Megan Barker (Team Inspired) won a crash-marred women’s race with a powerful long-range sprint on the esplanade at Redcar. In the men’s race that followed, teamless Ollie Wood took a commanding win, crossing the line solo with a handsome lead in the Redcar rain.
Featured photo: SWPix
Women’s race
The women’s race proved to be a race of two halves, literally.
Just over 70 riders rolled out from the start/finish line on Redcar seafront under overcast skies.
The race was frenetic from the start. Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) raced like a woman on a mission in the early laps, pushing the pace so hard that riders were already dropping off the back. Junior Cat Ferguson (Shibdeb Hope Tech Apex) was in close attendance, along with a gaggle of DAS-Handsling riders, looking ominously threatening.
Moves from Katie Archibald (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Sammie Stuart (DAS-Handsling) were neutralised. But when Archibald tried again with a searing attack a few laps later, she opened up a large gap very quickly, her rivals seemingly unable, or unwilling to respond.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Women’s Circuit Race – Katie Archibald of Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Archibald was fully committed and before long her lead was 17 seconds, the bunch behind not able to fully coordinate a chase, despite DAS-Handsling and Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee having numbers.
Archibald was perhaps too committed, however, overcooking it on a corner and sliding to a halt against the barriers. She was up quickly but was unable to get her bike back functioning, eventually realising her race was over as the bunch sped past her. A let off for her rivals.
Not long after there was drama. A touch of wheels at the start/finish line led to a huge crash, tens of riders brought done or held up. With some serious injuries apparent, the race was quickly neutralised.
The British Continental’s former journal contributor Charlotte Broughton (AWOL – O’Shea) and Stuart were the worst-affected riders, both taken to hospital for checkups. We send our very best wishes to both riders.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Women’s Circuit Race – A crash takes down a number of riders. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Once the race eventually resumed, the commissaires announced there would be just ten laps left to race to decide the 2023 national circuit race champion.
The race remained high in these ten, final, tense laps, Emily Proud (Le Col RT) at the front of the race almost constantly, Ferguson, Jeffers and Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling) among those prowling behind.
As the riders hit the bell it was still all together. Jenny Holl (Tekkerz CC) and Megan Barker (Team Inspired) both moved up to the front, and it was Barker who took control.
She was first into the final corner, and, supported by a tail crosswind, began the long drive for home. Close behind, Ferguson, Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) and Sophie Wright (DAS-Handsling) clamoured to get onto her wheel. Ferguson got there, but couldn’t get around Barker, leaving the track specialist to claim her first national circuit race title.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Women’s Circuit Race – Megan Barker of Team Inspired (UCI Track Team) wins with Cat Ferguson of Shibden Hope Tech Apex in second and Madelaine Leech of Lifeplus Wahoo in third. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
17-year-old Ferguson claimed second, with U23 time trial champion Leech finishing third.
