2024 North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships: report and results
Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) and Megan Anderson (Team Boompods) are the King and Queen of the North after winning the combined North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships on Sunday 2 June
On a flat course just south of York, passing through the picturesque villages of Thorganby and Wheldrake, Megan Anderson of Team Boompods powered to sprint victory at the 2024 North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships. In the open race, Cycling Sheffield’s Jack Hartley outmanoeuvred his breakaway companions to take his second National B road race win in a week.
With an elevation gain of just 46 metres over the 18.5km circuit, the race promised a fast-paced and tactical contest, and it delivered exactly that. The event, organised by Spectrum Racing, saw riders battle it out over four laps of the flat course.
Megan Anderson (Team Boompods), a powerful sprinter, initially found herself off the front in an early solo break. “I got a bit excited and ended up off the front for one of the four laps at the start, even though I wanted a sprint finish!” said Anderson post-race. Despite her teammates’ efforts to block the chase, the peloton reeled her back in, allowing her to conserve energy for the finale.
The race remained relatively calm for the most part, with few successful attacks. Georgina Oakley of Loughborough Lightning noted the somewhat sedate pace, “The race was fast but not as fast as it could’ve been on a flat course. I surfed the wheels and saved energy as attacks were getting brought back straight away.” Oakley had hoped for a bunch finish, and as the race unfolded, it became clear that a sprint was inevitable.
Lizzie Hermolle, Anderson’s teammate from Team Boompods, made a notable move on the final lap but this, too, was foiled. “I got into a two-up on the last lap but it was brought back.” Hermolle’s strategy shifted to support her Anderson’s sprint aspirations, and her effort in the final kilometres played a crucial role in the race outcome.
As the peloton approached the finish, the race intensified, particularly through the narrow and tricky village roads. Oakley manoeuvred through a small gap on the left to position herself for the sprint. “The pace was hotting up and navigating the bunch was made tricky going through the villages on the way to the finish with parked cars and blind bends,” Oakley explained. She opened up her sprint early – a bit too early perhaps – on the downhill run to the finish line, holding the lead until the final moments.
In the end, it was Anderson’s patience and sprinting prowess that earned her the top spot on the podium, surging past Oakley in the closing moments, with Oakley second and Hermolle rounding out the top three.
Anderson reflected that getting caught so early after having gone on the break had in hindsight been a blessing in disguise. “The rest of the race was very sedate so I could recover and sprint for the win, just giving myself enough time to squeeze past Georgina,” she concluded.
Open race
Jack Hartley of Cycling Sheffield delivered a masterclass in tactical racing to secure victory in the open race.
From the outset, the race was marked by aggressive racing. Just half a lap in, a tailwind section provided the perfect opportunity for Hartley’s teammates to set the pace. Max Krasinski initiated the first attack, followed by an effort from Hartley’s brother, James. This sequence of attacks set the stage for the decisive move.
Spotting Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT) on his hip, Hartley made a crucial decision. “I tapped my hip and said, ‘Let’s go’,” Hartley recounted after the race. The duo surged forward, passing James and quickly gaining an advantage. Joined by Harry Tanfield (Saint Piran) and Damien Clayton (Le Col RT), the quartet worked cohesively, each taking strong turns at the front, to establish a substantial gap.
“The gap went out to 40 seconds pretty quickly and we had a maximum advantage of three and a half minutes,” Hartley explained. Their unity and determination were evident as they maintained a relentless pace. However, as the race progressed, the gap began to narrow to around two minutes.
In the latter stages, the race dynamics shifted. Clayton launched an aggressive attack, forcing Hartley and Luhrs to react. Despite Tanfield’s fatigue, which limited his contributions, the trio managed to reel Clayton back in. What followed was a tense series of cat-and-mouse manoeuvres, with each rider testing the others’ resolve.
As they approached the final corners, Hartley seized the moment. “We were rolling through the village with three corners left, Damo was off the back after his attack. I rolled through to keep the momentum going, and noticed me and Harry had a small gap because Damo and Alex were looking at each other,” Hartley described. With Tanfield on his wheel, Hartley capitalised on the hesitation behind them, driving the pace and eventually pulling away.
In the closing metres, Hartley pulled clear of Tanfield to take his second victory in six days after his victory at the GA Bennett road race on Monday. Tanfield – making his return to racing after a long period of illness – acknowledged Hartley’s superior strength. “Into the finish he said I rode him off his wheel so I had time to post up,” Hartley recalled.
Reflecting on his victory, Hartley said he’d been targeting this race since February. “Marc Etches told me at the Cycling Sheffield team launch that the div champs were going to be on this course so from then I had it in my mind that I could win this,” he said. His foresight and preparation paid off, as he clinched a significant win in a highly competitive field.
