50th Severn Bridge Road Race 2022

Gruff Lewis wins Severn Bridge Road Race

Photos courtesy of John Pierce PhotoSport International

The bunch rolled out at just after 1.00pm on a warm sunny day in South Gloucestershire, but as soon as the neutralised flag dropped, the racing started and by the end of the first lap a two-up breakaway was established with Archie Cross of the promoting club, Bristol RC and unattached rider, Alan Kenway forcing the pace. They quickly established a 30second lead by the end of the second lap with Kenway leading over the top of the KOM on Old Down Hill, which was covered with spectators all the way up.

Bylap 4 the breakaway had pushed their lead to a minute over another two-up breakof Ben Millar, Primera-TeamJobs and Tom Day, Home Solution – Soenens, with thebunch a further minute back. With Kenway continuing to take top points on OldDown Hill each lap, the Cross and Kenway duo were still holding a minute overtheir pursuers, Millar and Day, but the bunch was pegging them back slowly andwere now only 20 seconds back and ready to swallow them up. 

Then by lap 8 thebunch had caught Millar and Day, but Cross and Kenway were still holding 40seconds, but looked like getting caught on the penultimate lap. Then GruffLewis, WiV Sungod and Tom Day made another move to get across to the break, butwhen they hit the bell lap, Lewis was driving hard with Kenway on his wheelfollowed by a Nopinz Motip RT rider at 10 seconds, then Archie Cross of BristolRC a further 10 seconds back in 4th , with the bunch only 20 seconds behind. Soit was looking like a bunch sprint and the judges were starting to get readywith several videos covering the finish line. But they needn’t have worried, asthe last time up Old Down Hill did its job and shattered the bunch, with Lewisand Kenway staying clear and Lewis taking the sprint with arms aloft invictory. Adam Kenway had an amazing ride, finishing 2nd after being out in abreak with Cross all day. Tom Day got clear of the bunch to take 3rd,outsprinting James Phillips, Nopinz Motip Rt and Euan Macleod, WiV Sungod, andthen the remainder were lined out, with Archie Cross of Bristol RC, having alsobeen in the break all day, holding off the main bunch and taking a very good8th place.

 Agreat day’s racing with 45 finishers.
Result