Viking StreetVelodrome Round 2: Wigan

The second event of the Viking StreetVelodrome pro-series 2017 took place at the weekend. The stage for this event was in the centre of Leigh in Wigan, right outside the Town Hall with an all-star cast providing the crowds with some of the most exciting racing that the Street Velodrome series has seen.

The Qualifiers

The Suffolk Saints were the first to set times in the team time-trial – the team consisted of Kara Bruce (BMX freestyler) and newcomer Bryn Dickerson (World Cup Downhill MTB Racer from NZ). Unfortunately, Kara experienced a broken leg just days before the season started and is bravely competing with a healing bone and ligaments.

This didn’t stop Kara however as she showed her strong talent on the banking, but a tentative push on the pedals leading into the straights gave her a beatable time for the other competitors. Bryn provided a very fast time to compensate, but it was not enough to draw the team out of last position.

Luckily for them, Team Cornwall’s Matti Hemmings (Guinness World Record holder for flatland BMX) was disqualified for crossing over the Johnson Line* which allowed Suffolk Saints to leapfrog them in the team results.

Team Dublin sent a shiny new pairing to represent them in Wigan, with Csaba “Chubbs” Csenge (World Cup DH rider from Hungary) and Veronika Widmann (European DH Champion from Italy) taking to the track. Veronika was the 3rd fasted female, despite it being her first attempt at the StreetVelodrome track. We expect great things from her at the SuperFinals in Canary Wharf in August! Combined with Chubbs’ encouraging time, the team finished in 4th place.

Rowena Price and Craig MacLean MBE (Commonwealth Games track gold medallist) formed The SouthCoast Rollers – with eyes firmly planted on gold. Rowena qualified as the second-fasted female of the event and Craig, despite having a year away from the track, returned with some strong drive. Unfortunately, Craig was a mere second away from qualifying with the fasted men’s time and so the team finished in second place.

Team London, represented by Mad Dave Johnson and Anna Glowinski, may be inconsistent with form but are consistent with their entertainment. The pair showed they still have what it takes to put down a combined fasted time to put the team into first place, despite neither of them being the fastest in their category.

Finally, the home team made up of Patrick Robinson and Juliet Elliott of Team Wigan took to the track. Patrick was comfortable on the track and placed as the fastest male, Juliet on the other hand exploded into infectious giggles at the start line and while this entertained the crowd did not benefit her for a fast time, leaving the home team in 3rd place.

Women’s Head to Heads

Round 2 of the Viking Street Velodrome proved an exciting experience for all participating and for the crowds that gathered on the day. The results prove that nothing is predictable in this sport – with the riders getting used to different bike sizes and handle bar set ups, the qualifying results did not necessarily predict the outcome of the head to head race results.

Glowinski of Team London, who was the 4th fastest female, knocked out the favourite-for-gold Jessica Watts of Team Cornwall in their head to head race.

Veronika Widdman of Team Dublin was on track for a podium, but the low rolling resistance of the smooth tarmac course combined with her high speed meant she was unable to keep below the Johnson Line and her disqualification meant that Juliet Elliott went through to the next round.

Men’s Head to Heads

Matti Hemmings showed exceptional speed, but his team positioning in the qualifying races meant that he placed against Mad Dave Johnson, who knocked him out of the rest of the racing without allowing him the chance to prove himself further.

MacLean of The SouthCoast Rollers was knocked out by newcomer Bryn Dickerson and despite encouragement from the crowd did not manage to get a catch point against Team Dublin’s Chubbs.

The Finals

In a repeat race, Glowinski found herself back up against Watts. Despite getting off to a faster start, Glowinski’s lead was lost by mid-race as Watts clawed her way back and secured her place in the final.

The race for Gold took place between Watts and Price – neither of whom have ever secured a gold at StreetVelodrome before. The pressure was on. Overall, the race was incredibly close, but it was Watts that came out on top and was awarded the gold medal.

The men’s final was made up of an unusual pairing – Patrick Robinson against Mad Dave Robinson, with Mad Dave choosing to use Robinson’s home event to show the world that he still has what it takes to be StreetVelodrome Champion!

*DID YOU KNOW - The Johnson Line was established in 2015 after Mad Dave Johnson rode off the banking, using the wall above the usual track area to keep turning a faster line. The line proved to be too dangerous, resulting in Johnson face-planting himself into concussion. Since then, the white Johnson Line was painted on the track and it became a disqualifiable offence for riders to cross it.

The next StreetVelodrome event takes place in Worthing, at the Beach House Grounds, between 30th June and 2nd July.

The Results

Pro Male

Gold - Dave Johnson - Team London (First Win Since Bury St Edmunds 2016)

Silver - Patrick Robinson - Team Wigan

Bronze - Bryn Dickerson - Suffolk Saints (Team's First Pro Medal)

Pro Female

Gold - Jessica Watts - Team Cornwall (Jessica's First Gold Medal)

Silver - Rowena Price - South Coast Rollers

Bronze - Anna Glowinski - Team London

Series Medal Table

1st Team Wigan - 2 Golds 1 Silver 0 Bronze

2nd Team London - 1 Gold 1 Silver 1 Bronze

3rd Team Cornwall - 1 Gold 0 Silver 1 Bronze

4th South Coast Rollers - 0 Gold 2 Silvers 0 Bronze

5th Team Dublin - 0 Gold 0 Silvers 1 Bronze

6th Suffolk Saints - 0 Gold 0 Silvers 1 Bronze

Most Catches Trophy

1st South Coast Rollers - 2 Catches

2nd Team London - 1 Catch

Most Wins Trophy

1st Team Wigan - 9 Wins

2nd Team London - 7 Wins

3rd Southcoast Rollers - 4 Wins

3rd Team Cornwall - 4 Wins

5th Team Dublin - 2 Wins

6th Suffolk Saints - 2 Wins

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