RIYADH, 28 February 2003 — Alan Wood put in an immaculate display of power cycling, to come in alone for a fine victory in the last of the BAE Systems road race series. Due to a tragic incident the day before, only 21 riders faced the timekeeper on a mild but windy day.
With a depleted Saudi Team to contend with, the Wheelers members were relieved not to have to go through the drubbing they experienced in the previous event on the same course.
Due to International commitments, only Fathi and Salem were available from the previous event to assist their SCF (Saudi Cycling Federation) director, Abdallah Al-Sarhani to another top position.
A strong Filipino contingent provided the race with a chance of an upset, but at the halfway point it was Wood who attacked and quickly made the gap he is now renown for.
Fathi almost alone kept Wood at a manageable distance, but when Al-Sarhani punctured, team orders meant he was out of the chase. This left the Pinoy train plus Rob Patrick, Phil Green and L. Pentlebury to get a working group organized and chase down Wood.
Despite an attacking ride by Jaime Sunga and George Morete, Wood’s lead was never threatened, although their fine efforts did shake off Green in the closing kilometers. Coming down to a sprint finish, Patrick was always going to be hard to beat and it was the veteran who used his experience to overcome his reduced fitness to come in ahead of his companions, albeit some distance behind Wood who was already celebrating on the podium. All the riders who finished deserved praise in this long and difficult race, in particular Paul Tupman who led in the mountain bike category ahead of Philippe, K. Malone and K. Allan in the Cat B, and last man Peter Waddell, who represented the sponsors BAe Systems with pride and respect for his tragically lost colleague.
Full Results 1st A. Wood; 2nd R. Patrick; 3rd R. Platil; 4th L. Pentlebury; 5th G. Morete; 6th F. Ranola; 7th P. Green; 8th R. Gallardo; 9th R. Pilar; 10th L. Fischer; 11th K. Malone; 12th A. Semilla; 13th K. Allan; 14th P. Waddell.
Mountain Bike (40km): 1st P. Tupman; 2nd Philippe. Did Not Finish: Fathi; A. Al-Sarhani; C. Arrowsmith; J. Sunga; Salem.
