Scottish McCartney Victory
Martin Lonie of the Linda McCartney - Welsh Cycling Union development squad
won yesterday's Glasgow United CC 100th Anniversary Road Race.
The race took in no less than five tough climbs around Glen Fruin in the Loch
Lomond region north of Glasgow. Martin attacked with four others on the first
of these, and the small group quickly built a lead. As the race wore on, they
were told that a dangerous group of nine, including Scottish Champion Billy
Gibb were chasing hard on their heels. Not waiting for the groups to merge,
the young Scot attacked alone on the penultimate climb, then waited for the
only other remaining escapee, Tim Allan, on the descent.
They moved on to the final climb of the day with a 50 second gap over the
pursuers, not enough for Martin's liking, so he took off once more, cresting
the hill with a gap that stood at a more healthy two minutes. Such was the
form and determination of the McCartney man, that he pulled out another
minute over his chasers on the 18-mile run in to the line.
"It's always good to win!" grinned Martin. "We've just come back from
Chicago, where we were racing in 90 degree heat, which is a bit much for most
Scots, so it was nice to be back on home roads."
Martin misses next weekend's Tour of the Cotswolds, which promises a powerful
McCartney line-up, in order to prepare for the following weekend's Havant
Grand Prix. "I haven't done that one before, but I hear it's pretty hilly, so
maybe I can help the other guys out there. That's if there's not too much of
that tropical heat you get down there!"
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