The National Circuit Series moves to the south of England for round 3, as the popular Guildford Town Centre Races join the Series for the first time. Expect cobbles, crowds, and cut-throat racing.
The annual Guildford Town Centre Races are a popular feature of the Guildford Festival. Until now, the men’s and women’s races for been National B events, but this year they have stepped up to National A level – the highest non-UCI level or racing in the UK – to join the National Circuit Series. The races form Round 3 of the Series, following on from the first two rounds in Otley and Ilkley last week.
Our journal contributor Flora Perkins won last year’s women’s grand prix, while Toby Barnes won the men’s edition.
Flora Perkins wins the 2022 women’s race at the Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson
The route
The traditional race course has been extended this year, lengthening it from 600m to 1km.
A mix of tarmac, paving stones and cobbles, riders will need to keep their wits about them to adjust to the different road surfaces, particularly if it is wet. In particular, there is a chamfered transition kerb where riders turn 90 degrees left from the tarmac of North Street onto the paving of Market Street, described by the organisers as a ‘one-sided speed bump’.
The circuit starts on the High Street adjacent to Holy Trinity Church. The route narrows at the top of the High Street and once through this the riders bear right at the junction and continue up the upper High Street on the right-hand side of the carriageway.
The circuit passes the “service pits” on the right-hand side and continues to the upper end of the High Street where it does a U-turnby Pizza Express, which should serve to thin the field out considerably. The circuit then continues back down Upper High Street, on the “wrong side of the road” before making a 90-degree right-hand turn onto North Street.
The route then descends on the tarmac of North Street before the lefthander into the paved Market Street where the road narrows. The road begins to rise here, continuing along Market Street before another 90-degree turn onto the cobbled High Street. From here it is upwards to the finish outside Holy Trinity Church.
National Circuit Series leader and Ilkley winner Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) is not on the startlist, meaning Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee’s Corinne Side is the highest-placed rider in the National Circuit Series. She was 4th in Ilkley and needs just 17 points to move ahead of Couzens tonight. Side’s teammates Jo Tindley and Robyn Clay are both excellent crit riders and have performed well in the Series so far, so expect Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee to be in the mix for the win.
Another team well-equipped to win is DAS-Handsling. Emma Jeffers and Monica Greenwood are likely their best bets, with Sammie Stuart seemingly still recovering from her crash at the national circuit race championships.
Alex Morrice (CANYON – SRAM RACING) adds Women’s WorldTour team glamour to the race. Another breakthrough rider of last season, Alice McWilliam (HESS CYCLING TEAM), is another rider based with an international team that lines up.
Isabell Darvill (Team Spectra Cannondale) was 3rd in Ilkley and now sits 4th overall in the Series, so expect another strong showing on the cobbles.
El King (Lifeplus-Wahoo) is an excellent crit rider on her day but has been suffering from health problems this year, so this race is more likely to be about regaining race fitness than contending.
Emily Proud (centre) in the women’s race at the 2022 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson
Who else? Emily Proud (Le Col) was prominent at the national circuit race, eventually finishing 7th, so should be up there. It only seems a matter of time before Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) gets a big result in the National Circuit Series, often featuring at the front. Last, but not least, the Hutchinson-Brother UK team has numbers and will be looking to transfer its excellent road form this year to crit success tonight.
The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli has been the dominant team in the series so far, but does not make the trip south so Matt Fox and Tim Shoreman, the top two riders in the standings, don’t rider.
In fact, Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective) is the best-placed rider in the standings. He currently sits 4th, 24 points back from Fox. He was 4th in Otley and 10th in Ilkley. Another strong result tonight could see him threaten Fox’s lead. Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite) sits just behind Chilton in the standings and this course might suit the former Tour Series round winner, so watch out for his red and blue jersey.
Rhys Britton (Saint Piran) is one of only two UCI Continental riders in the men’s race (the other being his teammate, first-year under-23 Lucas Jowett) and is a fast finisher, so one to watch.
Alec Briggs in the men’s race at the 2022 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson
Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC) looked in good shape at the national circuit race championships, finishing 7th. He has ridden Guildford before and should have plenty of local support. This course could suit him. ROKiT-SRCT will line up with numbers. They have some very able crit riders – David Hird was 8th at the national circuit race – so watch out for the team’s distinctive kit at the front of the action.
Who else? Ed Morgan (Wales Racing Academy) was second in Ilkley so will be looking tobuild on this performance and move himself up the standings. Rás stage winner Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons-Trek DAS) will likely feature. And Cai Davies (Kalas Motip) is 6th overall in the Series standings after a consistent start.
Series standings
National Circuit Series standings after round 2 here (bottom of the post).
Timings
17.45 The Experience Guildford Under 8 Boys and Girls
18.00 The Experience Guildford Under 10 Boys and Girls / The Experience Guildford Under 12 Boys and Girls
18.15 The Experience Guildford Under 14 Boys and Girls
18.15 The Experience Guildford Under 16 Boys and Girls
18.45 The Cycle Exchange Local Heroes (3rd Cat Only)
19.30 The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests it should be a warm and pleasant evening.
How to follow
There will be race updates from the British Cycling social media accounts. We also hope to be at the race (school strikes and childcare depending!), so keep an eye on our Instagram stories too.
