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Double win in Southport!

Alexandre Blain took Endura Racing's first win in the 2010 Halfords Tour Series in Southport last night with a well timed move from a small breakaway group. Endura Racing also took the team competition - making it a special night for the team.

Photo by British Cycling

After a couple of near misses last week, the team of Alex, Ian, Jack, Rob and Rob were well fired up for the Southport round. The team were active all evening, along with Rapha-Condor-Sharpand Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta, sending rider after rider up the road, hoping that a move would stick.

Rob Hayles was first to get away in a group of four riders, but this move was reeled in after a few laps. Ian was next to try his hand, but with no Rapha riders present, this break was very quickly closed down.

Finally, Alex along with Kristian House (Rapha-Condor-Sharp) and Ian Bibby (Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta) gained a decent advantage and with the leading teams represented, the peloton was unwilling to chase them down.

In a well timed move, Alex jumped his companions in the last 500m and took a well earned victory.

Speaking to British Cycling afterwards Alex said:
I wasn’t really good to start with in the series but I have tried to stay at the front and follow wheels and do my job along with my teammates. Today, when I felt the race was strong and fast, and the others were in trouble, I saw House make a strong attack and I followed him and it was a good break.

In the beginning, the Tour Series was very hard and felt between the track and road cycling. It is really fast and really furious and I was sick in the first one - it was really really hard to adapt for me. Now, after five rounds I feel better and know how the races go. I was very happy to win here tonight and also for the team.

 In the all important team competition, Endura Racing also took the win and narrowed the gap to Motorpont-Marshalls Pasta.

 Photo by Neil Batt | Fisher Outdoor Leisure

Tune in to ITV4 at 19:00 tonight to catch the action from Southport. The Tour Series moves on to Kettering on Thursday - it's shaping up to be a corker.

09/06/2010