The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
After the Perfs Pedal road race opened the British road racing season in February, national road races are arriving thick and fast this month. This Sunday (13 March), two National B road races take place, the Evesham Vale road race and the Jock Wadley Memorial. The day before, we’ll see the 60th edition of the treasured Eddie Soens Memorial, a closed-circuit Regional C+ race held at Aintree. And on top of that, three of the British men’s UCI Continental teams, plus Great Britain, will be lining up at the Dorpenomloop Rucphen. It promises to be a busy weekend for men’s domestic teams.
All of these are important races in their own right, but here we focus on the Jock Wadley Memorial which, at 134 kilometres, is the first ‘full length’ road race of the season in the UK.
What is it?
The Jock Wadley Memorial is a ‘National B‘ road race promoted by Colchester Rovers CC. It takes place by Abberton Reservoir in Essex one of Europe’s top wetland sites.
This is the 38th edition of the race, which was created in Jock Wadley’s memory. Wadley was a pioneering cycle racing journalist who helped opened British fans’ eyes to Continental bike racing during his time at publications such as The Bicycle, Sporting Cyclist and International Cycle Sport.
Past editions of the race attracted stellar fields, similar in standard to a modern National Road Series race with UCI Continental teams sending some of their strongest riders to compete. As such, the list of past winners is impressive, including names such as Ben Luckwell, Tony Gibb, Malcolm Elliot, Luke Rowe, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke and two-time winner Steele von Hoff. Another two-time winner is Andy Lyons, now manager of the Richardsons-Trek DAS team; as a home team they should be well motivated to repeat their manager’s feats.
Steele von Hoff (One Pro Cycling) wins the 35th Jock Wadley Memorial in 2017. Photo: Trevor Mould
The route
Starting and finishing by the village of Layer-de-la-Haye, just south of Colchester, the race takes in 12 laps of Abberton Reservoir.
Each lap is 11.4 kilometres long, and takes in just 67 metres of elevation gain. Flat? Yes. Easy? No. With twisty narrow lanes, crosswinds, unrelenting drags, a little kicker under a kilometre from the finish, and 80 riders all raring to go after their off-season, the racing should be fearsome. Expect the bunch to be whittled down steadily on each lap, with a solo win as likely as a reduced bunch sprint.
Contenders
At the time of writing, the startlist is provisional only, and subject to change.
Last update: 11 March 2022
With UCI Continental teams competing in Europe this weekend, this year’s field is not as strong as some past editions, but the racing should be no less fierce. In fact, it could well make for a more chaotic, unpredictable affair.
On paper, the strongest team is probably local squad Richardsons-Trek DAS. Our former journal contributor James Jenkins is our pick here. Stolen Goat field a full team of six too, and in defending champion Thomas Heal, they have someone who knows how to win this race.
It is arguably the lone operators that offer the biggest threat. Former-pro Alex Richardson was flying at the Perfs Pedal road race before a slow puncture stymied his chances, and we wouldn’t bet against a solo win for him here.
Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) is without teammates but has the firepower to repeat his exploits from the Chitterne Road Race. Tom Portsmouth (Mini Discar Cycling Academy) and Lewis Bulley (Indulek-Doltcini-Dento) are both accustomed to Belgian-style racing and will relish racing in the gutter if the wind blows.
Others to watch include veterans Yanto Barker (Le Col) and Chris McNamara (Nunn-Sigmasports London RT), Jordan Peacock (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor) and Matthew Houlberg (Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT). The latter was seventh at the recent Perfs Pedal race.
Provisional startlist
Startlist as published on 11 March 2022.
