The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
Milan San Remo, the Wally Gimber Trophy, Olympia’s Tour, the Gifford Road Race, and the Grand Prix Criquielion. There is a lot of racing this weekend that is going to float our boat. But if there is one race we are particularly excited for, it’s The Peaks 2 Day stage race.
Why? It’s set amidst stunning Peak District scenery, it has arguably the best line-up of any British road race this season so far, it hosts the first women’s national road event of the year, it’s put together by a vibrant new team of young race organisers, and it’s a rare UK stage racing opportunity at the national level. In short, we can’t wait.
What is it?
The Peaks 2 Day is a brand new National B stage race organised by the dynamic James Hawkins, Eugene Cross, and the Yomp Bonk Crew. Set in the Peak District, the event includes both men’s and women’s editions. Both feature three stages across two days (19 and 20 March), taking in some savage yet picturesque terrain. Stage races are a rare occurrence at the national level, so it’s little surprise this year’s inaugural event will star the strongest start list of any national road race so far this season.
How it works
Each race – men’s and women’s – will have an overall winner i.e. the rider that completes the three stages in the shortest time. There will be a race leader’s jersey awarded to the leading rider on time after stage 1 and after stage 2. The overall winner of each race will receive a winner’s jersey.
In addition, there is a climbing competition with points being awarded for the first six riders across the top of the nominated climb on each lap on stages 2 and 3. The points awarded will be as follows: 1st (6 points); 2nd (5 points); 3rd (4 points); 4th (3 points); 5th (2 points); 6th (1 point). There will be a KOM/QOM jersey awarded to the leading rider on points after stage 1 and after stage 2. The overall winner of the KOM and QOM competitions will receive a winner’s jersey.
The stages
Stage 1
The race begins on Saturday morning with a tough grippy, technical individual time trial on road bikes. The course is 12 kilometres long, starting and finishing on Batham Gate Road in the village of Peak Dale, northeast of Buxton. It features two ninety-degree left-hand turns early on before a steep, tricky descent to the bottom of Bole Hill.
The road immediately rises as the riders hit Bole Hill, a one-kilometre climb that begins with gradients well over 10%. This will be a real leg-sapper, and riders will need to manage their effort well here in order to have some power left for the rest of the course.
The road is then undulating until the riders approach the finish line, where they will be treated to an uphill finish in the closing few hundred metres.
“There’s no hiding on this course and there’s no getting lucky”, organiser James Hawkins tells us, “You just need the legs to win.”
Stage 2
If the riders aren’t already feeling it after the stage 1 TT, then stage 2, which takes place on the same day, will soon change that. Now, if you are looking at the VeloViewer profile below and thinking, ‘that looks familiar’ that’s because it is. Yes, stage 2 features the same course as the morning’s stage 1 time trial.
The main difference here is that the start/finish line is atop Bole Hill, opening up the prospect of a savage uphill finale to both the men’s and women’s stages.
The circuit is 12.4 kilometres long with 269 metres of evaluation, according to VeloViewer. The men will have to tackle it seven times (87 kilometres in total), while the women take on five laps (62 kilometres). The KOM/QOM point is the start/finish line on Bole Hill.
Hawkins told us, “It’s definitely one for breakaway riders; because of the nature of the course, there’s not a big advantage to being in the group, so we definitely expect there to be gaps and splits formed.”
Stage 3
The race moves just west of Sheffield for the final stage on Sunday. The stage takes in a 10.4 kilometre circuit that skirts the Damflask Reservoir. The profile might look gentler than the Bole Hill course profile, but with 251 metres of elevation per lap, this is still one for the puncheurs and climbers.
The men face ten laps of the circuit (104 kilometres), while the women will complete eight laps (83 kilometres). The start/finish line is Kirk Edge Road, just before the junction with Coal Pit Lane, with the KOM/QOM point at the top of the Long Lane climb.
“Any Sheffield cyclist is familiar with the Parish of Bradfield”, says Hawkins. “The 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart came through Bradfield, leaving behind some yellow painted bikes that have remained there ever since, and it is full of steep and stabby climbs.
“In slight contrast to Bole Hill, Bradfield has well-paved roads and a long fast descent into a flat section before turning left onto Long Lane, the main climb. Long Lane, otherwise known as the golf course climb, is a completely straight and steep climb where breaks are bound to be launched. The KOM is on the crest of the hill which then flattens off for a bit before turning onto Kirk Edge Road.
“Kirk Edge Road is a long drag with panoramic scenic views on either side of it. This is also where the finish line is situated on an uphill sprint. The course then drops down to High Bradfield, and then onto the descent. This is another course that is almost certainly going to be won by a small breakaway, and will make for some very exciting racing.”
