With a long neutral section out of the way, it was on the second lap of the race that the wind gradually prised a 13-strong group off the front. The group included journal contributor Tom Portsmouth (Carbonbike Discar Academy), veteran Yanto Barker (Onyx Racing Team), Samuel Painter (TBW23 Stuart Cycling) and Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling). The same impetus that had eked out their slender advantage began to rip things apart further on the climb and the group was down to 9, singled out in the gutter heading down the descent towards Shrewton.
One lap later, the pattern of the race was emerging with the front group nursing a 60-second advantage over a chasing pack led by Canyon dhb Sungod that threatened to pull the whole bunch apart as they approached the final lap.
As the bunch took the bell they were down to 24 riders but the gap had been cut to just 40 seconds and the race was finely poised. Kyffin, Painter and Barker managed to strike out away from the rest of the leaders on the final lap and came into the finish with enough time to finesse, with Kyffin blasting four seconds clear of Painter on the final slope to the line, with the bunch and remains of the breakaway all starting to come together in the final kilometre. 41-year-old Barker came in third to complete a fine comeback to racing in his first road race since 2017. Joshua Giddings (Z Junior RT) was the best-placed junior, finishing seventh.
The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
Less than two hours after the first men’s National B road race of the year had finished, the second began. The fifth edition of the men’s Chitterne Road Race took place in horrid weather conditions, with riders facing wind and rain from the off.
With a long neutral section out of the way, it was on the second lap of the race that the wind gradually prised a 13-strong group off the front. The group included journal contributor Tom Portsmouth (Carbonbike Discar Academy), veteran Yanto Barker (Onyx Racing Team), Samuel Painter (TBW23 Stuart Cycling) and Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling). The same impetus that had eked out their slender advantage began to rip things apart further on the climb and the group was down to 9, singled out in the gutter heading down the descent towards Shrewton.
One lap later, the pattern of the race was emerging with the front group nursing a 60-second advantage over a chasing pack led by Canyon dhb Sungod that threatened to pull the whole bunch apart as they approached the final lap.
As the bunch took the bell they were down to 24 riders but the gap had been cut to just 40 seconds and the race was finely poised. Kyffin, Painter and Barker managed to strike out away from the rest of the leaders on the final lap and came into the finish with enough time to finesse, with Kyffin blasting four seconds clear of Painter on the final slope to the line, with the bunch and remains of the breakaway all starting to come together in the final kilometre. 41-year-old Barker came in third to complete a fine comeback to racing in his first road race since 2017. Joshua Giddings (Z Junior RT) was the best-placed junior, finishing seventh.
Earlier that day, Lucy Lee (Brother UK – LDN) had taken the win over Zoe Backstedt (Tormans-Acrog) in the Regional A women’s race.
Featured photo: Hugh McManus / Canyon dhb SunGod
Results
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