{"id":17018,"title":"Forty Years On","description":"Forty years on, local club RC Ravenna are promoting races to celebrate the World Championships held on the same roads near Chichester, UK.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: COBBLES & CLASSICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Forty years on, local club RC Ravenna are promoting races to celebrate cycling's World Championships held on the same roads near Chichester, UK.<\/p>

\"\"Image credit: The Mick Searle Collection <\/em>Britain's Mandy Jones on her way to gold<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Seb Ottley wasn't even born when the original cycling World Championship road races were held in Britain in 1982. But he's determined that the events he's promoting on Saturday, 2nd April 2002 will be a fitting tribute.<\/p>

The World's Best<\/h3>

It's forty years since the world's best road riders graced the lanes around Goodwood House and the motor racing circuit that lie a few miles north of the West Sussex city of Chichester.<\/p>

Forty years since the unlikely victory of Britain's Mandy Jones and the entirely expected victory of Italian darling Guiseppe Saronni. The latter's winning sprint was dubbed \"La fucilata di Goodwood\" (the gunshot of Goodwood) by an adoring Italian press. Mandy's stunning victory was an outlier when British success in international cycle racing was a rarity.<\/p>

\"\"Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>Cycle racing returns to the scene of the 1982 Worlds<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

A generation of British cyclists has grown up with the expectation of a haul of cycling medals at the Olympic games and no less than six wins in the Tour de France. Older cycling fans will recall when the UK was in cycling's 'also rans' league.<\/p>

Win the Tour de France? We'd have been grateful to win the amateur Tour of Britain, then known as the Milk Race. We hadn't won that since 1976 when Communist riders from the USSR and Poland dominated.<\/p>

When it was announced over the tannoy that Mandy Jones had taken a lone lead, the largely British crowd held its breath. Could she really achieve the impossible and overcome the might of foreign opposition? The crowd was ecstatic when she drew on her final reserves and held off the closing opposition and win.<\/p>

Hotbed<\/h3>

It was an extraordinary and exciting experience having the elite of the sport riding on local roads. But bike racing in West Sussex was, at the time, a common occurrence. From March through to September there'd be a race every weekend somewhere in the old Sussex and Wessex Dvisions.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: The Mick Searle Collection <\/em>Giuseppe Saronni flat out at Goodwood<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

The village of Rowlands Castle was a hotbed of road racing. Although it's in Hampshire all of its races encroached into West Sussex including the very roads north of Chichester where the 1982 World Championships took place.<\/p>

Sadly, the World Championships didn't provide a boost to road racing in West Sussex or indeed in the UK. It left the organising British Cycling Federation a legacy of debt and the event was largely ignored by the British media.<\/p>

Over time racing on the road dwindled in West Sussex and Hampshire to almost non-existence. There are numerous reasons for this. One being a generally unhelpful attitude from the police.<\/p>

\"\" Local organiser John Pendleton (left) pictured at Rowlands Castle in the 1960s<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Legendary organiser John \"JP\" Pendleton was on one occasion escorted to the local police station \"to help them with their enquiries\". His crime? To be caught in possession of an authorised and legal cycling road race. Fortunately, he was released before the finish just in time to assist with the judging.<\/p>

Why?<\/h3>

I sat down with Seb Ottley to understand what had inspired him to reverse this decline and take on the challenge of organising his first road race.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>You're never far from a spectacular view<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

He explained that he was not even aware the World Championships had taken place just north of his new home city when he moved from the Midlands to Chichester in 1999. It was only after he'd been out riding with locals that he discovered the connection.<\/p>

I realised that Seb wasn't aware that there had actually been three road races: Professional; women; and amateur men. The latter was won by Bernd Drogan<\/a> of East Germany who tends to get overlooked compared to Jones and Saronni. There was also a team time trial. A race that was held in torrential rain which led to mass punctures. At least one team retired when they ran out of wheels.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Bernd Drogan <\/em>Amateur World Champion Bernd Drogan returned to the scene of his victory in 2012<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Over the years he'd discussed the idea of organising a race on the same course as the World Championships but a big barrier was the design of the original course. Not only did it utilise two-thirds of the Goodwood motor circuit but it included four right-hand turns at junctions.<\/p>

