We’re over midway through March and the national road racing season is now fully underway. This weekend we have the historic Wally Gimber Trophy as well as one of the best additions to the national road racing calendar for years: the Peaks 2 Day. This preview focuses on the latter.
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 63rd 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. Tony Gibb won three times, while Simon Cope and Rob Hurd each won four editions.
James Jenkins with Alex Richardson after the 2022 edition of the race. Photo: Dave Hayward
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. Last season, Alex Richardson was unstoppable, winning the race for the second time (his first win was in 2019).
The route
The race uses the same course that Richardson was victorious on last year. It 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 lap. 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.
Timings
11.05
Race start
14.45
Race finish (expected timetable)
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests the weather should be mild, but with a chance of rain, which could make for slippery conditions.
Contenders
Among the many notable names on the provisional startlist, one stands out above all others: two-time victor Alex Richardson. Coming off the back of his Jock Wadley win last weekend, with two victories already under his belt, the only UCI Continental rider in the race has the legs and the brains to win it again. The one disadvantage he has is that he’ll have to operate solo, with no teammates for support. That has rarely stopped him in the past, however.
Rowan Baker has been one of the revelations of 2023 so far, finishing 5th at Perfs in February and then second last week at Jock Wadley. He went wheel-to-wheel with Richardson for a good part of the race, and has the form to challenge again.
Richardsons Trek DAS fields a strong quartet of riders. Jack Crooks is in fine and, by Ollie Peckover’s admission, may even have won last weekend’s Capernwray race had it not been for a missed feed. Teammate James Jenkins was second in this race last year, while Conor McGoldrick has the firepower to win a race like this on his day.
The veteran Le Col duo of Yanto Barker and Chris Opie cannot be overlooked. Both riders have distinguished palmares, and are well-versed at winning races like this. Speaking of veterans, former winner Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports – Cannondale RT) is on the startlist. A top ten last weekend at the Jock Wadley Memorial demonstrates his legs are there or thereabouts for a good result.
Elsewhere, a dark horse could be first-year under-23 Mattie Dodd, who was second in the junior national road champs last season, and now rides for the Austrian Tirol KTM Cycling Team.
We’re over midway through March and the national road racing season is now fully underway. This weekend we have the historic Wally Gimber Trophy as well as one of the best additions to the national road racing calendar for years: the Peaks 2 Day. This preview focuses on the latter.
Featured image: Dave Hayward
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 63rd 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. 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. Last season, Alex Richardson was unstoppable, winning the race for the second time (his first win was in 2019).
The route
The race uses the same course that Richardson was victorious on last year. It 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 lap. 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.
Timings
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests the weather should be mild, but with a chance of rain, which could make for slippery conditions.
Contenders
Among the many notable names on the provisional startlist, one stands out above all others: two-time victor Alex Richardson. Coming off the back of his Jock Wadley win last weekend, with two victories already under his belt, the only UCI Continental rider in the race has the legs and the brains to win it again. The one disadvantage he has is that he’ll have to operate solo, with no teammates for support. That has rarely stopped him in the past, however.
Rowan Baker has been one of the revelations of 2023 so far, finishing 5th at Perfs in February and then second last week at Jock Wadley. He went wheel-to-wheel with Richardson for a good part of the race, and has the form to challenge again.
Richardsons Trek DAS fields a strong quartet of riders. Jack Crooks is in fine and, by Ollie Peckover’s admission, may even have won last weekend’s Capernwray race had it not been for a missed feed. Teammate James Jenkins was second in this race last year, while Conor McGoldrick has the firepower to win a race like this on his day.
The veteran Le Col duo of Yanto Barker and Chris Opie cannot be overlooked. Both riders have distinguished palmares, and are well-versed at winning races like this. Speaking of veterans, former winner Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports – Cannondale RT) is on the startlist. A top ten last weekend at the Jock Wadley Memorial demonstrates his legs are there or thereabouts for a good result.
Elsewhere, a dark horse could be first-year under-23 Mattie Dodd, who was second in the junior national road champs last season, and now rides for the Austrian Tirol KTM Cycling Team.
Provisional startlist
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