Contenders
Men’s race
The men’s race features the strongest line-up of any national road race so far this year, with 12 UCI Continental riders among the 60-man field.
New Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling signing Alex Peters is perhaps the standout name. The winner of Ryedale Grand Prix last year, we hear the former-Team Sky rider was in excellent shape at the team’s recent training camp. His teammates Zeb Kyffin and Ross Lamb could also go well.
2021 National Road Series- The Ryedale Grasscrete Men’s Grand Prix 2021. Alex Peters Swift Carbon Pro wins, with Toby Barnes and Oliver Rees 2nd and 3rd. Photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
WiV SunGod bring three riders, including new signings Toby Barnes and Lancaster Grand Prix winner Josh Whitehead. Both riders were excellent in the National Road Series last season and will be ones to watch. First-year senior Lukas Nerurkar (TRINITY Racing) is another rider we will be keeping a close eye on. He won a stage of the Junior Tour of Yorkshire last season, so is clearly no stranger to winning on this type of terrain.
There are some strong elite riders too. George Wood and Adam Mitchell will both be cards to play for Cycling Sheffield, while Spirit BSS have national road rankings leader Farley Barber and Angus Hawkins as potential challengers.
Two wildcards are hill climb specialist Adam Kenway (Matlock CC) and Kieran Savage (Yomp Bonk Crew). Kenway holds the second fastest time on the Bole Hill course on Strava and is at one with the steep stuff. Savage is another local and was one of the top elite riders during the 2019 season. After a spell in France, he is back in the UK and could be capable of a surprise.
Look out for James Hawkins (Cycling Sheffield) and Eugene Cross (Bristol) too. Yes, the organisers are also racing!
Women’s race
As with the men, the women’s race features a strong field in what will be the first women’s national road race of the season.
Leah Dixon (Bianchi HUNT Morvelo) is an obvious pick. The Welsh road race champion has stepped down to the elite team level after three seasons with the Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank UCI team.
The CAMS-Basso team have a strong selection. Scottish road race champion Becky Storrie already has eight UCI race days under her belt and has a real chance of success here. New signing Danielle Shrosbree had a breakthrough ride at the national road championships in October and like Storrie should be in good shape after racing two UCI stage races already this season. Beth Morrow is another strong option for the team too. All three riders featured in the hilly Ryedale GP last season.
2021 National Road Series – The Ryedale Grasscrete Women’s Grand Prix 2021 – Illi Gardner (CAMS-Basso) and Becky Storrie (Brother UK-Team OnForm). Photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen) was consistently good last side and will be accompanied by strong teammates, Bexy Drew and Lucy Ellmore. Connie Hayes (AWOL- O’Shea) was another prominent rider at last year’s Ryedale GP and, after a strong 2021, is someone who could go even better in 2022.
Others to watch include 2021 Volta a Portugal Feminina Cofidis stage winner Lucy Lee (Team LDN – Brother UK), Daisy Barnes (Brother UK – Orientation Marketing), another of our breakthrough riders from the nationals last year, and Nicole Coates (Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar).
Startlists
Men’s race
Note: High Density, Bristol and Richardsons/WWCC are all composite teams.
