Felix English (Rapha Condor) takes the Milk Race in Nottingham last Sunday week; with the once three-week tour now back as a crit after a 20-year break from the calendar. He battled with Team Raleigh's Alex Blain beating him into second, Olympic Champion Ed Clancy (also from Rapha Condor) took third (Photo: Andy Whitehouse)
By Brian Canty
Reigning National Criterium Champion, Felix English is gearing up for a crucial few weeks as he goes in search of a first Tour Series win in the UK with his Rapha-Condor JLT team while also aiming for the U23 National Championships in Dundalk.
English is enjoying a strong season to date with the UK-based Continental squad and underlined his good form lately with a win in the Milk Race the weekend before last; which has been revived in a one-day format.
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That victory brought him and his team some welcome exposure and tonight, Thursday, they have a chance to do it again when they line up for the latest round in the series in London.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series is where English has established himself as a force this season and the tight and twisty nature of the courses don’t seem to faze the 20-year-old; how is a very good tester and sprinter. The Tour Series consists of 11 rounds, all professional criteriums, across the UK in the four week period from mid May to mid June.
Three weeks ago, on Thursday May 14th, in Kirkcaldy in round one of the Series he just missed out on a podium finish. He made the break of four alongside eventual winner Yanto Barker (UK Youth), Tom Scully (Team Raleigh) and Mike Northey (Node4-Giordana). Though cramp scuppered his chances there he still hung on for 4th.
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But two rounds later and he was back in the five-man break in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday May 21st, despite suffering food poisoning in the days leading up to the race. With four laps remaining the quintet was hauled back, but English’s performance spoke of a growing confidence and he eventually took 6th.
The Sunday before last, May 26th, he nabbed his second win of the season - having won already in Australia in January - taking an event synonymous with British racing down through the years despite a 20-year absence; the Milk Race. The once three-week tour has now been brought back as a criterium.
English got away with Alex Blain (Team Raleigh) along with his teammate, the double Olympic track champion Ed Clancy. It worked out perfectly and Clancy, who profited from English’s lead-out to win the Eddie Soens Memorial in Aintree back in March, repaid the favour.
Clancy negated the attacks of Blain to allow English jump away and take the win before a huge crowd in Nottingham city centre.
On Tuesday of last week, May 28th, just two days after his Milk Race win, English was in the mix again taking 6th place in round 5 of the Tour Series in Torquay. And he was 20th in round 6 in Colchester last Thursday, May 30th. Tonight's London race is round 8 of the series.
With a flat course to negotiate in the Nationals back home on June 23rd, he'll definitely fancy his chances there.
(According to TV listings, highlights of the 2013 Milk Race are scheduled to air tonight, Thursday, at 10:30pm on Eurosport 2.)
