Megan Barker (CAMS-Basso Bikes) and Reece Wood (Canyon dhb SunGod) won the second and final rounds of the National Circuit Series at the Ilkley Cycle Races.
Featured photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com – 23/07/2021 – British Cycling – HSBC UK National Men’s Circuit Series – Men’s Ilkley Grand Prix – Ilkley, Yorkshire, England
Ilkley Cinema Women’s Grand Prix: race summary
The women’s race was a tough, attritional affair. The ramp of Riddings Road quickly took its toll and the bunch was whittled down to around 15 riders quite early on.
CAMS-Basso Bikes were well-represented in that group, so it was no surprise when two of their riders – Megan Barker and Illi Gardner – were in the first meaningful break. They were joined by Otley Grand Prix winner El King (Team Breeze) and Beth Morrow (Storey Racing).
The four worked well together and quickly pulled out a solid lead. The pace they set on the climbs was too tough for King, however, who was dropped after a few laps. With the leading trio’s lead stretching out to over 30 seconds by the half way stage, it quickly became apparent that the winner would come from these three riders.
Barker made a probing attack after the halfway mark but was quickly reeled back in. The three then stayed together all the way to the finish. Morrow and Barker edged clear on the final descent back to the finish, with Barker edging the win in the sprint. Gardner finished third, with Jess Finney leading in the chase group to complete a 1-3-4 for CAMS-Basso Bikes, enough to seal the series win in the team competition. El King came in 6th to take the individual National Circuit Series win.
Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com – 23/07/2021 – British Cycling – HSBC UK National Women’s Circuit Series – Women’s Ilkley Grand Prix – Ilkley, Yorkshire, England – Megan Barker of CAMS-Basso wins
Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix: race summary
If CAMS-Basso Bikes were the form team in the women’s race, Canyon dhb SunGod absolutely crushed the race men’s race.
After brief forays from riders like Josh Tarling (FlandersColor Gallo), Canyon dhb SunGod quickly set about ripping the field to shreds with a dominant team display. Setting a fierce pace, they pulled an eleven-man group clear of the race, dropping Series leader Matt Gibson and his Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling teammates in the process.
The lead group included no less than six Canyon dhb SunGod riders: Matt Bostock, Jacob Scott, Rob Scott, Reece Wood, Jim Brown and Thomas Mein. With them were Ollie Peckover and Alex Peters (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Joey Walker and Leon Mazzone (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Ollie Rees (TRINITY Racing).
With Canyon forcing the pace at the front it wasn’t long before the lead group started to splinter. First Thomas Mein was dispatched off the front of the group in an early test of the chasers’ resolve before being reeled back in after a handful of laps alone at the front.
There were various attempts to get clear. Thomas Mein got a good gap for a while before being closed down by Ollie Rees. Walker attacked and took Mein and Peters with him. But nothing stuck. But, as legs started to tire through repeated ascents of the wickedly steep Riddlings Road, Reece Wood put the lead group to the sword as he made his decisive move.Â
Riding clear of the pack – helped by his Canyon dhb SunGod team-mates becoming spoilers in any attempts to bridge the gap – Wood quickly opened up a gap of more than 10 seconds.
SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling’s Alex Peters and TRINITY Road Racing’s Oliver Rees made fruitless attempts to try and reel in Wood but ultimately the 23-year-old pulled off what is arguably the biggest success of his career to date as he cruised to victory in Ilkley. Behind, Canyon dhb SunGod rammed home their dominance taking a 1-2-3, with Jacob Scott second and Mein third. With teammate Rob Scott 6th, Wood’s victory also earned him the individual series win, on countback. Canyon dhb SunGod took a resounding team win the series.
Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com – 23/07/2021 – British Cycling – HSBC UK National Men’s Circuit Series – Men’s Ilkley Grand Prix – Ilkley, Yorkshire, England – Reece Wood
Talking points
Puncheurs’ delight. The course proved to be far tougher than the Otley circuit, favouring punchy riders. And with a technical course and tight bends, positioning was also crucial. If you weren’t at the front of the race from the off, you could easily miss the moves and wave goodbye to any race victory hopes. It made for entertaining racing worthy of the National Circuit Series, in front of enthusiastic crowds. We hope Ilkley retains its National A status in future years.
