8, eventually going out to 2:45, the flat parcours did nothing to deter a chase but the bunch lacked the organisation of the break and the arguments were starting. Up front it was a different kind of row as Kiss and Guest tested the legs of the other ten, with three to go Kiss went off the front but it was short lived as thoughts turned to the finale. Charles Rees tried with just over a lap to go, gaining a lead of 12 seconds, Kiss rode across the gap hoping for an alliance but Rees was cramping and spent, the man with the hammer never negotiates, and Kiss was on his own, milking the finish on Cricklade high street. The race organisers, National Escort Group, accredited marshalls, and Cricklade town council all worked hard to put on a cracking race on the edge of town on a busy Saturday afternoon, all deserve credit.

Reaction:
Tony Kiss “ Charles (Rees) attacked with a lap and half to go, I closed him down going up the little climb, I was hoping he was going to stay with me and we could work together but he was obviously a bit spent, so I just went straight past. We were working well together in the break it felt good, I have had three months out with a broken wrist so I am really pleased”
Dan Guest “He (Tony) gave me a win earlier in the season so I owed him one, so this is the payback”
Mark Clarke (Cricklade Council) “ We are really pleased to support the cycle race and think it is great for the town, we are all big cycling fans”
Result
1 Tony Kiss Performance Cycles
2 Daniel Guest Performance Cycles
3 Matt Dunsbier Veloton Team
4 Steve Thomas Dream Cycling
5 Ross Evans Radeon Cycle Coaching
6 Simon Coles Norwood Paragon CC
7 Adrian Lawson Cadence RT
8 David Billings VC St Raphael
9 Tim Wiggins Team Wiggle
10 Luke Nolan Live2Ride Race Team
11 Mark Perry Ride 24/7
12 Charles Rees Ride 24/7
13 Malcolm Dixon Dream Cycling
14 Michael Ward Ride 24/7
15 Thomas Bowering VC Meudon
16 Jamie Penton Radeon Cycle Coaching
17 Ashley Hutchison VC St Raphael
18 Matthew Ullmer Performance Cycles
19 Joe Barry Ride 24/7
20 Liam Walsh VC St Raphael
21 Trevor Smith Cotswold Veldrijden
22 Carl Luke Live2Ride Race Team
23 David Janes Live2Ride Race Team
24 Duncan Lancashire Andover Whls
25 Dave Tilling
26 Unknown Rider
27 Rory Gilling Performance Cycles
28 Wayne Coombs BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
29 Jack Mattock BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
30 Niel Dunnage Cotswold Veldrijden
31 Thomas Leach Gloucester City CC
32 Nick Watson Ride 24/7 Finished
33 Scott Chalmers Felt-Colbornes-Hargroves RT
34 Lee Davis Giordana Racing Team
35 Mitch Evans Ride 24/7

FULL RESULTS AND PHOTOS TO FOLLOW