Tour de Normandie final report.

 

The biggest win of Alex Peters's career to date was not to be. This despite his finishing in the same time as the winner but loosing out to the time bonus system. On the penultimate Stage the whole Tour de Normandie field was broken in the end by our lad from Stokie and his crazed drive for a solid overall lead. It was only a slip-up in the final run-in where just 500m from the line Peters hit something and went to ground. Getting up and to the line he lost the 45 seconds advantage he had established by attacking and destroying all of his GC opponents (and their teams) in heavy rain in the last half of the stage. 

Alex Peters
"With 85km to go I attacked and bridged to a 7 man group that was up the road. Then my team mate Davy Gunst who was with them rode as hard as he could to get me into yellow, after his sacrificial effort I had to do it on my own"
 
This audacious act was not on the menu; Peters dishing out high stakes, risk all pain was a fresh approach for this race. By the finish SEG staff, race officials, riders and followers were impressed by something special in road racing they had been witnessing. There was no such thing as sitting and waiting for Alex 'the dramatic' Peters.

SEG Racings Director Sportive 
Micheil Elijzen

Taking the yellow leaders jersey to wear during the last stage (by virtue of finishing points but in the same time as Dimitri Clayes) was some consolation. Alex needed to cross the line ahead of his Belgian adversary on the last stage to Caen. He and SEG Racing did all they could but it was not enough to prevent those unreal bonus seconds coming into play.

Being on the the last stage podium for two reasons; as best young rider (the white jersey winner) and runner up overall, Alex was left to reflect on how close he had got to top step time. Second hurts, he may have preferred third place as not being too close to No.1 is easier to live with. 

Alex Peters
"The support I see from my old club back home matters to me and it really helps when I'm trying my hardest"

Alex's next stage races are; Tour de Bretagne 25th April - 1st May (Blaireau campagne) and **Ronde de I'Isard 21st - 24th May (Pyrenean high mountains) **Keep an eye out for this one as CC Hackney are looking for more supporters to head down for this. The destination town and more news here and on CCH's facebook page soon.

White & yellow jerseys back in Hackney

The team and bike done good

Koga cycles
SEG Racing

 

2011 Tour de l'Ain CYCLO round up - le pain sandwhich - CCH win team prize

Iain Cooke, Keir Apperley (2011 National Masters Road Race Champion) Clem Berrill & Alex Peters

CC Hackney have won the team competition in this year's Tour de l'Ain CYCLO, the organisers were not 'just being nice' to us after all.
Culoz at the foot of the Hors Category Grand Colombier, stage race riders; Alex Peters, Clem Berrill, Iain Cook & Keir Apperley were all called away from their dining table to visit the podium after the final stage and summit finish to pick up the best team award. People must have shifted on the fourth and last stage because CCH had been in third place since the end of stage one, the title came as an uncertain but welcome surprise. We were presented with an interesting trophy (complete with a gold goddess) to bring home, the carrier of which would deserve an additional award if the art comes all the way back in one piece. 

Stage 1 report here.

Thursday 11th August - Stage Two was challenging in different ways to stage three, with the longest distance to cover at 153km and it's string of shorter but steeper 4th and 3rd cat. cotes and cols to negotiate on the way to the town of Bellingnat. it was hot too, perhaps is was this combined with the lumps that broke up the field enough to reshape the general classification again. Alex 5th 4:07:53 @ 3m 15s Clem 39th 4:10:22s Keir 72nd 4:22:32s and Iain 95th 4:32:45s.