The National Circuit Series moves to the south of England for round 3, as the popular Guildford Town Centre Races join the Series for the first time. Expect cobbles, crowds, and cut-throat racing.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson
What is it?
The annual Guildford Town Centre Races are a popular feature of the Guildford Festival. Until now, the men’s and women’s races for been National B events, but this year they have stepped up to National A level – the highest non-UCI level or racing in the UK – to join the National Circuit Series. The races form Round 3 of the Series, following on from the first two rounds in Otley and Ilkley last week.
Our journal contributor Flora Perkins won last year’s women’s grand prix, while Toby Barnes won the men’s edition.
The route
The traditional race course has been extended this year, lengthening it from 600m to 1km.
A mix of tarmac, paving stones and cobbles, riders will need to keep their wits about them to adjust to the different road surfaces, particularly if it is wet. In particular, there is a chamfered transition kerb where riders turn 90 degrees left from the tarmac of North Street onto the paving of Market Street, described by the organisers as a ‘one-sided speed bump’.
The circuit starts on the High Street adjacent to Holy Trinity Church. The route narrows at the top of the High Street and once through this the riders bear right at the junction and continue up the upper High Street on the right-hand side of the carriageway.
The circuit passes the “service pits” on the right-hand side and continues to the upper end of the High Street where it does a U-turn by Pizza Express, which should serve to thin the field out considerably. The circuit then continues back down Upper High Street, on the “wrong side of the road” before making a 90-degree right-hand turn onto North Street.
The route then descends on the tarmac of North Street before the lefthander into the paved Market Street where the road narrows. The road begins to rise here, continuing along Market Street before another 90-degree turn onto the cobbled High Street. From here it is upwards to the finish outside Holy Trinity Church.
Riders to watch
You can view the provisional startlists here.
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
National Circuit Series leader and Ilkley winner Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) is not on the startlist, meaning Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee’s Corinne Side is the highest-placed rider in the National Circuit Series. She was 4th in Ilkley and needs just 17 points to move ahead of Couzens tonight. Side’s teammates Jo Tindley and Robyn Clay are both excellent crit riders and have performed well in the Series so far, so expect Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee to be in the mix for the win.
Another team well-equipped to win is DAS-Handsling. Emma Jeffers and Monica Greenwood are likely their best bets, with Sammie Stuart seemingly still recovering from her crash at the national circuit race championships.
Alex Morrice (CANYON – SRAM RACING) adds Women’s WorldTour team glamour to the race. Another breakthrough rider of last season, Alice McWilliam (HESS CYCLING TEAM), is another rider based with an international team that lines up.
Isabell Darvill (Team Spectra Cannondale) was 3rd in Ilkley and now sits 4th overall in the Series, so expect another strong showing on the cobbles.
El King (Lifeplus-Wahoo) is an excellent crit rider on her day but has been suffering from health problems this year, so this race is more likely to be about regaining race fitness than contending.
Who else? Emily Proud (Le Col) was prominent at the national circuit race, eventually finishing 7th, so should be up there. It only seems a matter of time before Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) gets a big result in the National Circuit Series, often featuring at the front. Last, but not least, the Hutchinson-Brother UK team has numbers and will be looking to transfer its excellent road form this year to crit success tonight.
The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli has been the dominant team in the series so far, but does not make the trip south so Matt Fox and Tim Shoreman, the top two riders in the standings, don’t rider.
In fact, Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective) is the best-placed rider in the standings. He currently sits 4th, 24 points back from Fox. He was 4th in Otley and 10th in Ilkley. Another strong result tonight could see him threaten Fox’s lead. Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite) sits just behind Chilton in the standings and this course might suit the former Tour Series round winner, so watch out for his red and blue jersey.
Rhys Britton (Saint Piran) is one of only two UCI Continental riders in the men’s race (the other being his teammate, first-year under-23 Lucas Jowett) and is a fast finisher, so one to watch.
Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC) looked in good shape at the national circuit race championships, finishing 7th. He has ridden Guildford before and should have plenty of local support. This course could suit him. ROKiT-SRCT will line up with numbers. They have some very able crit riders – David Hird was 8th at the national circuit race – so watch out for the team’s distinctive kit at the front of the action.
Who else? Ed Morgan (Wales Racing Academy) was second in Ilkley so will be looking to build on this performance and move himself up the standings. Rás stage winner Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons-Trek DAS) will likely feature. And Cai Davies (Kalas Motip) is 6th overall in the Series standings after a consistent start.
Series standings
National Circuit Series standings after round 2 here (bottom of the post).
Timings
17.45 The Experience Guildford Under 8 Boys and Girls
18.00 The Experience Guildford Under 10 Boys and Girls / The Experience Guildford Under 12 Boys and Girls
18.15 The Experience Guildford Under 14 Boys and Girls
18.15 The Experience Guildford Under 16 Boys and Girls
18.45 The Cycle Exchange Local Heroes (3rd Cat Only)
19.30 The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests it should be a warm and pleasant evening.
How to follow
There will be race updates from the British Cycling social media accounts. We also hope to be at the race (school strikes and childcare depending!), so keep an eye on our Instagram stories too.
Read more
Otley Grand Prix: report and results
2023 Ilkley Cycle Races: report and results
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