RAPHA CONDOR JLT CLINCH TITLE IN DRAMATIC FINALE
Rapha Condor JLT sealed overall victory in the Elite Championship as Revolution Series Season 10 finished in style at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
Clancy and McCallum clinch overal victory
The world's foremost elite track cycling league visited Scotland for the first time and treated a sold-out crowd of nearly 4,000 fans to an entertaining evening as German outfit Rudy Project RT pushed Rapha Condor Sharp all the way for the title.
After four rounds of hard-fought racing across five months in Season 10, there were just 16 points between the two teams going into the final Elite Championship event of the season, but Ed Clancy's fourth place in the Scratch Race was enough to secure overall victory for Rapha Condor JLT.
Clancy had earlier made it four out of four wins for the season in the Flying Lap, as his team tightened their grip on the Elite Championship in the first Elite Championship event of the evening.
The Barnsley-born Clancy, a reigning Olympic and World Team Pursuit champion, produced another superb ride to win a competitive Points Race.
Rudy Project RT kept up their own challenge as Christian Grasmann came second, with Simon Yates (Maxgear Racing) third.
Third on the bill in the Elite Championship was Round 2 of the Madison Time Trial, and what a race it turned out to be.
It looked like Rudy Project RT had snatched it from Team Rouleur, but after geeing up the home crowd, McCallum and Clancy stormed round in for Rapha Condor JLT's third victory of the night.
The crowd went crazy for McCallum and Clancy when they snatched victory but the battle for the Elite Championship went right to the wire.
Rudy Project RT hit back as Nico Hesslich won the Elimination Race, leaving a very narrow 16 points between the two teams, and Clancy's brave effort in the Scratch Race was a fitting way to secure the overall title - click here for full results.
CLANCY CONTROLS BUT TEAM SKY WIN ROUND 3
In the Elite Championship, Clancy (Rapha Condor JLT) began the night with what's become a regulation victory in the Flying Lap, maintaining his 100 per cent record in three rounds of the Revolution this season, flying around the track in a time of 13.160. Ross Edgar, making an impressive debut for Team IG Sigma Sport, was second in 13.541 while Marcel Kalz (Rudy Project RT) was third (13.798).
Kennaugh rallies the crowd in round 3
It was more of the same in the second Elite event of the night, Clancy of Rapha Condor JLT collecting another bouquet by triumphing in the Elimination Race. Four-time world champion Franco Marvulli (howies) was second, Jon Mould (howies) third.
Pete Kennaugh of Team Sky, sporting the much talked-about new Rapha gear on its first competitive outing, dominated in the Points Race, winning comfortably before picking out a lucky lady in the crowd with an accurate throw of his winners' bouquet. He amassed 28 points with victory - Adam Yates of MaxGear Racing was second, winning 15 points and Russell Downing (NetApp Endura) was third with 13 points.
"Had a good night, great support!" tweeted Points Race victor Kennaugh, while his National Madison Championships partner Blythe tweeted: "That was hard, enjoyed riding the track but I was tired this evening after the afternoon sessions! Good fun!!"
In the Madison Time Trial, Rudy Project RT duo Robert Bengsch and Marcel Kalz produced what commentator Hugh Porter called an 'unbelievable' time of 54.922 - equating to an average speed of 65.5kph or just over 40mph - another performance which had the crowd on their feet. Team Sky were second in 57.934, securing 11 points, with Team FACE third, getting 10 points.
RAPHA CONDOR SHARP MAINTAIN CONTROL AT ROUND 2
Rapha Condor Sharp stayed in control of the Revolution Series Elite Championship with another impressive display of track riding at Round 2.
Ed Clancy rides for Rapha Condor Sharp at Round 2
The National Cycling Centre in Manchester was packed out on Saturday 1st December and saw a world-class elite women's field in action, while the Elite Championship continued.
Rapha Condor Sharp have 125 points after two rounds - 25 more than their closest challengers, German outfit Rudy Project Racing Team.
