LAVERY SECOND IN LINCOLN GRAND PRIX
By Shane Stokes (www.irishcycling.com)

Tour of the North winner Philip Lavery showed his continuing excellent form with a fine second place in the Lincoln Grand Prix yesterday.

The 19 year old broke clear with double FBD RÁS champion Chris Newton with less than two laps remaining, holding off a hard-working chase group behind and ensuring that they would scrap it out for the win between them.

The race finished at the top of what was the eleventh ascent of the tough, cobbled Michaelgate climb, and there Newton hit the afterburners and managed to shake off the Team Ireland rider. He soloed in to take his second-ever victory in the race, while Lavery came home seven seconds back for a superb second.

Last year's Rás winner Simon Richardson (Sigma Sport - Specialized) finished 49 seconds back, netting third. Alex Wetterhall (Team Sprocket ProCycling), Ian Bibby (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) and 2009 Tour of Ireland winner Russell Downing (Sky Pro Cycling) completed the top six places.

Lavery had been active throughout the race, making it into an early move alongside Newton, Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor-Sharp), Jack Bauer (Endura), Casey Munro (Pendragon-Le Col-Colnago), Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles), Alex Wetterhall (Team Sprocket), James Stewart (Team Raleigh) and Kit Gilham (Sigma Sport-Specialized).

Other riders later got across to them, including Richardson, Bibby, Downing, Geraint Thomas and Ben Swift (Team Sky). However the whittling-down continued and there were just a dozen riders left in contention with two laps remaining.

Newton and Lavery made their move on the descent after the ninth ascent of the climb. They pulled further and further ahead, fighting it out for the final honours between them.

Given Newton's considerable experience and history as a world champion and Olympic medallist, he was likely to come out best in the tussle. While Lavery is making very rapid progress, he is only a second-year senior and so can be very encouraged by the result.