Written by TEAM BOBYN at 23:20 7/8-2021
After 15 seasons, Halden "The Trojan" Spearman finally announces his retirement from pro-cycling and moves into a Coaching role at TB.
An all-round technical sprint Cobblist - he developed his skills under the tutelage of pioneer Cobblist Alan Michelson and technician Oleg Myatlev. A product of the TB Youth Academy and plucked from relative obscurity he become TB Vice Captain in S53 and currently holds the record for most wins for TB (5) and up until S57 he was the only rider to have secured 2 wins in a single season. A stalwart loyal servant to TB and part of a small contingent of English riders who followed the transfer of TB from England to Ukraine. He spent his entire career at the team and deserving of his entry in TB's Hall of Fame.
Spearman was of an uncharacteristic TB background, privately educated (Harrow) (with long-term school friend and TB teammate Nathan Trourbaugh) and graduated in Law at the University of Cambridge. His exploits (alongside that of Trourbaugh) at the University cycling team brought him to the attention of TB scouts who were currently based in England at the time and he was signed into the TB Youth Academy for S42 (Trourbaugh followed in S43) his experience of Cambridge's cobbled roads put him in good stead for the future.
Spearman missed out on the the great TB youth teams that won the U23 championship but despite this Spearman equipped himself well with a 3rd in the Bilau-Bugat in a team that was moving away from U23 racing.
After signing on pro- terms towards the tail end of S43, Spearman provided sterling "Trojan" support to MIchelsen during MIchelsen's latter years and henceforth acquired the "Trojan" nickname. He developed a superb understanding with fellow teammate Nathan Trourbaugh and together them developed a team within a team ethos and the pair were known as "The Solicitors" given their education.
After MIchelsen's retirement in S48, Spearman came into his own with a podium and places in a selection of D7 races, best performance being a 2nd coming in the Brebes-Brebes D7 Classic. He took a sabbatical in S50 but stormed D51 with his best ever season performance with two wins (Braabants and Tour Ta Malta) , a podium and a memorable 4th on his adopted home soil in the Berdichev - Ozerne soon after TB's switch from England to Ukraine winning adoration from his adoptive Ukrainian fans. Spearman developed a close affinity for good performances in UKraine races and still currently most of TB club records in the country.
He continued his success in S52 with a win and a podium and in S53 he celebrated his elevation to Vice-Captain with a famous win in the Kraz in Ukraine and a podium in Koersel (he certainly developed an affinity for Belgium races as well). S53 appeared to be the pinnacle of Spearman's career albeit he picked up a superb D5 win in the Haanja - Karula but age was starting to take its toil.
His final swansong in S57 was an emotional performance on home soil
with a 8th at the Chernivtsi - Ostrytsia to which fans and teammates applauded and he was given the keys to City of Cherniytsi by the Mayor - no Trojan horses here me thinks !
A quiet, intelligent but popular rider who has taken on the Cobbling legacy left by Michelsen and progressed for the next generation of riders (Davydov,, Yenotov and Zhivenkov) to take to the next level. A specialist of one-day races as opposed to tours - He will be missed but we are glad to report that Spearman will be joining the coaching staff at TB for the forthcoming season.
Key Stats:(*TB records)
Races: 256
Wins: 5*
Podiums: 11
Tour GC: N/A
Classics: S49 2nd Brebes-Brebes (D7)*
S52 5th Budapest Meeting Point (D6)*
Placements: 16
Highest ever Ranking: 643rd (S51)
International Caps: 0
Best Podium Performance:
1st D5 Haanja - Karula (S55)
1st D5 Tour Ta Malta (S51)
Highest ever Divisional Performance: 10th D4 Pidhirne - Zhuravky (S56)
Best Div4 Performance: As above
Best Div5 Performance: As above
Best Div6 Performance: 1st Brabants Mooiste #34 (S51)
Best Div7 Performance:
1st Krasnoarmiis´k Cobblestone Race #38 (S53)
1st Akaroa - Ashburnton #6 (S52)
Best Div8 Performance: 57th Revnice Climb TT #19 (S45)
Best Div9 Performance: Not competed
Best Div10 Performance: Not competed
Best Div11 Performance: Not competed
Best ND Performance: 3rd Bilu - Bugat (U23) #11 (S43)
Ukraine Club Records
D4 Lviv - Stryi 66th (S57)
D4 Pidhirne - Zhuravky 10th (S56)
D5 Chernivtsi - Ostrytsia 8th (S57)
D6 Berdichev - Ozerne 4th (S51)
D6 Kovel - Kovel joint 12th (with MIchelsen) (S56)
D7 Krasnoarmiis´k Cobblestone Race 1st (jt with Myatlev) S53
Best International Performance - N/A
U23 Honours - N/A
Tour Record
GIRO DI SICILIA (D4)
GC N/A
Av.Pos. S51 43rd*
Best Stage Performance: (S51) 11th Siracusa - Messina #25*
STONE CITY CUP (D5)
GC: N/A
Av.Pos. (S53) 56th
Best Stage Performance:
(S53) 27th Toshkent - Toshkent #5
FAST ON WHEELS (D5)
GC N/A
Av.Pos. (S55) 71st
Best Stage Performance: (20th) Odense - København #36 (S55)
MONTE ROSA TOUR (D5)
GC - N/A
Av.Pos - (S54) 84th
Best Stage Performance:(S54) 3rd Genève - Genève #41
ORYX (D6)
Best GC: N/A
Best Av. Place: (S57) 118
Best Stage Perf: (S57) 7th St. Oshakati – Namutoni #16
CESKO (D6)
GC: N/A
Av.Pos. S55 70th
Best Stage Performance: S55 18th Bratislava TT #7
CUP OF FOUR RIVERS (D7)
GC: N/A
Av.Pos: S52 - 31st
Best Stage Performance: 27th Duna - Körös #4
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cheers!
a real writer, amazing
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