More Magic In Marseilles For Team Sky
British cyclist Steve Cummings impressed onlookers by taking fourth place for Team Sky in the hotly contested GP Cyclist la Marseillaise today.
The impressive performance by Cummings and his team-mates continues the triumphant start to the season that the fledgling Team Sky have made. It comes hot on the wheels of Sky cyclist Greg Henderson winning the Cancer Council Helpline Classic in Adelaide, and an overall second place for Henderson in the five stage Tour Down Under.
The Marseille race is a gruelling contest over 140km of undulating terrain. It marked the debut in Europe for Team Sky, whose lofty ambition for their initial year is centred upon making a strong showing in this Summer’s Tour de France.
A large field had been closely grouped throughout most of la Marseillaise, but a breakaway group of ten riders made a decisive move on the final climb and the peloton could not find their way back to the leaders. Cummings cycled strongly and bravely and was ideally placed within this leading group but was finally shaken off in the last 200 metres in a furious sprint finish.
The race was won by Jonathan Hivert of France, with his compatriot Samuel Dumoulin in third and Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland splitting them in second. A realistic Cummings said afterwards: “Of course I’d have liked to have won but it was a pretty good start."Nevertheless, he can be very pleased with his efforts and as the same seven man Team Sky group head to the five day challenge of the Etoile de Besseges it seems only a matter of time before they taste their first major success.
With team leader and Olympic hero Bradley Wiggins due to make his Team Sky debut this month in Qatar, there is the promise of even greater things for the British based team. The ultimate prize of Champs Elysees glory could become a reality sooner than many cycling enthusiasts had antcipated.
So before I log off, I have something to admit. I love robin ellis (sorry Milton). I was viewing the last season on dvd well into the night and the acting was supurb! I would highly recommend this one to all of you…