| British track riders preparing for the Olympic Games in Sydney, shine in the nine day 49th Olympia Tour in Holland, over one thousand three hundred and fifty kilometres a UCI 2.5 category event. Multi talented Chris Newton from Stockton, was denied the race leaders jersey by one second in the five kilometre prologue time trial when he raced home to second spot as the race got under in Tilbury. Belgium based British rider Oliver Perry (MGI) finished first in 5min 57sec More British success came on the toughest day, stage four, held over a one hundred and ninety three kilometre loop starting and finishing in Bucthen just north of Mastricht. This stage included many of the hills in Amstel Gold and also the famous Valkenburg as used in the World Championships. Paul Manning (WCPP) from Tamworth, along with Cori Sweet (Hohenfelder Concorde) brother of Jay Sweet the Commonwealth Road champion, were among a group of nine who went clear after only ten kilometres. Manning out powered Sweet in the final sprint after the group had fragmented in the closing stages. Speedy Newton the former national 25 mile Time Trial champion turned in an excellent ride on stage seven to take the twenty three kilometre time trial in 28mins 40sec on a course based around the village of Bedum. Manning filled second position at seven seconds, and former world team time trial champion, Tom Cordes (Piels-Gazelle Fina) was third 34sec back. Newton’s winning speed was an impressive 48.164 kilometres per hour. Newton the north easterner, now with his tale up made it two stages back to back when he took victory in the next 200 kilometre penultimate leg into a fierce head wind from Bedum to Almere. Eight riders contested the final sprint where Newton out paced Peter Jork (Kia Villiger Suisse) by two seconds after 5hrs and 55min of racing. Over night race leader, Jan van Velzen (Bankgiroloterij-Batavus) was declared the race winner when the ninth and final 169 kilometre stage was cancelled after only 32 kilometres due to one hundred and sixty kilometres per hour gale force winds which had felled trees on the course ahead. Overall result. 1 Jan van Velzen (Bankgiroloterij-Batavus) 31hrs 25min 49sec. 2 Tom Hoedemakers (Spa-Oki) at 1min 11sec. 3 Joost Legtenberq (Axa Cycling Team) at 1min 46sec. British placings 45 Chris Newton (GB) at 51min 36sec. 47 Paul Manning (WCPP) at 53min. |
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