The Perfs Pedal road race may have marked the start of the domestic road racing calendar last month, but it is only now, in March, that we begin to get into the meat of the national road racing season. This weekend we can look forward to two National B road races: the Jock Wadley Memorial in Essex and the Capernwray road races in Lancashire. This preview focuses on the latter, with a preview for the Jock Wadley race coming soon.

These early season races typically feature fields stacked with UCI Continental and elite-level riders, and this weekend’s offerings are no different.

What is it?

The Capernwray Road Races – one for women, one for men – are ‘National B‘ road races promoted by the good people at Cold Dark North. With the races positioned earlier in the month than they were last year, the women’s race will be the first national road race for the women’s peloton this season.

Held to the northeast of Lancaster, not far from the course of the Lancaster Grand Prix, the race is known for its punishing uphill finish atop a climb the organisers optimistically dub ‘Sunny Bank’. 

The long-running race is held in high esteem by domestic riders and it has a star-studded list of previous winners, including Lizzie Deignan, Joanna Rowsell, Danni King, Sarah Storey, Lizzy Banks, Ian Bibby, Joss Lowden, Ross Lamb and Lucy Ellmore. Last year’s winners were Finn Crockett (then of Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling, now at AT85 Pro Cycling) and Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods).

As per last season’s edition, the race forms the first round of Cold Dark North’s new Proper Northern Road Race Series…

The Proper Northern Road Race Series: how it works

The Series consists of three races, all taking place on grippy roads with summit or hilltop finishes. 

Round	Date	Race
1	12 Mar	Capernwray Road Race
2	30 Apr	Oakenclough Road Race
3	23 Jul	Aughton Road Race

The Series will include both an individual competition and a team competition.

In the individual competition, the first 20 riders across the line in each race score points. From 1st place through to 20th the points scale is the same used by British Cycling for National road races: 60, 52, 45, 40, 35, 31, 27, 23, 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1. The rider who accumulates the most points across the three races wins the competition.

For the team competition, each individual finisher earns points for their team based on the UCI points scale used for the Tour de France GC, which assigns points from 1st place down to 60th. The points earned by the top three finishers of each team are added up to determine the team rankings for each race. Teams earn points based on their ranking within each race based using the same British Cycling points scheme as for the individuals (i.e. best-placed team gets 60 points, and so on). The final ranking of teams will be on the basis of the total points earned across the three rounds.

Route

A 12.7 kilometre anti-clockwise circuit that finishes on top of Sunny Bank, with 195 metres of ascent per lap. The men take on 8 laps of the circuit, the women tackle 6 (to be confirmed by the commissaires on the day). It’s a lumpy, technical course with narrow roads in several parts, giving breakaway hopefuls plenty of opportunities to slip away and move out of sight.

The riders roll out south from Borwick and Priest Hutton Memorial Hall down Borwick Lane and then turn left onto Capernwray Road when they reach Borwick. They join the circuit as Capenwray Road merges onto Borwick Road at the junction with Keer Holme Lane. They then tackle the circuit in an anticlockwise direction.

The peloton joins the circuit just before the lead-up to the Sunny Bank climb, meaning the riders get an earlier opportunity to scout out the approach to the finish.

Once over Sunny Bank, the circuit descends for around four kilometres, meaning the riders will be flying as they reach Arkholme. But this should not lull riders into a false sense of security. There are three hills on the circuit in all. And the next comes shortly after that descent finishes. Riders turn left at Arkholme into the Bay Horse Inn climb. It is only 600 metres long with an average gradient of 5% but it’s enough to make tired legs scream in the closing laps if the racing is hard enough.

The next climb, Docker Park, begins six and a half kilometres into the circuit and is similar in both gradient and length to the Bay Horse obstacle.

After a short fast descent, the terrain is then fairly flat for about three and a half kilometres. 

Cold Dark North told us last year that they like to finish all of their races on a climb – ‘stabby bastard hills’ as they affectionately refer to them – and this course is no different. Indeed, the circuit saves the toughest to last, finishing with the 1.3 kilometre climb of Sunny Bank (known as Borwick Hill on Strava). The average gradient is 7.1% but it’s an uneven affair, pitching up to as much as 15.4% at around the halfway point, then flattens somewhat before a final steep rise that begins about 300 metres to go. 

Adam Mitchell (Team U Charente-Maritime) currently holds the KOM on Strava for the climb, while Becky Storrie is the segment’s QOM (set in last year’s edition of the race when the now Team DSM rider finished second). The climb takes around three minutes at full effort, give or take 15-20 seconds, and the first rider up this leg-sapper on the last lap will be crowned the winner.

