The first round of the Under-23 Open National Road Series takes this weekend, 7 April 2024. Here’s a preview of the race, including route details, contenders, startlist and timings.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
The first round of the 2024 Under-23 Open National Road Series. It was established in 2022 specifically for the Series and has been running ever since. Organised by the South West Road Race Work Group, the race moved last year from its first home Somerton, Somerset to the Witheridge course by Tiverton, Devon.
Edward Morgan won the 2022 edition, while David Hird won last year’s race.
Route
At 43.1km, the circuit is huge for National B road race standards. Starting and finishing in Tiverton, the course heads west on the Rackenford Road heading towards South Molton, takes a left turn towards Witheridge after Rackenford, left again passing through Witheridge and returns to Tiverton via the B3137.
Riders will take on three laps of the circuit, which 692m of elevation each lap, meaning the riders will face just under 2100m of climbing in all. It’s a rolling parcours, then, with plenty of short sharp rises to test the legs along the way.
Timings
10.30
Race start
14.00
Race finish (approximate)
Riders to watch
Saint Piran is the team to watch, as is the norm now. The provisional startlists contains Rowan Baker, winner of the RCR FatCreations road race last Saturday, and Tyler Hannay, who won the following day at the Capernwray road race. Dylan Hicks, 5th at the RCR FatCreations race, is another option.
Dylan Hicks and Rowan Baker after the 2024 RCR FatCreations Road Race. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
USKIS Saint Piran’sHuw Buck Jones is another in-form rider. He has had six top fives in National B road races already this season without ever quite getting a win – yet. Last year’s national junior road race champion Finn Mason (USKIS Saint Piran) further strengthens Saint Piran’s hand.
The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team have been Saint Piran’s closest challengers so far this year, and in Joseph Smith they have a rider who, like Buck Jones, has had a number of top tens so far this year, indicating the form is good.
Elsewhere, last year’s winner David Hird (Cycling Sheffield) lines up again, so will be one to watch again. His teammate James Hartley was 11th at a tough Capernwray road race and is another rider that could get a top result here.
First-year under-23 John Bardsley (360cycling) is another rider on our watchlist after his fourth at the Clayton Velo Spring Classic and podium at the Eddie Soens.
The first round of the Under-23 Open National Road Series takes this weekend, 7 April 2024. Here’s a preview of the race, including route details, contenders, startlist and timings.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
The first round of the 2024 Under-23 Open National Road Series. It was established in 2022 specifically for the Series and has been running ever since. Organised by the South West Road Race Work Group, the race moved last year from its first home Somerton, Somerset to the Witheridge course by Tiverton, Devon.
Edward Morgan won the 2022 edition, while David Hird won last year’s race.
Route
At 43.1km, the circuit is huge for National B road race standards. Starting and finishing in Tiverton, the course heads west on the Rackenford Road heading towards South Molton, takes a left turn towards Witheridge after Rackenford, left again passing through Witheridge and returns to Tiverton via the B3137.
Riders will take on three laps of the circuit, which 692m of elevation each lap, meaning the riders will face just under 2100m of climbing in all. It’s a rolling parcours, then, with plenty of short sharp rises to test the legs along the way.
Timings
Riders to watch
Saint Piran is the team to watch, as is the norm now. The provisional startlists contains Rowan Baker, winner of the RCR FatCreations road race last Saturday, and Tyler Hannay, who won the following day at the Capernwray road race. Dylan Hicks, 5th at the RCR FatCreations race, is another option.
USKIS Saint Piran’s Huw Buck Jones is another in-form rider. He has had six top fives in National B road races already this season without ever quite getting a win – yet. Last year’s national junior road race champion Finn Mason (USKIS Saint Piran) further strengthens Saint Piran’s hand.
The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team have been Saint Piran’s closest challengers so far this year, and in Joseph Smith they have a rider who, like Buck Jones, has had a number of top tens so far this year, indicating the form is good.
Elsewhere, last year’s winner David Hird (Cycling Sheffield) lines up again, so will be one to watch again. His teammate James Hartley was 11th at a tough Capernwray road race and is another rider that could get a top result here.
First-year under-23 John Bardsley (360cycling) is another rider on our watchlist after his fourth at the Clayton Velo Spring Classic and podium at the Eddie Soens.
Provisional startlist
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