Reports

2024 PNE National B road race: report and results

Alex Richardson won the PNE National B road race on Saturday 27 April

Alex Richardson got Saint Piran’s weekend off to the best of starts with a trademark solo win at the PNE National B road race.

Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography

Report

A chilly spring day saw a field of around 60 riders take to the start for 10.5 laps of a 12.9km circuit on the edge of the South Downs.

A very lively race from the flag drop with Luke Barfoot (Primera Teamjobs), Elliott Colyer (University of Exeter CC), Tobias Dalhaus (Foran CT), Carl Jolly (Schils-Doltcini Race Team) and Alexander Speirs (TAAP Kalas) taking a 30 second lead on lap one.

This was brought back by a very enthusiastic peloton and lap 2 saw a break of eight, with young Elliott Colyer (20) determined to get into any move from the front joined by Harvey Lawson (TAAP Kalas), Alexandre Mayer (Saint Piran), Ben Millar (Primera TeamJobs), Arcie Peet (Reflex Racing), Thomas Springbett (Foran CC), Sebastian Tyrie (Primera Teamjobs) and Conor Williams (trainSharp Development Team; the group stayed away for almost a complete lap before being caught by a chasing group of six: Luke Barfoot (Primera TeamJobs), Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching), Oliver Hucks (TAAP Kalas), Wang Kuicheng (Bodywrap LTWOO Cycling Team), Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons Trek DAS) and James Nicholson (Foran CT).

With the leading group now swelled to 14 riders there seemed to be little cohesion among the riders and on lap 4 were consumed again within a hard chasing peloton. 

Just across the finish line and Oliver Hucks (TAAP Kalas) and Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports Race Team) attacked hard over the top of the climb and held a half lap lead before being joined (again) by Elliott Colyer, Luke Barfoot and eventual winner Alex Richardson (Saint Piran). The group worked well together for a further 3 laps before Chris McNamara suffered a rear wheel puncture (a nice tail fin from the sealant) and retired from the race. 

The break. PNE National B Road Race. Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography

With around 30 kilometres remaining, Richardson took off. Hucks tried to stay with Richardson but lost contact. Wang Kuicheng of the UCI Continental Bodywrap team bridged across to Hucks to form a chasing pair, but the duo were over a minute back as they took the bell. Richardson duly cruised to victory, with Hucks bettering Wang to take second. Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) backed up his excellent win at the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race with fourth.

The victory was Richardson’s third in a row at this race after his wins in 2022 and 2023. It will be a short turnaround before his next race; he is part of the Saint Piran squad that starts the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic tomorrow.

“It was a very well organised and safe race,” Richardson told us after the race. “This is essential, so thank you to all organisers and volunteers for their support.

Alex Richardson wins the PNE National B Road Race. Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography

“I was fortunate to have Alex Mayer there who covered moves very well early on, I have enjoyed training with him early mornings this week and he has a super approach which is infectious”

“With some kilometres remaining I chose to attack the group to keep the pressure on and was fortunate to stay away until the line,” Richardson said of his winning move. “The level seems to get stronger each year and each time I’ve done this race the average speed nudges up a little each time. Technology and training keep evolving.”

Results

PosBibRiderAgeTeamPts
11 Alexandar RichardsonSeniorSaint Piran60
224 Oliver HucksSeniorTAAP Kalas52
329 Wang KuichengSeniorBodywrap Men’s Cycling Team45
445 Archie PeetU23Reflex Racing40
511 Elliot ColyerU23University of Exeter Cycling Club35
65 James BevanSeniorArmy Cycling Union31
714 Clay DaviesSeniorRide Revolution Coaching27
844 Samuel NisbetU23Reflex Racing23
919 Niu GaoshangU23Bodywrap Men’s Cycling Team20
103 Luke BarfootSeniorPrimera-TeamJobs17
1127 Carl JollySeniorSchils – Doltcini Racing Team15
122 Matt BaileySeniorRide Revolution Coaching13
1335 Conor McGoldrickSeniorRichardsons Trek DAS11
1431 Harvey LawsonU23TAAP Kalas9
1521 Luke GoodwillJuniortrainSharp Development Team7
1639 Ben MillarSeniorPrimera-TeamJobs6
1722 Kieron GordgeU23Private Member5
1816 Thomas DoigSeniorPrimera-TeamJobs3
1958 Morgan WestSeniorFolkestone Velo Club2
2043 James NicholsonSeniorForan CT1
2120 Matthew GilmourU23Primera-TeamJobs0
2230 Charlie LacailleSeniorSchils – Doltcini Racing Team0
2360 Conor WilliamsU23trainSharp Development Team0
2455 Sebastian TyrieSeniorPrimera-TeamJobs0
2532 Sam Llewellyn-JonesSeniorLondon Dynamo0
2656 Archie WallerSeniorLondon Dynamo0
2734 Alexander MayerSeniorSaint Piran0
2850 Adam RobertsonSeniorRide Revolution Coaching0
294 Samuel BengeSeniortrainSharp Club0
3026 Ashley HutchisonSeniorVC St Raphael0
3162 Alexander SpeirsSeniorTAAP Kalas0
3228 Timothy JonesSeniorPrivate Member0
3353 David StreuleSeniorLondon Dynamo0
349 Lui ChenruiSeniorBodywrap Men’s Cycling Team0

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