A small field of 38 riders, notable names among them, lined up for the historic Severn Valley Grand Prix near Telford on Saturday. With the race doubling up as the men’s West Midlands road race championships, regional honours were on the line too.
The action began toward the end of the first of six laps of the Leighton circuit, as Josh Housley (Derby CC Webuycycle Huub RT) and under-23 Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club) slipped away.
Two became three when new Richardsons Trek DAS signing Josh Whitehead, one of the pre-race favourites, bridged across to the pair.
The trio combined well but were nevertheless soon joined by Whitehead’s teammate Conor McGoldrick and Wales Racing Academy rider William Harding, the newly-arrived duo having used the finishing straight climb to launch their jump across.
Image: Chris Brunt/Graffika Photography
With the added firepower of Rás stage winner McGoldrick, a former winner of this race, and young Welsh talent Harding, the odds looked good for the bolstered leading group, especially with only a small peloton behind. Yet despite their cohesion and capability, their advantage never rose above a minute. Local favourite Joe Brookes (Halesowen A & CC) punctured out of the race on lap four, weakening the chase behind, but with other strong riders still in the peloton, there was no chance for a breather up front nonetheless.
With a lap to go, however, the five were still away and the attacks began. Whitehead and McGoldrick took it in turns to try to break clear, their fellow escapees continually forced to chase them down. John Archibald (HUUB Wattshop) took advantage of the cat and mouse games ahead of him, using his time trial prowess to bridge across, another potential winner in the mix.
Archibald launched a big attack within one kilometre to go. Whitehead jumped straight on to this wheel, using the Scot as his lead-out man, and then opened his sprint up with 200m to go. Whitehead was too strong for his rivals, the 23-year-old taking his second National B road race win in as many months, a hopeful way to end a tumultuous year in which he has been part of two UCI teams that have folded.
Image: Chris Brunt/Graffika Photography
Housley finished second, his best road race result of the season, while McGoldrick took third to win the West Midlands road race title.
The last two National B road races of 2023 are in Scotland. Next weekend is the women’s Scottish National Road Race Championships, while The Drummond Trophy concludes the season on Sunday 8th October.
Josh Whitehead (Richardsons Trek DAS) won the Severn Valley Grand Prix (Nat B) on Saturday 23 September, England’s final national road race of 2023.
Featured image: Chris Brunt/Graffika Photography
Report
A small field of 38 riders, notable names among them, lined up for the historic Severn Valley Grand Prix near Telford on Saturday. With the race doubling up as the men’s West Midlands road race championships, regional honours were on the line too.
The action began toward the end of the first of six laps of the Leighton circuit, as Josh Housley (Derby CC Webuycycle Huub RT) and under-23 Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club) slipped away.
Two became three when new Richardsons Trek DAS signing Josh Whitehead, one of the pre-race favourites, bridged across to the pair.
The trio combined well but were nevertheless soon joined by Whitehead’s teammate Conor McGoldrick and Wales Racing Academy rider William Harding, the newly-arrived duo having used the finishing straight climb to launch their jump across.
With the added firepower of Rás stage winner McGoldrick, a former winner of this race, and young Welsh talent Harding, the odds looked good for the bolstered leading group, especially with only a small peloton behind. Yet despite their cohesion and capability, their advantage never rose above a minute. Local favourite Joe Brookes (Halesowen A & CC) punctured out of the race on lap four, weakening the chase behind, but with other strong riders still in the peloton, there was no chance for a breather up front nonetheless.
With a lap to go, however, the five were still away and the attacks began. Whitehead and McGoldrick took it in turns to try to break clear, their fellow escapees continually forced to chase them down. John Archibald (HUUB Wattshop) took advantage of the cat and mouse games ahead of him, using his time trial prowess to bridge across, another potential winner in the mix.
Archibald launched a big attack within one kilometre to go. Whitehead jumped straight on to this wheel, using the Scot as his lead-out man, and then opened his sprint up with 200m to go. Whitehead was too strong for his rivals, the 23-year-old taking his second National B road race win in as many months, a hopeful way to end a tumultuous year in which he has been part of two UCI teams that have folded.
Housley finished second, his best road race result of the season, while McGoldrick took third to win the West Midlands road race title.
The last two National B road races of 2023 are in Scotland. Next weekend is the women’s Scottish National Road Race Championships, while The Drummond Trophy concludes the season on Sunday 8th October.
Results
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