Pullar relishing Chorley Grand Prix challenge

Jack Pullar is relishing his return to the Chorley Grand Prix on Saturday.
Jack Pullar in action during the Jim Rogers Memorial Road Race. Picture: Ellen IsherwoodJack Pullar in action during the Jim Rogers Memorial Road Race. Picture: Ellen Isherwood
Jack Pullar in action during the Jim Rogers Memorial Road Race. Picture: Ellen Isherwood

The 26-year-old, from Bolton-le-Sands, will be part of Pedal Heaven’s eight-man squad for the opening race in the British Cycling Spring Cup.

And he is predicting a powerful performance from the newly-promoted UCI Continental outfit, which will also features Lancaster-based James Gullen who has been in fine form this season.

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He completed a hat-trick of time trial wins with glory in the West Pennine RC’s 14-mile hilly test on Saturday before leading home a one-two-three in the Duncan Sparrow Road Race at Pimbo the next day.

Those successes followed his Jim Rogers Memorial triumph on the brutal Dolphinholme circuit.

Pullar was second that day before opening his account for the season in Saturday’s Lancaster University Crit Series at Salt Ayre.

And the 2012 British hill climb champion reckons the Chorley Grand Prix, won last year by Ian Bibby, will suit the pair of them.

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Pullar said: “On paper it is the perfect course for the both of us.

“It is quite similar to the Jim Rogers in the fact there is not much respite.

“When it is hard, it is very hard and that is what James and I like in a race. You know a selection is going to be made, so instead of relying on luck, you can actually use your physical ability.

“I did it last year and didn’t have good form. I was in no-man’s land really. Maybe because I wasn’t on a UCI team, I didn’t really have the motivation and struggled a bit.

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“This year it is the complete opposite. It is 10-fold better, all the motivation is there and I know I have put the work in, so I am in a much better place.

“James is in great form. He is going really well and we are both way, way above where we have been in the past couple of years.”

The Chorley Grand Prix starts and finishes on Park Road and covers a total distance of 116 miles.

The 140-strong peloton will tackle five laps of a circuit which takes in Limbrick, Rivington, Belmont, Abbey Village, Withnell, Brinscall, Wheelton and Buckshaw Village.

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