Women’s WorldTour rider Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) won the Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix in unstoppable solo fashion on Wednesday evening (5 July), finishing well clear of her nearest rivals on the cobbles of Guildford High Street. 20-year-old Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective) then followed suit in the Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix, lapping all but three riders in the process.
Chilton’s win means he now leads the men’s National Circuit Series after three rounds, while Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) now leads the women’s Series after finishing third.
Featured photo: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
Report
61 riders lined up to take part in round 3 of the women’s National Circuit Series on a tight, technical 1km circuit featuring cobbles, tarmac and paving and a peloton-thinning 180-degree turn. With the racing aggressive from the beginning, the peloton very quickly began to fracture.
By lap 3, there was already a split, with 14 riders off the front, riders behind scrambling in vein to close the gap. In a sign of things to come, Women’s WorldTour rider Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) led the way as the riders negotiated the u-turn at the end of the High Street, Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling), Jo Tindley and a gaggle of her teammates (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), Alice McWilliam (HESS Cycling Team), Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) and Isabell Darvill (Team Spectra Cannondale) all in close attendance.
One of the riders at the rear of the race, meanwhile, was one of our pre-race picks, Emily Proud (Le Col RT), whose dropped chain had put her dead last on the first lap. The home town rider’s race seemed over before it had even begun.
Two laps later, Greenwood was on the front this time as the leaders reached the hairpin bend. Her bike slid out from under her as went wide on the corner, however, and, unable remount quickly, her chances also seemed to have disappeared.
Morrice, however, begun to make hay. Not long after Greenwood’s fall, the 23-year-old moved clear. Tindley set off in pursuit, with the erstwhile lead group no down to 8 riders, led by Hall.
This set the mould for the rest of the race. Morrice, a study in concentration, set an unrelenting pace, stretching out her lead, lap by lap. Undeterred, Tindley continued her chase, also gaining time over the chasing group.
With five laps to go, Morrice’s lead was unassailable, her advantage around a minute. Tindley, however, was being caught by the chasers, the remaining podium spots now still very much up for grabs. Remarkably, the swollen chase group of riders now contained both Proud and Greenwood, who had both diligently picked their way back to contention.
Morrice could take her time as she celebrated across the line in front of the cheering crowd.
Alex Morrice takes the win. Image: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
The battle for second and third, however, offered the riders no such opportunity to saviour the atmosphere. Six riders powered up the cobbles to contest the sprint, with Guildford girl Proud capping her comeback ride to steal second. Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) finished third to score valuable Series points.
Side now leads the Series’ individual classification (see Series standings below) by 12 points over her teammate Tindley. Darvill, who finished 10th, is now 3rd in the standings a further 5 points behind, with Greenwood (6th on the night) just 5 points back from Darvill. In the team standings, Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee enjoy a 53 point advantage over nearest challengers DAS-Handsling.
Results
Rank
#
Name
Team
Time
1
49
Alex Morrice
CANYON – SRAM RACING
49:22
2
59
Emily Proud
Le Col Race Team
+58
3
40
Corinne Side
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
st
4
42
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
st
5
34
Francesca Hall
Loughborough Lightning
st
6
12
Monica Greenwood
DAS – Handsling Bikes
st
7
22
Samantha Fawcett
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+1:01
8
38
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
+1:02
9
26
Tamsin Miller
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+1:07
10
67
Isabel Darvill
Team Spectra Cannondale
+1:11
11
2
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
+1:13
12
51
Maddie Heywood
FTP – Fulfil The Potential – Racing
+1:17
13
69
Lucy Benezet Minns
Tofauti Everyone Active
+1:19
14
37
Robyn Clay
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
+1:40
15
19
Sammie Stuart
DAS – Handsling Bikes
+1:43
16
57
Katy Hill
LDN-Academy
+1:46
17
24
Tiffany Keep
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+4 Laps
18
13
Emma Jeffers
DAS – Handsling Bikes
+4 Laps
19
11
Harriet Graham
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+4 Laps
20
52
Elizabeth Sanders
FTP – Fulfil The Potential – Racing
+4 Laps
21
65
Erin Avill
Storey Racing
+4 Laps
22
5
Amelia Tyler
Alba Development Road Team
+4 Laps
23
46
Gemma Mitchell
Team Boompods
+4 Laps
24
9
Electra Morris
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+4 Laps
25
55
Penny Colloff
LAKA Pedal Mafia RT
+4 Laps
26
33
Philippa Draper
Loughborough Lightning
+4 Laps
27
1
Daisy Barnes
Alba Development Road Team
+4 Laps
28
61
Sasha Halsey
London Dynamo
+4 Laps
29
62
Annamarie Lipp
Saint Piran WRT
+4 Laps
30
54
Katie-Anne Calton
JRC INTERFLON Race Team
+4 Laps
31
28
Emily Chilton
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
+4 Laps
32
63
Lena Kane
StolenGoat Race Team
+4 Laps
33
32
Rebekah Nash
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
+4 Laps
34
25
Heather Mayer
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+4 Laps
35
27
Lydia Watts
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+4 Laps
36
8
Hope Inglis
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+5 Laps
37
73
Emma McDonald
Wahoo – Le Col
+5 Laps
38
71
Anastasia Bowler
Wahoo – Le Col
+5 Laps
39
6
Evie White
Alba Development Road Team
+5 Laps
40
23
Ione Johnson
Hutchinson – Brother UK
+5 Laps
41
70
Amelia Cebak
Tofauti Everyone Active
+5 Laps
42
68
Amy Perryman
TEKKERZ CC
+5 Laps
43
4
Victoria Smith
Alba Development Road Team
+5 Laps
44
75
Eleanor Bolton
LDN-Academy
+5 Laps
45
76
Mia Rutterford
Tofauti Everyone Active
+5 Laps
46
66
Nicola Soden
Tactic UK WRT
+5 Laps
47
47
Jayati Hine
Team Boompods
+5 Laps
48
29
Laura Davies
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
+5 Laps
49
7
Ellen Bennett
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+5 Laps
50
78
Karina Clifford
StolenGoat Race Team
+5 Laps
51
74
Ellen Inglis
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+5 Laps
52
10
Laura Pittard
Brother UK – Orientation Marketing
+5 Laps
53
50
Elodie Hudson
Charlotteville CC
+6 Laps
54
56
Louise Davidson
LDN-Academy
+6 Laps
55
3
Beth Maciver
Alba Development Road Team
+6 Laps
43
Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne
Team Boompods
DNF
72
Maya Branfoot
Wahoo – Le Col
DNF
14
Lucy Lee
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNS
15
Sophie Thackray
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNS
16
Grace Lister
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNS
17
Katie Scott
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNS
18
Danielle Shrosbree
DAS – Handsling Bikes
DNS
21
Sian Botteley
Hutchinson – Brother UK
DNS
30
Lola Ellis
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
DNS
31
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
DNS
35
Alice Lethbridge
Loughborough Lightning
DNS
39
Lucy Ellmore
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
DNS
41
Millie Skinner
Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
DNS
44
Katarzyna Madej
Team Boompods
DNS
45
Ellen McDermott
Team Boompods
DNS
48
Georgia Bullard
AWOL OShea
DNS
60
Eluned King
Lifeplus – Wahoo
DNS
77
Faith Hammond
LDN-Academy
DNS
20
Charlotte Berry
Hutchinson – Brother UK
DSQ
36
Anya Tamplin
Loughborough Lightning
DSQ
53
Alice McWilliam
HESS CYCLING TEAM
DSQ
58
Suzetta Guerrini
Le Col Race Team
DSQ
The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Report
As the light blue skies turned a slightly darker hue, the summer light beginning to fade, 61 men set off in search of Guildford glory.
On the High Street. Image: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
As in the women’s race, the circuit promoted a prompt thinning out of the bunch, the high pace resulting in a reduced front group early on.
Among those to make the early selection were Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC), Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Joseph Smith, Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons-Trek DAS), Cai Davies (Kalas Motip Race Team), several Wales Racing Academy riders and the Ribble Collective duo of Ben Chilton and Tom Couzens.
Alec Briggs. Image: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
There were forays off the front of this lead group, but none would last initially. Laborde and Briggs were both spotted putting in digs, but neither was successful. Eventually, Chilton made his move and this time it stuck.
The 20-year-old cyclocross specialist is well-used to hour-long full-out efforts and on a technical circuit that offered little respite he combined his power and prowess to build up a commanding lead. 4th in Otley, 10th Ilkley, this was a man on form, determined to reach the podium’s top step.
Ben Chilton in full flight. Image: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
Following Morrice’s example, Chilton was fully focused, his lead seemingly growing all the time, lapping rider after rider as he powered his way around the circuit.
With Chilton uncatchable, barring mishap or mechanical, the battle for second offered more intrigue and uncertainty. In the closing laps, Briggs broke clear and behind him, the chase group began to disintegrate, with Couzens and first-year under-23 Huw Buck Jones (Wales Racing Academy) pairing up in pursuit of the TEKKERZ rider.
With two laps remaining, Chilton had managed to lap every rider except Briggs, Couzens and Buck Jones, and he received a rapturous welcome when he crossed the line in triumph three minutes later.
Ben Chilton celebrates across the line. Image: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
Briggs came home second, while Couzens pipped Buck Jones in the sprint for the final podium spot.
Chilton’s win propelled him to the top of the individual Series rankings with 126 points. Ilkley winner Matt Fox, who didn’t race, is now second on 98 points, while Cai Davies’ consistent performances in the Series so far (he was 8th in Guildford) moved him to third in the Series on 96 points.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli still leads the team rankings despite only fielding one rider at Guildford. The team has 233 points, with ROKiT-SRCT in second with 185 points and Wales Racing Academy 11 points further back.
