Olveston GP Road Race 2023

Marinus Petersen wins inaugural Olveston GP

Photos courtesy of Dave Dodge Photography www.pelotonpix.uk and mattdeb.photography in gallery at bottom of page

RESULT

1. Marinus Petersen – Kalas Motip Race Team 2.32:25
2. Charles Bailey – Foran CCC at 2:35
3. Adam Lewis – Saint Piran at 3:06
4. Ben Millar – Primera-TeamJobs at ST
5. Oliver Hucks – Kalas Motip Race Team at 3:08
6. Joshua Avery – Ride Revolution Coaching at 3:10
7. Angus Hawkins – Ride Revolution Coaching at 3:12
8. Matthew Houlberg – Embark Spirit BSS at ST
9. Archie Cross – Velo Schils – Interbike RT at 3:24
10. Oliver Winwood Bratchell – Primera-TeamJobs at 3:26
11. George Smith – Primera-TeamJobs at 3:37
12. William Roberts – Saint Piran at 3:59
13. Matthew Wilson – Ride Revolution Coaching at 4:12
14. Tom Palfrey – Team PB Performance at ST
15. Felix Whetter – Mid Devon CC at ST
16. Griff Lewis – Wales Racing Academy at ST
17. Matt Bailey – Ride Revolution Coaching at ST
18. Jack Ramsbottom – Caffi Gruff at ST
19. Carl Jolly – WestSide Coaching 73 Degrees at ST
20. Samuel Nisbet – Big Maggys at ST
21. William Abbott – INFLITE at ST
22. Freddy Pett – Wold Top The Edge Pactimo at ST
23. Thomas Charles – Team PB Performance at ST
24. Jacob Gilkes – BCC Race Team at ST
25. James Mackman – trainSharp Development Team at ST
26. Sam Holwill – trainSharp Development Team at ST
27. Max Fleming – LAKA Pedal Mafia RT at ST
28. James Pearcy – Mid Devon CC at ST
29. David Streule – London Dynamo at ST
30. James Bevan – trainSharp Elite at ST
31. Sam Shepherd – 05/03 at ST
32. Charlie Mactear – WestSide Coaching 73 Degrees at ST
33. Matthew Hughes – Caffi Gruff at ST
34. Ben Pierce – Bridgnorth Cycling Club at ST
35. Lucas Jowett – Saint Piran at ST
36. Joshua Jones – ALL IN Racing at 4:25
37. Benjamin Hellebo – Wheelsuckers at ST
38. Michael Weavers – Lewes Wanderers CC at ST
39. Sean Dawson – INFLITE at 4:30
40. Charles McFall – Team Mad Macs at ST
41. Thomas Doig – INFLITE at ST
42. Jonathan Smith – Le Col Race Team at ST
43. Steven Williams – Private Member at ST
44. Will Duffy – Bath Cycling Club at 4:47
45. Nathan Harrison – Kingston Wheelers CC at ST
46. Andrew Kerr – INFLITE TYPE ONE at 5:25
47. Alexander Cross – Velo Schils – Interbike RT at ST
48. Gavin Arber – Le Col Race Team at 5:49
49. Cammie Adams – Army Cycling Union at 6:31
50. Archie Waller – London Dynamo at 7:20
51. Harvey Lawson – Kalas Motip Race Team at 13:30
52. Harvey Thomas – Steele Davis Via Roma at 14:20

Other Prizes
73 degrees KOM winner; Marinus Petersen Kalas – Motip Race Team
Argos Racing Cycles 1st Team; Primera-TeamJobs
BW Cycling 1st Local Rider; Ben Millar – Primera-TeamJobs
t1diabetes Prime winner; Archie Cross – Velo Schils – Interbike RT
1st Junior; Harvey Thomas – Steele Davis Via Roma

RACE REPORT

Courtesy of The British Continental

This may have been the first edition of the Olveston GP, organised by the Bristol Road Club, but to any connoisseur of domestic road racing it had a familiar look and feel to it. Replacing the long-running – and highly-regarded – early season Severn Bridge Road Race, which ran for 50 years, the Olveston GP shared the same challenging circuit and the same high quality field.

A large peloton lined up for 11 laps of the Olveston circuit in South Gloucestershire, 120 kilometres of racing ahead of them on a very warm spring afternoon.

The major move of the race was sparked by two of the pre-race favourites, Saint Piran’s Will Roberts and Rowan Baker of London Dynamo. The pair broke clear of the large field about half an hour into the race. Spotting this was a dangerous-looking move, Marinus Petersen (Kalas Motip RT) then bridged across to them.

Once Petersen had recovered from his solo effort, the trio began working well together. Petersen, a natural climber by all accounts, pushed hard on each ascent of Old Down Hill, deciding this was where the leaders could make most time over the bunch behind. He told us after the race that he was putting out between 500 and 550 watts on the climb, a strong effort for the 69kg rider.

Petersen’s pace was clearly two much for his breakaway companions. By the trio’s third time up the climb, Baker was dropped. Then, with three laps to go, Petersen despatched Roberts on the climb too.