Joe Hudson speaks to Megan Barker post-race
Results
Rank
BIB
Rider
Team
Time
Gap
1
63
Megan Barker
Team Inspired (UCI Track Team)
1:23:46.01
2
53
Cat Ferguson
Shibden Hope Tech Apex
1:23:46.02
3
36
Madelaine Leech
Lifeplus Wahoo
1:23:46.05
4
19
Sophie Lewis
DAS – Handsling Bikes
1:23:46.08
5
17
Emma Jeffers
DAS – Handsling Bikes
1:23:48.04
+0:02.34
6
16
Monica Greenwood
DAS – Handsling Bikes
1:23:48.07
+0:02.62
7
35
Emily Proud
Le Col Race Team
1:23:48.09
+0:02.81
8
24
Flora Perkins
Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team
1:23:49.00
+0:02.92
9
68
Jenny Holl
TEKKERZ CC
1:23:49.01
+0:03.03
10
28
Samantha Fawcett
Hutchinson-Brother UK
1:23:49.07
+0:03.59
11
65
Isabel Darvill
Team Spectra Cannondale
1:23:49.07
+0:03.59
12
46
Corinne Side
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
1:23:50.09
+0:04.82
13
42
Robyn Clay
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
1:23:51.00
+0:04.90
14
23
Millie Couzens
Fenix-Deceuninck
1:23:51.01
+0:05.05
15
56
Imogen Wolff
Shibden Hope Tech Apex
1:23:51.05
+0:05.38
16
54
Lucy Glover
Shibden Hope Tech Apex
1:23:53.01
+0:06.99
17
43
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
1:23:53.03
+0:07.22
18
57
Erin Avill
Storey Racing
1:23:55.01
+0:09.05
19
62
Lauren Robinson
Team Boompods
1:23:55.02
+0:09.16
20
8
Francesca Morgans-Slader
AWOL- O’Shea
1:23:55.03
+0:09.20
21
39
Francesca Hall
Loughborough Lightning
1:23:55.04
+0:09.30
22
14
Alex Morrice
CANYON – SRAM RACING
1:23:55.04
+0:09.31
23
55
Isabel Mayes
Shibden Hope Tech Apex
1:23:55.05
+0:09.42
24
77
Grace Castle
Unattached
1:23:55.08
+0:09.75
25
69
Amy Perryman
TEKKERZ CC
1:23:56.01
+0:09.97
26
64
Xan Crees
Team Spectra Cannondale
1:23:56.01
+0:10.01
27
61
Gemma Mitchell
Team Boompods
1:23:56.04
+0:10.27
28
70
Georgina Oakley
Unattached
1:23:56.09
+0:10.77
29
45
Amy Gornall
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
1:23:57.03
+0:11.19
30
27
Sian Botteley
Hutchinson-Brother UK
1:23:57.07
+0:11.65
31
3
Arianne Holland
Alba Development Road Team
1:23:57.08
+0:11.76
32
31
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
1:23:57.08
+0:11.76
33
51
Hannah Bayes
Saint Piran WRT
1:23:57.10
+0:11.87
34
22
Sophie Thackray
DAS – Handsling Bikes
1:24:01.00
+0:14.92
35
2
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
1:24:01.05
+0:15.42
36
48
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
1:24:01.07
+0:15.65
37
34
Suzetta Guerrini
Le Col Race Team
1:24:51.04
+1:05.30
DNF
21
Sammie Stuart
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNF
5
Charlotte Broughton
AWOL- O’Shea
DNF
44
Lucy Ellmore
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
DNF
20
Grace Lister
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNF
4
Amelia Tyler
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
15
Katie Archibald
Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
DNF
41
Anya Tamplin
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
40
Amber Harding
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
60
Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne
Team Boompods
DNF
29
Laura Davies
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
DNF
76
Philippa Draper
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
1
Daisy Barnes
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
13
Harriet Graham
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
DNF
58
Nicola Soden
Tactic UK WRT
DNF
66
Josie Knight
Team Spectra Cannondale
DNF
38
Eva Callinan
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
59
Jayati Hine
Team Boompods
DNF
25
Elizabeth Sanders
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
DNF
10
Maddie Wadsworth
AWOL- O’Shea
DNF
67
Lucy Nelson
Team Spectra Cannondale
DNF
18
Lucy Lee
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNF
12
Lily Brindle
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
DNF
47
Millie Skinner
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
DNF
30
Lola Ellis
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
DNF
75
Victoria Smith
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
32
Abbie Taylor
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
DNF
71
Beth Maciver
Alba Development Road Team
DNS
6
Georgia Bullard
AWOL- O’Shea
DNS
7
Jessica Finney
AWOL- O’Shea
DNS
9
Libby Smithson
AWOL- O’Shea
DNS
11
Ellen Bennett
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
DNS
26
Charlotte Berry
Hutchinson-Brother UK
DNS
33
Katie-Anne Calton
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
DNS
37
Kate Richardson
Lifeplus Wahoo
DNS
49
Amira Mellor
Ribble Collective
DNS
50
Ella Barnwell
Saint Piran WRT
DNS
52
Sophie Holmes
Saint Piran WRT
DNS
72
Sasha Smith
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
DNS
73
Polly Milsom
Hutchinson-Brother UK
Men’s race
The early stages of the race were cagey, pre-race rain making conditions slippery. Newly-crowned elite men’s time trial champion Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) and local favourite Charlie Tanfield (Saint Piran) were among those patrolling the front and pushing the pace.
