Rory Townsend (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) claimed his third National Road Series win of the season at one the UK’s most prestigious races on Sunday, the Beaumont Trophy.
The first half of the race was marked by a breakaway consisting of recent Richardsons-Trek RT recruit Isaac Mundy, Jordan Peacock (Spirit Tifosi), local rider Thomas Mein (Tarteletto – Isorex) and Rob Scott (Team Wiggins Le Col).
So far, so normal. Midway through, however, the race was halted after a tractor had inadvertently made its way onto the course, part blocking the road (more on this later). After some confusion and delay, the race was restarted. With less than 40 km to go, National Road Series leader Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) attempted to bridge across to the break, but by 30 kms the race was all back together again.
HSBC UK National Road Series The Beaumont Trophy Stamfordham, Northumberland – The peloton heads up the Ryals for the third time Photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Not long after, a group of seven formed involving John Archibald and Dan Bigham (both Ribble Pro Cycling), Pete Williams (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Callum MacLeod and Townsend (both Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes), Damien Clayton (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) and Mark Christian (Team Wiggins Le Col). The group maintained their lead over the bunch behind all the way to the finish.
With just under a kilometre to go Dan Bigham struck out early. But he was chased down and joined by Townsend and Williams. Townsend’s sprinting prowess again scored him a win, with Williams taking second and a fast finishing Clayton in third.
WATCH 📺 the final 1KM of the men’s Beaumont Trophy! 🏆
— HSBC UK | National Road Series (@NatRoadSeries) July 7, 2019
Talking points
#tractorgate. Social media was ablaze after the race with different versions of events about what happened when the tractor interrupted the race.
The view from some Madison Genesis riders was that they had split the field to form a lead group of 15-20 riders before the race had reached the tractor, and they continued to ride hard for several kilometres afterwards to solidify their advantage. It was only then they were told the race was being neutralised. The peloton was then brought back together for the restart – with no time advantage given to the riders in the lead split – much to the frustration of Madison Genesis.
The other view, put by riders both in the lead split and those caught in the bunch behind, is the race hadn’t split pre-tractor. Madison had put it in the gutter and strung the race out, but it was the tractor itself, as well as poorly positioned commissaires‘ bikes, that slowed – even halted – much of the bunch, causing the split. The commissaires then neutralised the riders in the bunch behind, but it was some time before the same was done for the lead riders.
Whatever the truth – and we’re very deliberately avoiding pronouncing our own judgements (!) – it clearly sounded pretty chaotic. Lessons will need to be learned in order to minimise the risk of similar events happening again. Anyway, with that out of the way, on to the more positive stuff…
Team of the season? It’s only July and there is plenty of the season left, but Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes already have a solid claim to ‘domestic team of the season’. Four National Road Series victories, a Tour of the Reservoir stage win, two National Circuit Series wins, the Tour Series, and three UCI race wins is an impressive haul and it’s hard to argue any domestic team comes close in terms of results.
Rory Townsend’s on fire. If Canyon are ‘team of the season’, then Townsend has to be a contender for domesticrider of the season. His palmares this season already includes three National Road Series wins and a Tour Series win. Even more impressively he’s bagged four UCI race podiums. He finished third in Classic Loire Atlantique (1.1), Heistse Pijl (1.1) and the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic (1.2), and second in the Memorial van Coningsloo (1.2). It feels like only a matter of time until he grabs a first UCI win. A step up to Pro Continental level, or even the World Tour, is surely not out of the question for t24-year-old.
Damien who? Townsend’s success this season doesn’t end with his own results. His coached rider Damien Clayton took a surprise podium at Beaumont, racing smartly to finish third. This is only Clayton’s third full road racing season, his first with Andy Moore Autocentres Racing. He still holds down a full-time job too. He started the season with a bang, taking 2nd at the early season Perfs Pedal race and has ridden solidly all season in the National Road Series, often riding without teammates. His coach may not be the only rider stepping up a level next season.
Damian Clayton. Photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Ribble revival. It’s probably fair to say that Ribble Pro Cycling had a relatively slow start to the National Road Series. The lowest-ranked Continental team in the series standings, they were still searching for their first big result this season. Things have turned around fast for them in the last two weeks however. John Archibald’s stunning performance at the nationals was followed by a strong performance by Archibald and his Huub-Wattbike partner Dan Bigham. Both made it into the final selection, with Bigham first to attack in the final kilometre only to just miss out on a podium place to Clayton.
The return of Alex Peters. The return of former Madison Genesis and Team Sky rider Alex Peters to elite-level racing was a welcome sight. The 25 year-old from London had taken time out from cycling for the last two years, but recently popped up to take a win a Hog Hill. By all accounts he had a strong ride at the Beaumont, almost bridging across solo to the winning move of the day. Let’s hope we see him with a race number on again soon.
What’s next?
The National Road Series continues this Sunday, 14 July, with the Stockton Grand Prix.
TV
Highlights of the Beaumont Trophy will be shown on Eurosport on Wednesday 10 July, 9.30pm.
