Whilst the drama of last weekends Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix is still fresh in the memory of British racing fans, many British teams are looking abroad, with all the British UCI Continental teams involved in UCI road racing at the weekend, and many British elite teams preparing for the Rás Táilteann, which begins next Wednesday (22 May).
With many domestic teams abroad, then, this weekend presents an opportunity for students to shine, as the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Road Race Championships takes place in Yorkshire.
The BUCS Championships are well known as a battleground for emerging talent across university sports. Anna Henderson was the champion in 2019 and Tom Stewart in 2012 before starting his eight-year stint with professional teams. This will be the third successive season that the Yomp Bonk Crew have hosted the championship.
The race is due to take place on the attritional Upper Denby circuit just north of Penistone. The women’s races takes in 6.5 laps of the circuit, with the men tackling 9.5 laps.
The course has one main undulating climb, 3.7km in length at 3.9%. The finish on a plateau halfway up before a steep 10% ramp entering Upper Denby. The course turns left towards Penistone along the moor top offering up a small bit of rest bite. Although exposed, Sundays forecast if for Sun and a light southerly breeze means the race will enjoy a tailwind for this barren section. The circuit follows Halifax Road before turning right for a long and fast 2.5 mile decent. In the last 1/2 mile of the down hill the peloton navigate a challenging left hairpin taking them onto the climb up towards the finish.
Used for the 2022 Yorkshire Under-23 Classic the course proved selective and encouraged aggressive racing encouraging a solo victory for Sam Clark.
Contenders
Women’s race
Champions of 2023, George Kimber (Cardiff) and Frankie Halls (Loughborough) are absent so new champions will be crowned at the 2024 championship. Amelia Tyler (Edinburgh) will be many people’s rpick, coming into the race having started her 2024 campaign strongly, coming fifth in the 8th ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic and following it up with a points finish on similar terrain to the 2024 BUCS course at the Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield. Amelia placed second at last year’s championship so will be determined to claim the top step this year.
Frankie Hall claims first, a bike length ahead of Amelia Tyler. Image: Emma Wilcock
Irish compatriot Gabriella Homer (Nottingham) will also be keen to further prove herself on the road, having emerged victorious at the Irish national track championships on numerous occasions. Nottingham will be a force to reckon with as Lotty Dawson will also line up, keen to better her recent podium result at Twickenham CC Dave Peck Memorial British Cup Race, the only rider with a podium under her belt this season.
Keep an eye on riders from Loughborough, who enter with the largest team in both the men’s and women’s races. Loughborough university has a great development programme with abundant racing opportunities provided through Loughborough Lightning and substantial resources available at including specialist sport science facilities.
Open race
Archie Peet (Swansea), currently enjoying a breakthrough year, is one of the favourites, having taken a convincing win at PB Performance Espoirs Road Race and winning of the Brian Cossavella Michaelgate Trophy (points classification) at last weekend’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Archie’s biggest challenger will be Joseph Smith (Loughborough) having finished second best at last year’s championship. Aside from recent strong results Joseph will undoubtedly be keen to better last year’s result.
Archie Peets wins the 2024 PB Performance Espoirs Road Race. Image: Emma Wilcock
Other strong contenders are Samuel Nisbet (Bath), who was two top tens in Nat B road races this season, and Edward Morgan (Swansea), last season’s Aughton road race winner.
Last season’s Oakenclough road race winner Matthew Warhurst (Sheffield) is another rider to watch, as is Matthew Lord (Loughborough), who had an excellent Peaks 2 Day this season finishing 8th overall.
Whilst the drama of last weekends Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix is still fresh in the memory of British racing fans, many British teams are looking abroad, with all the British UCI Continental teams involved in UCI road racing at the weekend, and many British elite teams preparing for the Rás Táilteann, which begins next Wednesday (22 May).
With many domestic teams abroad, then, this weekend presents an opportunity for students to shine, as the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Road Race Championships takes place in Yorkshire.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
What is it?
The BUCS Championships are well known as a battleground for emerging talent across university sports. Anna Henderson was the champion in 2019 and Tom Stewart in 2012 before starting his eight-year stint with professional teams. This will be the third successive season that the Yomp Bonk Crew have hosted the championship.
Route
The race is due to take place on the attritional Upper Denby circuit just north of Penistone. The women’s races takes in 6.5 laps of the circuit, with the men tackling 9.5 laps.
The course has one main undulating climb, 3.7km in length at 3.9%. The finish on a plateau halfway up before a steep 10% ramp entering Upper Denby. The course turns left towards Penistone along the moor top offering up a small bit of rest bite. Although exposed, Sundays forecast if for Sun and a light southerly breeze means the race will enjoy a tailwind for this barren section. The circuit follows Halifax Road before turning right for a long and fast 2.5 mile decent. In the last 1/2 mile of the down hill the peloton navigate a challenging left hairpin taking them onto the climb up towards the finish.
Used for the 2022 Yorkshire Under-23 Classic the course proved selective and encouraged aggressive racing encouraging a solo victory for Sam Clark.
Contenders
Women’s race
Champions of 2023, George Kimber (Cardiff) and Frankie Halls (Loughborough) are absent so new champions will be crowned at the 2024 championship. Amelia Tyler (Edinburgh) will be many people’s rpick, coming into the race having started her 2024 campaign strongly, coming fifth in the 8th ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic and following it up with a points finish on similar terrain to the 2024 BUCS course at the Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield. Amelia placed second at last year’s championship so will be determined to claim the top step this year.
Irish compatriot Gabriella Homer (Nottingham) will also be keen to further prove herself on the road, having emerged victorious at the Irish national track championships on numerous occasions. Nottingham will be a force to reckon with as Lotty Dawson will also line up, keen to better her recent podium result at Twickenham CC Dave Peck Memorial British Cup Race, the only rider with a podium under her belt this season.
Keep an eye on riders from Loughborough, who enter with the largest team in both the men’s and women’s races. Loughborough university has a great development programme with abundant racing opportunities provided through Loughborough Lightning and substantial resources available at including specialist sport science facilities.
Open race
Archie Peet (Swansea), currently enjoying a breakthrough year, is one of the favourites, having taken a convincing win at PB Performance Espoirs Road Race and winning of the Brian Cossavella Michaelgate Trophy (points classification) at last weekend’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Archie’s biggest challenger will be Joseph Smith (Loughborough) having finished second best at last year’s championship. Aside from recent strong results Joseph will undoubtedly be keen to better last year’s result.
Other strong contenders are Samuel Nisbet (Bath), who was two top tens in Nat B road races this season, and Edward Morgan (Swansea), last season’s Aughton road race winner.
Last season’s Oakenclough road race winner Matthew Warhurst (Sheffield) is another rider to watch, as is Matthew Lord (Loughborough), who had an excellent Peaks 2 Day this season finishing 8th overall.
Two outsiders are James Satoor (Nottingham Trent) who took a surprise podium at the PB Performance Espoirs road race this season, and Finn McHenry (Glasgow) who was 11th in his last Nat B road race, the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic.
Timings
How to follow
For live updates on the race, you can follow @yompbonkcrew on social media.
Provisional startlists
Women’s race
Open race
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