Barras sacrifices chances to help team-mate

11:19am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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Keighley's Tom Barras battled against some of the best riders from across the continent to finished 21st at the East Midlands International Classic in Leicestershire after coping well with the tough 157-kilometre course.

Barras, riding for the Plowman Craven Racing Team, was part of a strong chasing group bearing down on the race leaders with just a few miles to go but effectively sacrificed his chances to help a colleague.

"A lot of the course is just dirt tracks and there are always a lot of punctures in this event," explained Barras, one of 180 riders to start the event from Rutland to Melton.

"We had four guys in that chasing group, which was great, but then my team-mate Evan Oliphant punctured.

"We ride a similar-sized frame and he's been going really well over the last few weeks so I gave him my bike so he could carry on, while I waited for service and ended up on a new machine.

"We both chased back like mad but couldn't catch the leaders - but it was a great race to be part of and I was pleased to get a bit of form back,"

The squad return to Premier Calendar action this weekend with the Chas Messenger two-day event in Buckinghamshire.

"Things went well in Leicestershire, apart from not getting the podium finish we wanted, but hopefully that will come this weekend," said Barras.

"We're really gunning for it and I can see us being first and second if things go according to plan."

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