In the first Elite Championship event of the evening, Steven Burke of IG Sigma Sport looked to have the Flying Lap won with a time of 13.901. But fellow Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy had other ideas, storming round in 13.292 to maintain his scintillating form from Round 1 on 27th October.
The Madison Time Trial was won by IG Sigma Sport with WD40 second and Team Sky third. Team Sky then went two places better in the Points Race as Luke Rowe won it in 11:35.164, claiming nine points in the elite championship.
Team Sky's Rowe sprinted around the final bend in the Elimination Race and pipped Russell Downing with a wonderful move on the line, throwing his front wheel forward to snatch an incredibly narrow victory.
Alex Dowsett, the British time trial champion who's bound for Movistar Team next season, marked his final competitive outing for Team Sky with a superb victory in the Scratch Race - the last Elite Championship event of the evening.
RAPHA CONDOR SHARP STORM INTO THE LEAD AFTER ROUND 1
Rapha Condor Sharp dominated Round 1 and assumed an early lead in the Revolution Series Elite Championship as Season 10 began in thrilling style at a sold-out National Cycling Centre in Manchester.
Andy Tennant and Ed Clancy on the podium with Martin Ashton
The Rapha boys dominated, winning all but one of the five Elite races on the night, with 2012 Olympic Team Pursuit Gold medalist Ed Clancy in particularly impressive form.
Olympic heroes Steven Burke (IG-Sigma Sport) and Jody Cundy (Team FACE) were also in action as the Revolution maintained the feelgood factor surrounding British Cycling following the London 2012 Games.
If you missed out on a ticket, highlights of Round 1 will be shown on ITV4 at 8pm this Wednesday, with Womens' Road Race Silver medalist Lizzie Armistead joining presenter Ned Boulting to bring you the action.
The Flying Lap began the evening's entertainment and having drawn one of the biggest cheers of the night, Clancy set the tone for a stunning evening of racing with a winning time of 13.009.
Cundy turned in a brilliant performance to finish second in 13.908, with Clancy's fellow Olympic Team Pursuit Gold medalist Burke coming home third in 14.149.
In a thrilling Points Race, Owain Doull of Team Howies eventually came out on top in a time of 17:38.863, with British Time Trial champion Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) in second place. There was plenty of drama along the way, Clancy again proving his excellent form with a third-placed finish for Rapha.
Team Rapha Condor Sharp secured another victory and a further 12 Elite Championship points in the Elimination Race, with Tennant crossing the line first in a time of 7:00.563 ahead of Joe Kelly of Team FACE. Sam Lowe (Rouleur) was third.
It was Rapha again who proved far too good in the Madison Time Trial, raced in two parts across the evening, winning in a time of 56.005. Making their debut at the Revolution Series, Rudy Project Racing Team finished a very strong second in 57.697.
Fresh from the British Cycling gala dinner on Friday night in Manchester, Clancy then rounded things off with a storming final lap in the Scratch Race as Rapha Condor Sharp took firm control of the Elite Championship, their time of 8:46.014 grabbing yet another win. It was yet another 12 points in the bag as they proved by far the strongest team on another thrilling night of Revolution Series racing.
Remember to watch the highlights of Round 1 on ITV4 - 8pm this Wednesday! Revolution Series Round 2 is on 1st December. All three Manchester rounds are sold out but limited tickets are still available for the fourth and final round in Glasgow on 2nd February 2013.
CHAMPIONSHIP LINKS
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
| Pos | Team | Points |
| 1 | Rapha Condor JLT | 216 |
| 2 | Rudy Project RT | 200 |
| 3 | Rouleur | 166 |
| 4 | Maxgear | 165 |
| 5 | Team Sky | 141 |
| 6 | WD40 | 138 |
| 7 | howies | 128 |
| 8 | FACE | 116 |
| 9 | IG-Sigma Sport | 95 |
| 10 | NetApp-Endura | 88 |
| 11 | Sportscover | 71 |
| 12 | Raleigh-GAC | 36 |
