19-year-old Euan Woodliffe (The Cycling Academy) won the 2023 Blaydon CC road race (National B), his first national road race win since turning under-23 this year.
A small but nonetheless very strong field lined for the Blaydon CC road race in Northumberland. Taking on 10 laps of the Rothley Crags course, the race covered 114km with over 1500m of climbing on rolling roads.
The race started slowly after the neutral flag dropped, riders being reluctant to spark things. The second and third laps were more active, however. Splits began forming and breakaway moves were attempted.
Towards the end lap three, Jack Hartley (BCC Race Team) carved out a 10-second gap and was then joined first by Moonglu rider Daniel McDermott and then by his brother James (Cycling Sheffield) over the top of the final climb on the finish straight.
The trio etched out a gap fairly quickly after that on the fast straight downhill section after the finishing line.
As the race progressed there were numerous attempts by small counter-groups to bridge across, the race blowing apart.
In the closing laps the leading three were joined by a chasing group of five. With two Moonglu riders now represented in the escape, Ben Pease being one of the five to have bridged, they did most of the work to keep the reduced bunch of around 15-20 riders behind at bay.
With the bunch in sight of the break, however, James Hartley attacked but was reeled in. The move jettisoned two riders from the break though, leaving the remaining leaders – joined by Michael Gill (HUUB Wattshop) who had bridged across) – to work cohesively.
Within the last three kilometres, though, a storming Euan Woodliffe (The Cycling Academy) and Dexter Leeming-Sykes (Wold Top The Edge) came across to join the front group.
As the swollen lead group approached the finish line, Gill was the first to go, making a long-range move. He was brought back, as Pease attempted to lead his teammate McDermott out, keeping the pace high as they raced to the line.
With 250 metres to go and an uphill drag to the line, James Hartley opened up the sprint, but Woodliffe and Hartley’s brother Jack rolled him, with Woodliffe taking the victory. James McKay (Cycling Sheffield) led in what was left of the bunch to finish 11th.
It was a welcome win for Woodliffe. He began the season in recovery following surgery over the winter, and was then of the victims of AT85 Pro Cycling’s sudden closure. This win suggests he is now finding his feet in the senior ranks after a challenging few months.
19-year-old Euan Woodliffe (The Cycling Academy) won the 2023 Blaydon CC road race (National B), his first national road race win since turning under-23 this year.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
Summary
A small but nonetheless very strong field lined for the Blaydon CC road race in Northumberland. Taking on 10 laps of the Rothley Crags course, the race covered 114km with over 1500m of climbing on rolling roads.
The race started slowly after the neutral flag dropped, riders being reluctant to spark things. The second and third laps were more active, however. Splits began forming and breakaway moves were attempted.
Towards the end lap three, Jack Hartley (BCC Race Team) carved out a 10-second gap and was then joined first by Moonglu rider Daniel McDermott and then by his brother James (Cycling Sheffield) over the top of the final climb on the finish straight.
The trio etched out a gap fairly quickly after that on the fast straight downhill section after the finishing line.
As the race progressed there were numerous attempts by small counter-groups to bridge across, the race blowing apart.
In the closing laps the leading three were joined by a chasing group of five. With two Moonglu riders now represented in the escape, Ben Pease being one of the five to have bridged, they did most of the work to keep the reduced bunch of around 15-20 riders behind at bay.
With the bunch in sight of the break, however, James Hartley attacked but was reeled in. The move jettisoned two riders from the break though, leaving the remaining leaders – joined by Michael Gill (HUUB Wattshop) who had bridged across) – to work cohesively.
Within the last three kilometres, though, a storming Euan Woodliffe (The Cycling Academy) and Dexter Leeming-Sykes (Wold Top The Edge) came across to join the front group.
As the swollen lead group approached the finish line, Gill was the first to go, making a long-range move. He was brought back, as Pease attempted to lead his teammate McDermott out, keeping the pace high as they raced to the line.
With 250 metres to go and an uphill drag to the line, James Hartley opened up the sprint, but Woodliffe and Hartley’s brother Jack rolled him, with Woodliffe taking the victory. James McKay (Cycling Sheffield) led in what was left of the bunch to finish 11th.
It was a welcome win for Woodliffe. He began the season in recovery following surgery over the winter, and was then of the victims of AT85 Pro Cycling’s sudden closure. This win suggests he is now finding his feet in the senior ranks after a challenging few months.
Results
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