From here, Petersen set to work to build a three minute lead over his chasers before easing up before the finish, victory safe. Roberts and Baker were swallowed up by the chasers behind, with under-23 Charlie Bailey (Foran CC) taking second place, and Adam Lewis (Saint Piran) in third.

Race winner interview

It was Petersen’s second National B road race win, having also won the Welsh road race championships in 2021. It completes an impressive comeback for the Welshman after a difficult sporting 2022, which involved surgery after an ankle break and a busy few months completing his degree. These hurdles behind him, Petersen is now training and racing full-time, and it is paying off.

“Now I’m full time my numbers are through the roof,” Petersen told us after the race.

He has big ambitions ahead too, declaring his aim is to get a ride in the National Road Championships this season, and then to win it. He clearly has the belief but having raced very little last year, he’s worried he may not have enough points, having lost his first cat licence.

Ultimately, he says, he wants to be WorldTour.

“My threshold is over 6 watts/kg now, still trending steeply up too,” he reports. “I did 520 watts for 5 minutes in a training session earlier this week, with a heavy training load. I think I’ve got 540 watts for 5 minutes in me.”

His figures may be improving fast, but he confesses he still needs to develop his race craft.

“I’m pretty new to racing so I’m still learning a lot about the technical, tactical side of things with every race.”

As a climber, he finds himself ill-suited to many of the UK’s road races, which rarely feature significant amounts of climbing. As a result, he says he is considering a move to Spain or France next season, where he thinks the racing will suit him more.

For now though, Petersen’s focus is on getting a place – and then a result – at the National Road Championships.

How each lap developed as seen from the Finish line

1. Riders 65 Archie Cross, 67 Griff Lewis & 79 Steven Williams have a 34 second lead over the chasing bunch.
2. Still off the front riders 65 Archie Cross, 67 Griff Lewis & 79 Steven Williams, with a short gap to riders 23 Ollie Hucks & 74 Lucas Jowett followed by the bunch.
3. Bunch all back together.
4. Riders 25 Marinus Petersen, 33 Rowan Baker & 54 William Roberts off the front with 23 Ollie Hucks, 53 Adam Lewis & 62 James Bevan chasing followed by a group of ten riders then the bunch.
5. Riders 25 Marinus Petersen, 33 Rowan Baker & 54 Will Roberts are 53 seconds in front of a chasing group of 5 riders with the bunch at a further 14 seconds.
6. Leading group down to two riders: 25 Marinus Petersen and 54 Will Roberts with a chasing group of five riders at a minute followed by the main bunch.
7. Rider 25 Marinus Petersen & 54 Will Roberts maintain their lead slightly reduced to 55 seconds from three riders 40 Ben Millar, 41 George Smith & 45 Josh Avery then three more riders, five riders, three more and another three followed by the reduced bunch.
8. Rider 25 Marinus Petersen on his own with rider 54 Will Roberts at 30 seconds, five chasing riders at a further minute followed by another group of 5 riders, a few off the front of the main bunch.
9. Rider 25 Marinus Petersen now has a lead of 2 minutes 20 seconds from a group of six riders then a group of 7 riders a further 24 seconds back. Three riders between them and the main bunch which is now 3 minutes 30 seconds behind the lead rider.
10. Bell lap! Rider 25 Marinus Petersen now has 3 minutes over the chasing groups of five and six riders. Two further riders another minute back followed by a group of 5 then the main bunch.
11. Finish! Rider 25 Marinus Petersen by a clear distance!

Each lap was very fast at 14-15 minutes long. Lap 9 was the quickest at 12 minutes. This seems reasonable as the eventual winner increased the gap over his nearest rival by almost 2 minutes that lap. Absolutely awesome from Marinus!

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The inaugural Olveston GP Road Race which is taking place on Sunday 28th May 2023

This first edition of the Olveston GP replaces the renowned early season Severn Bridge Road Race, which ran for 50 years and always attracted a very high quality field to this competitive and challenging circuit. It is always a hard race on a hard circuit and this year is no exception on the popular Olveston circuit in South Gloucester, with the Old Severn Bridge as a backdrop.

Bristol Road Club are very excited to be able to promote this prestigious and challenging event. The race HQ will, once again, be at Marlwood School, Vattingstone Lane, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3LA.

Circuit Map

View the circuit at this link: 

Course Description

Depart race HQ at Marlwood School, turn RT onto circuit, Vattingstone Lane B4461, neutralised for 0.5km.

Race starts. Continue on B4461 through Elberton Village. After 2.5km turn LT off Redhill Lane onto Aust Rd (unclassified) to Olveston, road narrows, and Tockington at 6.5km, turn LT on to Old Down Hill, then turn RT at summit and cross roads at 7.5km. On to finish line after a further 1km, The Crescent, Village Green beside bus shelter. Continue on circuit, after 2km turn LT at Cross Roads (former Cross Hands Inn, Alveston, onto Vattingstone Lane B4461 to pass HQ.

Race finishes after crossing the FINISH line on the 11th occasion. Lap distance 11km, race distance 120km.