#
First Name
Last Name
Club / Team Name
Cat
1
Carl
Jolly
Bristol
2nd
2
Andrew
Kirby
Bristol
2nd
3
Patrick
Clark
Bristol
2nd
4
Eugene
Cross
Bristol
2nd
5
Charlie
Renshaw
Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy
2nd
6
William
Harding
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
7
James
Hawkins
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
8
Adam
Mitchell
Cycling Sheffield
1st
9
George
Wood
Cycling Sheffield
1st
10
Thomas
Ashcroft
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
2nd
11
Jack
Crook
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
12
Conor
McKinnon
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
13
Joe
Wilson
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
14
Cameron
Biddle
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
15
Michael
Chadwick
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
16
Joseph
Rees
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
17
Dean
Watson
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
18
Jimmy
Kershaw
High Density
3rd
19
Oscar
Hutchings
High Density
Elite
20
Steven
Jones
High Density
2nd
21
Tobias
Bartlett
High Density
1st
22
Ethan
Browne
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
2nd
23
Taylor
Hill
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
2nd
24
William
Jewitt
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
2nd
25
Oliver
Sawyer
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
2nd
26
Marcus
Burnett
Kuwait Pro Cycling Team
1st
27
Matthew
Clements
Kuwait Pro Cycling Team
1st
28
Tom
Andrews
Lifting Gear Prod- CyclesInMotion
3rd
29
Tobias
Edwards
Lifting Gear Prod- CyclesInMotion
3rd
30
Luke
Hind
Lifting Gear Prod- CyclesInMotion
2nd
31
Andrew
Nichols
Lifting Gear Prod- CyclesInMotion
1st
32
Adam
Kenway
Matlock CC
1st
33
Cameron
Jeffers
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
1st
34
Zeb
Kyffin
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
Elite
35
Ross
Lamb
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
1st
36
Alex
Peters
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
1st
37
Peter
Cocker
Richardsons/WWCC
Elite
38
Sean
Mullen
Richardsons/WWCC
39
Reece
Egner
Richardsons/WWCC
2nd
40
Adam
Egner
Richardsons/WWCC
3rd
41
Bradley
Symonds
Saint Piran
1st
42
Jenson
Young
Saint Piran
2nd
43
Thomas
Stringer
Moonglu CC
1st
44
Simon
Wyllie
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
2nd
45
Farley
Barber
Spirit BSS
2nd
46
Angus
Hawkins
Spirit BSS
1st
47
Oliver
Hennessy
Spirit BSS
2nd
48
Josh
Housley
Spirit BSS
1st
49
James
Bentley
Team PB Performance
1st
50
Jacques
Coates
Team PB Performance
1st
51
George
Peden
Team PB Performance
1st
52
Jude
Taylor
Team PB Performance
1st
53
Lukas
Nerurkar
TRINITY Road Racing
2nd
54
Toby
Barnes
WiV Sungod
Elite
55
Euan
Macleod
WiV Sungod
2nd
56
Josh
Whitehead
WiV Sungod
1st
57
Kieran
Savage
Yomp Bonk Crew
Elite
58
Tom
Yiangou
Yomp Bonk Crew
2nd
59
Francis
Woodcock
Team Farto – BTC (Mens)
2nd
60
Fergus
Jones
Yomp Bonk Crew
2nd
Reserves
#
First Name
Last Name
Club / Team Name
Cat
1
Benjamin
Bright
Coed Llandegla N Wales MBA
2nd
2
Samuel
Hillen
Velo Bavarian Race Team
3rd
3
Alex
Raynard
Velo Bavarian Race Team
3rd
4
Joe
Thorp
Ribble rechrg Race Team
3rd
Women’s race
#
First Name
Last Name
Club / Team
Cat
1
Arianne
Holland
Alba Development Road Team
2nd
2
Erin
Murphy
Alba Development Road Team
2nd
3
Emma
Smith
Alba Development Road Team
2nd
4
Charlotte
Gibson
AWOL Worx Galliard
2nd
5
Olivia
Bent
AWOL- O’Shea
2nd
6
Connie
Hayes
AWOL- O’Shea
1st
7
Clare
Parkin
Bath Cycling Club
3rd
8
Leah
Dixon
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
1st
9
Beth
Morrow
CAMS-Basso
1st
10
Danielle
Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
1st
11
Withdrawn
12
Becky
Storrie
CAMS-Basso
2nd
13
Daisy
Barnes
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
2nd
14
Abigail
Cooper
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
4th
15
Sophie
Lewis
CAMS-Basso
1st
16
Withdrawn
17
Nicola
Soden
Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling
2nd
18
Kirstie
Drakeford
Hornsea Peloton
3rd
19
Polly
Burge
Jadan – Vive le Velo
2nd
20
Suzetta
Guerrini
Jadan – Vive le Velo
2nd
21
Gabriella
Nordin
Jadan – Vive le Velo
2nd
22
Monica
Greenwood
Macclesfield Wheelers
2nd
23
Jihanna
Bonilla-Allard
PMRR
2nd
24
Bexy
Dew
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen
2nd
25
Lucy
Ellmore
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen
1st
26
Corinne
Side
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen
1st
27
Hannah
Bayes
Saint Piran WRT
2nd
28
Rachel
Galler
Saint Piran WRT
2nd
29
Abbie
Taylor
Sheffield Dirt Society
2nd
30
Hannah
Farran
Team Boompods
2nd
31
Amy
Graham
Team Boompods
2nd
32
Ellen
McDermott
Team Boompods
Elite
33
Keri
Parton
Team Boompods
2nd
34
Sian
Botteley
Team LDN – Brother UK
2nd
35
Jennifer
Millmore
CAMS/Brother
3rd
36
Lucy
Lee
Team LDN – Brother UK
1st
37
Kerry
Middleton
Team LDN – Brother UK
2nd
38
Grace
Castle
Tofauti Everyone Active
2nd
39
Olivia
Bentley
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
2nd
40
Holly
Breck
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
41
Nicole
Coates
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
2nd
42
Sharon
Bird
Torvelo Racing
2nd
43
Zosia
Martin
Torvelo Racing
3rd
44
Harriet
Wilson
Torvelo Racing
3rd
Timings
Stage 1, 19 March
First male rider off at 9.00, first female at 9.30.
