Part of the British racing calendar since 2005, the Tour of the Reservoir has been a rare (and valued) novelty on the domestic scene over the years: a stage race. The UK has been sorely lacking in stage races at the National A and UCI 2.2 level for some time, so whilst only two days long, the race provides domestic teams with a rare stage racing experience on home roads. Based around the Derwent Reservoir in County Durham, this year’s event featured the usual mix of British Continental and elite teams.
The first stage Stage involved 127 km of racing to the north and south of the Derwent Reservoir. The Blanchland loop to the south was tackled twice and featured the day’s main challenge: a four kilometre climb to Meadows Edge on exposed roads. A short punchy climb up to the finish line added a final test for the leading riders.
The racing was aggressive and uncontrolled from the gun. Various moves went off the front but the main move went after about 20 km and involved 10 riders: Chris Latham, Adam Kenway (both Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK), Jordan Peacock (Spirit Tifosi), Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis), Will Bjergfelt, Ben Hardy (both SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Scott Auld (Ribble Pro Cycling), Callum MacLeod (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes), Damien Clayton and (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) Ben Healy (Team Wiggins Le Col).
The break was over 9 minutes clear at one point. The reaction behind led to the peloton splintering into pieces. A chasing group of 16 riders eventually reeled the break back, creating a 26 man lead group. The 16 included Jacob Scott, James Shaw, Ed Laverack (all SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Pro Cycling), Thomas Mein (Tarteletto – Isorex), Mark Christian (Team Wiggins Le Col), Dylan Kerfoot-Robson, Chris McGlinchey, Ali Slater (all Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK), Dan Pearson, Ollie Wood, Max Stedman, Matt Bostock (all Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) Matt Holmes, Tom Moses (both Madison Genesis) and Joe Evans (Saint Piran).
Despite several attempted moves from this group, none stuck, so it came down to a sprint on the final uphill climb. Ollie Wood took the win, his first big road victory since the Ryedale Grand Prix in 2017. Jacob Scott and 2018 Tour of the Reservoir winner Tom Moses rounded out the podium.
Stage 2
Starting and finishing in Consett, the second stage was significantly longer at 177km. The route featured similar terrain to the first stage, with riders taken on loops both north and south of the Reservoir. This time, Meadows Edge was reached in the opposite direction to day one; a longer but less steep rise.
As with stage 1, the racing was aggressive all day, with various breaks going throughout the race. An attack from Pete Williams (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling) midway through the race was one of the most notable. He was joined by our journal contributor Ed Laverack, Ben Healy and Chris McGlinchley. The four never got much more than a lead of a minute though, as a group of around 15 riders chased.
James Shaw, Matt Holmes and Mark Christian then bridged across to form a lead group of 5 with Laverack and Healy. They were chased closely behind by another 5: Steve Lampier, Will Harper (both Saint Piran), Max Stedman, Dan Pearson and Ali Slater. The two groups eventually came together to battle it out for stage win honours.
Ed Laverack led things out, and it was his teammate James Shaw who edged the win, inches ahead of Matt Holmes. Steve Lampier finished 3rd. Shaw also took the overall win, with the GC podium completed by Holmes and Mark Christian.
WATCH 📺 the final 1KM of the men’s Tour of the Reservoir! 🌊
— HSBC UK | National Road Series (@NatRoadSeries) June 24, 2019
What we learned
Scott Auld coming back to form. It’s been a long way back for the Ribble Pro Cycling rider after his horror crash in February, but 10th overall at the Tour of the Reservoir showed that he is back in fine shape. Let’s hope he gets plenty more opportunities to shine in the second half of the season.
Wood reminds us he is still one to watch on the road. Ollie Wood has his sights set on track success at the Tokyo Olympics, but with his stage 1 victory he reminded he still has the road talent that saw him take 4th place in the U23 world road race championships in 2017.
SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling show great team strength. One of their strongest riders this season, Isaac Mundy, recently left to join Richardsons-Trek, and there has been the odd rumour of team disunity. But there was no evidence of any issues on the road, as SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling put on an impressive display of team strength and coherence at the weekend. Pete Williams, Ben Hardy, Ed Laverack, William Bjergfelt and Jacob Scott all shone and the team provided excellent support to James Shaw throughout. He was quick to praise to his teammates’ efforts after he crossed the line on stage 2.
An obvious pick, but as we said in our Circuit of the Mendips report, it was only a matter of time before James Shaw took a win, such has been his consistency and aggression this season. He was once again a chief provocateur throughout the race and has surely done enough now to prove he is well worthy of another shot at the World Tour in 2020.
