The inaugural Under-23 Men’s National Road Series begins on Sunday 17 April with the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic. Here’s a preview of the race, including route details, contenders, startlist and timings.
What is it?
The first race of five in the new Under-23 Men’s National Road Series, the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic is a 122km road race that takes place on the border between West and South Yorkshire. Organised by British Cycling Yorkshire, it is a brand new race created specifically for British Cycling’s new series.
Route
The race takes place on the Holmfirth CC race circuit in Upper Denby, just north of Penistone. The circuit is 13.2km and features 205m of climbing, according to VeloViewer, with a total race distance of 122km. It’s the same course used for The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last year.
After a short neutralised section starting at the race HQ in Birds Edge, the riders then join the circuit at Ingbirchworth, tackling it in an anticlockwise direction.
From here, the circuit follows the A629 to Well House, on a meandering, but broadly flat, road. At Well House, the riders turn left, descending all the way down to Clough Green. Another left here takes the riders on the A635 toward Nether End. As the riders pass Hagg Wood, the main difficulty of the circuit begins, a 3.72km staggered climb up to Upper Denby. It has an average gradient of just 3.9%, but the steepest parts, positioned after the start/finish line in Lower Denby, are more testing, with ramps above 10% in places.
After Upper Denby, it’s relatively straight and flat again until the circuit reaches Ingbirchworth once more.
As mentioned above, the finish itself is positioned halfway up the main climb, in Lower Denby. This should make for a selective finish if a few riders are still together on the final lap. With no big UCI Continental teams to control the race however, it’s likely the race will have blown apart long before the final few hundred metres.
Contenders
Perusing the provisional startlist (below), two names jump out immediately: Josh Whitehead and Toby Barnes (both WiV SunGod). Both riders have been in excellent form already this season. 2021 Lancaster Grand Prix winner Whitehead was 2nd overall at the Peaks 2 Day and 4th at the Capenwray road race. Barnes, meanwhile, was 5th overall at the Peaks 2 Day and won the Danum Trophy two weeks ago. Whatsmore, both riders have form on this course; they finished first and second on this course at The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last season.
The Wales Racing Academy should be one of the strongest teams at the race and they have several cards to play. Sam Beckett leads our national road race rankings after a fine start to the season, including wins at the Primavera Road Race and the Bynea Early Season Road Race. A crash at the recent Circuit des Ardennes may have set him back a little, however, and his successes have some far come on flatter courses. Owain Roberts is another challenger. 11th at the Lancaster GP and 14th at Ryedale last season indicates he can go well on this type of terrain and he has a handy finish too. He was 34th overall in a tough recent edition of the recent Circuit des Ardennes, so the form is there too. Edward Morgan is another of the team’s riders who has started the season well.
Adam Mitchell (Cycling Sheffield) at the 2022 Danum Trophy. Photo: Olivia Coukham
Local team Cycling Sheffield also have cards to play. Adam Mitchell was 4th at The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last year, and was 2nd behind Toby Barnes at the recent Danum Trophy. George Wood was a two-time National B road race winner last season and is the type of rider that should suit a course like this.
Joe Wilson (Dolan Ellesse RT) has been one of the in-form riders on this type of terrain this season. He was 5th at the Capenwray road race, 10th overall at the Peaks 2 Day (including second on stage 2) and 4th at the Danum Trophy. Farley Barber (Spirit BSS) is another rider currently on song, and his consistency this season means he sits 4th in our national road race rankings.
Joe Wilson at the Capenwray road race. Photo: Ellen Isherwood
Former WiV SunGod rider Callum MacLeod (À Bloc CT) could be another rider to watch. He has already had a good block of UCI racing in his legs, including 12th place at the Grand Prix Velo Alanya (1.2), and should be starting to come into form ahead of his big race targets in May. Jack Rootkin-Gray (Team Inspired) is another lone operator that the other riders will want to watch. He was 12th at the Youngster Coast Challenge (1.2U) this season and, like any GB Senior Academy rider, he shouldn’t be underestimated.