The idea, whilst tantalising, was banished to the 'maybe one-day' pile. But then two things happened that made the prospect more likely. Seb agreed to help form a new Chichester cycling club, named after the Italian twin city of Ravenna. His new Road Club Ravenna teammates were enthusiastic about the idea of bringing road racing back to their area.<\/p>

The Accredited Marshal Scheme was introduced in 2013 by British Cycling in conjunction with the Department for Transport and the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council. It allows trained marshalls to legally stop traffic whilst a race is progressing. This innovation has allowed Seb to promote the race on a similar course to the 1982 original.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: The Mick Searle Collection <\/em>Bernd Drogan won alone for the DDR (German Democratic Republic)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

The event was originally scheduled for a few years ago but Covid-19 intervened so now, perhaps fortuitously, it takes place forty years after the original.<\/p>

Hurdles<\/h3>

Although it's his first attempt at promoting a road race on the open roads, Seb has been organising circuit races on the Goodwood motor circuit for some time. There's been cycle racing held on the motor circuit since at least the 1960s. It's a popular venue.<\/p>

During the 1990s and 2000s fields of one hundred plus were not uncommon on a Tuesday night. As well as the top local amateurs, occasionally professionals such as Sean Yates and Gordon McCauley would put in an appearance. When the wind blows these are tough races and on calm nights average speeds have topped thirty miles an hour.<\/p>

It's been a steep learning curve for Seb dealing with the extra complexities of a road race. He's grateful for the assistance of British Cycling's Phil Webber. He'd originally intended to include Goodwood in the race's title. This caused concern with Goodwood Estate which owns and operates the famous house, motor circuit, airfield and horse racing course.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Tom Austin RC <\/em>Ravenna's kit is modelled on the mosaics which made the Italian city a UNESCO heritage site<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Apparently, Goodwood is not a place but effectively their brand name. The fact that everyone refers to the area as Goodwood is neither here nor there.<\/p>

Unfortunately, I have to accept that they are correct. The name stems from the first Goodwood House that was built around 1600. The current house was built in 1697 by the seventh illegitimate son of Charles II. Some might think that politics and royalty have not moved on much since the sixteenth century.<\/p>

The motor circuit started life as RAF Westhampnett during World War II, named after the civil parish that covers the area.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>The climb is the main feature of the course<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

There was also concern from Goodwood who thought the roads would be closed for long periods and it would impact upon their myriad businesses.<\/p>

Once Seb explained that the impact would be minimal the relationship improved and they've allowed the use of land near the finish.<\/p>

Outrage<\/h3>

It's not surprising that the Goodwood Estate are nervous about being associated with a cycling event and its potential impact. A few years previously the Velo South sportive was due to pass through the area.<\/p>

The road closures, in places up to eight hours, and the numbers of riders whipped up a frenzy amongst local media and inhabitants. Those that spoke out were almost exclusively hostile.<\/p>

Local publication, The Chichester Observer, did its best to portray a balanced view by stirring up emotions on all sides. It was quite a field day for them as they usually have little to report unless local celebrity Patricia Routledge opens something, like a village fete.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>Watching out for blue-rinsed old ladies<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Armies of blue-rinsed, little old ladies, declared themselves ready to blockade the roads. It's not that they wanted to go for a drive that Sunday but that they should have the right to go out, even if they hadn't planned to. It started to sound too much like the Ulster marching season.<\/p>

Concerns were raised about ambulances, undertakers, veterinarians and farmers. In the end, a great storm blew in. It was postponed never to be rearranged.<\/p>

Course<\/h3>

The course utilises the main climb that was the feature of the 1982 World Championships<\/strong><\/a>. Instead of turning right at Pilley Green Lodge and dropping down past the Goodwood Hotel, it continues along the top.<\/p>

This is a rolling section of road that sits high on the hill. Once it emerges from the woods it's extremely exposed. If the wind blows from the South the riders will be lined out struggling in the left-hand gutter.<\/p>

