With over 2,600m of climbing and a sawtooth profile, the race was, the new Lancaster Grand Prix billed itself as the UK’s answer to the Ardennes classics. It was no surprise therefore to see domestic puncheurs like Ian Bibby (Madison Genesis), James Shaw (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling) and Max Stedman (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) battling out for the top spot when the race hit the finishing stages.
Piecing together what happened on the day is tricky – there were relatively few social media updates about the action. But what we do know is that the race was perhaps less fragmented than might have been the case given the tough parcours.
The break of the day was made up of John Archibald (Ribble Pro Cycling), Edmund Bradbury (MEMIL Pro Cycling) and Cameron Jeffers (Saint Piran). The trio built up a lead of three minutes at one point. Behind them, Tom Mazzone (Spirit Tifosi) and Damian Clayton (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) attempted to bridge across, but didn’t make it. Jeffers then dropped back and the peloton gradually reeled in Archibald and Bradbury.
Picture by Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com – 09/06/2019 – HSBC UK National Road Series – Lancaster GP – Lancaster, England – Jeffers of Saint Piran Cycling Team, Bradbury of Memil Pro Cycling and Archibald of Ribble Pro Cycling ride in the breakaway
This set things up for fireworks on the final, 9%, climb of Conder Bottoms, just before the run-in to the finish to Williamson Park. James Shaw attacked, pulling with him a select group of riders.
Coming into the last kilometre, a group of seven riders were left to battle it out for the win, including Bibby, Shaw, Dan Tulett (Team Wiggins Le Col), Stedman, Dan Pearson (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes), Steve Lampier (Saint Piran) and Ali Slater (Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK).
There’s a little chicane with about 200 metres to go. I was absolutely flat out but I just knew if I could get into there it would be pretty tough for people to come past, so my finish line was that chicane
Ian Bibby, Madison Genesis
It was local rider Bibby that made it first to the chicane on the finishing straight with 200 metres to go, and he held on to beat Shaw, Tulett and Stedman to the line.
— Lancaster City Council (@LancasterCC) June 9, 2019
What we learned
Ian Bibby still has it. Probably the most consistently successful rider within the domestic peloton, Bibby had had a relatively quiet road season until now, by his own high standards (7th at the East Cleveland Klondike Grand Prix was his previous best performance). But he showed he’s still as dangerous as ever, particularly on a lumpy course such as this. He’ll be a rider to watch in the next two rounds of the National Road Series (Circuit of the Mendips and the Tour of the Reservoir).
Shaw knocking on door. James Shaw continued his remarkably impressive season with second place in Lancaster. 5th at the Tour de Yorkshire, 4th at the Tour de Loir et Cher, it can’t be long before he gets a win if he continues his fine form.
Saint Piran continue to mix it with the best. In no small part down to Steve Lampier’s remarkable consistency, Saint Piran have shown throughout 2019 that they can compete with their Continental rivals when it comes to domestic racing. Steve Lampier now leads the individual National Road Series standings and his team sit above Vitus and Ribble in the team standings. Not bad for an elite team.
Rider of the Day
Many of the ‘usual suspects’ filled the top of the results sheet in Lancaster. Two names stand out however. One is James Jenkins (Richardsons Trek) with an impressive 10th place. The other is Dan Tulett (Team Wiggins Le Col). Tulett’s primary focus until now has been cyclocross. But this season, the 19-year-old has looked very accomplished in his first full season on the road. 3rd at Lancaster, 11th at the Klondike GP and 8th in the youth classification at the Votla ao Alentejo, together with a string of solid performances in UCI stage races, prove that Tulett has what it takes to make a success of it on the road.
Looking Ahead
Next weekend we see another brand new race on the domestic racing calendar: the Circuit of the Mendips, which starts and finishes in Bristol.
Highlights of the Lancaster GP will be shown on Eurosport. Timings tbc
With over 2,600m of climbing and a sawtooth profile, the race was, the new Lancaster Grand Prix billed itself as the UK’s answer to the Ardennes classics. It was no surprise therefore to see domestic puncheurs like Ian Bibby (Madison Genesis), James Shaw (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling) and Max Stedman (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) battling out for the top spot when the race hit the finishing stages.
Piecing together what happened on the day is tricky – there were relatively few social media updates about the action. But what we do know is that the race was perhaps less fragmented than might have been the case given the tough parcours.
The break of the day was made up of John Archibald (Ribble Pro Cycling), Edmund Bradbury (MEMIL Pro Cycling) and Cameron Jeffers (Saint Piran). The trio built up a lead of three minutes at one point. Behind them, Tom Mazzone (Spirit Tifosi) and Damian Clayton (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) attempted to bridge across, but didn’t make it. Jeffers then dropped back and the peloton gradually reeled in Archibald and Bradbury.
This set things up for fireworks on the final, 9%, climb of Conder Bottoms, just before the run-in to the finish to Williamson Park. James Shaw attacked, pulling with him a select group of riders.
Coming into the last kilometre, a group of seven riders were left to battle it out for the win, including Bibby, Shaw, Dan Tulett (Team Wiggins Le Col), Stedman, Dan Pearson (Canyondhb p/b Bloor Homes), Steve Lampier (Saint Piran) and Ali Slater (Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK).
It was local rider Bibby that made it first to the chicane on the finishing straight with 200 metres to go, and he held on to beat Shaw, Tulett and Stedman to the line.
What we learned
Rider of the Day
Many of the ‘usual suspects’ filled the top of the results sheet in Lancaster. Two names stand out however. One is James Jenkins (Richardsons Trek) with an impressive 10th place. The other is Dan Tulett (Team Wiggins Le Col). Tulett’s primary focus until now has been cyclocross. But this season, the 19-year-old has looked very accomplished in his first full season on the road. 3rd at Lancaster, 11th at the Klondike GP and 8th in the youth classification at the Votla ao Alentejo, together with a string of solid performances in UCI stage races, prove that Tulett has what it takes to make a success of it on the road.
Looking Ahead
Next weekend we see another brand new race on the domestic racing calendar: the Circuit of the Mendips, which starts and finishes in Bristol.
Highlights of the Lancaster GP will be shown on Eurosport. Timings tbc
Standings
Tour of Britain qualification standings here.
National Road Series standings here.
Results
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