Ben Granger (Zappi Racing RT) is a rider who, on paper at least, should go well. He has had little racing so far this year, however, so his form is difficult to judge. The same can be said for first-year senior Aidan Lawrence (TRINITY Road Racing); he had some top results on the junior circuit last year, including 6th overall at the Junior Tour of Wales, but he remains relatively untested at the elite level so far.
Others to keep an eye on include Team PB Performance’s Jacques Coates (6th overall at the Peaks 2 Day), Saint Piran’s Jenson Young (7th overall at the Peaks 2 Day), Samuel Asker (Richardsons-Trek DAS, winner of the DAP CC Spring Road Race last weekend) and 18-year-old Matthew Lord (Hart Performance Coaching), who has made a fine start to the year with second at the DAP CC Spring Road Race and 7th at the Jock Wadley Memorial.
Matthew Lord (centre) at the 2022 Jock Wadley Memorial. Photo: HPSource Media / The British Continental
Provisional startlist
#
Name
Club / Team
Category
1
John Russell
05/03
2nd
2
Callum Macleod
ABLOC CT
1st
3
Joshua Horsfield
Bridgnorth Cycling Club
2nd
4
Francis Woodcock
Bury Clarion Cycling Club
2nd
5
Jack Ramsbottom
Caffi Gruff
2nd
6
Benjamin Bright
Coed Llandegla N Wales MBA
2nd
7
Joe Coukham
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
8
William Harding
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
9
James Hartley
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
10
James Hawkins
Cycling Sheffield
2nd
11
Adam Mitchell
Cycling Sheffield
1st
12
George Wood
Cycling Sheffield
1st
13
Thomas Ashcroft
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
2nd
14
Conor McKinnon
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
15
Matthew Taylor
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
16
Joe Wilson
Dolan Ellesse Race Team
1st
17
James Alexander
Embark – Bikestrong
2nd
18
Jamieson Blain
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
19
Bryn Davies
Embark – Bikestrong
2nd
20
David Hird
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
21
Joseph Rees
Embark – Bikestrong
1st
22
Edward Ray
Gloucester City Cycling Club
2nd
23
Matthew Lord
Hart Performance Coaching
2nd
24
James Satoor
Holohan Coaching Race Team
2nd
25
Harry Paveley
Identity Racing
2nd
26
George Radcliffe
Identity Racing
2nd
27
Daniel Yates
Identity Racing
2nd
28
James Harrison
Manx Viking Wheelers CC
2nd
29
Corrin Leeming
Manx Viking Wheelers CC
2nd
30
Matthew Houlberg
Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
1st
31
James Ashcroft
Nopinz Motip Race Team
1st
32
Toby Tanfield
Retelec-Alca-Team Cycling Galicia
2nd
33
Samuel Asker
Richardsons Trek DAS
1st
34
Aaron Freeman
Richardsons Trek DAS
2nd
35
Aaron King
RT23
2nd
36
Jenson Young
Saint Piran
2nd
37
Oliver Snodden
SF Racing
2nd
38
Daniel Barnes
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
2nd
39
Farley Barber
Spirit BSS
2nd
40
Angus Hawkins
Spirit BSS
1st
41
Oliver Hennessy
Spirit BSS
2nd
42
Thomas Price
Spirit BSS
2nd
43
Joshua Price
Spirit BSS
2nd
44
Elliiot Barrat
SRCT MUC-OFF
2nd
45
Matthew Ellis
SRCT MUC-OFF
2nd
46
Thomas Lowther
SRCT MUC-OFF
2nd
47
Matthew Warhurst
SRCT MUC-OFF
1st
48
Lucas Rowley
Tactic Sport UK Race Team
2nd
49
Kishan Bakrania
TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling
2nd
50
Jack Rootkin-Gray
Team Inspired
Elite
51
Jacques Coates
Team PB Performance
1st
52
Cian Leveridge
Team PB Performance
2nd
53
Kieran Riley
Team PB Performance
2nd
54
Tom Sharples
Team PB Performance
2nd
55
Cavan Walker
Team PB Performance
2nd
56
Samuel Clark
