Thwaites teams up to secure victory (From Wharfedale Observer)

Thwaites teams up to secure victory

9:28am Thursday 24th May 2012 in Sport

Scott Thwaites followed up his victory at Kirkcaldy by finishing second in round two of the Professional City Centre Tour Series in Durham.

With Ian Bibby coming third and Jonny McEvoy fifth, Thwaites’ Endura team took the honours.

The 12 race series, which sees events in Scotland, England and Wales, is televised on ITV4 on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 8pm for the next five weeks.

The Durham event involved a circuit of 1.4km incorporating a steep cobbled climb and descent, which became treacherous after a day of continuous rain.

The scoring system is based on the finishing positions of the first three riders in the team after one hour plus five laps of racing.

While an individual win offers some individual kudos, it is of little value unless the other riders in his team can score well.

Commenting on the race, which Endura won in some style, Scott explained the team’s tactics.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale rider said: “That was really tough. There were groups everywhere that kept fragmenting, then coming back together and people were often taking laps out with punctures or after crashes, then rejoining.

“Team strength was quite difficult to read and that is what determines tactics at any point. You always have to look out for your team mates so we did a fantastic job in the end.”

He added: The course was very slippery so everyone was fighting for position and it kept splitting, but the boys always worked hard to get back up to the front groups.

“All credit to Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp), he rode well and got a good gap.”