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news
Rousing finale for Rapha Super Cross series at Ally Pally (+ gallery & video)
Fine autumn weather brought a big crowd out to North London’s Alexandra Palace yesterday for the final round in the inaugural Rapha Super Cross Series. Several thousand spectators were treated to the elite competition going right down to the wire, with Hope Technology emerging victorious from the three-race series by a single point from Scott UK.
Victory on the day went to Hope’s captain, and reigning Great Britain cyclo-cross champion, Paul Oldham, with Jody Crawforth of Hargroves second and Wiggle’s Lee Williams claiming third place. The team prize on the day went to Scott UK, but their efforts weren’t quite sufficient to knock Hope off the top step of the podium.
A full, family-friendly supporting programme included everything from toddlers pushing themselves around on balance bikes, to first-time crossers taking on the course on MTBs, with pies, Belgian beer and frites ad coffee providing the fuel, all to the background soundtrack of cowbells.
The series will return in 2012, and received a ringing endorsement from Peter Hargroves, whose team came third overall, and who said: “It’s better than most of the ‘cross races I’ve been to in Belgium this year.”
If you went along to watch, or better still took part in any of the events, let us know your thoughts on the day in the comments below.
Alexandra Palace Results – Elite
1. Paul Oldham (Hope Technology)
2. Jody Crawforth (Hargroves)
3. Lee Williams (Wiggle)
4. Nick Craig (Scott UK)
5. Steve Adams (Sigma Sport)
6. Kenta Gallagher (Scott UK)
7. Dave Collins (Hope Technology)
8. Luke Grivell-Mellor (Scott UK)
9. Steve James (Hargroves)
10. Seb Batchelor (Wiggle)
Under 23 – Kenta Gallagher (Scott UK)
Rapha Super Cross Series – Final Overall
1. Hope Technology
2. Scott UK
3. Hargroves- Specialized-Trant-Next
Under 23 – Luke Grivell-Mellor (Scott UK)
All competitor results are posted here.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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10 comments
http://cyclingapprentice.com/2011/11/02/rapha-supercross-rich-mitch-cycl...
Here's my race write up from the day...
I had a great day out there and it can only improve if its run again. Great article here about how the event came to be.
http://rouleurmagazine.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/852/
Needs more to get involved in this way and I for one am inspired.
This video captures the atmosphere brilliantly... i want a rent a crowd at all my races in the future! it was brilliant!
http://vimeo.com/31045291
Sure thing...whats your email and I will send one over.
oooh, i was looking good wasn't i?
didn't feel that good from the inside though
great picture, can i have one for the mantlepiece?
Nice shot Farky!
trying to link to your image that I took at the weekend....you where looking good.
Big smiles all round... The course was a beast, super tough, the crowd made huge amounts of noise when i really needed them to especially at the steps after the long drag... and the warm weather was great... I can't wait to race it again next year... hopefully your man Joe will be behind me that time
As a casual spectator an enjoyable event but not one without some issues to be resolved for next time out...
1) The course layout was great but the positioning of key services smack in the middle of it made for a confusing nightmare of queuing and pinch points that can surely be planned and handled better next time.
2) The "Look Mum No Hands!" catering efforts were pretty dire; two times a tiny amount of undercooked fries (literally about 15 of them) and a pie that was barely room temperature in exchange for £12 was not a deal that left a good taste in the mouth. Thankfully it didn't leave any worse memories than that this morning.
On the plus side, very friendly, some great racing and very relaxed, common sense applying stewarding. Well done you guys.
what a great event, the sunshine helped obviously, encouraging lazing about with beer and frittes, but having the full range of CX racing from balance-bikes to pros was amazing
a properhard course zig-zagging up and down the Ally Pally hill with the untraditional heat making things doubly hard, but the wall of cowbell at the steps and finish line really helped, especially with legs a bit tired from the previous nights Muddy (quite dusty really) Hell
bit tired now, but happy
(pic - © Philip Diprose)