\"\"Image credit: The Mick Searle Collection <\/em>The course runs alongside the horse racing track as it did in 1982<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

The route turns right onto the A285 to commence its descent before turning right past the village of Halnaker to head back towards the foot of the climb. This starts almost as soon as the riders turn right and swing due North at the roundabout close to the motor circuit. The original course took in most of the motor circuit but it would be ruinously expensive to hire.<\/p>

\"\" Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>The start of the steepest section<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

The climb is some three kilometres in length although its gradient is gentle for the first half. Then it rises steeply. It's unchanged in forty years. The writing on the road has gone but the climb is once again likely to be decisive.<\/p>

Watching<\/h3>

The men's race covers seven laps and 75 miles whilst the women complete four laps and 43 miles.<\/p>

The men's race starts at 10:00 and is expected to finish at approximately 13:00. The women go from 14:00 and should finish close to 16:00.<\/p>

\"\"Image credit: Tom Austin <\/em>The newly refurbished plaque looks like new<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Both races start and finish close to Goodwood's horse racing course. For safety reasons, the races finish slightly past the original finish line which is marked by a plaque. Seb and his RC Ravenn team have even given that a makeover for the event. It will be the place to watch the event. There is ample parking near the finish area but why not cycle?<\/p>

Who to watch - Men<\/h3>

Seb has attracted a strong field for both races. A full field of eighty, including ten elite riders, start the men's race, This early in the season it's hard to pick a favourite. UK hour record holder and National Pursuit Champion Dan Bingham must be in fine form. The former UCI Continental rider is said to be inspired by the historic connection of the event.<\/p>

Four riders from his former team Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling are also on the start line: Red Walters, Alex Peters, Zeb Kyffin and Mathew King. They face fellow UCI Continental riders from Saint Piran: Jacon Vaughan, Charles Page, Theodor Obholzer and Oliver Hucks.<\/p>

West Sussex climber and TT specialist, evergreen Chris Macnamara from Sigma Sports - Cannondale has already shown his usual immaculate form. Locals Dave Bone, Luke Jerome, Joe Parker and Oliver Wise will ride with honour for promoting RC Ravenna. Matt Houlberg and Jack Freeman, fresh from top tens at Perfs Pedal Race ride for locally based Meudon - Pedal Heaven - Le Col RT.<\/p>

Watch out for Tom Couzens who rides for Embark-Bikestrong. The cyclocross star rides for Team Montezuma's in the winter. The chocolatiers have their base near Chichester and he'll be looking to impress.<\/p>

Who to watch - Women<\/h3>

LAKA Pedal Mafia RT send a team of six including Eline Smit who has already had four wins this year. Her teammates are Harri Martin, Lucy Harris, Fran Bratt, Penny Collof and Anouska Greenaway. Anya Tamplin of Storey Racing is reported to be in excellent condition following a training camp in Calpe.<\/p>

First-year juniors Hope Inglis and Freya Ecclestone of Brother UK-Orientation marketing could easily surprise if they are able to make a successful step up from the youth ranks.<\/p>

Their fellow cyclocross rider and National Trophy under-23 series winner, Abbie Manley is another unknown package. Like Tom Couzens, she rides for Team Montezuma's in the winter but is riding for the Belgian Isorex No-Aqua Ladies Cycling Team on the road.<\/p>

Prizes<\/h3>

Seb has attracted a wealth of sponsors that has enabled him to offer a generous equal prize list for the men's and women's races as well as spot prizes. Headline sponsors Fatcreations are joined by Hunt Wheels, SIS, Cannondale, Bioracer, Saddleback, Ride Wrap, C Bear, HJC Sports, Lezyne and Strada Wheels.<\/p>

Hero<\/h3>

Rijden was inspired by the heroes of cycling. Anyone who takes on the challenge of organising a competitive cycling event fits right into the hero category in our view. Good luck to Seb and the RC Ravenna.<\/p>

Tim Costello, 25 Mar 2022.<\/p>

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