National level road racing continues this Saturday 30 March with the return of the RCR FatCreations Road Race near Goodwood in the south of England, a race that has quickly established itself as a popular and important early season event.
In the autumn of 1982, Mandy Jones (who is now known as Mandy Bishop) of Great Britain and Giuseppe Saronni of Italy clinched the titles at the World Road Race Championships, racing through a picturesque circuit in Goodwood, Sussex. This marked only the third occasion the championships were hosted in the UK, and it was also the third time a British woman secured the world road race champion title. Despite its significant role in the annals of British cycling, this quaint spot in West Sussex, tucked away between Chichester and the South Downs, has seldom been acknowledged by the cycling fraternity.
Determined to alter this oversight, Seb Ottley – organiser of the Portsdown Classic – took the initiative to organise the inaugural RCR Fatcreations Road Race in 2022, meticulously tracing the path of the memorable 1982 championship course.
The race was a was a long time in the making, as Seb told us in 2022. His ambition then was to turn the race into a ‘spring classic’, a race that domestic riders wanted to target in the early season. He already seems to be succeeding on this front, the race having attracted some big names and some illustrious winners.
Jess Finney surges to the win ahead of Zoe Langham in the 2023 edition. Image: Chris Wallis
This year the women’s race takes on new significance; it is the first round of the prestigious British Women’s Team Cup, the National B-level competition for domestic women’s teams.
In its debut year, the men’s title was claimed by Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite), who is set to defend his title this year, while Jess Finney (Doltcini-O’Shea) took home the women’s title. The first edition’s victors were Zeb Kyffin and Olivia Bentley.
The route
The 17.3 km circuit – featuring 263 m of elevation – differs slightly from the course used for the world championships. In that event, the circuit took in a lap of the Goodwood motor circuit, whereas this course sticks to the roads.
Ottley told us last year that he was keen to retain the main climb to the finish line, however, which is what he has done.
The 17.3 km circuit, with 263 m of elevation gain, varies slightly from the course used in the 1982 world championships. The latter included a lap around the Goodwood motor circuit, but this version remains on the roads. It does however, include the main climb leading to the finish line used in the worlds.
“The world’s circuit was just under 10 miles,” Ottley told us in 2022. “My main aim was to make sure the new course took on the main climb on the world’s course. The course we ended up with is 10.7 miles long, with the same climb and it actually has more climbing, which I’m sure the locals will love.”
Starting by the Goodwood racecourse, the route initially extends eastward along Selhurstpark Road for around 5 kilometres. Subsequently, a right-hand turn onto the A285 leads participants southwards for 6.5 kilometres, passing through Halnaker and Boxgrove as the road descends. Another right turn diverts the route onto New Road, stretching over 2 kilometres.
At a roundabout, the course veers right once more, marking the journey’s return leg towards the start/finish line. It is at this juncture that the course’s ascent of Kennel Hill commences, the beginning of the circuit’s major climb.
The road gently rises after the roundabout, with the slope becoming markedly steeper approximately a kilometre from the finish, where gradients reach up to 10% in certain sections. Near the summit, the route curves to the right, setting the stage for the concluding dash to the finish line.
The men take on 7 laps of the circuit (121 km in total), while the women face 5 laps (86km).
Timings
9.30
Open race start
13.30
Women’s race start
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests the weather should be mild with an outside chance of rain.
Contenders
Open
The Saint Piran team has once again been a powerful in domestic cycling so far in 2024, winning the Portsdown Classic and the Wally Gimber Trophy, even it didn’t hit its normal heights at the Peaks 2 Day, failing to grab a stage win or a top three placing on general classification.
The UCI Continental outfit will start as the outstanding favourites, boasting Portsdown Classic winner Sam Culverwell, 2023 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix champ Alexandar Richardson, Rowan Baker, who was third at both Portsdown and the Waly Gimber, as well as Dylan Hicks and William Roberts.
