Pedal Heaven’s Rory Townsend took victory in the Jef Schils Memorial Road Race held in Colchester on Sunday. The opening laps were rather uneventful with any attempt at a break reeled back in but the first of any significance would come on lap three with Luke Hattersley (Trek), Douglas Coleman (Spirit Bikes) and Ross Fawcett (Ipswich BC) opening up a 15-second lead. With Richardson Trek and Spirit keeping a close eye on the peloton, that break then stretched to a minute before it gradually began to drop and it was eventually caught. Fawcett was keen to press ahead again and managed to lead a breakaway which he then attempted to solo away from, building a gap of 10 seconds on them with the peloton 50 seconds behind. The wind was causing all sorts of problems and it proved to be too much for some of the backmarkers as they fell away from the bunch. Meanwhile, Fawcett was still away at the front with a break of 12 behind him. But as the riders made the transition onto the smaller circuit, Townsend used the wind to his advantage, moving to the left of the road with the wind coming from the right, and he attacked. The next time round, he used the same move again and managed to get the break down to 10 before jumping away on the last lap. There were six riders away as they went over the hill forthe final time but Townsend kicked and managed to get enough on his rivals to take the sprint with Oliver Maxwell (Neon-Velo) finishing second and Joe Evans (Madison Genesis) third. Speaking after the race, Townsend said: “It was a really good race, the organisation and spectator area was brilliant. “I knew the transition to the smaller circuit on the reservoir would be the perfect place to attack and it worked so I did it again the next time round. I also took the sprint win which was a nice bonus.” Result: 1. Rory Townsend (Pedal Heaven) 2. Oliver Maxwell Neon-Velo) 3. Joe Evans (Madison Genesis Read more at https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/138201/ Jef-Schils-Memorial-Road-Race- 2016#vrF7jAoimIVVIHSb.99