The National Circuit Series hops over to Ilkley on Friday 30 June for the 9th edition of the Ilkley Cycle Races. The races have quickly become a popular round of the National Circuit Series, having stepped up from National B level in 2021. Here’s a short preview.
Featured photo: SWPix
What is it?
Just six miles away from the scene of Round 1 of the National Circuit Series in Otley, Ilkley hosts Round 2 this Friday evening. The Ilkley Cycle Races has been running since 2014 and has quickly established itself as a popular event, with a good atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds.
As well as two elite races (the Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix and the Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix), the event also features an under-16s race and a Cat 2/3/4 and a Masters race.
The elite men’s race has previously been won by Alex Dalton (2014), Pete Williams (2015), Scott Thwaites (2016), Tobyn Horton (2017), Tom Moses (2018 and 2019), and Reece Wood (2021). Victors of the women’s elite race, meanwhile, have been Melissa Lowther (2014), Henrietta Colbourne (2015), Rebecca Womersley (2016), Annie Simpson (2017 and 2018), Emily Meakin (2019) and Megan Barker (2021).
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 01/07/2022 – British Cycling – National Circuit Series – Round 2: Ilkley Cycle Races – Samuel Watson of Groupama FDJ wins the Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix
The route
The route is a short punchy clockwise circuit in the centre of Ilkley. It’s a tougher circuit than the one in Otley, hard enough to split the race to pieces. So expect plenty of aggressive racing throughout and a different kind of winner.
At just 1.5 kilometres long, expect the riders to complete each lap as quickly as two minutes; Tom Pidcock and Max Poole are the only riders to have broken the two-minute barrier on the circuit, according to Strava.
The circuit starts outside Bettys Café Tea Rooms on The Grove. It quickly takes a 90° righthand turn and from here, the main climbing begins, with a 200 m ramp up Riddings Road, which has a maximum gradient of around 14%. Positioning into this right-hander will be crucial, as it is from this climb that we can expect many an attack to be launched. A long stretch of false flat then follows along Albany Walk and onto Parish Gyll Drive.
The race then begins heading back into town with a technical downhill section, fast and challenging enough that any rider hitting this section first on the final lap will fancy their chances of winning the race outright. The road kinks right then left onto Wilton Road before turning right onto Grove Road for a fairly long, straight downhill stretch. The riders then bear right again – at high speed – onto the finishing straight along The Grove.
The women’s race lasts 45 minutes, with the men racing for 60 minutes.
Expect another strong display from the DAS-Handsling crew tonight. Otley Winner Sophie Lewis doesn’t ride as she has track duties, but in two-time Tour Series round winner Sammie Stuart, the in-form Monica Greenwood, past winner of multiple Tour Series and National Circuit Series rounds Emma Jeffers and Lucy Lee – who has won three National B road races this season – they have some superb options.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 25/06/2023 – Cycling – 2023 British National Road Championships – Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England – Women’s Road Race – Monica Greenwood of DAS – Handsling Bikes climbing Saltburn Bank
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee squad are also strong, with Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (3rd at Otley), former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley and Bexy Dew (7th in our road race rankings) among their squad. Women’s WorldTour rider Abi Smith (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) continues her road back to recovery from knee injury. Millie Couzens (Fenix‐Deceuninck) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team) both shone in Otley and are back for more tonight. East Midlands road race champion Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) is also on our watchlist.
Unfortunately, national circuit race champion Meg Barker (Team Inspired) has withdrawn from the startlist, in need of a rest. And with the exception of Lucy Glover, the outstanding Shibden Hope Tech Apex team is also absent – the junior team packed out three of the top six places in Otley on Wednesday but is likely resting up ahead of the junior national road race championships this weekend.
Men’s race
The men’s race also lacks a national circuit race champions jersey. Ollie Wood (Unattached) was never down to race and hasn’t submitted a late entry – as per Otley – as far as we are aware. Another omission is Otley GP winner – and National Circuit Series leader – Bob Donaldson.
Of those that do line-up, names that stand out include Harry Birchill (Saint Piran), who was very active in Otley. Donaldson’s teammate Ollie Rees (TRINITY Racing) is a crit rider and is accompanied by Will Smith who played such an important role in Donaldson’s Otley win. Wheelbase CabTech Castelli are having a great crit season so far and their squad includes Matt Fox and Tim Shoreman (2nd and 5th respectively in Otley). Jim Brown (Cross Team Legendre) was thrid in Otley. Strong road race riders like Ollie Peckover and James McKay might enjoy the punchy course. The headline act, though, is undoubtedly last year’s Otley GP winner, Jacob Scott (Bolton Equities Black Spoke).
Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 29/06/2022 – British Cycling – National Circuit Series – Round 1: Men’s Otley Grand Prix – Jacob Scott of WiV Sungod wins.
Series standings
National Circuit Series standings after round 1 here.
Timings
17.30 MAS Design under-16s race
18.00 Women’s race
18.40 Ilkley CC Classic Race (Cat 2/3/4 men)
19.30 Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests rain and drizzle are on the agenda.
How to follow
TV
Unfortunately, there is no live stream of the race this year after Velo29 had put it on live for the last two years.
