Previews

2023 GA Bennett p/b Pedal Pushers of Grantham: preview and startlist

Startlist, route, contenders and timings for the GA Bennett road race, Monday 29 May

This bank holiday involves another busy weekend of domestic racing. With the RideLondon Classique concluding today, along with the two National B road races – the Olveston Grand Prix won by Marinus Peterson and the Blaydon CC Road Race where Euan Woodliffe was the victor – one more National B road race awaits tomorrow: the 2023 GA Bennett p/b Pedal Pushers of Grantham.

Featured image: Emma Wilcock

What is it?

Running since 1962 GA Bennett road race is one of the longest-standing road races in the UK. The GA Bennett has consistently proved a challenging race with only two riders winning the race twice: Graham Briggs (2002, 2013) and more recently Ben Stockdale (2012, 2015). The most recent edition in 2022 incorporated the East Midlands Road Race championships, won by Willam Perrett.

Route

The race completes 6 and 3/4 laps of the 18.77km narrow and rolling Witham Wheelers road race circuit just south of Grantham.

The race distance is 133km, with just over 1000m of elevation.

Timings

The race is due to role out at 13:15 following a support race in the morning.

Contenders

No previous winners of the GA Bennett take to the start so a first-time winner is guaranteed.

Currently second in the National Road Race Rankings, all eyes will be on James McKay (Cycling Sheffield). With his closest competitors in the rankings, Alexander Richardson and Jenson Young, not racing this weekend, McKay could take the rankings lead should he combine a successful race at the Blaydon CC Road Race with a strong performance here too.

McKay bests Richardson at the 2023 Timmy James Memorial Image: Olivia Coukham

Richardsons Trek DAS brings the strongest team to the race with 7 riders competing. After a challenging start to his 2023 campaign, Peter Cocker will be wanting to put on a strong show at his home race at which he finished 13th in 2022. He’ll no doubt have his fan club in close attendance; his father, Simon, took over organising the race in 2010.

The Richardson Trek DAS team also boast Rás stage winner Conor McGoldrick. McGoldrick won stage 1 of the recent Rás and then held the leaders’ yellow jersey all race, only to lose it on the final stage. His performance on Ireland must have been a tremendous confidence boost after a tricky start to the season. Can he continue his bounce back here?

Another to keep an eye on is Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) who will be looking to continue his recent podium successes at the DAP CC Spring Road Race and the Timmy James Memorial.

Clay in 2021. Photo: Ian Wrightson Photography

Others to watch include Saint Piran’s Adam Lewis – an experienced rider looking to next himself a result after a difficult season start and 19-year-old independent rider Joseph Smith who was second at the BUCS road race championships last weekend.

Startlist

BibRiderAgeTeam
1 Gavin AlcockSenior7 Hills Cycling Club
2 Samuel AskerU23Richardsons Trek DAS
3 Morris BaconSeniorDAP Cycling Club
4 Tobias BartlettSeniorDoddington Cycling Club
5 James BentleySeniorA.Fawcett Racing
6 Edward CalowSeniorRoyal Air Force CA
7 Renzo CasaleU23University of Bath Cycling Club
8 Jude ChamberlainU23Embark Spirit BSS
9 James ChapmanSeniorTeam PB Performance
10 Adam CharlestonSeniorHigh Wycombe Cycling Club
11 Peter CockerSeniorRichardsons Trek DAS
12 Jack CutsforthSeniorSPATZWEAR
13 Clay DaviesSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
14 Cai DaviesSeniorKalas Motip Race Team
15 Reece EgnerSeniorWitham Wheelers Cycling Club
16 Liam FlanneryU23Team PB Performance
17 Martin FordSeniorHUUB WattShop
18 Aaron FreemanU23Richardsons Trek DAS
19 Jake HalesSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
20 James HawkinsU23Cycling Sheffield
21 Benjamin HelleboSeniorWheelsuckers
22 Taylor HillU23Cycling Sheffield
23 Josh HousleySeniorDerby CC Webuycycle Huub RT
24 Gavin HowellSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
25 Rhys HowellsSeniorRichardsons Trek DAS
26 Jake JacksonSeniorRose Race Team
27 Adam KenwaySeniorDerby CC Webuycycle Huub RT
28 Joshua KnowlesU23TAAP Endura
29 Philip LargeSeniorWold Top The Edge Pactimo
30 Adam LewisSeniorSaint Piran
31 Charlie Lewis FollowsU23Islington Cycling Club
32 Matthew LockSeniorTAAP Endura
33 Matthew LordU23Richardsons Trek DAS
34 Daniel McDermottSeniorMoonglu Race Team
35 Conor McGoldrickSeniorRichardsons Trek DAS
36 Struan McInnesSeniorHolmfirth Cycling Club
37 James McKaySeniorCycling Sheffield
38 Cameron McLarenSeniorKalas Motip Race Team
39 Ben MewesSeniorMoonglu Race Team
40 James O’ConnellSeniorPrivate Member
41 Harry PaveleyU23Team PB Performance
42 Ben PeaseSeniorMoonglu Race Team
43 Freddy PettSeniorWold Top The Edge Pactimo
44 Alex PritchardSeniorHUUB WattShop
45 Joshua RavnSeniorWold Top The Edge Pactimo
46 Darren RiderSeniorPrivate Member
47 Adam RobertsonSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
48 John RussellU2305/03
49 Dominic SchilsSeniorVelo Schils – Interbike RT
50 William ScottSeniorRichardsons Trek DAS
51 David ShackletonSeniorWilsons Wheels Race Team
52 Joseph SmithU23Private Member
53 Alexander SpeirsSeniorTAAP Endura
54 George ThompsonSeniorRose Race Team
55 Timothy TorrieSeniortrainSharp Elite
56 Mark WalkerSeniorWold Top The Edge Pactimo
57 Matt WatsonU23Ride Revolution Coaching
58 Dean WatsonSeniorEmbark Spirit BSS
59 Phil WilliamsSeniorPrivate Member
60 Nathan WilsonSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
61 Reserve – Simon NormanSeniorRide Revolution Coaching
62 Reserve – Gary FreemanSeniorOrwell Velo
63 Reserve – Carl StubbsSeniorOpen Collective
64 Reserve – James DentSeniorTeam PB Performance
65 Reserve – Adam BakerSeniorRoyal Air Force CA
66 Reserve – Ben ChiltonU23Ribble Collective
67 Reserve – Lucas JowettU23Saint Piran
68 Reserve – Tiago FougoSeniorGiant Dijon Track Team

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