There were a number of probing moves that looked dangerous but were quickly closed down. Defending champion Matt Bostock (Black Spoke Pro Cycling) was involved in one such foray, pulling clear with a seated acceleration, pulling Tarling with him. Before they could get too far, however, Watson sprinted to shut the move down.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Men’s Circuit Race – Oliver Wood. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
When the move did go, it was remarkable in how easy Ollie Wood made it seem. Accelerating with Tarling on his wheel, Tarling either decided not to follow or couldn’t. His hesitation was infectious, the entire bunch, letting Wood move seemingly effortlessly clear.
Perhaps the pack felt Wood wouldn’t have the legs or the mental fortitude to make the move stick – especially because many of the Redcar circuit’s straights were long enough for the chasers to see Wood as he ground out his consistent tempo. Or perhaps, with 40 minutes left of racing, they believed there was plenty of time to bring him back. Either way, they were wrong.
Indeed, such was his persistent pace, he opened up an increasingly large advantage. It came almost in stages. For a few laps his advantage was just five seconds, a few laps later it jumped to double figures. Closing in on the final 10 minutes of the race and he stretched it out to 20 seconds.
In the final few minutes before the 5-lap countdown began, the chasers finally sprung to life. A counterattacked formed, involving Joe Holt (Tekkerz CC), Josh Giddings (Lotto Dstny Development Team), Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) and Will Tidball (Saint Piran). They set off in pursuit, the bunch hot on their heels, just as the rain looming on the horizon finally hit the coast and dumped a moody sky’s worth of rain on the peloton, adding an extra frisson of excitement to what was already an enthralling contest.
Not long after, however, Tidball lost his wheel on the first lefthander after the start/finish line, coming down, with Watson and Giddings following suit. The chase disrupted, Wood’s lead ballooned yet further. By the time he took the bell he enjoyed a lead of 40 seconds, his final lap a victory parade.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Men’s Circuit Race – Oliver Wood Wins. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The battle behind was scrappy, the riders still standing battling it out for silver and bronze. As they reached the esplanade, the finish line in sight, last year’s champion Matt Bostock launched his sprint early, holding it to the line.
The fight for the final place on the podium went down to the finest of margins as elite rider Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was just one-tenth of a second clear of Harry Tanfield, who was agonisingly close to a podium on home roads.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Men’s Circuit Race – Matthew Bostock of Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy sprinting for second and Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli finishing third. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Megan Barker (Team Inspired) won a crash-marred women’s race with a powerful long-range sprint on the esplanade at Redcar. In the men’s race that followed, teamless Ollie Wood took a commanding win, crossing the line solo with a handsome lead in the Redcar rain.
Featured photo: SWPix
Women’s race
The women’s race proved to be a race of two halves, literally.
Just over 70 riders rolled out from the start/finish line on Redcar seafront under overcast skies.
The race was frenetic from the start. Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) raced like a woman on a mission in the early laps, pushing the pace so hard that riders were already dropping off the back. Junior Cat Ferguson (Shibdeb Hope Tech Apex) was in close attendance, along with a gaggle of DAS-Handsling riders, looking ominously threatening.
Moves from Katie Archibald (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Sammie Stuart (DAS-Handsling) were neutralised. But when Archibald tried again with a searing attack a few laps later, she opened up a large gap very quickly, her rivals seemingly unable, or unwilling to respond.