Stage 2, 19 March
Men: 11.00 – 13.30 approx.
Women: 14.30 – 17.00 approx
Stage 3, 20 March
Men: 9.00 – 12.00 approx.
Women: 14.00 – 17.00 approx
Weather
Saturday’s forecast is for dry, sunny and mild weather with a moderate breeze. On Sunday it is set to be slightly cooler, but still dry and the breeze should have dropped a little too by then.
Featured photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com. 2021. National Road Series – The Ryedale Grasscrete Women’s Grand Prix. Connie Hayes (AWOL O’Shea).
The B-side: a closer look at National B road racing
Milan San Remo, the Wally Gimber Trophy, Olympia’s Tour, the Gifford Road Race, and the Grand Prix Criquielion. There is a lot of racing this weekend that is going to float our boat. But if there is one race we are particularly excited for, it’s The Peaks 2 Day stage race.
Why? It’s set amidst stunning Peak District scenery, it has arguably the best line-up of any British road race this season so far, it hosts the first women’s national road event of the year, it’s put together by a vibrant new team of young race organisers, and it’s a rare UK stage racing opportunity at the national level. In short, we can’t wait.
What is it?
The Peaks 2 Day is a brand new National B stage race organised by the dynamic James Hawkins, Eugene Cross, and the Yomp Bonk Crew. Set in the Peak District, the event includes both men’s and women’s editions. Both feature three stages across two days (19 and 20 March), taking in some savage yet picturesque terrain. Stage races are a rare occurrence at the national level, so it’s little surprise this year’s inaugural event will star the strongest start list of any national road race so far this season.
How it works
Each race – men’s and women’s – will have an overall winner i.e. the rider that completes the three stages in the shortest time. There will be a race leader’s jersey awarded to the leading rider on time after stage 1 and after stage 2. The overall winner of each race will receive a winner’s jersey.
In addition, there is a climbing competition with points being awarded for the first six riders across the top of the nominated climb on each lap on stages 2 and 3. The points awarded will be as follows: 1st (6 points); 2nd (5 points); 3rd (4 points); 4th (3 points); 5th (2 points); 6th (1 point). There will be a KOM/QOM jersey awarded to the leading rider on points after stage 1 and after stage 2. The overall winner of the KOM and QOM competitions will receive a winner’s jersey.
The stages
Stage 1
The race begins on Saturday morning with a tough grippy, technical individual time trial on road bikes. The course is 12 kilometres long, starting and finishing on Batham Gate Road in the village of Peak Dale, northeast of Buxton. It features two ninety-degree left-hand turns early on before a steep, tricky descent to the bottom of Bole Hill.
The road immediately rises as the riders hit Bole Hill, a one-kilometre climb that begins with gradients well over 10%. This will be a real leg-sapper, and riders will need to manage their effort well here in order to have some power left for the rest of the course.
The road is then undulating until the riders approach the finish line, where they will be treated to an uphill finish in the closing few hundred metres.
“There’s no hiding on this course and there’s no getting lucky”, organiser James Hawkins tells us, “You just need the legs to win.”
Stage 2
If the riders aren’t already feeling it after the stage 1 TT, then stage 2, which takes place on the same day, will soon change that. Now, if you are looking at the VeloViewer profile below and thinking, ‘that looks familiar’ that’s because it is. Yes, stage 2 features the same course as the morning’s stage 1 time trial.
The main difference here is that the start/finish line is atop Bole Hill, opening up the prospect of a savage uphill finale to both the men’s and women’s stages.
The circuit is 12.4 kilometres long with 269 metres of evaluation, according to VeloViewer. The men will have to tackle it seven times (87 kilometres in total), while the women take on five laps (62 kilometres). The KOM/QOM point is the start/finish line on Bole Hill.
Hawkins told us, “It’s definitely one for breakaway riders; because of the nature of the course, there’s not a big advantage to being in the group, so we definitely expect there to be gaps and splits formed.”
Stage 3
The race moves just west of Sheffield for the final stage on Sunday. The stage takes in a 10.4 kilometre circuit that skirts the Damflask Reservoir. The profile might look gentler than the Bole Hill course profile, but with 251 metres of elevation per lap, this is still one for the puncheurs and climbers.
