Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) pipped junior Imogen Wolff (Shibden Apex RT) to stage 3 victory at the Peaks 2 Day in a two-up spring, but it wasn’t enough to stop Wolff completing an outstanding overall win.
In the Open race, Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Jacob Smith repeated his 2023 stage 2 time trial victory on Holme Moss. And in a thrilling finale, Max Krasinski (Cycling Sheffield) secured a breakthrough stage win as Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) wrestled overall victory from Damien Clayton (Le Col RT).
The day began with blue skies, a welcome contrast to the sleet and hail of the day before, although the wind remained a factor, even if it was not as strong as it was on Saturday.
A three kilometre road bike time trial on the infamous Holme Moss awaited the men on stage 2 , featuring two kilometres of climbing on an average gradient of 9.5%, a strong head wind adding to the challenge on the exposed climb.
In a carbon copy of the 2023 race, Jacob Smith (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) stormed to stage victory in a time of 8 minutes and 18 seconds, with Spectra Racing’s Toby Barnes, who was third on the stage last season, finishing second, 15 seconds behind Smith. Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) completed the podium a further 4 seconds back. Overnight leader Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) could only finish 30th, ceding a minute and 8 seconds to Smith.
Tom Martin of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli on Holme Moss. Image: Emma Wilcock
Nonetheless, Clayton retained the leader’s jersey thanks to the generous buffer he’d etched out on stage 1. Going into the final stage he held a 26 second advantage over Smith and 41 seconds over Buck Jones. Joseph Smith (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was the next nearest challenger on GC at a minute and 2 seconds.
Stage 3
A breathtaking finale of the race culminated in a thrilling showdown that reshaped the general classification and led to a breakthrough win for Cycling Sheffield rider Max Krasinski.
As the stage unfolded, the initial King of the Mountain (KOM) sprint set the tone for a day of aggressive racing as Tyler Hannay (Saint Piran) and William Truelove (Thriva-SRCT) led the charge, signalling their intent with nine laps remaining. However, it was an audacious attack by Toby Barnes of Spectra Racing and Bradley Symonds of Saint Piran, with 8 laps to go, that truly ignited the race. Their move appeared to catch the peloton off guard, its response scattered and uncoordinated.
Image: Emma Wilcock
A breakaway subsequently formed, comprising Tom Martin of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli and Max Krasinski, along with Symonds and Barnes. They carved out a 50-second lead over the bunch, with Martin, positioned 1 minute 30 seconds behind the general classification leader Damien Clayton of Le Col RT at the start of the stage, emerging as a significant threat.
The breakaway’s gap widened to 1 minute 25 seconds with 6 laps to go, and with 4 laps remaining, the quartet held a minute’s lead over lone chaser Will Taylor of Moonglu RT, with the main group, including Clayton, trailing further behind. Clayton’s grasp of the leader’s jersey seemed to be slipping away.
The intensity escalated over the final three laps. The leaders extended their advantage to two minutes over Taylor, now accompanied by Josh Housley of HUUB BCC RT, with Martin assuming the status of virtual leader on the road.
Entering the last lap, the four frontrunners maintained a commanding 2 minute 30 second lead over a three-man chasing group, with Clayton, the race leader, fighting valiantly 11 seconds further adrift.
Image: Emma Wilcock
The stage concluded with a sprint victory for Krasinski, closely followed by Barnes, Symonds, and Martin. This quartet’s remarkable performance not only defined the day’s racing but also the overall standings. Tom Martin emerged victorious in the general classification, overturning his deficit to claim the Peaks 2 Day crown. Damien Clayton finished a commendable second after battling to sixth on the stage, with stage 2 winner Jacob Smith of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rounding out the podium.
Krasinski’s victory on the final stage felt like redemption after a disappointing start to the race and coming off the back of a challenging 2023.
“My 2023 season was tough as I didn’t start riding until February due to a bad crash involving a van at the end of August 2022,” Krasinski told The British Continental after the race, revealing the depth of adversity he faced. Further setbacks included a broken collarbone at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix and then another due to an unfortunate incident with a dog. Yet, Krasinski’s spirit remained unbroken, showcasing a remarkable comeback at the Peaks 2 Day.
“After a disappointing race in stage 1 due to breaking my rear wheel because of a pothole and chasing back to a group for most of the race, the plan today was to race for the win and possibly try to aid David [Hird] and Matt [Warhurst] in improving their GC,” Krasinski shared.
Image: Emma Wilcock
Once break was established, Krasinski put all his energy into winning the stage: “My focus went on trying to win the stage and conserving some energy,” he said. His tactical nous and physical condition came to the fore in the race’s dying moments. “Coming into the last lap, the Wheelbase rider [Martin] started to do the majority of the work and led up the final climb. I felt good, and with about 200m to go up the final climb, the other riders launched their sprint, and I jumped at the same time, coming around with speed and holding it to the line.”
Women’s race
Stage 3
In a thrilling conclusion to the Peaks 2 Day race, the third and final stage unfolded on the challenging 10.6km Carlecotes course, with the peloton tackling 8 gruelling laps. The stage set the scene for a dramatic showdown between the race leader, Imogen Wolff of Shibden Apex RT and Lucy Gadd of Le Col RT, offering a spectacle that had onlookers on tenterhooks.
