The first edition of the Yorkshire Grit Pan Flat Road Race took place in warm, sunny conditions on the 18.5km Wheldrake circuit south of York. A flat circuit with just 64m of climbing, this was a course selected to favour the sprinters and rouleurs.
The first hour was characterised by attacks from a very active Damien Clayton (Embark Spirit BSS) as well as riders such as Jack Hartley (BCC Race Team) and Dexter Leeming-Sykes (Wold Top The Edge Pactimo). Cycling Sheffield riders James Wordsworth, Taylor Hill and James Hartley were also alert to attempted breakaway moves.
With the pace fast – 46kph for the first hour – and the course flat, the early breakaway attempts were ultimately futile. However, on the third lap of six, with legs and minds beginning to tire, a move finally stuck. Eight riders went clear, including There was a small break of about 8 riders on lap 3 of 6 with myself Cam Jeffers Clayton, Leeming-Sykes, James Hartley, Mike Chadwick (Embark Spirit BSS) and Cameron Jeffers (Cycling Club Isle of Man).
One of the main favourites, Ollie Peckover (trainSharp), had missed the move, so decided to take matters into his own hands, leading the chase. He pulled a group of 12 riders across to the leading eight, an impressive feat having already ridden the RTTC National 10 Championships that morning.
The newly enlarged lead group of 20 was now too big group was too big for coherent cooperation. Sensing an opportunity, James Hartley slipped away with a seated acceleration with two and a half laps still remaining. Still some distance from the finish, Hartley managed his effort, maintaining a 25-second gap, hoping for a small group to come across. His wish came true as Chadwick soloed across, the pair working well together until Peckover, Wordsworth and Tobias Bartlett (Doddington Cycling Club) joined them with around a lap to go.
The Cycling Sheffield riders used their numerical advantage wisely, Hartley choosing to sit on while Wordsworth worked through and off with Chadwick, Peckover and Bartlett to move clear from the chasers behind.
As the finish line approached, Hartley, an accomplished sprinter, powered away from third wheel to take the win. Bartlett grabbed second, with Chadwick completing the podium.
Hartley was delighted with his first National B road race win, joking that, “I was very very happy yesterday to have finally won a Nat B. Can die a happy man now!”
James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) won the inaugural Yorkshire Grit Pan Flat Road Race, his first National B road race win.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
Report
The first edition of the Yorkshire Grit Pan Flat Road Race took place in warm, sunny conditions on the 18.5km Wheldrake circuit south of York. A flat circuit with just 64m of climbing, this was a course selected to favour the sprinters and rouleurs.
The first hour was characterised by attacks from a very active Damien Clayton (Embark Spirit BSS) as well as riders such as Jack Hartley (BCC Race Team) and Dexter Leeming-Sykes (Wold Top The Edge Pactimo). Cycling Sheffield riders James Wordsworth, Taylor Hill and James Hartley were also alert to attempted breakaway moves.
With the pace fast – 46kph for the first hour – and the course flat, the early breakaway attempts were ultimately futile. However, on the third lap of six, with legs and minds beginning to tire, a move finally stuck. Eight riders went clear, including There was a small break of about 8 riders on lap 3 of 6 with myself Cam Jeffers Clayton, Leeming-Sykes, James Hartley, Mike Chadwick (Embark Spirit BSS) and Cameron Jeffers (Cycling Club Isle of Man).
One of the main favourites, Ollie Peckover (trainSharp), had missed the move, so decided to take matters into his own hands, leading the chase. He pulled a group of 12 riders across to the leading eight, an impressive feat having already ridden the RTTC National 10 Championships that morning.
The newly enlarged lead group of 20 was now too big group was too big for coherent cooperation. Sensing an opportunity, James Hartley slipped away with a seated acceleration with two and a half laps still remaining. Still some distance from the finish, Hartley managed his effort, maintaining a 25-second gap, hoping for a small group to come across. His wish came true as Chadwick soloed across, the pair working well together until Peckover, Wordsworth and Tobias Bartlett (Doddington Cycling Club) joined them with around a lap to go.
The Cycling Sheffield riders used their numerical advantage wisely, Hartley choosing to sit on while Wordsworth worked through and off with Chadwick, Peckover and Bartlett to move clear from the chasers behind.
As the finish line approached, Hartley, an accomplished sprinter, powered away from third wheel to take the win. Bartlett grabbed second, with Chadwick completing the podium.
Hartley was delighted with his first National B road race win, joking that, “I was very very happy yesterday to have finally won a Nat B. Can die a happy man now!”
Results
Full results to follow when available.
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