#
Rider
Cat
Team/Club
1
Tom PORTSMOUTH
1
Mini Discar Cycling Team
2
Dexter MANSEL-THOMAS
2
Colchester Rovers CC
3
Henry JAMES
1
Crawley Wheelers RT
4
Kevin NELSON
1
Crawley Wheelers RT
5
Morris BACON
1
DAP CC
6
Harley MATTHEWS
E
DAP CC
7
Andrew TAYLOR
1
DAP CC
8
Mark RICHARDS
1
DAP CC
9
James AMBROSE-PARISH
1
Embark-Bikestrong
10
Tobias DAHLHAUS
2
Foran CC
11
Monte GUERRINI
1
Foran CC
12
Thomas QUAID
2
Foran CC
13
Thomas SPRIGBETT
2
Foran CC
14
Louis DIGANCE
2
Hart Performance Coaching
15
Paul HART
2
Hart Performance Coaching
16
Lewis BULLEY
E
Indulek-Doltcini-Dento
17
William ABBOTT
2
Inflite
18
Sean DAWSON
2
Inflite
19
Preslav DIMITROV
2
Inflite
20
Andrew KERR
2
Inflite
21
Eliot WARD
E
Inflite
22
Marcus BURNETT
1
Kuwait Pro CT
23
Matthew CLEMENTS
1
Kuwait Pro CT
24
Ole BANG-ANDREASEN
2
Le Col
25
Yanto BARKER
2
Le Col
26
Richard TODD
2
Le Col
27
Jack FREEMAN
E
Meuden Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
28
Matthew HOULBERG
1
Meuden Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
29
Thomas STRINGER
1
Moonglu CC
30
Alexander RICHARDSON
E
No Club
31
James ASHCROFT
1
Nopinz Motip RT
32
Andrew CRITCHLOW
1
Norwood Paragon CC
33
Richard MARDLE
2
Nunn-Sigmasports London RT
34
Chris McNAMARA
1
Nunn-Sigmasports London RT
35
Barnabas PURBROOK
1
Nunn-Sigmasports London RT
36
Zeb KYFFIN
E
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
37
Alex PETERS
1
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
38
Samuel ASKER
1
Richardsons Trek DAS
39
Joseph BENNETT
2
Richardsons Trek DAS
40
Jim BRADFORD
E
Richardsons Trek DAS
41
Aaron FREEMAN
2
Richardsons Trek DAS
42
James JENKINS
E
Richardsons Trek DAS
43
Will SCOTT
E
Richardsons Trek DAS
44
Jake CROSSLEY
1
Saint Piran
45
Theodore OBHOLZER
1
Saint Piran
46
Joshua AVERY
1
Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor
47
Frazier CARR
1
Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor
48
Clay DAVIES
1
Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor
49
Oliver HENNESSY
2
Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor
50
Jordon PEACOCK
1
Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor
51
Oliver MAXWELL
1
SRCT Muc-Off
52
Jake TOWLER
2
SRCT Muc-Off
53
Charles AGER
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
54
Jack FOTHERGILL
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
55
Thomas GRIGSON
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
56
Thomas HEAL
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
57
Peter HITT
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
58
Oliver HURDLE
2
Stolen Goat Race Team
59
Tiago FOUGO
1
Strada2020
60
Kishan BAKRANIA
2
TBW23-Stuart Hall Cycling
61
Timothy TORRIE
1
TBW 23-Stuart Hall Cycling
62
Sophie LEWIS
1
Team Breeze
63
Benedict THOMPSON
1
Team LDN-Brother UK
64
Jody PAXMAN
2
Team LDN-Brother UK
65
Tim ALLEN
2
Team LDN-Brother UK
66
Vaughn PRETORIUS
2
Team LDN-Brother UK
67
Benjamin MAY
2
Team LDN-Brother UK
68
Callam LABORDE
J
Tofauti Everyone Active
69
Joseph SMITH
J
Tofauti Everyone Active
70
Casper BRAZIER
2
Trash Mile
71
Robin LLEWELLYN
2
Trash Mile
72
James SOMERFIELD
2
Trash Mile
73
Ben WHEELER
2
Trash Mile
74
Joe HILL
E
Upshift Nutrition RT
75
Samuel WOODFIELD
1
Upshift Nutrition RT
76
Matthew CARTER
2
Velo Schils-Interbike
77
Leighton OXLEY-CRISP
2
Velo Schils-Interbike
78
Ian PERRY
2
Velo Schils-Interbike
79
Dominic SCHILS
E
Velo Schils-Interbike
80
Joe STAUNTON
1
Whitelink/White Mountain CRT
Reserves
#
Rider
Cat
Team/club
1
Matthew LORD
2
No Club
2
Callum BRIGGS
2
Flanders Color Galloo
3
Daniel REES
2
API Metrow/Body By
4
Tom YIANGOU
2
Athlon CC
5
Oliver WOOD
2
Trainsharp Elite
Timings
The race kicks off at 11.00.
