Taking place on Saturday 20 April, the PNE National B road race opens a busy weekend of domestic road racing that features three National B road races and culminates with the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.
A men’s National B road organised by the long-running Portsmouth North End Cycling Club. It takes place near Winchester in the South Downs National Park.
Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) has won the last two editions. On the provisional startlist this year, could he make it a hattrick?
Spanning 130km, the race consists of 10.5 laps around a 12.9km circuit. Participants start at the race headquarters in Owslebury, proceed along Longmoore Road, and enter the circuit at the intersection with Belmore Lane. The route then travels southeast and makes a left turn onto Salt Lane, leading up to the finish line for the first time. After crossing the finish line, competitors turn left onto Millbarrows and continue northwest. A final left turn onto Longbarrow brings the riders back to their point of circuit entry.
With each lap incorporating 223 metres of climbing, the cumulative elevation gain in the race is fairly substantial; and although there aren’t any significant climbs as such, the repetitive nature of the course gradually fatigues the legs over the 10.5 laps.
The final rise on the circuit up to the finish line is hardly Holme Moss but is steep and long enough at the end of the race to encourage a selection on the final dash to the line.
Timings
10.00
Race start
Provisional startlist
As he did last year, defending champion Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) lines up with number one on his back and will be the man to beat. However, he is also due to ride the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic the following day, so whether that impacts his approach to the race, or even whether the takes to the start, remains to be seen.
Like Richardson,) Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons Trek DAS) would normally be considered to be among the favourites but he also has the small matter of the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic the following day.
Ollie Hucks (TAAP Kalas) has been in excellent shape this season, finishing third at the Jock Wadley and 11th at the recent East Cleveland Classic. This could be an opportunity for his first Nat B win of the year.
Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) will be buoyed by his impressive win at the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race last weekend. Samuel Clark is searching for his first domestic result of the season after switching to the Portuguese team Obidos Cycling Team, and he is more than capable of a podium. Indeed, he was second in this race last season. Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) had three podiums and a win in National B road races last season and this course should suit him.
Maltese rider Bernard Galea (SPRNT) impressed with an attacking ride to finish fifth at the London Dynamo Spring Road Race. Finally, Boan Li is one of a squad of Chinese riders from Simon Cope’s UCI Continental Bodywrap Men’s Cycling Team camped in the UK ahead of the Rás next month. He is a former Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner, so perhaps one to watch here.
Taking place on Saturday 20 April, the PNE National B road race opens a busy weekend of domestic road racing that features three National B road races and culminates with the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.
Featured image: Pitchside Photography
What is it?
A men’s National B road organised by the long-running Portsmouth North End Cycling Club. It takes place near Winchester in the South Downs National Park.
Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) has won the last two editions. On the provisional startlist this year, could he make it a hattrick?
Route
Spanning 130km, the race consists of 10.5 laps around a 12.9km circuit. Participants start at the race headquarters in Owslebury, proceed along Longmoore Road, and enter the circuit at the intersection with Belmore Lane. The route then travels southeast and makes a left turn onto Salt Lane, leading up to the finish line for the first time. After crossing the finish line, competitors turn left onto Millbarrows and continue northwest. A final left turn onto Longbarrow brings the riders back to their point of circuit entry.
With each lap incorporating 223 metres of climbing, the cumulative elevation gain in the race is fairly substantial; and although there aren’t any significant climbs as such, the repetitive nature of the course gradually fatigues the legs over the 10.5 laps.
The final rise on the circuit up to the finish line is hardly Holme Moss but is steep and long enough at the end of the race to encourage a selection on the final dash to the line.
Timings
Provisional startlist
As he did last year, defending champion Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) lines up with number one on his back and will be the man to beat. However, he is also due to ride the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic the following day, so whether that impacts his approach to the race, or even whether the takes to the start, remains to be seen.
Like Richardson,) Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons Trek DAS) would normally be considered to be among the favourites but he also has the small matter of the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic the following day.
Ollie Hucks (TAAP Kalas) has been in excellent shape this season, finishing third at the Jock Wadley and 11th at the recent East Cleveland Classic. This could be an opportunity for his first Nat B win of the year.
Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) will be buoyed by his impressive win at the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race last weekend. Samuel Clark is searching for his first domestic result of the season after switching to the Portuguese team Obidos Cycling Team, and he is more than capable of a podium. Indeed, he was second in this race last season. Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) had three podiums and a win in National B road races last season and this course should suit him.
Maltese rider Bernard Galea (SPRNT) impressed with an attacking ride to finish fifth at the London Dynamo Spring Road Race. Finally, Boan Li is one of a squad of Chinese riders from Simon Cope’s UCI Continental Bodywrap Men’s Cycling Team camped in the UK ahead of the Rás next month. He is a former Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner, so perhaps one to watch here.
Provisional startlist
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.