CS ELITE LEAGUE PREVIEW: All to play for in round 4
Former champions, Horspath Hammers (Oxford), travel to the West Midlands to face joint leaders Coventry in round 4 of the British Cycling CS Elite League series, while reigning champions, Wednesfield Aces, will entertain Poole at Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton.
Horspath lost out to Ipswich in a rare defeat at the Village in round 3, after a last heat decider sent the Eagles joint top with Coventry. The Hammers will look to field a strong team in the West Midlands, where former British Champion, Mark Boaler, is expected to turn out for the Oxford based side.
Mark Boaler and Zac Payne clash with Elite League team mate, Mark Carmichael, in the SSW League last weekend. Photo by Peter Payne.
Polish rider Lukasz Nowacki will fly in for the match and a number of riders could join him on the flight, including World Champion, Bartek Grabowski. Backing up the Polish contingent will be current British Champion, Zak Payne, along with multilple British finalists, Mark Carmichael and Lewis Osbourne.
Coventry are expected to welcome back domiciled Pole, Domink Rycharski, who has been sidelined since September with a wrist injury. A natural fast starter, he will offer a much needed top-end presence after Coventry’s loss to Wednesfield in round 3.
The home side will still be without the services of Australian Bobby McMillan, who has gone back to Australia and is seemingly unlikely to feature for the remainder of the season.
With the potential for both teams being evenly matched up, expect some fireworks at Hearsall Common, this is one not to be missed.
| P | W | D | L | PD | TOTAL | |
| Coventry | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Ipswich | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
| Wednesfield | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 |
| Poole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -14 | 0 |
| Horspath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
After a shaky start against Ipswich in round 2, Wednesfield regained their form in round 3, with an emphatic win at home over Coventry. More of the same will be expected of the Aces, who are a tough nut to crack on their long home track.
Poole will be buoyed by the addition of Australian Ty Geertsen to their ranks. The Adelaide based rider flew in to contest the Laurels over Whitsun weekend as part of a 6 week tour. Laurels champion, Matiej Ganczarek, has re-discovered his form of old, while fellow Pole and captain Greg Gluchowski is a doubt for the trip, citing work commitments.
Ty Geertsen (left) makes his Elite League debut for Poole. Photo by Michelle Rideout.
A repeat of Poole’s infamous 2013 victory at Ashmore Park is probably an unlikely scenario, especially without Gluchowski. The Aces are robust unit and rarely leave an inch to spare, Poole will no doubt be up for that challenge though.
Ipswich are the team to sit out round 4, with only 5 teams in the series. A Coventry victory against Horspath will mean they are certain to be on top at the half way stage after round 5 of the 10 round series, where they take their turn to sit out a round in two weeks time.
If you want to check out the CS action this weekend, both matches start at 2pm and are free entry. Coventry race at Hearsall Common, Hearsall Lane, Coventry, while Wednesfield race at Ashmore Park, Griffiths Drive, Wolverhampton.