Cycle races leave tales left untold but not those of the cyclists from East London. Stage Three started in Nantua and passed over two 2nd and and two 1st category climbs on the 131km road to the ski station of Lelex. Alex Peters and Clem Berrill both finished close together on this day in the leading groups of 'red number' (full 4-day racers). Clem and Alex served notice that they mean business and matched the attacks from the leaders over the first three climbs and then Alex 'the leaf' Peters went on the offensive half way up the final 1st cat. climb of the Col de Menthieres. On the decent he was joined by a small group of riders who knew the roads better and acted to guide the leaders quickly and safely down to the final 10km run into Lelex. Clem came in with the second group shortly after. There were five cyclists up the road at the time but although impressive, all were black number single day riders; a lesser species in the event to confuse but actually make more of it. Keir finished half way down the field but good enough to keep the team in the frame. The team competition is based on the first three rider's times over the line as per Le Tour de France.
Alex and Keir were both out to do a ride on Stage Four all be it at a good distance apart for 80% of the stage. Alex the youngest attacked the first minor hill to no real benefit to himself, he was twitching to go again at the next opportunity which meant sitting around all the way to the climb of the 2nd category Cote de Thezillieu. The moment came and off Alex skipped, he was soon joined by a clutch of high black 'day trip' numbers (1000+) who refused to work claiming no interest in GC. Committed, isolated but not one to dodge a pedal stroke the 'leaf' pushed on with his shirking entourage in tow. By now our boy was the virtual race leader on the road and had pulled together a gaggle of motorbike out-riders, the Lead Car plus the race director. 3m 30s behind the other race contenders were massing and sharing the workload along the valley road to Culoz and the foot of the Grand Colombier. It was all or nothing as far as Alex was concerned, while skipping the last feed station stop he imagined a shock solo victory with enough time in hand to take the overall win along with the stage. Nice idea but It was not going to happen. The beyond measurement mountain is a 17km brute with long sections at a 20% incline to really trouble the fittest and snarliest of legs, it did so for Keir's pins too, however he managed to improve by nine places on GC. Alex ran out of ammo under 10km to go and could fire no more on the reared up ramps of the climb. He blamed his minimal Weatabix breakfast which had something to do with it along with a tactical error. Happily Alex finally remounted after a ten minute halt, a drink and a bite to eat that was provided by a roadside couple. This was enough to get him going to the finish and actually save the team effort. His opponents had passed him by a little bemused but relieved this 'scary new English Contador' was no longer a problem.
A photographer and journalist for the sponsoring journal Le Progress had taken notes and a picture to go to press.    

Camping and caravaning like new age travelers there's a question if all would have made it to the last stage if it had rained hard like it often dose in the part of France we were in; the Jura mountains. We were truly blessed by good weather and also the fine logistical, moral and water bearing support from Mr Paul Merry and son Jack (Hackney Homes Alpine Challenge, original members) - thank you Paul and Jack, let's come back better again:) LET'S DO IT BETTER AGAIN (:

Paul at the wheel en route to the next water bottle hand up point

The full results lists can be found here.

A voyeur of pain and suffering? Pictures can be found here. 

Tour de l'Ain web site here.

Respect and deserved appreciation is due to the Tour de l'Ain sponsors and organisers for running things so very well and giving so many competitors a safe and amazing ride - vive la Tour de l'Ain. Also a very special thank you from all who traveled and benefited goes out to our part sponsors for this 'excursion': Hackney Homes Alpine Challenge Team and Access Sport. This journey was a truly exceptional learning experience for all, on and off the bike. 

Stage 4 winner 2015 Tour de Bretagne - Alex Peters

Tuesday 28th April 2015
CC Hackney off-spring Alex Peters is the Tour de Bretagne stage 4 winner. This tough seven day race in France's hot bed of cycling is prestigious and highly rated among professional riders; well done Alex 'the dramatic' Peters! 
Starting tomorrow in the red jersey as best young rider and 4th on GC (19' from the race leader Anthony Delaplace) Alex and his team mates at SEG Racing will be looking at how to crack the opposition as the race reaches it's critical stages. Others are in the way of a 1st place on GC and more prizes along the way for the scary one from Hackney.
Official stage video resume here.
Follow SEG Racing on twitter for quick news up-dates this week and beyond.

1		PETERS Alex	4 h 16' 25''
2		TAMOURIDIS Ioannis	à 0' 00''
3		DELAPLACE Anthony	à 0' 02''
4		HOELGAARD Daniel	à 0' 25''
5		PASQUALON Andrea	à 0' 25''
6		VAN ROOY Kenneth	à 0' 25''
7		CECCHIN Alberto	à 0' 25''
8		VLIEGEN Loïc	à 0' 25''
9		VAN WINDEN Dennis	à 0' 25''
10		CALMEJANE Lilian	à 0' 25'

Stage 5 in the red jersey of leading young rider - Alex Peters

Former CCH member Alex Peters signs for SEG Racing

Congratulations and good luck going out to Alex Peters from CC Hackney after his new contract signing with SEG racing; the well connected and organised outfit based in Eindhoven, Brabant, Netherlands (NL) 

This is a significant move to continental racing for our lad from Stokey. He will be riding as a stage race specialist and climber and be given team leader duties and rider support for target events across Europe and beyond. 

