The 2010 edition of the Drummond Trophy saw Endura’s domination of the domestic road racing scene march on with a 1-2 for Evan Oliphant and James McCallum; and only a determined Robert Hassan kept Ross Creber off the podium and prevented an Endura whitewash.
Sadly, none of the VeloVeritas could make it down to one of our favourite races, but we spoke to Evan soon after his win.
Finally a Drummond win for you, Evan.
“I’ve ridden four or five times; it was one of my very first races for Velo Ecosse, way back.
“I rode in a skinsuit in the snow and finished 13th – I remember Jason Macintyre shaking his head at me when he saw what I was wearing!”
How was the weather ?
“It was sunny but chilly, I rode with knee warmers on.”
And the course?
“It wasn’t the same as last year – there were four small circuits with a steep climb then a big loop to give 95 miles – I made race time 3 hours and 55 minutes.”
How many Enduras on the start line?
“Eight, but Thwaites and Callum Wilkinson went out early with mechanicals; Ian Wilkinson didn’t come up.”
And how did it pan out?
“There was an early break of six, I bridged up, then another group came across to make it 15 up front.
“It stayed like that for ages but then a few were dropped and another group came up to give 18 in the lead.
“We opened up a big lead and even had time for us to stop for a pee break on the transmitter mast climb.
“James McCallum and I attacked and only Robert Hassan (Glasgow Wh.) and a lad from Stirling could go with us.
“The Stirling guy was shelled and when that happened, Hassan stopped working.
“Eventually he was dropped but just hung on for third, Ross Creber almost caught him on the line.”
You rode the National 10, last weekend.
“I was forced off the road by a car, near the turn,: ripping the wing mirror off the car!
“The end of my tri-bars were covered in red paint off his door – but he never stopped.
“I lost about 30 seconds, I wouldn’t have beaten Doyle but I certainly think I would have got silver or bronze.
“I put a minute into Carlos Riise at the Culloden 10, the following day – and he was in the medals on Saturday…”
No Rutland, then?
“We already had a team of six in, plus I think that race is a bit of a lottery.”
How did Finisterre and Tro Bro Leon go?
“In Finisterre, I missed the split and finished in the group sprinting for 30th place or thereabout, I didn’t sprint; 30th or 60th, what’s the difference?
“In Tro Bro I punctured after 100 miles, it was on an off road section and just at that time there was a crash behind with the team cars and I had to get neutral service.
“It was a good work out – 220 K at Finisterre and around 200 K at Tro Bro.
“It was a nightmare getting there, though – there were no flights, so I had to drive to Southampton and get the ferry – then the reverse on the way back.”
What’s the programme, now?
“We’ve been accepted for the Tour of Britain, so I’ll be working towards that.
“The ToB will be my last race before I start to focus specifically on my training for the Commonwealth Games.
“I’ll be riding the road at the Games but will be focusing on the track; it’s much less of a lottery – I only missed a medal by one point in the points race last time.
“In the short term, there’s the Lincoln GP, a stage race in France and the Premier at Dumfries, coming up.
“My programme will be mostly road, we have a core team to ride the criterium series – although I may ride a couple.
And Endura have an additional manager?
“Yes, Julian Winn has been drafted in to work alongside Garry Beckett, we’re riding a dual programme a lot of the time and Garry has commitments with Bradley Wiggins.
“He spends quite a bit of time at Girona; he does motor pacing and massage for Bradley.
“Oh! And don’t forget to mention that the mechanic put diesel instead of petrol in his car, on the way home from the Tro Bro!”
The joys of pro bike racing – with thanks to Evan and wishing him ‘all the best’ for the Lincoln GP (albeit our money is on Dan Fleeman).
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Result
1 Evan Oliphant Endura Racing
2 James McCallum Endura Racing
3 Robert Hassan Glasgow Whls
4 Ross Creber Endura Racing
5 Ashley Finn www.Cyclepremier.com – Metaltek
6 Matthew Kipling MTS Cycle Sport/ Inkland RT
7 David Lines Endura Racing
8 Gary Hand Endura Racing
9 James Moss Endura Racing
10 Robin Wilkins Stirling Bike Club
11 Scott Macrae Team Leslie Bike Shop – Right Move Windows
12 Craig Adams Falkirk Bicycle Club
13 Graham McGarrity Dooley’s Cycles Racing Team
14 Stuart MacGregor Dooley’s Cycles Racing Team
15 Robert Friel Raleigh Racing Team
16 John Kermode Dundee Thistle RC
17 Bryan Pool Annan 2010 Racing
18 Martin Coopland Falkirk Bicycle Club
19 Keith Robertson Granite City RT
20 Graeme Neagle Glasgow Whls
21 Alastair McNicol
22 Stephen Russell East Kilbride Road Club
23 Kenneth Armstrong Ayr Roads / Harry Fairbairn CC
24 Paul Rennie Dooley’s Cycles Racing Team
25 Phil Allan Granite City RT
26 Gavin Barnes Scottish MTB Leaders Association
27 Grant Stevenson Glasgow Whls
28 Andrew Brierley Team Leslie Bike Shop – Right Move Windows
29 Steven Dunn Falkirk Bicycle Club
30 James Daly Johnstone Wheelers CC
31 Raymond Small
32 Raymond Turner Newcastle Phoenix Cycling Club