Sam Culverwell and Rowan Baker at the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Last year’s winner Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite) had a false start at the Wally Gimber Trophy with a DNF after an early crash, so will be hoping to make a better impression at Goodwood.
Jacob Vaughan will be a marked man after his recent Jock Wadley Memorial win. Our journal contributor Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM Cycling Team) makes a rare UK race appearance after a block of racing in Croatia, Austria and Slovenia. Another youngster to watch is Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE), who turned heads with his second place at the Portsdown Classic in February.
Jordan Giles and Conor McGoldrick head up a strong Richardsons Trek DAS team, while former pro Alex Dowsett (Nopinz Race Team) makes another appearance at a Seb Ottley race after his Portsdown Classic foray.
Women
Being round 1 of the British Team Cup, tactics for the women’s race could in part be dictated by the team format of the competition, with participating teams incentivised to ensure high placings for their first four riders across the line.
UCI Continental outfit DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK fields Ruth Shier , who stormed to victory at the Lancaster Grand Prix last year, as well as winning two rounds of the British Team Cup, while teammate Lucy Lee won three National B road races last season.
Lucy Gadd at the 2024 Peaks 2 Day. Image: Ollie Maynard
After her standout performance at the Peaks 2 Day at the weekend, winning stage 2 and narrowly missing out on the overall win, Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) has marked herself out as key contender in the women’s race. New FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing recruit Caitlin Dimbleby is another riders who impressed at the Peaks 2 Day, claiming fourth overall.
Lucy Harris heads up a strong Loughborough Lightning squad, looking to continue her early season form after bagging a top ten at the ANEXO CAMS CiCLE Classic this month. Bexy Dew (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Consulting) was one of the best performing domestic road racers last season, without ever quite winning a National B road race. She was fourth at this race last year, so clearly goes well on the course.
Finally, The Phoenix Collective will be looking to impress on its full team debut, with Molly Patch showing good early season form with 8th on GC at the Peaks 2 Day.
National level road racing continues this Saturday 30 March with the return of the RCR FatCreations Road Race near Goodwood in the south of England, a race that has quickly established itself as a popular and important early season event.
Featured image: Chris Wallis
What is it?
In the autumn of 1982, Mandy Jones (who is now known as Mandy Bishop) of Great Britain and Giuseppe Saronni of Italy clinched the titles at the World Road Race Championships, racing through a picturesque circuit in Goodwood, Sussex. This marked only the third occasion the championships were hosted in the UK, and it was also the third time a British woman secured the world road race champion title. Despite its significant role in the annals of British cycling, this quaint spot in West Sussex, tucked away between Chichester and the South Downs, has seldom been acknowledged by the cycling fraternity.
Determined to alter this oversight, Seb Ottley – organiser of the Portsdown Classic – took the initiative to organise the inaugural RCR Fatcreations Road Race in 2022, meticulously tracing the path of the memorable 1982 championship course.
The race was a was a long time in the making, as Seb told us in 2022. His ambition then was to turn the race into a ‘spring classic’, a race that domestic riders wanted to target in the early season. He already seems to be succeeding on this front, the race having attracted some big names and some illustrious winners.
This year the women’s race takes on new significance; it is the first round of the prestigious British Women’s Team Cup, the National B-level competition for domestic women’s teams.
In its debut year, the men’s title was claimed by Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite), who is set to defend his title this year, while Jess Finney (Doltcini-O’Shea) took home the women’s title. The first edition’s victors were Zeb Kyffin and Olivia Bentley.
The route
The 17.3 km circuit – featuring 263 m of elevation – differs slightly from the course used for the world championships. In that event, the circuit took in a lap of the Goodwood motor circuit, whereas this course sticks to the roads.
Ottley told us last year that he was keen to retain the main climb to the finish line, however, which is what he has done.
