Team Forza News
Keep updated on the latest team news here
The 2008 season has started slowly for team Forza with Dave Bees, Hugh Wilson, Caroline Gaye and Eifion Weinzwig (due to ride for Forza 08) taking the opportunity to ride in Brittany, France for VC Vannes. Whilst those left behind are starting to get into the swing of it all again.
Before Caroline left though she managed to claim "first team with a lady" along with Phil Audsley in the Port Talbot 25 2up TT.
In the same event, myself (Neal Craig) and John "Wasp" Aspell managed to come seventh before catching viruses and Wasp having all his metalwork removed from his knee (he used to be a triathlete and found cornering and landrovers didn't agree with him)
Onto proper racing and Big Mark Mathews has led the way with 9th and 10th places in the two Abergavenny handicap races (12th for me) which were run at a high pace and with full fields. Wasp (now metal less) and (M)Andy Pearce finished in the bunch for Forza.
On then to the Races at Reading where Russ rode well to finish in the E12 bunch, dominated by the Plowman Craven Pro team.The rest of us numpties let ourselves down in the 3rds race. You're Fired!!
Team Forza Paralympic hopeful Russ White has been excelling himself with some great performances in the Basque country this week whilst riding for the GB teamhttp://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/EventReports2008/20080504_tour_of_bizkaia.asp
Russ "the one armed bandit" has been training like a demon in the off season and has had the willpower to restrict his espresso and cake intake! Nightmare!
But the hardships are paying off with the team jersey down to an extra small (he'll be after my xxs the way he's going)!
Next goals for Russ are the Paralympic World Cup (again in GB colours) at Manchester between 7th -11th May where he'll be riding the 4km pursuit, kilo and team sprint. http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/News2008/20080502_paraworldcup.asp
We all wish him well!!!
Vini, vedi, vici !
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We came, we saw, we conquered!!
The road racing season is over and in our first year as a team, "Team Forza" are top of the Welsh league!
What a result!
Along the way we picked up "The Welsh Criterium Championship" and "Welsh Masters MTB X-Country Championship" with individual performances from Dave Bees and Rob Rowe.
And what a season for our 20 year old "racing newboy" Hugh Wilson! Who among other results, powered his way to an awesome second place in the Welsh Road Race Championships at the end of an 80 mile breakaway!
Hugh was in the team of four (including Dave Bees, Russ White and Neal Craig) whom entered the National Road Race Championships http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2007/aug07/greatbritain07/greatbritain071/britchamps07_P16 (Beesy & Miller) and managed to hang on to the rather Knarley pace set by the likes of David Millar and Matt Stephens until his group (including Rob Hayles) was pulled out by the police as they reached the finishing circuit.
Russ (One arm bandit) White was selected to ride for the GB team in the paralympic World Champs where he did some sterling work for the team leader in the LC1 race. Russ also rode for his Nation in the time trial.
Next on the calender is the Welsh Cyclocross league.
Lets hope next years road seasons just as good! There are a few new signings so watch this space!
Dave Bees (Forza) does it again!
At the Tywyn Criterium on 4th August, Dave bees shone yet again to become The Welsh Criterium Champion!
Awesome!!!!
Llandow Criterium 26th July
What a night of racing!!!!!
2/3 Cat race
Dave Bees (Forza)1st
Hughski Wilson (Forza) 3rd
Russ White (Forza)
6th
4th Cat race
Rob Rowe (Forza)
1st
Caroline Gaye (Forza)
3rd
Certini 2 day Tor, Tavistock 21st 22nd July 2007
Saturday
With only 2 Forza riders in a land far far away we knew that this race was going to be fruity! The Race format was a 3 mile time trial around a section of the very bumpy Brent Tor circuit followed by 12 laps(60 miles) of the course that was a bit longer and lumpier than the Time Trial section and the 3rd stage was another imaginative loop of the Brent Tor circuit....what a treat!
After the Time Trial, Myself (Hughski) and Dave Bees both had some work to do as the might of Glenn Borrett had worked everybody over. If only we had TT bikes... ha ha! The race got going to a fast pace early on in the race with numerous breaks. Dave Bees was in a break for a good few laps until unfortunately for him they got caught up by the bunch. However, with time bonuses to be awarded for 1st 2nd and 3rd rider over the line on every lap he had made a couple of seconds. When the break group had been caught I decided to get in on the action and make up some time so got on the front and outsprinted the bunch bar 1 to gain a 2nd place on time bonuses. More breaks went in the race but despite huge turns on the front of the bunch by Dave and some not bad efforts from me and a couple of others, were not caught. As the flag dropped at the finish I came in at the front of the bunch with 7th place and Dave close behind in the bunch. Another TT went by and we both had a good 2 minutes to make up on General Classification.
