www.cyclingbargains.com Racing Team Press Release 23-Oct-07

Cowland takes 4 trophies in 2007 and wins www.cyclingbargains.com yellow jersey

With victory in the National Clarion best all rounder competition, local cyclist Michael Cowland has finished a successful year the way he started it.
The long road racing season started way back in March where Michael marked his intentions with overall victory in the Northamptonshire Cycle Racing Association’s (NCRA) spring road race series, run over five events across the county and sponsored by internet cycle retailer www.cyclingbargains.com. He then followed this up with a fine eighth place at the Ed Taylor Memorial road race in Suffolk, and then an excellent sixteenth place against full time professionals and Commonwealth Games riders in the 81 mile Central Regional road race Championships near Oxford, the event was won by New Zealand International Gordon McCauley.

Michael repeated his spring success with overall victory in the NCRA summer road race series, also sponsored by www.cyclingbargains.com after securing a first, a second, a forth and a fifth place in the five race series. www.cyclingbargains.com Racing Team rider Dave Palmer secured 3rd place overall in the competition.

Michael then followed this with a third place in the 75 mile Ike Saul Memorial road race in Cambridge, another third place at the Darley Moor circuit near Stoke and fifth place in the Compomotive road race run over 68 miles in Buckinghamshire.

Michael then saw himself pitted against Elite riders once more in the AA Brown Memorial road race in Naseby and the Peterborough Elite road race. After joining a break of 8 riders for 62 of the 84 miles the 30°C heat got the better of him and he crossed the line in a respectable 15th place in Naseby but bettered this in the Peterborough event with a 7th place after 65 tough miles.

With the open events coming to a close Michael focussed on the National Clarion races. He said, “The open events have shown that I am riding strongly but I really want to take some National titles through the Clarion network”. His win in the National Clarion road race, second place in the cyclo cross race, second place in the hilly 10 mile time trial and victory in the hillclimb were enough for Michael to fulfil his ambition and win the National Clarion best all rounder title at his first attempt, beating riders from as far away as Sunderland, Stockport and Bolton.

Rod Freeman of Cycling Bargains said, “We were delighted to support the NCRA Yellow Jersey competition in 2007. I have ridden their events for many years and am delighted to be able to return something to the sport. Mike was a strong winner and we congratulate him on a fantastic result.”
Michael is negotiating with a number of new teams for 2008 and expects to confirm his membership in a new team very soon. He said, “I am excited by the teams that are interested in me and I look forward to improving on my 2007 results with a strong team beside me. I think we can make quite an impact locally.”

ENDS