Timings

9.00	Men’s road race
13.00	Women’s road race

Weather

Cool temperatures, light rain and a moderate breeze will mean the weather is likely to play a factor, introducing slippery conditions and a fight to keep warm.

Contenders

Men’s race

The provisional startlist for the men’s race features five UCI Continental riders.

Josh Whitehead (AT85 Pro Cycling) arrives fresh off a stint in Belgium with his AT85 Pro Cycling team. The former Lancaster Grand Prix will be looking to go three places better than his 4th place last year.

To do so, he’ll need to better a trio of Saint Piran riders: Adam Lewis, Leon Mazzone and Bradley Symonds. Lewis and Mazzone are particularly suited to this terrain, so a good result is well within reach for them if their early season form is up to scratch.

The other UCI Continental rider, Ben Granger (Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace VPM), is another rider very well adapted to this kind of terrain so should be another to watch.

The UCI Continental riders shouldn’t have it all their own way though, with elite teams Cycling Sheffield, Embark Spirit BSS, ROKiT-SRCT and Team PB Performance all fielding strong squads and have the advantage of numerical superiority over their UCI Continental counterparts.

There are several standout riders among the elite ranks. George Wood (Cycling Sheffield) is a perenially good performer on these kinds of courses, and 6th at the Perfs Pedal last month suggests the form should be there or thereabouts. The same goes for Jack Crook (Richardsons-Trek DAS) who was 4th at Perfs.

Joe Wilson (Embark Spirit BSS) was 5th in Capernwray last year and will have teammate, and former UCI road race winner, Damien Clayton as an excellent foil (and a contender in his own right). Bradley Wiggins’ son Ben Wiggins (Fensham Howes), still just a junior, is developing into a top rider and will add a bit of star quality to proceedings. George Peden (Team PB Performance) stormed to the win over hilly terrain this time last year at the Peaks 2 Day. And Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite), formerly of Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling and SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling, was 4th in this race in 2021. A top ten stage finisher at the Tour of Britain that same year, and a winner of a Tour Series round last year, he is a rider that cannot be discounted.

Women’s race

You don’t need to look far down the women’s startlist to see one of the top contenders. Wearing bib number one, last year’s winner Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods) is an obvious contender. Wilkinson might be 42 now, but she only seemed to get better last year and she will be a favourite again on what are her local roads. Wilkinson is backed by a full team of six other Team Boompods riders.

One of Wilkinson’s closest rivals will surely be UCI Continental rider Connie Hayes. Hayes is an excellent climber and had a fine 2022, bagging a number of top ten places in the National Road Series.

DAS-Handsling will also offer up stiff UCI Continental opposition. 2022 National Road Series winner Sammie Stuart is an obvious pick, but in Lucy Lee (third in the National Road Series) they have more than one contender. Another teammate, Emma Jeffers, was sensational as a junior last year, although this race might be a little too lumpy for her (or perhaps she’ll now prove us wrong!).

The Alba Development Road Team made an impressive debut in the UK last year, helping riders like Kate Richardson (now Lifepluss-Wahoo) step up to the UCI Continental ranks. Beth McIver (4th at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix last year) and Daisy Barnes (15th in the national road race in 2021) are two to watch for that team.

The Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee line-up looks formidable. Lucy Ellmore is a former winner of this race, so will be a favourite again this year. Corinne Side was in the top ten last year, so could go well again. We’re also keen to see how well new signing Robyn Clay goes; she was 7th overall in the tough Manx International last year as a virtual freelancer, so it will be fascinating how she gets as part of a team (watch out for an interview with Robyn on this site later this week).

