Burley's Thwaites powers to victory at Oxford (From Wharfedale Observer)

Burley's Thwaites powers to victory at Oxford

10:14pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport

Following his win at Kirkcaldy and second place at Durham, Scott Thwaites led home a rampant Endura Racing team at the third round of the professional Tour Series on a testing circuit in Oxford.

With three riders needed to score in the team event, several outfits were fully represented on the final lap when a bunch sprint appeared inevitable.

Notwithstanding, consid- erable bumping and barging the Burley-in-Wharfedale rider found a route through the crowded field, closely followed by team mates Dean Windsor in third and Jonny McEvoy in fifth, to record the team win.

Two days later the tour moved to Redditch where once again the Endura team were active in forcing the early pace.

With a late break containing a single rider from each of the main teams, this group was allowed to go clear to the finish where Endura’s Windsor took second place.

Thwaites took the vital bunch sprint for fifth closely followed by McEvoy in seventh for Endura to record their fourth team win of the series.

A day later the riders were in Aberystwyth where Endura suffered from the change of rule relating to laps out for crashes and punctures.

Because of confusion at the Durham round, riders caught up in crashes or suffering punctures were no longer allowed a lap out to sort out any problem.

Consequently, riders in this position were expected to chase back, but given the speed of the race, this rarely proves possible. With three Endura riders being involved in crashes, only Ian Wilkinson and Thwaites made the front group and given three riders were needed to count, dropped to fourth team on the night They do however retain a six-point lead in the Series overall.