National B road racing returns to the South West this weekend with the Royal Navy Cup in the grounds of RNAS Merryfield, Somerset.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
A unique road race, the Royal Navy Cup takes place on a closed circuit in the confines of a working military base; a full field of 80 riders for the open race. The length of the race – 120km – means it is deemed a road race, rare for circuit-style events. An early opportunity for riders to get race miles in their legs and to rack up some rankings points. Alongside the road race, there is also a National B women’s circuit race on the same course.
Route
Riders will tackle a fast, flat 5km lap consisting of four sweeping bends; the open race covering 24 laps for a distance of 120km, the women’s circuit race a timed affair lasting 90 minutes. Both races due on the circuit at the same time, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open.
With an unusually flat course, the riders’ main concern will be the wind, which threatens to tear the race apart as it blows across the exposed air field from the Celtic Sea. The latest forecast is for a light 8km/h breeze and mild temperatures; conditions unlikely to pose riders too many problems.
Riders to watch
Open road race
At 120km, the open race is set to be one of attrition, a reduced bunch sprint, or a breakaway win on the cards. The fast, flat nature of the course could suit a rider not able to satisfy the demands of the traditional uphill finishes to National B races, meaning a shock result could be on cards.
Alexandre Mayer will make his debut on UK soil, the three times Mauritian road race champion an intriguing signing for USKIS Saint Piran. The 25-year-old has been testing his legs this season at the UCI 2.2 ranked Tour of Sharjah and 2.1 Tour of Rwanda, where he wore the KIng of the Mountains jersey for the third stage. Racing at that level early in the season should mean Mayer arrives race sharp and in good form, the big question is how he will adapt to racing in a significantly colder climate and whether he will be marked out of contention.
Dom Jackson at the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Two of the standout performers a the Portsdown Classic, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) and Dom Jackson (Foran CCC) – second and fourth respectively – will be looking to build on their early-season rankings points tallies.
Jordan Giles was one of the standout domestic performers with two National B road race wins and will be looking to make a mark with his new team, Richardsons Trek DAS.
TAAP Kalas bring a strong team to the race, led by Harry McFarlane and James Ambrose-Parish, who both took National B closed circuit race wins last season. With support from Henry Latimer, collectively they could be a tough outfit to beat, providing they can last the distance.
Jacques Coates (Team PB Performance) took a number of top tens in National B races last season, including second in the Betty Pharoah Memorial Legstretcher. Having started his season in Spain earlier this month, the 22-year-old may have taken another step over the winter.
Monte Guerrini at the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
South Region circuit race champion Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT) is one of only two elite licence holders on the start list. 11th place at the Portsdown Classic indicates solid early season form. While another National B circuit race winner takes to the start in the shape of new TrainSharp Orro Elite recruit Sam Shepherd.
Former National Road Series winner Steve Lampier (Kernow Racing Team) is now a familiar face as a DS, having led the Saint Piran team over the past few seasons before moving onto the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development squad this year. With contemporaries such as Yanto Barker still competitive, it will be fascinating to see how the veteran fares as he comes out of retirement for his 40th birthday.
Women’s circuit race
With a much shorter distance and only a handful of starters, expect the women’s race to be an aggressive, flat out affair from the gun.
Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) is the standout name on the startlist, having experienced a rollercoaster 2023 in the colours of the UCI Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team, finishing second in the U23 National Time Trial Championship and 10th in the Ryedale GP before a high speed crash at the Tour de l’Ardeche ended her season. Gadd will enjoy the added advantage of a teammate in the shape of the experienced Suzzetta Guerrini, herself an Elite licence holder.
2022 National Circuit Series – Round 6 – Newark Town Centre Races. Spectra Wiggle’s Samantha Fawcett. Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Samantha Fawcett (Spectra Racing) could be Gadd’s closest challenger, having shown excellent form during the National Circuit Series last July. The course and style of racing should be to her liking – the duration still remains within the realms of a long criterium compared to a traditional road race.
Penny Colloff (Loughborough Lightning) showed good form last season with 4th in a round of the Women’s Team Cup and will look for a top placing, and points haul here.
