The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
The national road racing season is now in full swing, at National B level at least. This weekend four national road races take place: the first round of the Scottish National Alba Men’s Road Race Series (the ERC Gifford Road Race), the men’s and women’s editions of the exciting new Peaks 2 Day stage race, and the historic Wally Gimber Trophy road race. This preview focuses on the latter.
What is it?
The Wally Gimber Trophy is a ‘National B‘ road race promoted by Dulwich Paragon, held on the border of East Sussex and Kent. One of the longest-running road races in the UK, this will be the 62nd edition of the race.
The trophy was awarded to the club for presentation at the annual road race by Wally Gimber, a lifelong club member. Wally Gimber was an active Dulwich Paragon member in the 1940s and excelled on the local Herne Hill track. In 1948-9 he was the London centre track, massed start and roller champion and set a national tandem paced half-mile record of 48.55 seconds. He emigrated to the US in the 1960s but returned to the UK in 1985 to present the trophy to John Shand at the club’s 50th anniversary dinner. He kept in regular touch with the club until his death in 1993.
The race has served as an important early-season race in the UK for over half a century. Past winners include Sir Bradley Wiggins and Alexandar Richardson. Tony Gibb won three times, while Simon Cope and Rob Hurd each won four editions.
In 2021, after a year’s break due to Covid, the race resumed in August at a new course in Tenterden, where Chris McNamara (Nuun – Sigma Sports – London RT) won the trophy after over 20 years of trying.
The route
This year the race takes place between Royal Tunbridge Wells and Bewl Water reservoir on a 20.6 kilometre circuit around Frant, Lamberhurst and Wadhurst. The riders cover the anti-clockwise circuit seven times, with the race covering 144 kilometres in total.
It’s a relatively hilly route with 319 metres of elevation per laps. The descents are fast and wide fast, however, meaning that no hard braking is required anywhere on the corners. The race rolls out from Bells Yew Green for a two-kilometre neutralised section before the flag drops at the start/finish line just before Frant.
It is downhill after Frant until the riders reach Station Hill as the riders approach Wadhurst. At just over a kilometre in length and with gradients reaching nearly 8% in places, this marks an obvious point for breakaway attempts. The road is mainly downhill after Wadhurst until about five kilometres from home, just after Hook Green. From here, the road steadily rises all the way to the circuit’s end. The steepest parts of this drag are just before the finish line, where the road pitches above 8% in the final 200 metres. So expect a real slog of a sprint finish if a small group comes to the line.
Contenders
At the time of writing, the startlist is provisional only, and subject to change.
Last update: 19 March 2022
The field might only include four UCI Continental riders but it’s a strong one nonetheless, featuring no less than three of the four 2022 National B road race winners so far.
After their domineering display at the Jock Wadley Memorial last weekend, Le Col is arguably the team to watch. They placed three riders in the top four at the race, including race winner Yanto Barker and second-placed Alex Richardson, both of whom will be closely marked.
Matt King, Red Walters (both Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), Jake Crossley (Saint Piran) and Rory Townsend (WiV SunGod) are the four UCI Continental riders on the startlist. Matt King – 5th at the Beaumont Trophy last season – is a rider that could go well on this course. And Rory Townsend, a late entrant to the race, needs little introduction. One of the finest domestic riders in recent years, he surely has to be one of the favourites.
Chris McNamara wins the 2021 edition of the race. Photo: Dave Hayward
Seb Garry (Nopinz Motip RT) and Samuel Beckett (Wales Racing Academy) are both in-form riders having won the Evesham Vale and Primavera road races respectively this season. Beckett is second in our national road race rankings, so a good result here could see him move into the lead.
Richardsons-TrekDAS bring a strong squad, including James Jenkins and Conor McGoldrick, two riders we hold in high regard here at The British Continental. Spirit BSS are another team to watch too, with George Kimber our pick of their starters. Defending champion Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports / Cannondale RT) should not be discounted either. Watch out for Matthew Lord (Hart Performance Coaching); he was seventh at the Jock Wadley last weekend so clearly has the shape to go well here too.
Provisional startlist
Startlist as published on 19 March 2022.
No
Name
Team / Club
Cat.
