Saturday July 1st in the industrial outskirts of West London near the Airport, the UKs finest fixed crit riders gather at Minet Park Hillingdon for the second edition of Minet Crit. With the sun being out, White City Track sound system busting out tunes from New Wave to London Grime via Kate Bush, and “Mr. Red Hook Crit” David Trimble as the guest of honor for the second year running the day was shaping up greatly! The atmosphere was perfect, friends hung out having fun before they battle it out in the heat races.
Both the men and women’s fields were bigger with many new faces and teams competing with some of the worlds best crit riders ready to battle it out for the top spots. There was a new qualifying format similar to the Red Hook Crit where after heat races and a last chance race, riders would set their place on the starting grid for the final. Hillingdon circuit is very fast flowing with some down hill sections, a long wind exposed straight and a couple slight climbs out of the wide hairpin, getting your gear ratio right for this race is crucial.
Text: Kevin Monoghan
Race photos & header image: Jess Morgan | Podium Photos: Daniele Roversi
The men’s qualifying rounds kind set the scene for how the final podium would look with FavellaFrama rider Daniel Mateus and One Life Cycle rider Germain Burton taking the heat wins with Euan Cattermole, Max Geddes, Dimitri Demishev and Sam Harding taking the top spots on the grid.
The Women’s Qualifier was won by ELF Huez* rider Brooke Phillips followed by IRD Carrera SC rider Virginia Cancellieri and Velociposse’s Bex Coxhall. Bike messenger Jordan Grizevicius won the men’s last Chance Race comfortably followed by Team Spoke rider Timothy Bonham-Carter and Fixed Beers captain Steven Jewkes.
Virginia Cancellieri battled it out on round 2 with Brooke Phillips to win the Santa Maria Pizza Prime. None wanted to attack much during the race; the Velociposse team who turned out in full force soon quashed efforts by Aoife Doherty, Lina B and Brooke Phillips. After a final sprint was enough for experienced crit racer Virginia Cancellieri to see of the completion in the final 200m to pass the finish line in style.
The race was furious from the off as the battle for the Pizza Prime was on. Daniel Mateus wasted no time in grabbing the prize. No time for regrouping though as Chaz Kimble from NVYARK decided on an early breakaway with Gremain. Soon IRD Carrera rider Andrea Vassallo who set the KOM time on the day by heroically bridging the 11-second gap joined them. The group stayed away for most of the race until eventually the main group decided it was time to pull them back with 5 laps to go. With every one back together, no one dared to try anything until the final lap, Out of the final bend emerged the 2 race leaders Germain and Daniel closely followed by new NVYRK rider Euan Cattermole in in 3rd and Andrea Vassallo in 4th.
Men’s Final
1. Germain Burton – One Life Cycle
2. Daniel Mateus – FavelaFrama (Prime Winner)
3. Euan Cattermole – NVAYRK Terrone UK
Womans Final
1. Virginia Cancellieri – IRD Carrera Squadra Corse
2. Bex Coxhall – Velociposse
3. Eeva sarlin – Velociposse
The race was supported by, Santa Maria Pizza, ASS SAVERS, Terrone & Co. 8bar Bikes, Bloc Eyewear, Forever Pedaling, and Bianca Road Brew Co.