Roll on the season 2015!

SEG Racing @SEGracing  ·  22h 21 hours ago

GB national team member Alex Peters (@alexpeters_94) signs for SEG Racing. 

https://twitter.com/SEGracing

Welcome aboard!

 

Alex Peters Stage 3 during the 2011 Tour l'Ain

 

Alex Peters leads 2015 Tour de Normadie into today's last stage

Stage 5 heart break 2nd again - but good enough for 1st over all

Sunday 29th March 2015 - Etape 6
Former CC Hackney rider Alex Peters leads the Tour de Normadie into the last stage from Torigni-Sur-Vira into Caen today. Let's hope he and his team can pull off a great win to reward the sterling efforts they've all been putting in this week. 

Facebook post from SEG Racing:

"Great-Britain, this is one of your future cycling stars; Alex Peters. U23 talent and current leader in ‪#‎TourdeNormandie‬! Still one day to go for Alex to win this race. Give your support to him! ‪#‎TalentDevelopment‬"

Fammy Peters

"Tour of Normandie final stage. Another wet and windy day, cross wind could be a major factor but we are all hoping and fingers cross that the SEG boys hold on to the yellow Jersey and mountain Jersey."

 

Message received from Alex yesterday evening:

"I'll bring the yellow back to Hackney! I will try very hard."

Alex Peters Rouleur Magazine article

CC Hackney and Tao are mentioned in Alex Peters's Rouleur magazine article; read all about it here.

R-L: Jane Peters, Judith Philip, - ? -, Fammy Peters, - ? -, Alex Peters

Alex Peters and Tao Geoghegan Hart racing news

Riding for British Cycling Tao Geoghagen Hart has achieved tenth place in the final general classification of the 2014 Tour de l'Avenir. There's a chance that this lad from Hackney could be disappointed that he did not make it onto the podium. Make no mistake this is some result against an international field of 107 highly rated and motivated young men over a prologue TT and seven stages; most of which included some seriously testing alpine climbs including summit finishes of the highest order.

The team came away with a stage winner in
Daniel Mclay on stage three; Montrond-les-Bains to Paray-le-Monial.

We done Tao and GB from CC Hackney.

Cycling Weekly:
"Previous winners of ‘the l’Avenir’ include Greg Lemond, Nairo Quintana, Warren Barguil and Bauke Mollema and it’s established itself in recent years as a springboard for a lot of talent. Last year Simon Yates won two stages and Adam Yates finished second overall, and both went on to do quite well with Orica-GreenEdge…"

Les 10 premiers du classement général final

1  LOPEZ Miguel Angel COL COL 23h54'28" 00"
2  POWER Robert AUS AUS 23h54'58" 30"
3  RIBALKIN Alexey RUS RUS 23h55'12" 44"
4  FOLIFOROV Alexander RUS RUS 23h55'19" 51"
5  VERVAEKE Louis BEL BEL 23h55'43" 01'15"
6  LATOUR Pierre-Roger FRA FRA 23h56'53" 02'25"
7  BUCHMANN Emanuel GER GER 23h57'44" 03'16"
8  SILVA Joaquim POR POR 24h00'05" 05'37"
9  MAISON Jérémy FRA FRA 24h00'22" 05'54"
10 GEOGHEGAN HART Tao GBR GBR 24h03'24" 08'56"

Back on home turf Tao's peer and long time training partner Alex Peters is preparing himself for the 2014 Tour of Britain (ToB) This starts in Liverpool on Sunday 7th September and finishes in London seven days later. Alex was invited to ride the 2014 Tour de l'Avenir as well but he declined to take part because of Madison Genesis's (his team) commitment to the ToB and it was felt that attempting to do both would be too much at his age. 