Weather
The weather should be a factor, with light rain and a moderate breeze forecast at the time of writing.
The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
After the Perfs Pedal road race opened the British road racing season in February, national road races are arriving thick and fast this month. This Sunday (13 March), two National B road races take place, the Evesham Vale road race and the Jock Wadley Memorial. The day before, we’ll see the 60th edition of the treasured Eddie Soens Memorial, a closed-circuit Regional C+ race held at Aintree. And on top of that, three of the British men’s UCI Continental teams, plus Great Britain, will be lining up at the Dorpenomloop Rucphen. It promises to be a busy weekend for men’s domestic teams.
All of these are important races in their own right, but here we focus on the Jock Wadley Memorial which, at 134 kilometres, is the first ‘full length’ road race of the season in the UK.
What is it?
The Jock Wadley Memorial is a ‘National B‘ road race promoted by Colchester Rovers CC. It takes place by Abberton Reservoir in Essex one of Europe’s top wetland sites.
This is the 38th edition of the race, which was created in Jock Wadley’s memory. Wadley was a pioneering cycle racing journalist who helped opened British fans’ eyes to Continental bike racing during his time at publications such as The Bicycle, Sporting Cyclist and International Cycle Sport.
Past editions of the race attracted stellar fields, similar in standard to a modern National Road Series race with UCI Continental teams sending some of their strongest riders to compete. As such, the list of past winners is impressive, including names such as Ben Luckwell, Tony Gibb, Malcolm Elliot, Luke Rowe, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke and two-time winner Steele von Hoff. Another two-time winner is Andy Lyons, now manager of the Richardsons-Trek DAS team; as a home team they should be well motivated to repeat their manager’s feats.
The route
Starting and finishing by the village of Layer-de-la-Haye, just south of Colchester, the race takes in 12 laps of Abberton Reservoir.
Each lap is 11.4 kilometres long, and takes in just 67 metres of elevation gain. Flat? Yes. Easy? No. With twisty narrow lanes, crosswinds, unrelenting drags, a little kicker under a kilometre from the finish, and 80 riders all raring to go after their off-season, the racing should be fearsome. Expect the bunch to be whittled down steadily on each lap, with a solo win as likely as a reduced bunch sprint.
Contenders
At the time of writing, the startlist is provisional only, and subject to change.
Last update: 11 March 2022
With UCI Continental teams competing in Europe this weekend, this year’s field is not as strong as some past editions, but the racing should be no less fierce. In fact, it could well make for a more chaotic, unpredictable affair.
On paper, the strongest team is probably local squad Richardsons-Trek DAS. Our former journal contributor James Jenkins is our pick here. Stolen Goat field a full team of six too, and in defending champion Thomas Heal, they have someone who knows how to win this race.
It is arguably the lone operators that offer the biggest threat. Former-pro Alex Richardson was flying at the Perfs Pedal road race before a slow puncture stymied his chances, and we wouldn’t bet against a solo win for him here.
Zeb Kyffin (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) is without teammates but has the firepower to repeat his exploits from the Chitterne Road Race. Tom Portsmouth (Mini Discar Cycling Academy) and Lewis Bulley (Indulek-Doltcini-Dento) are both accustomed to Belgian-style racing and will relish racing in the gutter if the wind blows.
Others to watch include veterans Yanto Barker (Le Col) and Chris McNamara (Nunn-Sigmasports London RT), Jordan Peacock (Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor) and Matthew Houlberg (Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT). The latter was seventh at the recent Perfs Pedal race.
Provisional startlist
Startlist as published on 11 March 2022.
37Alex PETERS1Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling45Theodore OBHOLZER1Saint Piran73Ben WHEELER2Trash MileReserves
2Callum BRIGGS2Flanders Color GallooTimings
The race kicks off at 11.00.
Weather
The weather should be a factor, with light rain and a moderate breeze forecast at the time of writing.
Featured photo: Ian Wrightson Photography
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.