Sunday
Lots of tired heads and legs on Sunday morning at the race start, but not us.... As we ride for Forza cycles we always take things seriously. Curry the on Saturday night and a full cooked English breakfast on Sunday morning complete with black pudding to thicken up the blood just a little more! No neutralised section at the beginning of the hilly 60 mile 2 lap stage, so as we had prepared so well we went from the gun. We got away in an epic, courageous/outrageous fashion and within 30 seconds of the race beginning. Dave led us out an as we got clear we both put the efforts in. 18 miles later on a 16% gradient hill Dave’s black pudding really didn’t want to give him any more energy and a chase group caught up with us. He wished me good luck, gave me a gel and dropped back to the bunch.
The chase group was 6 men strong but that soon wilted down to just a few and to my dismay we were caught again by the bunch. As soon as we were caught I sprinted off the front again with 2 sets of fresh legs on my wheel. Within a few miles we were a good 2 minutes up on the bunch. If only we could stay away then id be up for a great result..... No such luck though, a great effort in stage 2 of the race meant that Junior Rider Douglas Dewey had totally blown himself out of the water so he was dropped. Sorry!
With just myself and Joe Hemment left I knew that we had to put the hammer down big style to stay away.
With just 5 miles left, he blew as well leaving me off the front on my own with the yellow jersey chase group wanting my blood.
After a bloody good thrashing, they caught me with one mile to go sprinted past me to kill me dead.
I came in at 19th position with Dave not far behind. I had such a great time racing and beeping our team horns that day that going off the front to 19th didn’t bother me too much! We even stayed dry for the whole weekend!
Welsh Championships 03/06/07 81 miles
Team Forza take on the big boys!
On a fantastic and rolling coarse around Abergavenny and Usk the action started as soon as the flag dropped. A break of 3 clipped off the front, including Russ White (Forza Cycles) on the A40. With only about two miles of the race covered, Neal Craig (Forza Cylcles) attacked from the bunch and was quickly joined by nine others including team mate Hugh Wilson(Forza). The two breaks joined together after 8 miles, where the breaks pace increased. Unfortunately Russ payed for his early efforts and slipped back to the bunch along with another rider.
The break, of now 11 riders, including the two Forzas worked well together and hammered around the course gradually building up a lead of over 3 minutes with 20 miles remaining. At this point, Neal Craig (Forza) dropped off the back of the break after several miles suffering.
The break carried on to the finish, shedding a couple of riders on the way. Team Forza star rider Hugh Wilson was still in there though and battled on to the finish to claim an awesome second place!
The peleton finally woke up in the closing miles and managed to reduce the lead to around 30 seconds but it was all too late! To top an awesome race for Forza, Dave Bees led home the bunch sprint.
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Welsh Championships Womens race
The great news hasn't ended!
Although gutted not to finish on the podium (the sign of a true champion), Caroline Gaye (Forza Cycles) put in a fantastic performance to finish 4th in the womens championship.
Well done to all the team and thanks to the supporters and bottle feeders on the road side.
29/04/07 welsh dragon XC Rd1
On arriving at Abergwesyn for the first time to indeed find the centre at the base of the valley, which basically meant it was going to be a hill start! After meeting up with my team mates Caroline Gay (expert woman) and Matt Hargreaves (sport) we checked out the course which was a 5 mile, figure of 8 type loop with two 1 mile long climbs on fire road. The down parts included a steep rooty section, some fast straight single track which normally lead into a sharp/hairpin turns plus enough other interesting bits to keep the riders on their spds.
Now the race. Sitting on the start waiting in the first group to go. This included elite (5 laps), expert (4laps), junior (3laps) and masters (3laps). These was the only time I saw the elite and expert as after the whistle went they dragged out a gap by the top of the first hill. But I had to put my mind to keeping with Gareth Chislett (BAD) and try and keep an eye out for other masters. I managed to just get in front of Garteth (BAD) but soon found he had, how can I put it; “interesting lines” and moved in front. (Found out he lived 8 mile away….so think he had his lines sorted!) So with us two together into the 2nd mile long climb I put in extra effect to get a toe from some junior rider (I am older and little wiser now!) and managed to get a gap which slowly got bigger over the next few laps, so over the next 2 laps it was just trying to keep the pace hard but steady and drink lots as it was HOT!
I was happy to see the finish line, where I was told I was first across the line by the “man with the mic” who then went about interviewing me about my race, course, training etc! A short wait before I saw 2nd place Tomasz Kula crossing the line, soon followed by Terry Breen Smith (mtbmarathon) who timed his pacing well to over come Gareth (BAD) Who both had a chat with “man with the mic”
With the winners of the other cats began crossing the line, it was nice to see my team mate Caroline Gay (Forza Cycles) come in as the winner of the expert woman. Shows Caroline still got it after a few years away from fat tyre racing! But in her interview, “I now remember how hard MTB racing was!” Sadly Matt H failed to finish due to a mechanical.