Looking Ahead
The domestic riders will now turn their attentions to the National Road Championships in Norfolk this week. The time trials will be contested on Thursday, while the new national road race champions will be crowned on Sunday. The National Road Series then resumes on 7 July with the Beaumont Trophy.
Highlights of the Tour of the Reservoir will be shown on Eurosport. Timings tbc
Featured photo: James York / https://www.jamesyorkphoto.com/bike-race-photography
Part of the British racing calendar since 2005, the Tour of the Reservoir has been a rare (and valued) novelty on the domestic scene over the years: a stage race. The UK has been sorely lacking in stage races at the National A and UCI 2.2 level for some time, so whilst only two days long, the race provides domestic teams with a rare stage racing experience on home roads. Based around the Derwent Reservoir in County Durham, this year’s event featured the usual mix of British Continental and elite teams.
Photo: James York / https://www.jamesyorkphoto.com/bike-race-photography
Stage 1
The first stage Stage involved 127 km of racing to the north and south of the Derwent Reservoir. The Blanchland loop to the south was tackled twice and featured the day’s main challenge: a four kilometre climb to Meadows Edge on exposed roads. A short punchy climb up to the finish line added a final test for the leading riders.
The racing was aggressive and uncontrolled from the gun. Various moves went off the front but the main move went after about 20 km and involved 10 riders: Chris Latham, Adam Kenway (both Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK), Jordan Peacock (Spirit Tifosi), Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis), Will Bjergfelt, Ben Hardy (both SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Scott Auld (Ribble Pro Cycling), Callum MacLeod (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes), Damien Clayton and (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) Ben Healy (Team Wiggins Le Col).
The break was over 9 minutes clear at one point. The reaction behind led to the peloton splintering into pieces. A chasing group of 16 riders eventually reeled the break back, creating a 26 man lead group. The 16 included Jacob Scott, James Shaw, Ed Laverack (all SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Pro Cycling), Thomas Mein (Tarteletto – Isorex), Mark Christian (Team Wiggins Le Col), Dylan Kerfoot-Robson, Chris McGlinchey, Ali Slater (all Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK), Dan Pearson, Ollie Wood, Max Stedman, Matt Bostock (all Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) Matt Holmes, Tom Moses (both Madison Genesis) and Joe Evans (Saint Piran).
Despite several attempted moves from this group, none stuck, so it came down to asprint on the final uphill climb. Ollie Wood took the win, his first big road victory since the Ryedale Grand Prix in 2017. Jacob Scott and 2018 Tour of the Reservoir winner Tom Moses rounded out the podium.
Stage 2
Starting and finishing in Consett, the second stage was significantly longer at 177km. The route featured similar terrain to the first stage, with riders taken on loops both north and south of the Reservoir. This time, Meadows Edge was reached in the opposite directionto day one; a longer but less steep rise.
As with stage 1, the racing was aggressive all day, with various breaks going throughout the race. An attack from Pete Williams (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling) midway through the race was one of the most notable. He was joined by our journal contributor Ed Laverack, Ben Healy and Chris McGlinchley. The four never got much more than a lead of a minute though, as a group of around 15 riders chased.
James Shaw, Matt Holmes and Mark Christian then bridged across to form a lead group of 5 with Laverack and Healy. They were chased closely behind by another 5: Steve Lampier, Will Harper (both Saint Piran), Max Stedman, Dan Pearson and Ali Slater. The two groups eventually came together to battle it out for stage win honours.
Ed Laverack led things out, and it was his teammate James Shaw who edged the win, inches ahead of Matt Holmes. Steve Lampier finished 3rd. Shaw also took the overall win, with the GC podium completed by Holmes and Mark Christian.
What we learned
Photo: James York / https://www.jamesyorkphoto.com/bike-race-photography
Rider of the race
An obvious pick, but as we said in our Circuit of the Mendips report, it was only a matter of time before James Shaw took a win, such has been his consistency and aggression this season. He was once again a chief provocateur throughout the race and has surely done enough now to prove he is well worthy of another shot at the World Tour in 2020.
Looking Ahead
The domestic riders will now turn their attentions to the National Road Championships in Norfolk this week. The time trials will be contested on Thursday, while the new national road race champions will be crowned on Sunday. The National Road Series then resumes on 7 July with the Beaumont Trophy.
Highlights of the Tour of the Reservoir will be shown on Eurosport. Timings tbc
Standings
Tour of Britain qualification standings here.
National Road Series standings here.
Results
Stage 1
Stage 2
General classification
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.