CAMS-Basso Bikes hit back. We said in our preview that UCI Continental team CAMS-Basso Bikes would have a point to prove after a disappointing outing in Otley. And boy did they do it. Aggressive from the off, they bullied the race from start to finish.
Reece Woodcomes of age. Reece Wood has always been a hugely talented bike rider. A fast finisher who can get over the lumpy stuff, he has regularly bagged strong results over the years. But his first National A road race win against a stellar domestic field is arguably his best result yet.
Megan Barker (CAMS-Basso Bikes) and Reece Wood (Canyon dhb SunGod) won the second and final rounds of the National Circuit Series at the Ilkley Cycle Races.
Featured photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com – 23/07/2021 – British Cycling – HSBC UK National Men’s Circuit Series – Men’s Ilkley Grand Prix – Ilkley, Yorkshire, England
Ilkley Cinema Women’s Grand Prix: race summary
The women’s race was a tough, attritional affair. The ramp of Riddings Road quickly took its toll and the bunch was whittled down to around 15 riders quite early on.
CAMS-Basso Bikes were well-represented in that group, so it was no surprise when two of their riders – Megan Barker and Illi Gardner – were in the first meaningful break. They were joined by Otley Grand Prix winner El King (Team Breeze) and Beth Morrow (Storey Racing).
The four worked well together and quickly pulled out a solid lead. The pace they set on the climbs was too tough for King, however, who was dropped after a few laps. With the leading trio’s lead stretching out to over 30 seconds by the half way stage, it quickly became apparent that the winner would come from these three riders.
Barker made a probing attack after the halfway mark but was quickly reeled back in. The three then stayed together all the way to the finish. Morrow and Barker edged clear on the final descent back to the finish, with Barker edging the win in the sprint. Gardner finished third, with Jess Finney leading in the chase group to complete a 1-3-4 for CAMS-Basso Bikes, enough to seal the series win in the team competition. El King came in 6th to take the individual National Circuit Series win.
Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix: race summary
If CAMS-Basso Bikes were the form team in the women’s race, Canyon dhb SunGod absolutely crushed the race men’s race.
After brief forays from riders like Josh Tarling (FlandersColor Gallo), Canyon dhb SunGod quickly set about ripping the field to shreds with a dominant team display. Setting a fierce pace, they pulled an eleven-man group clear of the race, dropping Series leader Matt Gibson and his Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling teammates in the process.
The lead group included no less than six Canyon dhb SunGod riders: Matt Bostock, Jacob Scott, Rob Scott, Reece Wood, Jim Brown and Thomas Mein. With them were Ollie Peckover and Alex Peters (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Joey Walker and Leon Mazzone (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Ollie Rees (TRINITY Racing).
With Canyon forcing the pace at the front it wasn’t long before the lead group started to splinter. First Thomas Mein was dispatched off the front of the group in an early test of the chasers’ resolve before being reeled back in after a handful of laps alone at the front.
There were various attempts to get clear. Thomas Mein got a good gap for a while before being closed down by Ollie Rees. Walker attacked and took Mein and Peters with him. But nothing stuck. But, as legs started to tire through repeated ascents of the wickedly steep Riddlings Road, Reece Wood put the lead group to the sword as he made his decisive move.Â
Riding clear of the pack – helped by his Canyon dhb SunGod team-mates becoming spoilers in any attempts to bridge the gap – Wood quickly opened up a gap of more than 10 seconds.
SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling’s Alex Peters and TRINITY Road Racing’s Oliver Rees made fruitless attempts to try and reel in Wood but ultimately the 23-year-old pulled off what is arguably the biggest success of his career to date as he cruised to victory in Ilkley. Behind, Canyon dhb SunGod rammed home their dominance taking a 1-2-3, with Jacob Scott second and Mein third. With teammate Rob Scott 6th, Wood’s victory also earned him the individual series win, on countback. Canyon dhb SunGod took a resounding team win the series.
Talking points
Standings
See the final series standings here.
Results
Ilkley Cinema Women’s Grand Prix
Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix
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