Startlists

Men’s race

#	Name	Team
1	Josh Whitehead	AT85 Pro Cycling
2	Jacob Gilkes	BCC Race Team
3	Matthew Cole	Beeston Cycling Club
4	James Hawkins	Cycling Sheffield
5	Max Krasinski	Cycling Sheffield
6	James McKay	Cycling Sheffield
7	George Wood	Cycling Sheffield
8	James Wordsworth	Cycling Sheffield
9	Charles Ager	Embark Spirit BSS
10	Damien Clayton	Embark Spirit BSS
11	Sam Kettlewell	Embark Spirit BSS
12	Dean Watson	Embark Spirit BSS
13	Joe Wilson	Embark Spirit BSS
14	Christopher Booth	Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
15	Joe Boothroyd	Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
16	Ryan Coulton	Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
17	David Hill	Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
18	Edward Moss	Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
19	William Abbott	INFLITE
20	John Bardsley	Innovation Racing
21	Archie Fletcher	Innovation Racing
22	Alexander Foster	Innovation Racing
23	Cameron McLaren	Kalas Motip Race Team
24	Ben Wiggins	MAS Design – Fensham Howes
25	Ben Granger	Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace VPM
26	Ben Pease	Moonglu Race Team
27	Daniel McDermott	Private Member
28	Cameron Jeffers	Ribble collective
29	Daniel Kain	Ribble rechrg Race Team
30	Alexander MacRae	Ribble rechrg Race Team
31	Daniel Saba	Ribble rechrg Race Team
32	Jack Crook	Richardsons Trek DAS
33	Joseph Beckingsale	ROKiT-SRCT
34	Matthew Ellis	ROKiT-SRCT
35	Scott Redding	ROKiT-SRCT
36	Matthew Warhurst	ROKiT-SRCT
37	Tom Williams	ROKiT-SRCT
38	Adam Lewis	Saint Piran
39	Leon Mazzone	Saint Piran
40	Bradley Symonds	Saint Piran
41	Nicholas Cooper	Sweden Cycling Academy
42	Samuel Jackson	Tactic Sport UK Race Team
43	Carl Potter	Tactic Sport UK Race Team
44	Martin Watson	Tactic Sport UK Race Team
45	Liam Flannery	Team PB Performance
46	Tom Palfrey	Team PB Performance
47	George Peden	Team PB Performance
48	Jude Taylor	Team PB Performance
49	Tomos Pattinson	Tofauti Everyone Active
50	Oliver Peace	Tofauti Everyone Active
51	James Bevan	trainSharp Elite
52	Thomas Mitchell	trainSharp Elite
53	Oliver Peckover	trainSharp Elite
54	Benjamin Bright	Wales Racing Academy
55	Huw Buck Jones	Wales Racing Academy
56	Spencer Davies	Wales Racing Academy
57	Lee Rosie	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
58	Jacob Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
59	Dexter Leeming-Sykes	Wold Top The Edge Pactimo
60	John Roberts	Zappi Racing Team

Women’s race

#	Name	Team
1	Mary Wilkinson	Team Boompods
2	Jayati Hine	Team Boompods
3	Sian Marsh	Team Boompods
4	Ellen McDermott	Team Boompods
5	Gemma Mitchell	Team Boompods
6	Keri Parton	Team Boompods
7	Lauren Robinson	Team Boompods
8	Gwenno Hughes	05/03
9	Daisy Barnes	Alba Development Road Team
10	Sophie Enever	Alba Development Road Team
11	Arianne Holland	Alba Development Road Team
12	Beth Maciver	Alba Development Road Team
13	Eilidh Shaw	Alba Development Road Team
14	Evie White	Alba Development Road Team
15	Georgia Bullard	AWOL- O’Shea
16	Connie Hayes	AWOL- O’Shea
17	Kim Baptista	Ayr Roads Cycling Club
18	Freya Evans	Cero – Cycle Division Racing Team
19	Emma Jeffers	DAS – Handsling Bikes
20	Lucy Lee	DAS – Handsling Bikes
21	Sammie Stuart	DAS – Handsling Bikes
22	Sophie Thackray	DAS – Handsling Bikes
23	Joanne Clarke	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
24	Maddie Heywood	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
25	Vivienne Tomlin	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
26	Natalie Stevenson	Glasgow Ivy CC
27	Georgina Oakley	INFLITE Femme
28	Skye Davidson	Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon
29	Beth Harley-Jepson	Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon
30	Abi Plowman	Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon
31	Francesca Hall	Loughborough Lightning
32	Savannah Morgan	Private Member
33	Robyn Clay	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
34	Bexy Dew	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
35	Lucy Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
36	Amy Gornall	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
37	Zoe Langham	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
38	Corinne Side	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
39	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
40	Annabel Ramsay	RFDA
41	Hannah Bayes	Saint Piran WRT
42	Rachel Galler	Saint Piran WRT
43	Alice Colling	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
44	Cat Ferguson	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
45	Isabel Mayes	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
46	Freya Whiteside	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
47	Imogen Wolff	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
48	Esther Wong	Shibden Hope Tech Apex
49	Olivia French	StolenGoat Race Team
50	Gwyneth Parry	StolenGoat Race Team
51	Maisy Vasic	Team 22
52	Anna Weaver	Team Kirkley Cycles
53	Isabel Darvill	Team Spectra Cannondale
54	Jenny Holl	TEKKERZ CC
55	Katherine Handy	Valley Striders CC
56	Adele Battersby	Wahoo – Le Col
57	Maya Branfoot	Wahoo – Le Col
58	Laura Gray	Wahoo – Le Col
59	Lauren Langham	Wahoo – Le Col
60	Frances Owen	Wahoo – Le Col