trainSharp Development Team
1st
57
Jacob James
trainSharp Elite
2nd
58
Tom Mitchell
trainSharp Elite
1st
59
Aidan Lawrence
TRINITY Road Racing
1st
60
Sam Kettlewell
TS Racing
2nd
61
James Brown
University of Bristol CC
2nd
62
James Wordsworth
University of Leeds Cycling Club
2nd
63
Samuel Beckett
Wales Racing Academy
1st
64
Liam James-Morris
Wales Racing Academy
2nd
65
Edward Morgan
Wales Racing Academy
1st
66
Owain Roberts
Wales Racing Academy
1st
67
William Truelove
Wales Racing Academy
1st
68
Matti Dobbins
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
1st
69
Matthew Fox
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
2nd
70
Logan Maclean
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
1st
71
Tim Shoreman
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
1st
72
Callum Thornley
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
2nd
73
James Bishop
Windle Race Team
2nd
74
Toby Barnes
WiV Sungod
Elite
75
Jim Brown
WiV Sungod
1st
76
Euan Macleod
WiV Sungod
2nd
77
Josh Whitehead
WiV Sungod
1st
78
Dexter Leeming-Sykes
Wold Top The Edge RT
2nd
79
Jack Hartley
Yomp Bonk Crew
2nd
80
Ben Granger
Zappi Racing Team
Elite
Reserves
#
Name
Club / Team
Cat
81
Iwan Evans
Embark – Bikestrong
2nd
82
Cameron Brown
Spokes Racing Team
2nd
83
Ben Chilton
Derby Mercury RC
2nd
84
Thomas Briers
Primera-TeamJobs
2nd
85
Isaac Henley
Caffi Gruff
2nd
86
Samuel Hucks
High Wycombe Cycling Club
2nd
87
George Safranauskas
LVC Racing
2nd
88
Ben Singer
LVC Racing
2nd
89
Oliver Wood
TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling
2nd
Timings
10.00
Neutralised Race Roll Out from HQ
13.00
Race finish (approximate)
13.45
Podium Presentation
Weather
The weather should be warm and dry, perfect for spectating before coming home to watch the finale of Paris-Roubaix.
How to follow
There is no official live coverage of the race, as far as we are aware, but we will be on the ground at the race, so keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.
The inaugural Under-23 Men’s National Road Series begins on Sunday 17 April with the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic. Here’s a preview of the race, including route details, contenders, startlist and timings.
What is it?
The first race of five in the new Under-23 Men’s National Road Series, the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic is a 122km road race that takes place on the border between West and South Yorkshire. Organised by British Cycling Yorkshire, it is a brand new race created specifically for British Cycling’s new series.
Route
The race takes place on the Holmfirth CC race circuit in Upper Denby, just north of Penistone. The circuit is 13.2km and features 205m of climbing, according to VeloViewer, with a total race distance of 122km. It’s the same course used for The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last year.
After a short neutralised section starting at the race HQ in Birds Edge, the riders then join the circuit at Ingbirchworth, tackling it in an anticlockwise direction.
From here, the circuit follows the A629 to Well House, on a meandering, but broadly flat, road. At Well House, the riders turn left, descending all the way down to Clough Green. Another left here takes the riders on the A635 toward Nether End. As the riders pass Hagg Wood, the main difficulty of the circuit begins, a 3.72km staggered climb up to Upper Denby. It has an average gradient of just 3.9%, but the steepest parts, positioned after the start/finish line in Lower Denby, are more testing, with ramps above 10% in places.