1
Will Auty
4T + Cyclopark
2nd
2
Jack Rebours
Caesarean CC Jersey
2nd
3
Kevin Nelson
Crawley Wheelers Race Team
1st
4
Morris Bacon
DAP Cycling Club
Elite
5
Harley Matthews
DAP Cycling Club
1st
6
Mark Richards
DAP Cycling Club
1st
7
Andrew Taylor
DAP Cycling Club
Elite
8
Adam Clifton
Dulwich Paragon CC
2nd
9
Maxwell Ikin
Dulwich Paragon CC
3rd
10
Chris Schiering
Dulwich Paragon CC
3rd
11
Stephen Maxwell
Dulwich Paragon CC
2nd
12
James Ambrose-Parish
Embark-Bikestrong
1st
13
David Hird
Embark-Bikestrong
1st
14
Ryan Savage
Finchley Racing Team
2nd
15
James Boyman
Hoops Velo
1st
16
Eliot Ward
INFLITE
Elite
17
Ole Henrik Bang-Andreasen
Le Col
2nd
18
Yanto Barker
Le Col
2nd
19
Alexandar Richardson
Le Col
Elite
20
Richard Todd
Le Col
2nd
21
Rowan Baker
London Dynamo
2nd
22
Marinus Petersen
Loughborough Students CC
1st
23
Jack Freeman
Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
Elite
24
Matthew Houlberg
Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
1st
25
Sebastian Garry
Nopinz Motip Race Team
1st
26
Nathan Hallett
Nopinz Motip Race Team
1st
27
Matt Witts
Nopinz Motip Race Team
1st
28
Andy Critchlow
Norwood Paragon CC
1st
29
Bradley Shenton
Partenza-Nude Espresso RT
2nd
30
Jacob Storey
Partenza-Nude Espresso RT
2nd
31
Nicholas Tyrie
Primera-TeamJobs
1st
32
Ian Vagg
Project 51
2nd
33
James Gray
Rapha Cycling Club
2nd
34
Rafael Hackenbroch
Regents Park Rouleurs
2nd
35
Matthew King
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
Elite
36
Red Walters
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
Elite
37
James Jenkins
Richardsons Trek DAS
Elite
38
Conor McGoldrick
Richardsons Trek DAS
Elite
39
Callum Riley
Richardsons Trek DAS
2nd
40
Luke Ryan
Richardsons Trek DAS
2nd
41
Aaron Stone
Richardsons Trek DAS
2nd
42
Jake Crossley
Saint Piran
1st
43
Jordan Retallack
05/03
2nd
44
Chris McNamara
Sigma Sports / Cannondale RT
1st
45
Rory Barrett
Southborough & District Wheelers
1st
46
Keith Henderson
Southborough & District Wheelers
2nd
47
Joshua Avery
Spirit BSS
1st
48
David Bolland
Spirit BSS
1st
49
Clay Davies
Spirit BSS
1st
50
George Kimber
Spirit BSS
1st
51
Thomas Lowther
SRCT MUC-OFF
2nd
52
Oliver Maxwell
SRCT MUC-OFF
1st
53
Charles Ager
Stolen Goat Race Team
2nd
54
Jack Fothergill
Stolen Goat Race Team
2nd
55
Oliver Hurdle
Stolen Goat Race Team
2nd
56
Matthew Downie
TAAP Cervelo
1st
57
Matthew Lock
TAAP Cervelo
1st
58
Jamie Pullen
TAAP Cervelo
2nd
59
Lucas Rowley
Tactic Sport UK Race Team
2nd
60
Kishan Bakrania
TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling
2nd
61
George Pittock
Thanet RC Race Team
2nd
62
Samuel Clark
trainSharp Development Team
1st
63
Finn Dunton
trainSharp Development Team
2nd
64
Torin Henderson
trainSharp Development Team
2nd
65
Harry Ives
trainSharp Development Team
2nd
66
Jacob James
trainSharp Development Team
2nd
67
Danylo Riwnyj
trainSharp Development Team
2nd
68
Casper Brazier
TRASH MILE
2nd
69
William Harper
Unattached
1st
70
Harry Jukes
Unattached
2nd
71
James O’Connell
Unattached
1st
72
Joe Hill
UpShift Nutrition Race Team
Elite
73
Leighton Oxley-Crisp
Velo Schils-Interbike RT
2nd
74
Dominic Schils
Velo Schils-Interbike RT
Elite
75
Andrea Bartoluccio
Verulam-reallymoving.com
2nd
76
Samuel Beckett
Wales Racing Academy
1st
77
Benjamin Hellabo
Wheelsuckers
2nd
78
Joe Staunton
WightlinkWight Mountain CRT
1st
79
Rory Townsend
WiV Sungod
Elite
80
Jesse Yates
Yoeleo Test Team P/B 4MIND
3rd
81
Jack Wylie
TAAP Cervelo
2nd
82
Ben Wheeler
TRASH MILE
2nd
83
Scott Redding
SRCT MUC-OFF
2nd
84
Benjamin Tappenden
Precise Performance RT
2nd
85
Matt Bailey
High Wycombe CC
2nd
86
Matthew Lord
Hart Performance Coaching
2nd
87
James Nicholson
TAAP Cervelo
2nd
88
Len Delicaet
Dulwich Paragon CC
2nd
Timings
The race departs race HQ at 11.00 with the finished expected around 14.45.