Alex Peters before the 2014 Prudential Ride London Classic

 

Having spoken to Alex recently he has said that he is keen to impress after taking part and learning a lot in the 2013 edition. This year the race has been up graded to UCI 2. HC (Hors Category) this is higher than Tour de l'Avenir with World Tour teams taking part. It means Alex will be riding with some of the best cyclists in the world; established hard nuts from the likes of Giant-Shimano, Movistar & Team SKY. 

Good luck Alex we'll keep an eye on the results and check the ToB stages on ITV.  

The name on the new Genesis 'Zero' carbon fibre road bike - ready for ToB

 

Alex Peters back in pro action with 2020 vision

CC Hackney’s original youth member Alex Peters is to return to professional cycling since taking time out after retiring from Team Sky in 2017. Good luck Alex with team Canyon DHB!
Alex is well remembered in France, in 2015 he left a lasting impression in the Tours of Normandy & Brittany and his return has been reported here.  Alex Peters ; “Je me suis dit : quelle est ma passion? Qu’est ce que j’aime faire? “

Inauguaral Hackney Youth Sports Personality of the Year. "And the nominations are..."

 

Tasha Danvers, Mayor Jules Pipe, Alex Peters & MC Cat

Press release:

The under 21 Sports Person of the Year
This award recognises an individual who has had outstanding success/achievements within their chosen sport. The nominees were:

Chloe Jean Carpenter – is a member of the Saracens Rugby Club & the Hertfordshire County Rugby team under 15
Ismail Cetin – a member of the Newington Rangers Football Team and participated in the Keele University International Festival at Old Trafford.
Le-My Dang – Has represented the London Borough of Hackney in the Mini Marathon. The London Youth Games Badminton and Aquathon and is a keen member of most of her school sports teams.
Tao Geoghegan – is a member of the winning London Youth Games Cycling Team and is currently ranked 4th in the country in his age group.
Alfred Mugabo – is a member of the un 16’s Arsenal Academy Football Team and has also been called up for the England under 16’s International team, along with this Alfred helped the London Borough of Hackney Boys Football Team to achieve third place at the London Youth Games.
Omarie Mears – is a member of the winning London Youth Games weightlifting team and a National Schools medalist.
Daniel Morgan Melville – swims for Clissold swim club where he achieved 2nd place in the Butterfly at the Middlesex County Championships.
Christian Millan – is a member of the Newington Rangers Football Team and participated in the Keele University International Festival at Old Trafford.
Alex Peters – is a member of the winning London Youth Games Cycling Team and is currently ranked 2nd on the road and 4th on the mountain bike in the country at his age group
Kim Pham – is a member of the winning London Youth Games weightlifting team in addition to this she has won medals at both the National Schools and National under 18’s Championships.
Callum Poland Smith – is currently ranked in tennis 17th Nationally & 1st at County level in the under 16’s.

In third place: Alfred Mugabo,
In Second Place: Tao Geoghegan – Hart
The winner: Alex Peters

UCI World Championships 2014

Two fiths of the men's U23 GB team, who are riding today in the UCI World Championships, come from Hackney.
Alex Peters and Tao Geoghegan Hart are lining  up for the midday start of the under 23 men's road race in Ponferrada, northern Spain.
Good luck today lads from all at CC Hackney; we know you'll give it your best and do a great job for team GB.

British Cycling's preview:
Under-23 men’s road race – Start time: 12 noon | Map and Profile
Scott Davies
Owain Doull
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Dan McLay
Alex Peters

The under-23 men will use the same course as the junior women in the morning, with ten circuits of the 18.2-kilometre circuit deciding the destination of the world title.

Great Britain’s squad comprises Scott Davies, who competes in his first worlds at under-23 level having finished seventh in the 2013 junior men’s event in Italy. Davies is joined by Owain Doull who finished fourth in prestigious under-23 Tour of Flanders and Dan McLay, who produced an impressive performance in the Tour de l’Avenir, sprinting to victory on stage three.

Tao Geoghegan Hart showed his form and ability at the Tour of Britain, the 19-year-old finishing 15th overall, while Alex Peters impressed in the British Cycling Elite Road Series, the Madison Genesis rider winning the opening round and finishing third overall.