After Upper Denby, it’s relatively straight and flat again until the circuit reaches Ingbirchworth once more.
As mentioned above, the finish itself is positioned halfway up the main climb, in Lower Denby. This should make for a selective finish if a few riders are still together on the final lap. With no big UCI Continental teams to control the race however, it’s likely the race will have blown apart long before the final few hundred metres.
Contenders
Perusing the provisional startlist (below), two names jump out immediately: Josh Whitehead and Toby Barnes (both WiV SunGod). Both riders have been in excellent form already this season. 2021 Lancaster Grand Prix winner Whitehead was 2nd overall at the Peaks 2 Day and 4th at the Capenwray road race. Barnes, meanwhile, was 5th overall at the Peaks 2 Day and won the Danum Trophy two weeks ago. Whatsmore, both riders have form on this course; they finished first and second on this course at The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last season.
The Wales Racing Academy should be one of the strongest teams at the race and they have several cards to play. Sam Beckett leads our national road race rankings after a fine start to the season, including wins at the Primavera Road Race and the Bynea Early Season Road Race. A crash at the recent Circuit des Ardennes may have set him back a little, however, and his successes have some far come on flatter courses. Owain Roberts is another challenger. 11th at the Lancaster GP and 14th at Ryedale last season indicates he can go well on this type of terrain and he has a handy finish too. He was 34th overall in a tough recent edition of the recent Circuit des Ardennes, so the form is there too. Edward Morgan is another of the team’s riders who has started the season well.
Local team Cycling Sheffield also have cards to play. Adam Mitchell was 4th at The Barnsley (Not in the Town Centre….) Races last year, and was 2nd behind Toby Barnes at the recent Danum Trophy. George Wood was a two-time National B road race winner last season and is the type of rider that should suit a course like this.
Joe Wilson (Dolan Ellesse RT) has been one of the in-form riders on this type of terrain this season. He was 5th at the Capenwray road race, 10th overall at the Peaks 2 Day (including second on stage 2) and 4th at the Danum Trophy. Farley Barber (Spirit BSS) is another rider currently on song, and his consistency this season means he sits 4th in our national road race rankings.
Former WiV SunGod rider Callum MacLeod (À Bloc CT) could be another rider to watch. He has already had a good block of UCI racing in his legs, including 12th place at the Grand Prix Velo Alanya (1.2), and should be starting to come into form ahead of his big race targets in May. Jack Rootkin-Gray (Team Inspired) is another lone operator that the other riders will want to watch. He was 12th at the Youngster Coast Challenge (1.2U) this season and, like any GB Senior Academy rider, he shouldn’t be underestimated.
Ben Granger (Zappi Racing RT) is a rider who, on paper at least, should go well. He has had little racing so far this year, however, so his form is difficult to judge. The same can be said for first-year senior Aidan Lawrence (TRINITY Road Racing); he had some top results on the junior circuit last year, including 6th overall at the Junior Tour of Wales, but he remains relatively untested at the elite level so far.
Others to keep an eye on include Team PB Performance’s Jacques Coates (6th overall at the Peaks 2 Day), Saint Piran’s Jenson Young (7th overall at the Peaks 2 Day), Samuel Asker (Richardsons-Trek DAS, winner of the DAP CC Spring Road Race last weekend) and 18-year-old Matthew Lord (Hart Performance Coaching), who has made a fine start to the year with second at the DAP CC Spring Road Race and 7th at the Jock Wadley Memorial.
Provisional startlist
75Jim BrownWiV Sungod1stReserves
Timings
Weather
The weather should be warm and dry, perfect for spectating before coming home to watch the finale of Paris-Roubaix.
How to follow
There is no official live coverage of the race, as far as we are aware, but we will be on the ground at the race, so keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.
Find out more
Under-23 Men’s National Road Series: an explainer
Featured photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com. 2021 Junior Tour of Yorkshire – Men’s Road Race (Stage 2), Harrogate, England.
Share this: