Mercia Report 15-03-09

David Clarke again guesting for the German Norland Hamburg Cycling Team won overall the 12 day Seventh International Cycling Tour of the Cameroons. He took over the lead from Cameroonian Joseph Sanda ( SNH Velo ) on the sixth stage. As well as the lead Clarke took over as leader in the Mountains competition (The Mountain Grand Prix ). Slovakian rider Milan Barenyi won the green points jersey. Twelve teams took part in the race from Germany, Angola, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Japan, Libya, Luxembourg, Slovakia & the host country that fielded 5 teams. The tour was over 1,204 kilometres travelling through eight of the ten regions of the country. With over 7,000 ft of climbs this was Clarke's strength, having previously finished second in the British National Hillclimb Championships.

Clarke's first race in the UK in 2009 was in the Eddie Soen's Memorial Handicap race over 50 miles on the Aintree Race course in Liverpool. He finished 70th out of over 120 starters. The race was won by Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy (Halfords Bikehut). In the UK Clarke will be riding for his new sponsors Pendragon Kalas a team in the South West recruiting riders to make the bridge between Semi Professional & Full Professional Teams. Clarke will be their top rider giving his advice to some of the younger team members.

On the local scene Mercia HBM rider Roger Owen successfully completed South Pennine Road Club's 50 miles in four hours Reliability Trial, on a route from Willington to Stowe by Chartley via Newborough, then returning to Willington via Kingstone,Marchington & Tutbury.