From the outset, Wolff stamped her authority on the race, claiming the first two Queen of the Mountains (QOM) primes ahead of Gadd on laps 2 and 4. The intensity of the competition began to take its toll on the peloton, with the group starting to stretch thin over the lap 4 QOM climb, hinting at the cracks that would soon widen under the pressure of relentless attacks.
It was at this point the pivotal moment of the stage came, with Gadd and Wolff launched a daring attack. Their move paid dividends, creating a significant gap from their chasers. With 3 laps remaining, the dynamic duo had carved out a commanding lead of two minutes and 45 seconds over the second group on the road.
As the race neared its climax, with the bell signaling the final lap, Gadd and Wolff had extended their lead to an astonishing five and a half minutes. The duo had turned the race into a two-woman show, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The final sprint was nailbiting, with Gadd edging out Wolff in a breathtakingly close finish to take the stage win. Despite the stage loss, Wolff’s performance over the two days was unmatched, securing her the overall victory in the Peaks 2 Day race.
“Conditions were tough again today with the wind, but the sun was shining,” Gadd told The British Continental after the race. The wind, a constant adversary over the course of the race, played into their strategy on the main climb, which, thanks to the direction of the wind, became an ally rather than a foe. “The main climb of the day was a tailwind today which suited me. I rode it hard on the second prime lap, looked back and only had Imogen on my wheel,” Gadd revealed, underscoring the moment she realised the race was theirs for the taking.
“We worked well together making it super tough for ourselves,” Gadd shared, detailing their mutual effort to distance themselves from the peloton. “I knew that if we rode solidly in the headwind, there wouldn’t be a coordinated chase behind and we would grow the gap.”
As the race neared its conclusion, Gadd’s thoughts turned to victory—not just the stage win but the tantalizing possibility of overturning the overall lead. “On the final lap I started thinking about how I could win the stage, and how I could take the overall lead,” Gadd mused. Despite launching a strategic attack in the headwind before the final climb, Wolff’s resilience saw her rejoin Gadd, setting up a nail-biting sprint finish.
Describing the finale, Gadd shared her calculated approach to the sprint: “I was leading out the sprint but I wasn’t worried as it was a roaring tailwind.” Her decision to increase the speed early meant Wolff would struggle to overtake her—a gamble that paid off handsomely. “We were going so fast already I knew she would have a tough time getting round me. I just hung on to take the win!” Gadd exclaimed.
Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) pipped junior Imogen Wolff (Shibden Apex RT) to stage 3 victory at the Peaks 2 Day in a two-up spring, but it wasn’t enough to stop Wolff completing an outstanding overall win.
In the Open race, Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Jacob Smith repeated his 2023 stage 2 time trial victory on Holme Moss. And in a thrilling finale, Max Krasinski (Cycling Sheffield) secured a breakthrough stage win as Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) wrestled overall victory from Damien Clayton (Le Col RT).
2024 Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield: day one report and results
2024 Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield: preview and startlist
Featured Image: Ollie Maynard
Report
Open race
Stage 2
The day began with blue skies, a welcome contrast to the sleet and hail of the day before, although the wind remained a factor, even if it was not as strong as it was on Saturday.
A three kilometre road bike time trial on the infamous Holme Moss awaited the men on stage 2 , featuring two kilometres of climbing on an average gradient of 9.5%, a strong head wind adding to the challenge on the exposed climb.
In a carbon copy of the 2023 race, Jacob Smith (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) stormed to stage victory in a time of 8 minutes and 18 seconds, with Spectra Racing’s Toby Barnes, who was third on the stage last season, finishing second, 15 seconds behind Smith. Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) completed the podium a further 4 seconds back. Overnight leader Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) could only finish 30th, ceding a minute and 8 seconds to Smith.
Nonetheless, Clayton retained the leader’s jersey thanks to the generous buffer he’d etched out on stage 1. Going into the final stage he held a 26 second advantage over Smith and 41 seconds over Buck Jones. Joseph Smith (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was the next nearest challenger on GC at a minute and 2 seconds.
Stage 3
A breathtaking finale of the race culminated in a thrilling showdown that reshaped the general classification and led to a breakthrough win for Cycling Sheffield rider Max Krasinski.
As the stage unfolded, the initial King of the Mountain (KOM) sprint set the tone for a day of aggressive racing as Tyler Hannay (Saint Piran) and William Truelove (Thriva-SRCT) led the charge, signalling their intent with nine laps remaining. However, it was an audacious attack by Toby Barnes of Spectra Racing and Bradley Symonds of Saint Piran, with 8 laps to go, that truly ignited the race. Their move appeared to catch the peloton off guard, its response scattered and uncoordinated.
A breakaway subsequently formed, comprising Tom Martin of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli and Max Krasinski, along with Symonds and Barnes. They carved out a 50-second lead over the bunch, with Martin, positioned 1 minute 30 seconds behind the general classification leader Damien Clayton of Le Col RT at the start of the stage, emerging as a significant threat.
