Kit Gilham, centre, wearing his pink King of the Mountains jersey together with the rest of his Kinesis UK team-mates and manager, Chris Truett, far left
SOUTHPORT’S Kinesis UK cycling team were given a huge boost when one of their riders climbed to mountain glory, writes Philip Kirkbride.
Kit Gilham claimed the King of the Mountains jersey in the eight-day FBD Insurance Ras in Ireland.
The prestigious pink jersey win by Gilham has made cycling teams around the world take real notice of the team.
Gilham was trailing in eighth place in the mountains competition but winning four of the five climbs on the penultimate day, as well as his victory in stage five of the race, helped him take the jersey.
Kinesis UK team manager Chris Truett said: “It was absolutely fantastic and to come away from such a big race with a jersey was beyond our beliefs.
“When Kit came into contention the rest of the team just defended - we said to them we were there to race and there to race hard.
“We didn’t expect this whatsoever, it’s just hard enough getting round and there were some really strong teams there with the Germans, French and Norwegians - Kit’s efforts just boost the whole team.We’ve got a young squad who are the fourth best team in the country but we have a small budget in comparison to other teams.�
The progress made by the squad at the UCI 2.2 event in Ireland means invitations to some of the world’s most renowned races are coming thick and fast.
In two weeks the squad will race in the Tour of Serbia, with all their expenses paid. However, an invitation for a race in Canada has had to be turned down due to lack of finances.
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