Lang Ends Raleigh-GAC’s Domination As Pro Cycling Returns To Beverley

Richard Lang ended Team Raleigh-GAC’s domination of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series on Friday night as he snatched victory in a thrilling race at the East Yorkshire Classic, the penultimate round of the series.

As the country’s top cyclists returned to Beverley, it was the 23 year old Australian Rapha Condor Sharp rider who finally broke Team Raleigh-GAC’s stranglehold on the series, winning a sprint for the line ahead of Owain Doull (100% ME) in 2nd and Bernie Sulzberger (Raleigh-GAC) in 3rd, in front of the hundreds of spectators lining the barriers in Saturday Marketplace.

The early evening drizzle lifted as the race got underway but the fast pace and slippery surface of the 1.25km town centre circuit meant the field whittled down from 72 starters to just 30 riders.

As the race drew to a close it looked as through the Beverley crowd would witness a big bunch sprint for the line but with four laps to go it became clear that the winner would come from one of four riders that included the eventual top three.

Raleigh-GAC had the numerical advantage in the four-man breakaway but Bernie Sulzberger began his sprint for the line too early, allowing Lang and Doull to snatch victory from him at the last second.

Doncaster’s Graham Briggs could only finish 5th on the circuit where he became National Circuit Race Champion in 2011, but with four 2012 wins under his belt he already has the series victory wrapped up and will celebrate in style with his Raleigh-GAC teammates as the Elite Circuit Race Series moves to Sheffield on Wednesday 25th July for the final round.

Highlights of the Beverley GP Elite Circuit Race Series race will be shown on Sky Sports:
Friday 27th July 8:00pm Sky Sports 2
Saturday 28th July 4:00am Sky Sports 4
Saturday 28th July 7:00am Sky Sports 3
Saturday 28th July 12:00pm Sky Sports 2