and it rained all night
The Rapha/Condor Smithfield nocturne brought bike racing of all shapes and sizes to the streets of London last night.
Local amateurs fought it out in the regional 2/3 cat race – won by Craig Stevens (PCA Ciclos Uno) – before a selection of journo’s and other ‘celebs’ raced in an all star challenge. Next up was the much-anticipated courier race… and suddenly, as if to make it all the more grimly authentic, the heavens opened. Handling on the tight right hander at the bottom of the course instantly became sketchier than a 4ths race at Hillingdon as riders made full use of the hay bails and the barriers to get round the rain soaked course. The team from Creative came through to soundly despatch the composite teams from BMS Manchester, www.rollapaluza.com, Messenguerilla and Hell on Wheels.
As the rain eased off a bit, it was the turn of the commuter folding bikes challenge. Oblivious to the wealth of new cycling apparel showcased at the Pret a Rouler event two nights earlier the men and women of the city hacked round the slippery course in pinstripe suits, skirts, ties and bowlers, coaxing their bromptons and dahons round the tight 1km course. The evening was capped with the main event which was a hard-fought crit for Pro/Elite riders forming part of the national crit championships. After staying heroically clear of the pack for almost 40minutes, Warrick Spence (Cyclefit) was reeeled in and National Criterium Champion James McCallum took the victory.
Here’s hoping that this becomes an annual event – great organisation from Rapha / Face Partnership and some exciting racing too. Our only gripe is that it was hard for the spectators to follow what was going on in the courier race – this would maybe have been better done as a straight team relay race ferrying packages round the course.
More pix below:
