Detailed preview of the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix; round 4 of the women’s National Road Series, and round 3 of the men’s National Road Series, 20 August 2023
The National Road Series returns this Sunday with possibly the toughest race on the National A road calendar: the 18th edition of the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Updated: 16.00, 19 August.
Featured photo: SWPix
What is it?
The Ryedale Grand Prix forms round 4 of the women’s National Road Series, and round 3 of the men’s, with the Beaumont Trophy (17 September) and the East Cleveland Classic (1 October) still to come.
Based in the historic Ampleforth School and Abbey, the 18th edition of the race takes in circuits of the rolling Hambleton countryside, in the shadow of the hills that make up the western edge of the North York Moors National Park.
The race was first run back in 2005 when it hosted the National Road Championships, Russell Downing and Nicole Cooke the then winners. Run every year since then, bar 2020, the event boasts an illustrious set of past winners that include Rob Hayles, Sharon Laws, Ian Stannard, Nicky Juniper, Ollie Wood, Anna Henderson, James Shaw, and Claire Steels. Last year’s editions were won by Abi Smith (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) and Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) respectively.
The route
The route for the 2023 race is unchanged from last year’s edition.
The race opens with laps of a ‘large circuit’ before moving on to a shorter finishing circuit. Both loops feature some tough climbs and narrow, twisty country lanes, making for selective racing.
The women’s race is 101.4 km long and takes in two laps of the long circuit followed by three laps of the short circuit. The men’s race, meanwhile, is 161.9 km in length and includes three laps of the long circuit and five of the short circuit, with both races finishing on a stiff rise within sight of the Abbey.
The long circuit
Featuring high-hedged country roads with hills scattered along the way, there are plenty of opportunities for the peloton to splinter and for riders to break away.
Starting outside Ampleforth Abbey, the peloton heads north up the ‘East Lane’ climb (see below), which continues as riders turn left towards Ampleforth village. They reach the top of the climb halfway between the Abbey and the village. The road then descends into the village, where the riders then head south.
The riders hit the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb as they reach Thorpe Beck. Once at the crest of the climb, the riders take a sharp right towards Oulston. The riders then take in a short sharp rise before they reach the village. A relatively sustained section of descent then begins, taking the riders left through Oulston, then south, before heading east towards the River Foss.
As they reach the river, the ‘second climb’ begins, the toughest of the three main climbs on the course. After a short dip, the course then rises again into Yearsley. From here, the route then descends pretty much all the way to Gilling where the riders then head east and then north back to Ampleforth Abbey.
The short circuit
The short circuit begins in the same way as the long circuit, heading west towards Ampleforth, then taking in the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb. Rather than turning right at the top, however, the riders continue straight on to Yearsley, omitting Oulston and the ‘second climb’. At Yearsley, the circuit then rejoins the long circuit back to the finish line at the Abbey.
‘N Moor Ln Climb’
This climb runs along Yearsley Moor Bank. It’s 1.5 km in length and averages 6.7%, with a maximum gradient of 10.9%. It features in both the long circuit and short circuit.
‘2nd climb’
This climb is the toughest of the three climbs. The climb itself is 1.1 km long and averages 7.9%. The section in the middle is particularly steep, with the road at over 15% at one point, and there is another acute section towards the top too. Once over the crest, there is little let-up either, as, after a short dip, the road continues to rise up to Yearsley. Thankfully for the riders, the climb only features on the long circuit. But whilst it’s unlikely to be a race-defining section of the route, it may be a useful launchpad for break-away attempts and will certainly help to whittle down the peloton in the early phases of the race.
‘East Ln Climb’
The ‘East Ln Climb’ may look the easiest on paper, with a mild gradient of just 4.1%, but with the finish line placed halfway up it on one of the steepest sections, it will play a decisive role if the race comes down to a sprint between a small group.
Last year’s victor Abi Smith (the 2021 National Road Series winner) headlines the women’s race. Smith will be looking to make it win number two, but, on the comeback trail from injury earlier this year, she tells us she is not putting too much pressure on herself, especially with bigger race targets on the horizon. Read our recent interview with Smith and her thoughts on this race here.
Series leader Monica Greenwood spearheads a strong DAS-Handsling team, supported by 2022 National Road Series winner Sammie Stuart, new signing Frankie Hall and the in-form Lucy Lee, who tops our national road race rankings.
2023 Women’s Lancaster Grand Prix – Monica Greenwood of DAS – Handsling Bikes. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Greenwood will be looking over her shoulder at Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), who is just four points behind Greenwood in the National Road Series standings*. Clay will be accompanied by a strong team, including Zoe Langham and Bexy Dew, who have been consistent performers on hilly parcours so far this year.
*Clay has withdrawn due to illness
ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic winner Jessica Finney (AWOL O’Shea), third in the Series standings, is another rider Greenwood will need to be wary of. Her teammate Connie Hayes, a strong climber, is another contender if she is on form.
Others to watch in the women’s race include Lifeplus-Wahoo’s April Tacey, ‘fresh’ from the Tour de France Femmes. She is joined by teammates Kate Richardson and Maddie Leech; a formidable trio.
The Hutchinson-Brother UK team has enjoyed a stellar domestic season on the road so far and counts Lancaster Grand Prix winner Ruth Shier and Peaks 2 Day victor Tammy Miller among its squad.
2023 Women’s Lancaster Grand Prix – Ruth Shier, Hutchinson – Brother UK wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Others to watch include climber Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods), winner of last season’s Lancaster Grand Prix, Lizi Brooke (Wahoo-Le Col), who had a breakthrough performance at the National Road Championships with 14th place, and Ilkley CC Grand Prix winner Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Prediction? UCI Continental outfit DAS-Handsling has the strongest team and will help fire Monica Greenwood to her first National Road Series win.
Men’s race
In the men’s Series, the Saint Piran team has been all-conquering so far. The team took all three podium spots in the first two rounds and, with another strong line-up at Ryedale, a hattrick of 1-2-3s is not beyond the realms of possibility. Don’t forget they achieved a runaway 1-2 at last year’s race too. Among the team’s many options are last year’s winner Alex Richardson, Jack Rootkin-Gray (4th in the U23 worlds road race last weekend)*, and current Series leader Zeb Kyffin. Newly crowned scratch race world champ Will Tidball and the ever-consistent Harry Birchill also start for the Cornish UCI squad.
*Jack Rootkin-Gray is now riding the Tour de l’Avenir this weekend.
Saint Piran takes another 1-2-3. 2023 Men’s Lancaster Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Who else could be in the mix? It’s a strong field, but here are a few to watch. Cycling Sheffield’s James McKay has been the leading domestic rider this year – top of our national road race rankings – and should thrive on this course if his legs are firing.
TRINITY Racing boasts 2022 Tour Alsace winner Finlay Pickering among its starters, although his form is unknown**. 2022 National Road Series winner Rob Scott (Cross Team Legendre) lines up alongside teammate Josh Whitehead, who won the 2021 Lancaster Grand Prix. Both are capable winners on their day.
** TRINITY Racing has withdrawn all of its riders from the race.
Talented first-year under-23s Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM Cycling Team) and Zachary Walker (Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23) will be looking to make a mark on home soil, while 2022 Rás stage winner Matthew Teggart (ROKiT-SRCT) has a point to prove as the former AT85 Pro Cycling rider returns from injury.
Ollie Peckover wins the 2023 Capernwray road race. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Others to watch include trainsSharp Elite’s Ollie Peckover, especially if he can rediscover the outstanding form he had earlier this season, Richardsons-Trek Conor McGoldrick, Island Games road race champion Sam Culverwell (Dolan Ellesse RT), and Joe Brookes (Halesowen A & CC), who took a mightily impressive Elite Nationale win in France recently.
Prediction? From a neutral spectator’s point of view, anything other than a Saint Piran rout would inject some interest and intrigue into the Series. Nonetheless, the most likely outcome is a Saint Piran win; the key question is which Saint Piran will it be? We’ll plump for Alex Richardson.
Timings
Race
Start
Finish (approx)
Women’s
09.15
12.27
Men’s
14.00
18.25
Weather
The forecast suggests there will be sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.
How to follow
British Cycling will have live updates on Twitter and Instagram.
We will also be bringing you updates on our Instagram stories.
The National Road Series returns this Sunday with possibly the toughest race on the National A road calendar: the 18th edition of the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Updated: 16.00, 19 August.
Featured photo: SWPix
What is it?
The Ryedale Grand Prix forms round 4 of the women’s National Road Series, and round 3 of the men’s, with the Beaumont Trophy (17 September) and the East Cleveland Classic (1 October) still to come.
Based in the historic Ampleforth School and Abbey, the 18th edition of the race takes in circuits of the rolling Hambleton countryside, in the shadow of the hills that make up the western edge of the North York Moors National Park.
The race was first run back in 2005 when it hosted the National Road Championships, Russell Downing and Nicole Cooke the then winners. Run every year since then, bar 2020, the event boasts an illustrious set of past winners that include Rob Hayles, Sharon Laws, Ian Stannard, Nicky Juniper, Ollie Wood, Anna Henderson, James Shaw, and Claire Steels. Last year’s editions were won by Abi Smith (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) and Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) respectively.
The route
The route for the 2023 race is unchanged from last year’s edition.
The race opens with laps of a ‘large circuit’ before moving on to a shorter finishing circuit. Both loops feature some tough climbs and narrow, twisty country lanes, making for selective racing.
The women’s race is 101.4 km long and takes in two laps of the long circuit followed by three laps of the short circuit. The men’s race, meanwhile, is 161.9 km in length and includes three laps of the long circuit and five of the short circuit, with both races finishing on a stiff rise within sight of the Abbey.
The long circuit
Featuring high-hedged country roads with hills scattered along the way, there are plenty of opportunities for the peloton to splinter and for riders to break away.
Starting outside Ampleforth Abbey, the peloton heads north up the ‘East Lane’ climb (see below), which continues as riders turn left towards Ampleforth village. They reach the top of the climb halfway between the Abbey and the village. The road then descends into the village, where the riders then head south.
The riders hit the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb as they reach Thorpe Beck. Once at the crest of the climb, the riders take a sharp right towards Oulston. The riders then take in a short sharp rise before they reach the village. A relatively sustained section of descent then begins, taking the riders left through Oulston, then south, before heading east towards the River Foss.
As they reach the river, the ‘second climb’ begins, the toughest of the three main climbs on the course. After a short dip, the course then rises again into Yearsley. From here, the route then descends pretty much all the way to Gilling where the riders then head east and then north back to Ampleforth Abbey.
The short circuit
The short circuit begins in the same way as the long circuit, heading west towards Ampleforth, then taking in the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb. Rather than turning right at the top, however, the riders continue straight on to Yearsley, omitting Oulston and the ‘second climb’. At Yearsley, the circuit then rejoins the long circuit back to the finish line at the Abbey.
‘N Moor Ln Climb’
This climb runs along Yearsley Moor Bank. It’s 1.5 km in length and averages 6.7%, with a maximum gradient of 10.9%. It features in both the long circuit and short circuit.
‘2nd climb’
This climb is the toughest of the three climbs. The climb itself is 1.1 km long and averages 7.9%. The section in the middle is particularly steep, with the road at over 15% at one point, and there is another acute section towards the top too. Once over the crest, there is little let-up either, as, after a short dip, the road continues to rise up to Yearsley. Thankfully for the riders, the climb only features on the long circuit. But whilst it’s unlikely to be a race-defining section of the route, it may be a useful launchpad for break-away attempts and will certainly help to whittle down the peloton in the early phases of the race.
‘East Ln Climb’
The ‘East Ln Climb’ may look the easiest on paper, with a mild gradient of just 4.1%, but with the finish line placed halfway up it on one of the steepest sections, it will play a decisive role if the race comes down to a sprint between a small group.
Riders to watch
View the startlists here.
National Road Series standings here.
Women’s race
Last year’s victor Abi Smith (the 2021 National Road Series winner) headlines the women’s race. Smith will be looking to make it win number two, but, on the comeback trail from injury earlier this year, she tells us she is not putting too much pressure on herself, especially with bigger race targets on the horizon. Read our recent interview with Smith and her thoughts on this race here.
Series leader Monica Greenwood spearheads a strong DAS-Handsling team, supported by 2022 National Road Series winner Sammie Stuart, new signing Frankie Hall and the in-form Lucy Lee, who tops our national road race rankings.
Greenwood will be looking over her shoulder at Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), who is just four points behind Greenwood in the National Road Series standings*. Clay will be accompanied by a strong team, including Zoe Langham and Bexy Dew, who have been consistent performers on hilly parcours so far this year.*Clay has withdrawn due to illness
ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic winner Jessica Finney (AWOL O’Shea), third in the Series standings, is another rider Greenwood will need to be wary of. Her teammate Connie Hayes, a strong climber, is another contender if she is on form.
Others to watch in the women’s race include Lifeplus-Wahoo’s April Tacey, ‘fresh’ from the Tour de France Femmes. She is joined by teammates
Kate Richardson andMaddie Leech; a formidable trio.The Hutchinson-Brother UK team has enjoyed a stellar domestic season on the road so far and counts Lancaster Grand Prix winner Ruth Shier and Peaks 2 Day victor Tammy Miller among its squad.
Others to watch include climber Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods), winner of last season’s Lancaster Grand Prix, Lizi Brooke (Wahoo-Le Col), who had a breakthrough performance at the National Road Championships with 14th place, and Ilkley CC Grand Prix winner Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Prediction? UCI Continental outfit DAS-Handsling has the strongest team and will help fire Monica Greenwood to her first National Road Series win.
Men’s race
In the men’s Series, the Saint Piran team has been all-conquering so far. The team took all three podium spots in the first two rounds and, with another strong line-up at Ryedale, a hattrick of 1-2-3s is not beyond the realms of possibility. Don’t forget they achieved a runaway 1-2 at last year’s race too. Among the team’s many options are last year’s winner Alex Richardson,
Jack Rootkin-Gray (4th in the U23 worlds road race last weekend)*, and current Series leader Zeb Kyffin. Newly crowned scratch race world champ Will Tidball and the ever-consistent Harry Birchill also start for the Cornish UCI squad.*Jack Rootkin-Gray is now riding the Tour de l’Avenir this weekend.
Who else could be in the mix? It’s a strong field, but here are a few to watch. Cycling Sheffield’s James McKay has been the leading domestic rider this year – top of our national road race rankings – and should thrive on this course if his legs are firing.
TRINITY Racing boasts 2022 Tour Alsace winner Finlay Pickering among its starters, although his form is unknown**. 2022 National Road Series winner Rob Scott (Cross Team Legendre) lines up alongside teammate Josh Whitehead, who won the 2021 Lancaster Grand Prix. Both are capable winners on their day.** TRINITY Racing has withdrawn all of its riders from the race.
Talented first-year under-23s Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM Cycling Team) and Zachary Walker (Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23) will be looking to make a mark on home soil, while 2022 Rás stage winner Matthew Teggart (ROKiT-SRCT) has a point to prove as the former AT85 Pro Cycling rider returns from injury.
Others to watch include trainsSharp Elite’s Ollie Peckover, especially if he can rediscover the outstanding form he had earlier this season, Richardsons-Trek Conor McGoldrick, Island Games road race champion Sam Culverwell (Dolan Ellesse RT), and Joe Brookes (Halesowen A & CC), who took a mightily impressive Elite Nationale win in France recently.
Prediction? From a neutral spectator’s point of view, anything other than a Saint Piran rout would inject some interest and intrigue into the Series. Nonetheless, the most likely outcome is a Saint Piran win; the key question is which Saint Piran will it be? We’ll plump for Alex Richardson.
Timings
Weather
The forecast suggests there will be sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.
How to follow
British Cycling will have live updates on Twitter and Instagram.
We will also be bringing you updates on our Instagram stories.
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