Social media
There will be race updates from the British Cycling Twitter account. We won’t be at the race, so on updates and interviews from us on Instagram, alas.
The National Circuit Series hops over to Ilkley on Friday 30 June for the 9th edition of the Ilkley Cycle Races. The races have quickly become a popular round of the National Circuit Series, having stepped up from National B level in 2021. Here’s a short preview.
Featured photo: SWPix
What is it?
Just six miles away from the scene of Round 1 of the National Circuit Series in Otley, Ilkley hosts Round 2 this Friday evening. The Ilkley Cycle Races has been running since 2014 and has quickly established itself as a popular event, with a good atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds.
As well as two elite races (the Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix and the Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix), the event also features an under-16s race and a Cat 2/3/4 and a Masters race.
The elite men’s race has previously been won by Alex Dalton (2014), Pete Williams (2015), Scott Thwaites (2016), Tobyn Horton (2017), Tom Moses (2018 and 2019), and Reece Wood (2021). Victors of the women’s elite race, meanwhile, have been Melissa Lowther (2014), Henrietta Colbourne (2015), Rebecca Womersley (2016), Annie Simpson (2017 and 2018), Emily Meakin (2019) and Megan Barker (2021).
Last year’s winners were Sam Watson (who won in controversial circumstances), and El King.
The route
The route is a short punchy clockwise circuit in the centre of Ilkley. It’s a tougher circuit than the one in Otley, hard enough to split the race to pieces. So expect plenty of aggressive racing throughout and a different kind of winner.
At just 1.5 kilometres long, expect the riders to complete each lap as quickly as two minutes; Tom Pidcock and Max Poole are the only riders to have broken the two-minute barrier on the circuit, according to Strava.
The circuit starts outside Bettys Café Tea Rooms on The Grove. It quickly takes a 90° righthand turn and from here, the main climbing begins, with a 200 m ramp up Riddings Road, which has a maximum gradient of around 14%. Positioning into this right-hander will be crucial, as it is from this climb that we can expect many an attack to be launched. A long stretch of false flat then follows along Albany Walk and onto Parish Gyll Drive.
The race then begins heading back into town with a technical downhill section, fast and challenging enough that any rider hitting this section first on the final lap will fancy their chances of winning the race outright. The road kinks right then left onto Wilton Road before turning right onto Grove Road for a fairly long, straight downhill stretch. The riders then bear right again – at high speed – onto the finishing straight along The Grove.
The women’s race lasts 45 minutes, with the men racing for 60 minutes.
Riders to watch
You can view the provisional startlists here.
Women’s race
Expect another strong display from the DAS-Handsling crew tonight. Otley Winner Sophie Lewis doesn’t ride as she has track duties, but in two-time Tour Series round winner Sammie Stuart, the in-form Monica Greenwood, past winner of multiple Tour Series and National Circuit Series rounds Emma Jeffers and Lucy Lee – who has won three National B road races this season – they have some superb options.
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee squad are also strong, with Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (3rd at Otley), former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley and Bexy Dew (7th in our road race rankings) among their squad. Women’s WorldTour rider Abi Smith (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) continues her road back to recovery from knee injury. Millie Couzens (Fenix‐Deceuninck) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team) both shone in Otley and are back for more tonight. East Midlands road race champion Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) is also on our watchlist.
Unfortunately, national circuit race champion Meg Barker (Team Inspired) has withdrawn from the startlist, in need of a rest. And with the exception of Lucy Glover, the outstanding Shibden Hope Tech Apex team is also absent – the junior team packed out three of the top six places in Otley on Wednesday but is likely resting up ahead of the junior national road race championships this weekend.
Men’s race
The men’s race also lacks a national circuit race champions jersey. Ollie Wood (Unattached) was never down to race and hasn’t submitted a late entry – as per Otley – as far as we are aware. Another omission is Otley GP winner – and National Circuit Series leader – Bob Donaldson.
Of those that do line-up, names that stand out include Harry Birchill (Saint Piran), who was very active in Otley. Donaldson’s teammate Ollie Rees (TRINITY Racing) is a crit rider and is accompanied by Will Smith who played such an important role in Donaldson’s Otley win. Wheelbase CabTech Castelli are having a great crit season so far and their squad includes Matt Fox and Tim Shoreman (2nd and 5th respectively in Otley). Jim Brown (Cross Team Legendre) was thrid in Otley. Strong road race riders like Ollie Peckover and James McKay might enjoy the punchy course. The headline act, though, is undoubtedly last year’s Otley GP winner, Jacob Scott (Bolton Equities Black Spoke).
Series standings
National Circuit Series standings after round 1 here.
Timings
17.30 MAS Design under-16s race
18.00 Women’s race
18.40 Ilkley CC Classic Race (Cat 2/3/4 men)
19.30 Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests rain and drizzle are on the agenda.
How to follow
TV
Unfortunately, there is no live stream of the race this year after Velo29 had put it on live for the last two years.
Social media
There will be race updates from the British Cycling Twitter account. We won’t be at the race, so on updates and interviews from us on Instagram, alas.
Read more
Otley Grand Prix: report and results
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