National B road racing returns to the South West this weekend with the Royal Navy Cup in the grounds of RNAS Merryfield, Somerset.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
A unique road race, the Royal Navy Cup takes place on a closed circuit in the confines of a working military base; a full field of 80 riders for the open race. The length of the race – 120km – means it is deemed a road race, rare for circuit-style events. An early opportunity for riders to get race miles in their legs and to rack up some rankings points. Alongside the road race, there is also a National B women’s circuit race on the same course.
Route
Riders will tackle a fast, flat 5km lap consisting of four sweeping bends; the open race covering 24 laps for a distance of 120km, the women’s circuit race a timed affair lasting 90 minutes. Both races due on the circuit at the same time, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open.
With an unusually flat course, the riders’ main concern will be the wind, which threatens to tear the race apart as it blows across the exposed air field from the Celtic Sea. The latest forecast is for a light 8km/h breeze and mild temperatures; conditions unlikely to pose riders too many problems.
Riders to watch
Open road race
At 120km, the open race is set to be one of attrition, a reduced bunch sprint, or a breakaway win on the cards. The fast, flat nature of the course could suit a rider not able to satisfy the demands of the traditional uphill finishes to National B races, meaning a shock result could be on cards.
Alexandre Mayer will make his debut on UK soil, the three times Mauritian road race champion an intriguing signing for USKIS Saint Piran. The 25-year-old has been testing his legs this season at the UCI 2.2 ranked Tour of Sharjah and 2.1 Tour of Rwanda, where he wore the KIng of the Mountains jersey for the third stage. Racing at that level early in the season should mean Mayer arrives race sharp and in good form, the big question is how he will adapt to racing in a significantly colder climate and whether he will be marked out of contention.
Two of the standout performers a the Portsdown Classic, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) and Dom Jackson (Foran CCC) – second and fourth respectively – will be looking to build on their early-season rankings points tallies.
Jordan Giles was one of the standout domestic performers with two National B road race wins and will be looking to make a mark with his new team, Richardsons Trek DAS.
TAAP Kalas bring a strong team to the race, led by Harry McFarlane and James Ambrose-Parish, who both took National B closed circuit race wins last season. With support from Henry Latimer, collectively they could be a tough outfit to beat, providing they can last the distance.
Jacques Coates (Team PB Performance) took a number of top tens in National B races last season, including second in the Betty Pharoah Memorial Legstretcher. Having started his season in Spain earlier this month, the 22-year-old may have taken another step over the winter.
South Region circuit race champion Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT) is one of only two elite licence holders on the start list. 11th place at the Portsdown Classic indicates solid early season form. While another National B circuit race winner takes to the start in the shape of new TrainSharp Orro Elite recruit Sam Shepherd.
Former National Road Series winner Steve Lampier (Kernow Racing Team) is now a familiar face as a DS, having led the Saint Piran team over the past few seasons before moving onto the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development squad this year. With contemporaries such as Yanto Barker still competitive, it will be fascinating to see how the veteran fares as he comes out of retirement for his 40th birthday.
Women’s circuit race
With a much shorter distance and only a handful of starters, expect the women’s race to be an aggressive, flat out affair from the gun.
Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) is the standout name on the startlist, having experienced a rollercoaster 2023 in the colours of the UCI Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime team, finishing second in the U23 National Time Trial Championship and 10th in the Ryedale GP before a high speed crash at the Tour de l’Ardeche ended her season. Gadd will enjoy the added advantage of a teammate in the shape of the experienced Suzzetta Guerrini, herself an Elite licence holder.
Samantha Fawcett (Spectra Racing) could be Gadd’s closest challenger, having shown excellent form during the National Circuit Series last July. The course and style of racing should be to her liking – the duration still remains within the realms of a long criterium compared to a traditional road race.
Penny Colloff (Loughborough Lightning) showed good form last season with 4th in a round of the Women’s Team Cup and will look for a top placing, and points haul here.
Startlists
Open road race
Women’s circuit race
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