Weather
At the time of writing,the forecast suggests the weather should be mild and dry with just a moderate breeze, so the weather is unlikely to be a big factor.
The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
The national road racing season is now in full swing, at National B level at least. This weekend four national road races take place: the first round of the Scottish National Alba Men’s Road Race Series (the ERC Gifford Road Race), the men’s and women’s editions of the exciting new Peaks 2 Day stage race, and the historic Wally Gimber Trophy road race. This preview focuses on the latter.
What is it?
The Wally Gimber Trophy is a ‘National B‘ road race promoted by Dulwich Paragon, held on the border of East Sussex and Kent. One of the longest-running road races in the UK, this will be the 62nd edition of the race.
The trophy was awarded to the club for presentation at the annual road race by Wally Gimber, a lifelong club member. Wally Gimber was an active Dulwich Paragon member in the 1940s and excelled on the local Herne Hill track. In 1948-9 he was the London centre track, massed start and roller champion and set a national tandem paced half-mile record of 48.55 seconds. He emigrated to the US in the 1960s but returned to the UK in 1985 to present the trophy to John Shand at the club’s 50th anniversary dinner. He kept in regular touch with the club until his death in 1993.
The race has served as an important early-season race in the UK for over half a century. Past winners include Sir Bradley Wiggins and Alexandar Richardson. Tony Gibb won three times, while Simon Cope and Rob Hurd each won four editions.
In 2021, after a year’s break due to Covid, the race resumed in August at a new course in Tenterden, where Chris McNamara (Nuun – Sigma Sports – London RT) won the trophy after over 20 years of trying.
The route
This year the race takes place between Royal Tunbridge Wells and Bewl Water reservoir on a 20.6 kilometre circuit around Frant, Lamberhurst and Wadhurst. The riders cover the anti-clockwise circuit seven times, with the race covering 144 kilometres in total.
It’s a relatively hilly route with 319 metres of elevation per laps. The descents are fast and wide fast, however, meaning that no hard braking is required anywhere on the corners. The race rolls out from Bells Yew Green for a two-kilometre neutralised section before the flag drops at the start/finish line just before Frant.
It is downhill after Frant until the riders reach Station Hill as the riders approach Wadhurst. At just over a kilometre in length and with gradients reaching nearly 8% in places, this marks an obvious point for breakaway attempts. The road is mainly downhill after Wadhurst until about five kilometres from home, just after Hook Green. From here, the road steadily rises all the way to the circuit’s end. The steepest parts of this drag are just before the finish line, where the road pitches above 8% in the final 200 metres. So expect a real slog of a sprint finish if a small group comes to the line.
Contenders
At the time of writing, the startlist is provisional only, and subject to change.
Last update: 19 March 2022
The field might only include four UCI Continental riders but it’s a strong one nonetheless, featuring no less than three of the four 2022 National B road race winners so far.
After their domineering display at the Jock Wadley Memorial last weekend, Le Col is arguably the team to watch. They placed three riders in the top four at the race, including race winner Yanto Barker and second-placed Alex Richardson, both of whom will be closely marked.
Matt King, Red Walters (both Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), Jake Crossley (Saint Piran) and Rory Townsend (WiV SunGod) are the four UCI Continental riders on the startlist. Matt King – 5th at the Beaumont Trophy last season – is a rider that could go well on this course. And Rory Townsend, a late entrant to the race, needs little introduction. One of the finest domestic riders in recent years, he surely has to be one of the favourites.
Seb Garry (Nopinz Motip RT) and Samuel Beckett (Wales Racing Academy) are both in-form riders having won the Evesham Vale and Primavera road races respectively this season. Beckett is second in our national road race rankings, so a good result here could see him move into the lead.
Richardsons-Trek DAS bring a strong squad, including James Jenkins and Conor McGoldrick, two riders we hold in high regard here at The British Continental. Spirit BSS are another team to watch too, with George Kimber our pick of their starters. Defending champion Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports / Cannondale RT) should not be discounted either. Watch out for Matthew Lord (Hart Performance Coaching); he was seventh at the Jock Wadley last weekend so clearly has the shape to go well here too.
Provisional startlist
Startlist as published on 19 March 2022.
Timings
The race departs race HQ at 11.00 with the finished expected around 14.45.
Weather
At the time of writing,the forecast suggests the weather should be mild and dry with just a moderate breeze, so the weather is unlikely to be a big factor.
Featured photo: Dave Hayward
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