Archibald was fully committed and before long her lead was 17 seconds, the bunch behind not able to fully coordinate a chase, despite DAS-Handsling and Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee having numbers.
Archibald was perhaps too committed, however, overcooking it on a corner and sliding to a halt against the barriers. She was up quickly but was unable to get her bike back functioning, eventually realising her race was over as the bunch sped past her. A let off for her rivals.
Not long after there was drama. A touch of wheels at the start/finish line led to a huge crash, tens of riders brought done or held up. With some serious injuries apparent, the race was quickly neutralised.
The British Continental’s former journal contributor Charlotte Broughton (AWOL – O’Shea) and Stuart were the worst-affected riders, both taken to hospital for checkups. We send our very best wishes to both riders.
Once the race eventually resumed, the commissaires announced there would be just ten laps left to race to decide the 2023 national circuit race champion.
The race remained high in these ten, final, tense laps, Emily Proud (Le Col RT) at the front of the race almost constantly, Ferguson, Jeffers and Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling) among those prowling behind.
As the riders hit the bell it was still all together. Jenny Holl (Tekkerz CC) and Megan Barker (Team Inspired) both moved up to the front, and it was Barker who took control.
She was first into the final corner, and, supported by a tail crosswind, began the long drive for home. Close behind, Ferguson, Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) and Sophie Wright (DAS-Handsling) clamoured to get onto her wheel. Ferguson got there, but couldn’t get around Barker, leaving the track specialist to claim her first national circuit race title.
17-year-old Ferguson claimed second, with U23 time trial champion Leech finishing third.
Results
Men’s race
The early stages of the race were cagey, pre-race rain making conditions slippery. Newly-crowned elite men’s time trial champion Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) and local favourite Charlie Tanfield (Saint Piran) were among those patrolling the front and pushing the pace.
There were a number of probing moves that looked dangerous but were quickly closed down. Defending champion Matt Bostock (Black Spoke Pro Cycling) was involved in one such foray, pulling clear with a seated acceleration, pulling Tarling with him. Before they could get too far, however, Watson sprinted to shut the move down.
When the move did go, it was remarkable in how easy Ollie Wood made it seem. Accelerating with Tarling on his wheel, Tarling either decided not to follow or couldn’t. His hesitation was infectious, the entire bunch, letting Wood move seemingly effortlessly clear.
Perhaps the pack felt Wood wouldn’t have the legs or the mental fortitude to make the move stick – especially because many of the Redcar circuit’s straights were long enough for the chasers to see Wood as he ground out his consistent tempo. Or perhaps, with 40 minutes left of racing, they believed there was plenty of time to bring him back. Either way, they were wrong.
Indeed, such was his persistent pace, he opened up an increasingly large advantage. It came almost in stages. For a few laps his advantage was just five seconds, a few laps later it jumped to double figures. Closing in on the final 10 minutes of the race and he stretched it out to 20 seconds.
In the final few minutes before the 5-lap countdown began, the chasers finally sprung to life. A counterattacked formed, involving Joe Holt (Tekkerz CC), Josh Giddings (Lotto Dstny Development Team), Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) and Will Tidball (Saint Piran). They set off in pursuit, the bunch hot on their heels, just as the rain looming on the horizon finally hit the coast and dumped a moody sky’s worth of rain on the peloton, adding an extra frisson of excitement to what was already an enthralling contest.
Not long after, however, Tidball lost his wheel on the first lefthander after the start/finish line, coming down, with Watson and Giddings following suit. The chase disrupted, Wood’s lead ballooned yet further. By the time he took the bell he enjoyed a lead of 40 seconds, his final lap a victory parade.
The battle behind was scrappy, the riders still standing battling it out for silver and bronze. As they reached the esplanade, the finish line in sight, last year’s champion Matt Bostock launched his sprint early, holding it to the line.
The fight for the final place on the podium went down to the finest of margins as elite rider Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was just one-tenth of a second clear of Harry Tanfield, who was agonisingly close to a podium on home roads.
Results
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