The breakaway’s gap widened to 1 minute 25 seconds with 6 laps to go, and with 4 laps remaining, the quartet held a minute’s lead over lone chaser Will Taylor of Moonglu RT, with the main group, including Clayton, trailing further behind. Clayton’s grasp of the leader’s jersey seemed to be slipping away.
The intensity escalated over the final three laps. The leaders extended their advantage to two minutes over Taylor, now accompanied by Josh Housley of HUUB BCC RT, with Martin assuming the status of virtual leader on the road.
Entering the last lap, the four frontrunners maintained a commanding 2 minute 30 second lead over a three-man chasing group, with Clayton, the race leader, fighting valiantly 11 seconds further adrift.
The stage concluded with a sprint victory for Krasinski, closely followed by Barnes, Symonds, and Martin. This quartet’s remarkable performance not only defined the day’s racing but also the overall standings. Tom Martin emerged victorious in the general classification, overturning his deficit to claim the Peaks 2 Day crown. Damien Clayton finished a commendable second after battling to sixth on the stage, with stage 2 winner Jacob Smith of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rounding out the podium.
Krasinski’s victory on the final stage felt like redemption after a disappointing start to the race and coming off the back of a challenging 2023.
“My 2023 season was tough as I didn’t start riding until February due to a bad crash involving a van at the end of August 2022,” Krasinski told The British Continental after the race, revealing the depth of adversity he faced. Further setbacks included a broken collarbone at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix and then another due to an unfortunate incident with a dog. Yet, Krasinski’s spirit remained unbroken, showcasing a remarkable comeback at the Peaks 2 Day.
“After a disappointing race in stage 1 due to breaking my rear wheel because of a pothole and chasing back to a group for most of the race, the plan today was to race for the win and possibly try to aid David [Hird] and Matt [Warhurst] in improving their GC,” Krasinski shared.
Once break was established, Krasinski put all his energy into winning the stage: “My focus went on trying to win the stage and conserving some energy,” he said. His tactical nous and physical condition came to the fore in the race’s dying moments. “Coming into the last lap, the Wheelbase rider [Martin] started to do the majority of the work and led up the final climb. I felt good, and with about 200m to go up the final climb, the other riders launched their sprint, and I jumped at the same time, coming around with speed and holding it to the line.”
Women’s race
Stage 3
In a thrilling conclusion to the Peaks 2 Day race, the third and final stage unfolded on the challenging 10.6km Carlecotes course, with the peloton tackling 8 gruelling laps. The stage set the scene for a dramatic showdown between the race leader, Imogen Wolff of Shibden Apex RT and Lucy Gadd of Le Col RT, offering a spectacle that had onlookers on tenterhooks.
From the outset, Wolff stamped her authority on the race, claiming the first two Queen of the Mountains (QOM) primes ahead of Gadd on laps 2 and 4. The intensity of the competition began to take its toll on the peloton, with the group starting to stretch thin over the lap 4 QOM climb, hinting at the cracks that would soon widen under the pressure of relentless attacks.
It was at this point the pivotal moment of the stage came, with Gadd and Wolff launched a daring attack. Their move paid dividends, creating a significant gap from their chasers. With 3 laps remaining, the dynamic duo had carved out a commanding lead of two minutes and 45 seconds over the second group on the road.
As the race neared its climax, with the bell signaling the final lap, Gadd and Wolff had extended their lead to an astonishing five and a half minutes. The duo had turned the race into a two-woman show, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The final sprint was nailbiting, with Gadd edging out Wolff in a breathtakingly close finish to take the stage win. Despite the stage loss, Wolff’s performance over the two days was unmatched, securing her the overall victory in the Peaks 2 Day race.
“Conditions were tough again today with the wind, but the sun was shining,” Gadd told The British Continental after the race. The wind, a constant adversary over the course of the race, played into their strategy on the main climb, which, thanks to the direction of the wind, became an ally rather than a foe. “The main climb of the day was a tailwind today which suited me. I rode it hard on the second prime lap, looked back and only had Imogen on my wheel,” Gadd revealed, underscoring the moment she realised the race was theirs for the taking.
“We worked well together making it super tough for ourselves,” Gadd shared, detailing their mutual effort to distance themselves from the peloton. “I knew that if we rode solidly in the headwind, there wouldn’t be a coordinated chase behind and we would grow the gap.”
As the race neared its conclusion, Gadd’s thoughts turned to victory—not just the stage win but the tantalizing possibility of overturning the overall lead. “On the final lap I started thinking about how I could win the stage, and how I could take the overall lead,” Gadd mused. Despite launching a strategic attack in the headwind before the final climb, Wolff’s resilience saw her rejoin Gadd, setting up a nail-biting sprint finish.
Describing the finale, Gadd shared her calculated approach to the sprint: “I was leading out the sprint but I wasn’t worried as it was a roaring tailwind.” Her decision to increase the speed early meant Wolff would struggle to overtake her—a gamble that paid off handsomely. “We were going so fast already I knew she would have a tough time getting round me. I just hung on to take the win!” Gadd exclaimed.
Results
Open race
Stage 2
Stage 3
General classification
Women’s race
Stage 3
General classification
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