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Stephens 4th
Matt Stephens produced another great ride in the British National Road Race Championships, finishing 4th after 130 arduous miles.
Stephens has been incredibly consistent on a course first used when he won in 1998, and a 4th last year confirmed those who criticised the course for not being hard enough, Stephens always does well when the going gets tough!
He did everything he could to split the race apart, but was unable to shift three riders, who each beat him to the line. The excellent John Tanner retained his jersey of champion by narrowly defeating former McCartney favourite Jonny Clay, with
Cofidis Tour de France hope David Millar in third. Matt was philosophical about 4th place: "I don't know what else I could have done really. I knew I wouldn't be able to outsprint them so I just kept attacking, but I didn't have enough to leave them behind."
Max Sciandri wasn't able to come to terms with the vagaries and intricacies
of British cycling quickly enough, and he climbed off with two laps
remaining. "I tried to go across the gap to Matt's group, but there were
about ten guys sitting on my wheel. I said 'Come on, let's work together and
we'll get on,' but not one of them wanted to help, so I just sat up. Maybe I
should have just put my head down and gone anyway," he said with a shrug. Huw
Pritchard marked his fine progress this season by turning in a great ride,
supporting Matt very well, then sprinting in at the head of the first big
bunch to take 10th. More...
Report by John Deering
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