The 17.3 km circuit, with 263 m of elevation gain, varies slightly from the course used in the 1982 world championships. The latter included a lap around the Goodwood motor circuit, but this version remains on the roads. It does however, include the main climb leading to the finish line used in the worlds.
“The world’s circuit was just under 10 miles,” Ottley told us in 2022. “My main aim was to make sure the new course took on the main climb on the world’s course. The course we ended up with is 10.7 miles long, with the same climb and it actually has more climbing, which I’m sure the locals will love.”
Starting by the Goodwood racecourse, the route initially extends eastward along Selhurstpark Road for around 5 kilometres. Subsequently, a right-hand turn onto the A285 leads participants southwards for 6.5 kilometres, passing through Halnaker and Boxgrove as the road descends. Another right turn diverts the route onto New Road, stretching over 2 kilometres.
At a roundabout, the course veers right once more, marking the journey’s return leg towards the start/finish line. It is at this juncture that the course’s ascent of Kennel Hill commences, the beginning of the circuit’s major climb.
The road gently rises after the roundabout, with the slope becoming markedly steeper approximately a kilometre from the finish, where gradients reach up to 10% in certain sections. Near the summit, the route curves to the right, setting the stage for the concluding dash to the finish line.
The men take on 7 laps of the circuit (121 km in total), while the women face 5 laps (86km).
Timings
Weather
At the time of writing, the forecast suggests the weather should be mild with an outside chance of rain.
Contenders
Open
The Saint Piran team has once again been a powerful in domestic cycling so far in 2024, winning the Portsdown Classic and the Wally Gimber Trophy, even it didn’t hit its normal heights at the Peaks 2 Day, failing to grab a stage win or a top three placing on general classification.
The UCI Continental outfit will start as the outstanding favourites, boasting Portsdown Classic winner Sam Culverwell, 2023 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix champ Alexandar Richardson, Rowan Baker, who was third at both Portsdown and the Waly Gimber, as well as Dylan Hicks and William Roberts.
Last year’s winner Ollie Peckover (trainSharp Elite) had a false start at the Wally Gimber Trophy with a DNF after an early crash, so will be hoping to make a better impression at Goodwood.
Jacob Vaughan will be a marked man after his recent Jock Wadley Memorial win. Our journal contributor Mattie Dodd (Tirol KTM Cycling Team) makes a rare UK race appearance after a block of racing in Croatia, Austria and Slovenia. Another youngster to watch is Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE), who turned heads with his second place at the Portsdown Classic in February.
Jordan Giles and Conor McGoldrick head up a strong Richardsons Trek DAS team, while former pro Alex Dowsett (Nopinz Race Team) makes another appearance at a Seb Ottley race after his Portsdown Classic foray.
Women
Being round 1 of the British Team Cup, tactics for the women’s race could in part be dictated by the team format of the competition, with participating teams incentivised to ensure high placings for their first four riders across the line.
UCI Continental outfit DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK fields Ruth Shier , who stormed to victory at the Lancaster Grand Prix last year, as well as winning two rounds of the British Team Cup, while teammate Lucy Lee won three National B road races last season.
After her standout performance at the Peaks 2 Day at the weekend, winning stage 2 and narrowly missing out on the overall win, Lucy Gadd (Le Col RT) has marked herself out as key contender in the women’s race. New FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing recruit Caitlin Dimbleby is another riders who impressed at the Peaks 2 Day, claiming fourth overall.
Lucy Harris heads up a strong Loughborough Lightning squad, looking to continue her early season form after bagging a top ten at the ANEXO CAMS CiCLE Classic this month. Bexy Dew (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Consulting) was one of the best performing domestic road racers last season, without ever quite winning a National B road race. She was fourth at this race last year, so clearly goes well on the course.
Finally, The Phoenix Collective will be looking to impress on its full team debut, with Molly Patch showing good early season form with 8th on GC at the Peaks 2 Day.
Provisional startlist
Open race
Women’s race
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