2021 Totnes Vire – Race Report

RORY TOWNSEND, one of the top riders on the UK domestic circuit, outsprinted a 13-strong bunch as professional quality told at the end of a rain-lashed Totnes-Vire Road Race.

Townsend (Canyon dhb SunGod), the 26-year-old all-rounder from South London, and his teammate Max Stedman covered all serious breakaway moves during the Mid-Devon CC’s 90-mile race at Bridestowe near Okehampton.

The event, the leading RR on the South-West calendar, started in a downpour, and a puncture effectively knocked Cornwall’s No.1 hope, Steve Lampier (Saint Piran), out of contention.

But conditions mercifully improved by the time the leaders passed Roadford Reservoir for the second of three times.

It was on the final run home from Lewdown that former Exeter University student Stedman, primarily a climber, rode hard to stop anyone else attacking before the line, and Townsend’s finishing kick did the rest.

He won in 3hrs 29mins 46secs, from Oliver Hucks (NOPINZ Motip RT), with Jack Rootin-Gray (Team Inspired), Cameron Biddle (Vredestein Basso) and Cornwall’s Tom Nancarrow (NOPINZ Motip) in the minor placings.

Former titleholder Lampier, who rode home steadily after his setback, promptly went out and did an extra lap just for training!

Another Home Counties-based rider, Mattie Dodd (Backstedt Bike Performance) won the 60-mile Junior race by more than a minute from Angus Lawrence (Lee Valley Youth).

Mid-Devon CC duo Callum Start and Reuben Heal were 12th and 14th respectively.

Junior
1	Mattie Dodd	Backstedt Bike Performance RC	2.30.07
2	Angus Lawrence	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@1.07
3	Joshua Golliker	trainSharp Development team	@2.13
4	Ben Etherington	Manilla Cycling	@2.19
5	Charlie Johnson	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@2.50
6	Jamie Gostick	Banjo Cycles – Raceware – Specialized	@2.56
7	Oliie Cadin	Jersey Youth Cycling	@3.35
8	Lucas Byam	Nopinz Motip Development Team	@3.38
9	Callum Biggs	FlandersColor Galloo	@5.11
10	Benjamin Harris	Maindy Flyers CC	st
11	George Cottrell	Poole Wheelers CC	st
12	Callum Start	Mid Devon CC	st
13	Connor Stevens	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@5.17
14	Reuben Heal	Mid Devon CC	@9.05
15	James Pearcy	Mid Devon CC	@9.14
16	Gaurav Meher	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@9.19
17	Shaun Duffield	Mid Devon CC	@11.20
18	Luca Unwin	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@11.58
19	Finlay Walter	Team Zoyland Race Academy	st
20	Jack Charlton Hunt	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@13.58
21	Alfie Salmon	Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club	@19.01
22	Finlay Webb	Exeter Wheelers	@36.56
E/1/2
1	Rory Townsend	Canyon DHB Sungod	3.29.46
2	Oliver Hucks	Nopinz Motip Race Team	st
3	Jack Rootkin-Gray	Team Inspired	st
4	Cameron Biddle	Vredestein Basso	st
5	Tom Nancarrow	Nopinz Motip Race Team	st
6	Oliver Stockwell	Team Inspired	st
7	Samuel Clark	TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling	st
8	Joseph Rees	BIKESTRONG-KTM	st
9	Cai Davies	BIKESTRONG-KTM	st
10	Joshua Price	Spirit Racing Team	st
11	Matthew Houlberg	Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT	st
12	Samuel Painter	TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling	st
13	Luke Barfoot	Primera-TeamJobs	st
14	Max Stedman	Canyon DHB Sungod	@ 5 secs
15	Nicholas Tyrie	Primera-TeamJobs	@ 9 secs
16	Samuel Tillett	BIKESTRONG-KTM	@3.01
17	Sion Harlow	Team PB Performance	st
18	Chad Scanlan	Team PB Performance	@4.05
19	Ben Millar	Team Tor 2000 Kalas	st
20	Angus Hawkins	Spirit Racing Team	st
21	Oscar Hutchings	Team Tor 2000 Kalas	@ 4.57
22	Peter Merritt	TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling	st
23	Thomas Lowther	Vredestein Basso	st
24	Jack Freeman	Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT	st
25	Maximillian Ashwanden	TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling	st
26	Sebastian Garry	Nopinz Motip Race Team	st
27	Jack Dallyn	Exeter Wheelers	st
28	Matt Clarke	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
29	William Tidball	Team Inspired	st
30	Steve Lampier	Saint Piran	st
31	?	Number not visible	st
32	Matthew Ellis	Saint Piran	st
33	Daniel Shoobridge	Nopinz Motip Race Team	@6.02
34	Simon Skinner	Paceline RT	@10.14
35	Rupert Graham	Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor	@11.23
36	Iwan Evans	Saint Piran	@17.34
37	Jordan Retallick	Saint Piran Development	st