The men face ten laps of the circuit (104 kilometres), while the women will complete eight laps (83 kilometres). The start/finish line is Kirk Edge Road, just before the junction with Coal Pit Lane, with the KOM/QOM point at the top of the Long Lane climb.
“Any Sheffield cyclist is familiar with the Parish of Bradfield”, says Hawkins. “The 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart came through Bradfield, leaving behind some yellow painted bikes that have remained there ever since, and it is full of steep and stabby climbs.
“In slight contrast to Bole Hill, Bradfield has well-paved roads and a long fast descent into a flat section before turning left onto Long Lane, the main climb. Long Lane, otherwise known as the golf course climb, is a completely straight and steep climb where breaks are bound to be launched. The KOM is on the crest of the hill which then flattens off for a bit before turning onto Kirk Edge Road.
“Kirk Edge Road is a long drag with panoramic scenic views on either side of it. This is also where the finish line is situated on an uphill sprint. The course then drops down to High Bradfield, and then onto the descent. This is another course that is almost certainly going to be won by a small breakaway, and will make for some very exciting racing.”
Contenders
Men’s race
The men’s race features the strongest line-up of any national road race so far this year, with 12 UCI Continental riders among the 60-man field.
New Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling signing Alex Peters is perhaps the standout name. The winner of Ryedale Grand Prix last year, we hear the former-Team Sky rider was in excellent shape at the team’s recent training camp. His teammates Zeb Kyffin and Ross Lamb could also go well.
WiV SunGod bring three riders, including new signings Toby Barnes and Lancaster Grand Prix winner Josh Whitehead. Both riders were excellent in the National Road Series last season and will be ones to watch. First-year senior Lukas Nerurkar (TRINITY Racing) is another rider we will be keeping a close eye on. He won a stage of the Junior Tour of Yorkshire last season, so is clearly no stranger to winning on this type of terrain.
There are some strong elite riders too. George Wood and Adam Mitchell will both be cards to play for Cycling Sheffield, while Spirit BSS have national road rankings leader Farley Barber and Angus Hawkins as potential challengers.
Two wildcards are hill climb specialist Adam Kenway (Matlock CC) and Kieran Savage (Yomp Bonk Crew). Kenway holds the second fastest time on the Bole Hill course on Strava and is at one with the steep stuff. Savage is another local and was one of the top elite riders during the 2019 season. After a spell in France, he is back in the UK and could be capable of a surprise.
Look out for James Hawkins (Cycling Sheffield) and Eugene Cross (Bristol) too. Yes, the organisers are also racing!
Women’s race
As with the men, the women’s race features a strong field in what will be the first women’s national road race of the season.
Leah Dixon (Bianchi HUNT Morvelo) is an obvious pick. The Welsh road race champion has stepped down to the elite team level after three seasons with the Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank UCI team.
The CAMS-Basso team have a strong selection. Scottish road race champion Becky Storrie already has eight UCI race days under her belt and has a real chance of success here. New signing Danielle Shrosbree had a breakthrough ride at the national road championships in October and like Storrie should be in good shape after racing two UCI stage races already this season. Beth Morrow is another strong option for the team too. All three riders featured in the hilly Ryedale GP last season.
Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen) was consistently good last side and will be accompanied by strong teammates, Bexy Drew and Lucy Ellmore. Connie Hayes (AWOL- O’Shea) was another prominent rider at last year’s Ryedale GP and, after a strong 2021, is someone who could go even better in 2022.
Others to watch include 2021 Volta a Portugal Feminina Cofidis stage winner Lucy Lee (Team LDN – Brother UK), Daisy Barnes (Brother UK – Orientation Marketing), another of our breakthrough riders from the nationals last year, and Nicole Coates (Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar).
Startlists
Men’s race
Note: High Density, Bristol and Richardsons/WWCC are all composite teams.
Reserves
Women’s race
Timings
Stage 1, 19 March
First male rider off at 9.00, first female at 9.30.
Stage 2, 19 March
Men: 11.00 – 13.30 approx.
Women: 14.30 – 17.00 approx
Stage 3, 20 March
Men: 9.00 – 12.00 approx.
Women: 14.00 – 17.00 approx
Weather
Saturday’s forecast is for dry, sunny and mild weather with a moderate breeze. On Sunday it is set to be slightly cooler, but still dry and the breeze should have dropped a little too by then.
Featured photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com. 2021. National Road Series – The Ryedale Grasscrete Women’s Grand Prix. Connie Hayes (AWOL O’Shea).
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