The whole day was well run, friendly and had a good atmosphere, interviews with other riders/winners/kids lead to some interesting hearing!
Full results are at welsh cycling (www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/wcu/wchome/wcu_home_news.asp) and www.xcracer.com
And photos be on www.davidphotors.co.uk soon.
Rob Rowe
Forza Cycles
Pittards Road Race,3/4 cat Yeovil. 15 April
What a disaster!
With four Team Forza riders in the race (Neal Craig, Matt Hargreaves, Mark Mathews and Ian Lidiatt) we felt we could do something. With only about ten miles covered on a fast descent, the rider whose wheel i (Neal)was on, hit a pothole and went over his bars. Carnage ensued with myself and Matt (for the second race in a row) hitting the deck, along with many others. Luckily we escaped with cuts and bruises whilst others weren't so lucky with broken bones! We chased hard for about 20 miles with Big Mark, but to no avail.
At least we still had Ian in the race.....that was until the last km when he had his front wheel flicked away and went down aswell.
Llandow Criterium 22 April
4th catergory
Team Forza had three riders in this race (Jason Prout, Rob Rowe, Andy Pearce) which finished in a bunch sprint. In only his first road race, Jason rode really well and dug deep to finish a fantastic 3rd in the sprint. Although not picked up by the commissaires, Rob clearly finished in 5th.
Noel Jones Memorial Road Race 2/3 Cat 29th April
Hughski (Hugh Wilson) shines yet again.
Clipping off in a quality break with about 30km to go, they picked up escaped riders before the finish. With 3km to go Richard Harris (Cwmcarn Paragon) and Matt Beckett (Abergavenny) escaped the break to cross the uphill finish first and second respectively. Hughski took an awesome 4th place as the break splintered on the tough finishing climb.
In his first race for Forza, Dave Bees (formerly Cwmcarn) rode a strong race with constant attacks and break aways before eventually tireing before the finish.
I (Neal) just managed to hang on untill the finish when my legs seized with cramp on the final climb after a fast race on a windy day.
Well done Hughski!!
Builth Wells MTB XC
What a fantastic weekend!!
Whilst Hugh was having success on the road, Rob Rowe and Caroline Gaye Completed a fantastic weekend for Forza by WINNING their XC races.
Well done both!
Hopefully We'll have a report on the MTB ing soon along with some news on how Russ (one arm bandit) White got on with showing his team colours in Bilbao, International Paralympic Stage Race.
Betty Pharoah Memorial/Legstretchers Road Race
For our local race starting from Wick, Team Forza had a strong team of eight riders starting the 3/4 category race. On a cold Sunday morning the action started early with a good quality break of five clipping off the front at Cowbridge. The break, which included Eifion Weinzwig (Life Force), James Richardson (Severn Valley) and Robin Powell (Ogmore Valley Wheelers), quickly gained a gap of 2 minutes.
Team Forza's game plan was to ensure the race was together at the bottom of the final climb where we were confidant that Hugh Willson (Forza) could finish well, as he'd done the previous week. With this in mind (at the start of the second lap) the team set to the task of chasing down the break, with strong turns on the front by Andy Pearce, Rob Rowe, Neal Craig, Matt Hargreaves and Mark Mathews (all Forza). Whilst Hugh and Ian Liddiat stayed tucked in the bunch. Unfortunately, Matt was decked at 40kph when a rider switched across the road, leaving him with some nasty cuts and bruises and a broken bike.
The riders in the break were caught on the run in to the finish, with the exception of a Gateway cycles rider who hung on by himself, only to be pipped to the line to take 2nd place. After their efforts in the chase, the Forza domestiques one by one slipped off the back of the bunch, leaving Hugh and Ian to fend for themselves at the finish. They did so to attain great results for Forza with 4th and 9th respectively.
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Team Forza Take Their First Win!!
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At Llandow Criterium races, on a cold and very windy day, Hugh Wilson attacked with 3 laps to go in the 4th cat race. In only his second race, Hugh held onto his lead to finish well ahead of the chasing bunch, which was being policed by his Forza team mate Andy Pearce.
Andy (also in only his second race), after doing some strong work for his team mate, finished off a fantastic race for the Forza boys with a well deserved 4th place!
In the 2nd/3rd cat race, the field was decimated by strong winds and a torrential hail storm which made the race track surface treacherous.
Half the field packed whilst Matt Hargreaves and Mark Mathews of Team Forza, braved the storm to finish in the depleted bunch.
Next Race:- Betty Pharoah Memorial/Legstretchers. Wick, Vale of Glamorgan 25/03/07