Women’s WorldTour rider Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) won the Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix in unstoppable solo fashion on Wednesday evening (5 July), finishing well clear of her nearest rivals on the cobbles of Guildford High Street. 20-year-old Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective) then followed suit in the Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix, lapping all but three riders in the process.
Chilton’s win means he now leads the men’s National Circuit Series after three rounds, while Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) now leads the women’s Series after finishing third.
Featured photo: Ian Wrightson / The British Continental
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
Report
61 riders lined up to take part in round 3 of the women’s National Circuit Series on a tight, technical 1km circuit featuring cobbles, tarmac and paving and a peloton-thinning 180-degree turn. With the racing aggressive from the beginning, the peloton very quickly began to fracture.
By lap 3, there was already a split, with 14 riders off the front, riders behind scrambling in vein to close the gap. In a sign of things to come, Women’s WorldTour rider Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) led the way as the riders negotiated the u-turn at the end of the High Street, Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling), Jo Tindley and a gaggle of her teammates (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), Alice McWilliam (HESS Cycling Team), Frankie Hall (Loughborough Lightning) and Isabell Darvill (Team Spectra Cannondale) all in close attendance.
One of the riders at the rear of the race, meanwhile, was one of our pre-race picks, Emily Proud (Le Col RT), whose dropped chain had put her dead last on the first lap. The home town rider’s race seemed over before it had even begun.
Two laps later, Greenwood was on the front this time as the leaders reached the hairpin bend. Her bike slid out from under her as went wide on the corner, however, and, unable remount quickly, her chances also seemed to have disappeared.
Morrice, however, begun to make hay. Not long after Greenwood’s fall, the 23-year-old moved clear. Tindley set off in pursuit, with the erstwhile lead group no down to 8 riders, led by Hall.
This set the mould for the rest of the race. Morrice, a study in concentration, set an unrelenting pace, stretching out her lead, lap by lap. Undeterred, Tindley continued her chase, also gaining time over the chasing group.
With five laps to go, Morrice’s lead was unassailable, her advantage around a minute. Tindley, however, was being caught by the chasers, the remaining podium spots now still very much up for grabs. Remarkably, the swollen chase group of riders now contained both Proud and Greenwood, who had both diligently picked their way back to contention.
Morrice could take her time as she celebrated across the line in front of the cheering crowd.
The battle for second and third, however, offered the riders no such opportunity to saviour the atmosphere. Six riders powered up the cobbles to contest the sprint, with Guildford girl Proud capping her comeback ride to steal second. Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) finished third to score valuable Series points.
Side now leads the Series’ individual classification (see Series standings below) by 12 points over her teammate Tindley. Darvill, who finished 10th, is now 3rd in the standings a further 5 points behind, with Greenwood (6th on the night) just 5 points back from Darvill. In the team standings, Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee enjoy a 53 point advantage over nearest challengers DAS-Handsling.
Results
The Motion Guildford Men’s Grand Prix
Report
As the light blue skies turned a slightly darker hue, the summer light beginning to fade, 61 men set off in search of Guildford glory.
As in the women’s race, the circuit promoted a prompt thinning out of the bunch, the high pace resulting in a reduced front group early on.
Among those to make the early selection were Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC), Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Joseph Smith, Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons-Trek DAS), Cai Davies (Kalas Motip Race Team), several Wales Racing Academy riders and the Ribble Collective duo of Ben Chilton and Tom Couzens.
There were forays off the front of this lead group, but none would last initially. Laborde and Briggs were both spotted putting in digs, but neither was successful. Eventually, Chilton made his move and this time it stuck.
The 20-year-old cyclocross specialist is well-used to hour-long full-out efforts and on a technical circuit that offered little respite he combined his power and prowess to build up a commanding lead. 4th in Otley, 10th Ilkley, this was a man on form, determined to reach the podium’s top step.
Following Morrice’s example, Chilton was fully focused, his lead seemingly growing all the time, lapping rider after rider as he powered his way around the circuit.
With Chilton uncatchable, barring mishap or mechanical, the battle for second offered more intrigue and uncertainty. In the closing laps, Briggs broke clear and behind him, the chase group began to disintegrate, with Couzens and first-year under-23 Huw Buck Jones (Wales Racing Academy) pairing up in pursuit of the TEKKERZ rider.
With two laps remaining, Chilton had managed to lap every rider except Briggs, Couzens and Buck Jones, and he received a rapturous welcome when he crossed the line in triumph three minutes later.
Briggs came home second, while Couzens pipped Buck Jones in the sprint for the final podium spot.
Chilton’s win propelled him to the top of the individual Series rankings with 126 points. Ilkley winner Matt Fox, who didn’t race, is now second on 98 points, while Cai Davies’ consistent performances in the Series so far (he was 8th in Guildford) moved him to third in the Series on 96 points.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli still leads the team rankings despite only fielding one rider at Guildford. The team has 233 points, with ROKiT-SRCT in second with 185 points and Wales Racing Academy 11 points further back.
Results
National Circuit Series standings
Women’s
Individual
Team
Men
Individual
Team
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