Joshua Whitehead (Team PB Performance) took the biggest victory of his career to win the Lancaster Grand Prix, the first round of the men’s National Road Series.
Featured photo:SWPix.com
Race summary
Riding his first-ever National A road race, Josh Whitehead of Team PB Performance outgunned the UCI Continental opposition on a day when the elite teams came to the fore.
The race took in eleven laps of a hilly circuit to the southeast of Lancaster featuring three climbs. The race was hard from the off with Canyon dhb SunGod and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling setting a tough pace. Despite early breakaway attempts from riders including Toby Jarvis (Team PB Performance) and Jordan Peacock (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor), it wasn’t until lap five that the first clear break formed, with Joey Walker (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Ryan Christensen (Canyon dhb SunGod) creating a gap. The pair’s lead was always a slender one and they were reeled back in.
By lap seven, however, a major break had established itself, with Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod), Toby Barnes (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Michael Chadwick (Clancy Briggs Academy) building a 39 second lead over the peloton. With three laps remaining, Scott and Barnes had dropped Chadwick and extended their advantage to 1’40”.
The winning break (from left to right): Reece Wood, Isaac Peatfield, Josh Whitehead, Jacob Scott, Finn Crockett and Toby Barnes. Photo: James York
Behind, Josh Whitehead sensed a lull in the whittled-down peloton and attacked, taking Isaac Peatfield (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) with him. Reece Wood (Canyon dhb SunGod) and Finn Crockett (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) came across to them, with all four bridging to Scott and Barnes. Despite attacks on the final climb, Whitehead, Scott, Peatfield and Crockett were still all together as they approached the final kilometre, with Whitehead coming round them to take the win. Scott and Crockett rounded out the podium.
Peatfield, Ben Granger (Zappi Racing Team), Christensen, George Kimber (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor) and Samuel Beckett (Wales Racing Academy) all came in ahead of the reduced peloton, which was led in by Leon Mazzone (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT).
Talking points
Whitehead the wonder boy. Josh Whitehead took a stunning victory in his first ever National A road race. He may have been an underdog but his result was not completely out of the blue. The 21-year-old had recently bested Toby Barnes, Jacob Scott and co at ‘The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre…) Races’, where he won in similar style. He certainly won’t be given underdog status at next weekend’s Ryedale Grand Prix now.
U23s shine. Seven of the top ten riders were under-23s – Whitehead, Crockett, Peatfield, Granger, Kimber, Beckett and Tulett – showing that there is a new post-pandemic generation of riders ready to compete for honours in the UK’s top domestic road races.
Elite teams to the fore. We said in our preview that the race would be an opportunity for the elite teams and boy did they take it. Canyon dhb SunGod’s dominant performance not withstanding, this was a race animated by elite team riders. Crimson Orientation Marketing RT in particular were active throughout and placed three riders in the top thirteen. In the National Road Series team standings, 6 of the top 7 teams are elite teams, with the UCI Continental teams – Canyon dhb SunGod aside – barely figuring.
Josh Whitehead (Team PB Performance). Photo: James York
Standings
The men’s National Road Series standings can be found here.
Joshua Whitehead (Team PB Performance) took the biggest victory of his career to win the Lancaster Grand Prix, the first round of the men’s National Road Series.
Featured photo: SWPix.com
Race summary
Riding his first-ever National A road race, Josh Whitehead of Team PB Performance outgunned the UCI Continental opposition on a day when the elite teams came to the fore.
The race took in eleven laps of a hilly circuit to the southeast of Lancaster featuring three climbs. The race was hard from the off with Canyon dhb SunGod and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling setting a tough pace. Despite early breakaway attempts from riders including Toby Jarvis (Team PB Performance) and Jordan Peacock (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor), it wasn’t until lap five that the first clear break formed, with Joey Walker (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Ryan Christensen (Canyon dhb SunGod) creating a gap. The pair’s lead was always a slender one and they were reeled back in.
By lap seven, however, a major break had established itself, with Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod), Toby Barnes (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) and Michael Chadwick (Clancy Briggs Academy) building a 39 second lead over the peloton. With three laps remaining, Scott and Barnes had dropped Chadwick and extended their advantage to 1’40”.
Behind, Josh Whitehead sensed a lull in the whittled-down peloton and attacked, taking Isaac Peatfield (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) with him. Reece Wood (Canyon dhb SunGod) and Finn Crockett (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) came across to them, with all four bridging to Scott and Barnes. Despite attacks on the final climb, Whitehead, Scott, Peatfield and Crockett were still all together as they approached the final kilometre, with Whitehead coming round them to take the win. Scott and Crockett rounded out the podium.
Peatfield, Ben Granger (Zappi Racing Team), Christensen, George Kimber (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor) and Samuel Beckett (Wales Racing Academy) all came in ahead of the reduced peloton, which was led in by Leon Mazzone (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT).
Talking points
Standings
The men’s National Road Series standings can be found here.
Results
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