Elena Day (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) took her first National Trophy victory as British Cycling’s premier cyclocross series got underway with a bang in South Shields.
Former British champion Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) took his second win at Gypsies Green in as many years, as he used his strength and stamina to prevail by almost 20 seconds over Toby Barnes (Ribble-Verge Sport).
It was last year’s Series champion Alderney Baker (Team Empella) who made the quickest of starts around a damp Tyneside course, with Ruby James (Hope Factory Racing) going along with her as the pack quickly strung out over a fast but hilly course centred around the old velodrome.
A lap later, James put the hammer down as she was joined by under-23 Elena Day (Spectra Cannondale p/b DAS) and the duo broke clear from Baker to lead the 32-rider field. Expertly negotiating the sand traps, Day surged ahead of James before the halfway mark.
Faster lap after lap compared to everyone trying to chase her, Day took the win by more than 30 seconds. Baker overhauled James to finish second, with James rounding out the podium.
With her win, Day also topper the under-23 category, with Keira Bond (Unattached) and Hope Inglis (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing) taking the remaining under-23 podium places.
Oliver Akers (Ribble-Verge Sport) started the first men’s National Trophy race with a point to prove as he stepped up to the senior category after his triumph in last year’sjJunior series.
He fought through the sand a wheel ahead of fellow North Easterner Thomas Mein as both looked to make a winning start to the 2023-24 season and was keeping pace with his more experienced rival as the race climbed away from the beach and up to the technical sections in the second-half of the course.
Despite a valiant effort from Akers, however, Mein’s stamina proved too much to handle and as the pair went through the switchbacks the Hope Factory Racing rider pulled clear and continued at a rapid pace – tackling the sandy climb without hesitation.
As Mein powered clear, Toby Barnes (Ribble-Verge Sport) did the best he could to marshal a response – his last two laps a handful of seconds faster than than anyone else out on course – but it was too little, too late. Mein, who finished third in last year’s National Trophy, took the win by 19 seconds over Barnes.
Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) took third, winning the under-23s category in the process, while Tom Couzens (Montezuma’s Race Team) was fourth.
Elena Day (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) took her first National Trophy victory as British Cycling’s premier cyclocross series got underway with a bang in South Shields.
Former British champion Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) took his second win at Gypsies Green in as many years, as he used his strength and stamina to prevail by almost 20 seconds over Toby Barnes (Ribble-Verge Sport).
Featured image: Olivia Coukham
Reports
Women’s elite race
It was last year’s Series champion Alderney Baker (Team Empella) who made the quickest of starts around a damp Tyneside course, with Ruby James (Hope Factory Racing) going along with her as the pack quickly strung out over a fast but hilly course centred around the old velodrome.
A lap later, James put the hammer down as she was joined by under-23 Elena Day (Spectra Cannondale p/b DAS) and the duo broke clear from Baker to lead the 32-rider field. Expertly negotiating the sand traps, Day surged ahead of James before the halfway mark.
Faster lap after lap compared to everyone trying to chase her, Day took the win by more than 30 seconds. Baker overhauled James to finish second, with James rounding out the podium.
With her win, Day also topper the under-23 category, with Keira Bond (Unattached) and Hope Inglis (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing) taking the remaining under-23 podium places.
Men’s elite race
Oliver Akers (Ribble-Verge Sport) started the first men’s National Trophy race with a point to prove as he stepped up to the senior category after his triumph in last year’sjJunior series.
He fought through the sand a wheel ahead of fellow North Easterner Thomas Mein as both looked to make a winning start to the 2023-24 season and was keeping pace with his more experienced rival as the race climbed away from the beach and up to the technical sections in the second-half of the course.
Despite a valiant effort from Akers, however, Mein’s stamina proved too much to handle and as the pair went through the switchbacks the Hope Factory Racing rider pulled clear and continued at a rapid pace – tackling the sandy climb without hesitation.
As Mein powered clear, Toby Barnes (Ribble-Verge Sport) did the best he could to marshal a response – his last two laps a handful of seconds faster than than anyone else out on course – but it was too little, too late. Mein, who finished third in last year’s National Trophy, took the win by 19 seconds over Barnes.
Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) took third, winning the under-23s category in the process, while Tom Couzens (Montezuma’s Race Team) was fourth.
Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and Simon Wyllie (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) rounded out the under-23 podium.
The next round of the National Trophy Series is on 14 October in Thornton in Craven.
Results
Women’s race
Men’s race
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