Youth Riders Prepare For London Youth Games 2009

The final of four youth section training sessions is taking place on Sunday. This block of training has been organised to help bring on the best fitness & technique possible for our young riders who have been selected to represent Hackney in the cycling event of the prestigious London Youth Games 2009. (LYG '09). Saturday July 4th is the date,Crystal Palace is the venue.

It's great to have Alex Peters back in the team, the speed of his recovery from a broken collar bone has been startling and has confounded his doctor who had said that he would not be ready to compete in the LYGs. Alex had another view on this prognosis, his rapid return ahead of schedule even enabled him to ride well in the handicap TLI road races on the North Weald Arodrome last Tuesday evening. Young Peters turned in a fine performance and rode at the front of his group of 'B' category (mixed & adult) riders and finished well enough up the field to draw praise from the event organisers.
Another young CCH rider with real talent & potential; Tao Geohegan-Hart, took part in a race from the same series two weeks earlier. He too has made a miraculous recovery, his injury was a broken index finger on his left hand. This week Tao has been cleared to ride the LYG's by his mother & doctor.

Alex & Tao returning to the team has injected a boost to Hackney's chances of doing well. The team's result for Hackney is based on their collective times in total, eight riders compete from two age groups (U18s & U16s) and the three fastest times from each quartet count.
The under18s ride four laps at 5klm and the U16s complete two circuits at 2.5klm.
A full report & pictures will follow soon after the event.

Here is a provisional list of all our riders set to represent Hackney next Saturday:
U18s Clem Berill, Alex Peters, Gabriel Cramer & Rowena Gordon.
U16s Tao Geohegan Hart, Kyroah Pang, Nahshan Blondell, Sean Glendenning, Corey Hall & Adebisi Alakan
Reserves TBC.
Manager: Keir Apperley
Coaches: Gary Lingard, Joseph Alberti & Comfort Ajagbe

Get well soon Alex from all at CC Hackney

Earlier today Alex underwent surgery in the Netherlands (the home of SEG Racing) after he was involved in a big crash at the end of stage 2 of the #Oberosterreich Rundfahrt race in Austria last Friday. I'm told the operation to pin his right collar bone went well and that soon he will begin static training while he recovers back home in Hackney. 
Alex will now miss the National RR Championships next weekend and also the Giro Aosta Valley Mont Blanc (14-19th July) but he will return to racing late on in July. 

Never mind that's racing as they say. On the other hand there will be very positive and exciting news regarding our lad before he rides again - watch this space - extra! extra!

Of course all at CC Hackney wish Alex a speedy return to what he does best; riding a bike to anywhere fast:)

Keep it coming Alex Peters.




Facebook posting from SEG Racing managers:

SEG Racing

Bad luck for Alex Peters in #Oberosterreich Rundfahrt. He is out of the race with a broken collarbone. He was involved in the massive crash in stage 2. Last night he underwent research in the local hospital. Surgery will take place in Sportmáx Sportmedisch Centrum - Performance Centre as soon as possible.

We will get back soon on his recovery. He will be back in July!

CCH in National Series Road and Mountain Bike Races

Three Hackney riders lined up in national series events at the weekend.

Weak spring sunshine greeted the start of the National Youth Criterium Series at Yarborough; the race was marked by furious sprints over the straights and sharp braking as the riders negotiated the the narrow bends on the flat twisting circuit. Tao Geoghegan Hart and Alex Peters kept with the leading bunch throughout the 35km race and in the end only Jonathan Dibben was able to break clear leaving the rest to sprint for the line with Alex getting a great 4^th place while Tao at 13^th was the first under 15 year old to cross the line.

The following day Alex Peters and Gary Linguard both competed in the first round of the National Mountain Bike Series at Sherwood Forest, Alex in the youth and Gary in his first year in the Vets. It was never going to be possible to win because the riders were gridded and over the narrow tracks of a mountain bike course there are always slower riders ahead so it was remarkable that Alex came in 6^th (after starting at 45) and Gary came in 12^th (after starting at 58). The course was 8km over some tough terrain with logs, tree roots steep inclines and sharp drops so it was no surprise that Alex had crashed in his race; providing entertainment for the crowd by spectacularly flying over the handlebars after clipping the barriers at the main arena where he was trying to negotiate a long straight bit that was only 10 meters wide!