David McKenzie

The Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team took their second victory in two days in the Circuito Montanes in Spain. This time it was Giro d'Italia stage winner David McKenzie who won, with yesterday's winner Bjornar Vestol in 3rd. To complete an incredible day, Ciaran Power was 5th, giving the McCartney squad 3 of the top five placings.

"It's beautiful countryside, but it's tough racing," said Australian star and Basque Country resident Neil Stephens. He was dead right, with big climbs barring every day's route, and gorgeous scenery awash with hot sunshine. "Like the Lake District without the rain!" said soigneur Adrian Timmis.

There were 40kms left when Macca attacked and formed a group with three others. As they pushed on, they were joined by the seemingly indefatigable Bjornar Vestol, yesterday's winner. More speed and more attacks whittled the leaders down to just three: David, Bjornar and a Belgian from the Vlaanderen 2000 squad. Their lead hovered just below a minute and a half over the bunch, with around 20kms to go. Attacking their rival could have proved costly with the field in close proximity, so the threesome raced into Santander city centre together, roared on by a big midweek crowd in the sunshine.

Bjornar led out the sprint from about 300 metres, then there were a couple of seconds with hearts in mouths, as all three men were alongside each other. David McKenzie called upon all his old sprinting powers to pull away and take his victory in style.

"It's always nice to win a stage, but the last one of a race is special, because you feel real good all the way home!" said a jubilant Macca afterwards.

It was touch and go at the finish as the remains of the field hammered round the last corner just as David was throwing his arms into the air. Showing that his sprinting experiences in the Giro d'Italia have served him well, Ciaran Power took 2nd in the bunch, and thus 5th on the stage.

What a fantastic race for the team - two stage victories and a host of placings. There was a special thank-you for manager Chris Lillywhite from the Spanish organisers. "They told me that we had made the race for them, and we were a credit to our jersey. That made me really proud."

Report by John Deering

  1. David McKenzie                        3.16.22 
  2. W Huvaere (Vlaanderen 2002)         @    0.00
  3. Bjorner Vestol  
  5. Ciaran Power                        @    0.05
                
 
Final Overall: 

  1. D Bruylandts (Palmans-Ideal)         26.10.41 
  2. A García (Pinturas Banaka)          @    0.17
  3. J Gomis (Cropusa-Burgos Monumental) @    0.21