Rapha Condor Sharp now lead Endura racing by two clear points for overall classification at the Halfords Tour Series with last year’s winners, Motorpoint, dropped back into third spot. A shrewd tactical line-up change saw them take their second Tour Series win in two rounds for a clean sweep, with National Criterium Champion Ed Clancy taking his first win of this year’s series in a noticeably cold and windy Aberystwyth, the inaugural visit of the Tour to Wales. Clancy, probably helped out by fresh legs having sat out round one (Tuesday May 24) in Durham, was the strongest of a six-man break that dominated the closing stages of the race, ultimately snatching victory from the wheels of Pendragon’s Chris Opie who had similarly passed on round one.
Rapha Condor Sharp team manager John Herety commented: “We were happy to have Ed in the break, as it was a small move with no teams managing to get two riders there. While we were pretty confident then of the win on the night, the boys behind really had to concentrate to make sure they made the most of the result to make sure we took home the team prize. Andy & Kristian did the business there, just like they had done on Tuesday”.
Television coverage of the Tour continues on ITV4.