The race in brief
Rory Townsend (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) claimed his third National Road Series win of the season at one the UK’s most prestigious races on Sunday, the Beaumont Trophy.
The first half of the race was marked by a breakaway consisting of recent Richardsons-Trek RT recruit Isaac Mundy, Jordan Peacock (Spirit Tifosi), local rider Thomas Mein (Tarteletto – Isorex) and Rob Scott (Team Wiggins Le Col).
So far, so normal. Midway through, however, the race was halted after a tractor had inadvertently made its way onto the course, part blocking the road (more on this later). After some confusion and delay, the race was restarted. With less than 40 km to go, National Road Series leader Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) attempted to bridge across to the break, but by 30 kms the race was all back together again.
– The peloton heads up the Ryals for the third time
Photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Not long after, a group of seven formed involving John Archibald and Dan Bigham (both Ribble Pro Cycling), Pete Williams (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Callum MacLeod and Townsend (both Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes), Damien Clayton (Andy Moore Autocentres Racing) and Mark Christian (Team Wiggins Le Col). The group maintained their lead over the bunch behind all the way to the finish.
With just under a kilometre to go Dan Bigham struck out early. But he was chased down and joined by Townsend and Williams. Townsend’s sprinting prowess again scored him a win, with Williams taking second and a fast finishing Clayton in third.
Talking points
#tractorgate. Social media was ablaze after the race with different versions of events about what happened when the tractor interrupted the race.
The view from some Madison Genesis riders was that they had split the field to form a lead group of 15-20 riders before the race had reached the tractor, and they continued to ride hard for several kilometres afterwards to solidify their advantage. It was only then they were told the race was being neutralised. The peloton was then brought back together for the restart – with no time advantage given to the riders in the lead split – much to the frustration of Madison Genesis.
The other view, put by riders both in the lead split and those caught in the bunch behind, is the race hadn’t split pre-tractor. Madison had put it in the gutter and strung the race out, but it was the tractor itself, as well as poorly positionedcommissaires ‘ bikes, that slowed – even halted – much of the bunch, causing the split. The commissaires then neutralised the riders in the bunch behind, but it was some time before the same was done for the lead riders.
Whatever the truth – and we’re very deliberately avoiding pronouncing our own judgements (!) – it clearly sounded pretty chaotic. Lessons will need to be learned in order to minimise the risk of similar events happening again. Anyway, with that out of the way, on to the more positive stuff…
Team of the season? It’s only July and there is plenty of the season left, but Canyondhb p/b Bloor Homes already have a solid claim to ‘domestic team of the season’. Four National Road Series victories, a Tour of the Reservoir stage win, two National Circuit Series wins, the Tour Series, and three UCI race wins is an impressive haul and it’s hard to argue any domestic team comes close in terms of results.
Rory Townsend’s on fire. If Canyonare ‘team of the season’, then Townsend has to be a contender for domestic rider of the season. His palmares this season already includes three National Road Series wins and a Tour Series win. Even more impressively he’s bagged four UCI race podiums. He finished third in Classic Loire Atlantique (1.1), Heistse Pijl (1.1) and the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic (1.2), and second in the Memorial van Coningsloo (1.2). It feels like only a matter of time until he grabs a first UCI win. A step up to Pro Continental level, or even the World Tour, is surely not out of the question for t24-year-old.
Damien who? Townsend’s success this season doesn’t end with his own results. His coached rider Damien Clayton took a surprise podium at Beaumont, racing smartly to finish third. This is only Clayton’s third full road racing season, his first with Andy Moore Autocentres Racing. He still holds down a full-time job too. He started the season with a bang, taking 2nd at the early season Perfs Pedal race and has ridden solidly all season in the National Road Series, often riding without teammates. His coach may not be the only rider stepping up a level next season.
Ribble revival. It’s probably fair to say that Ribble Pro Cycling had a relatively slow start to the National Road Series. The lowest-ranked Continental team in the series standings, they were still searching for their first big result this season. Things have turned around fast for them in the last two weeks however. John Archibald’s stunning performance at the nationals was followed by a strong performance by Archibald and his Huub-Wattbike partner Dan Bigham. Both made it into the final selection, with Bigham first to attack in the final kilometre only to just miss out on a podium place to Clayton.
The return of Alex Peters. The return of former Madison Genesis and Team Sky rider Alex Peters to elite-level racing was a welcome sight. The 25 year-old from London had taken time out from cycling for the last two years, but recently popped up to take a win a Hog Hill. By all accounts he had a strong ride at the Beaumont, almost bridging across solo to the winning move of the day. Let’s hope we see him with a race number on again soon.
What’s next?
The National Road Series continues this Sunday, 14 July, with the Stockton Grand Prix.
TV
Highlights of the Beaumont Trophy will be shown on Eurosport on Wednesday 10 July, 9.30pm.
Standings
Tour of Britain qualification standings here.
National Road Series standings here.
Results
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