The final results saw Hartley take the top podium spot, followed by Tanfield in second, and Luhrs securing third. Clayton finished just off the podium in fourth.
Results
Women’s race
Provisional. Full results to be added when available.
On a flat course just south of York, passing through the picturesque villages of Thorganby and Wheldrake, Megan Anderson of Team Boompods powered to sprint victory at the 2024 North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships. In the open race, Cycling Sheffield’s Jack Hartley outmanoeuvred his breakaway companions to take his second National B road race win in a week.
Featured image: Sarah Jane Swinscoe
Report
Women’s race
With an elevation gain of just 46 metres over the 18.5km circuit, the race promised a fast-paced and tactical contest, and it delivered exactly that. The event, organised by Spectrum Racing, saw riders battle it out over four laps of the flat course.
Megan Anderson (Team Boompods), a powerful sprinter, initially found herself off the front in an early solo break. “I got a bit excited and ended up off the front for one of the four laps at the start, even though I wanted a sprint finish!” said Anderson post-race. Despite her teammates’ efforts to block the chase, the peloton reeled her back in, allowing her to conserve energy for the finale.
The race remained relatively calm for the most part, with few successful attacks. Georgina Oakley of Loughborough Lightning noted the somewhat sedate pace, “The race was fast but not as fast as it could’ve been on a flat course. I surfed the wheels and saved energy as attacks were getting brought back straight away.” Oakley had hoped for a bunch finish, and as the race unfolded, it became clear that a sprint was inevitable.
Lizzie Hermolle, Anderson’s teammate from Team Boompods, made a notable move on the final lap but this, too, was foiled. “I got into a two-up on the last lap but it was brought back.” Hermolle’s strategy shifted to support her Anderson’s sprint aspirations, and her effort in the final kilometres played a crucial role in the race outcome.
As the peloton approached the finish, the race intensified, particularly through the narrow and tricky village roads. Oakley manoeuvred through a small gap on the left to position herself for the sprint. “The pace was hotting up and navigating the bunch was made tricky going through the villages on the way to the finish with parked cars and blind bends,” Oakley explained. She opened up her sprint early – a bit too early perhaps – on the downhill run to the finish line, holding the lead until the final moments.
In the end, it was Anderson’s patience and sprinting prowess that earned her the top spot on the podium, surging past Oakley in the closing moments, with Oakley second and Hermolle rounding out the top three.
Anderson reflected that getting caught so early after having gone on the break had in hindsight been a blessing in disguise. “The rest of the race was very sedate so I could recover and sprint for the win, just giving myself enough time to squeeze past Georgina,” she concluded.
Open race
Jack Hartley of Cycling Sheffield delivered a masterclass in tactical racing to secure victory in the open race.
From the outset, the race was marked by aggressive racing. Just half a lap in, a tailwind section provided the perfect opportunity for Hartley’s teammates to set the pace. Max Krasinski initiated the first attack, followed by an effort from Hartley’s brother, James. This sequence of attacks set the stage for the decisive move.
Spotting Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT) on his hip, Hartley made a crucial decision. “I tapped my hip and said, ‘Let’s go’,” Hartley recounted after the race. The duo surged forward, passing James and quickly gaining an advantage. Joined by Harry Tanfield (Saint Piran) and Damien Clayton (Le Col RT), the quartet worked cohesively, each taking strong turns at the front, to establish a substantial gap.
“The gap went out to 40 seconds pretty quickly and we had a maximum advantage of three and a half minutes,” Hartley explained. Their unity and determination were evident as they maintained a relentless pace. However, as the race progressed, the gap began to narrow to around two minutes.
In the latter stages, the race dynamics shifted. Clayton launched an aggressive attack, forcing Hartley and Luhrs to react. Despite Tanfield’s fatigue, which limited his contributions, the trio managed to reel Clayton back in. What followed was a tense series of cat-and-mouse manoeuvres, with each rider testing the others’ resolve.
As they approached the final corners, Hartley seized the moment. “We were rolling through the village with three corners left, Damo was off the back after his attack. I rolled through to keep the momentum going, and noticed me and Harry had a small gap because Damo and Alex were looking at each other,” Hartley described. With Tanfield on his wheel, Hartley capitalised on the hesitation behind them, driving the pace and eventually pulling away.
In the closing metres, Hartley pulled clear of Tanfield to take his second victory in six days after his victory at the GA Bennett road race on Monday. Tanfield – making his return to racing after a long period of illness – acknowledged Hartley’s superior strength. “Into the finish he said I rode him off his wheel so I had time to post up,” Hartley recalled.
Reflecting on his victory, Hartley said he’d been targeting this race since February. “Marc Etches told me at the Cycling Sheffield team launch that the div champs were going to be on this course so from then I had it in my mind that I could win this,” he said. His foresight and preparation paid off, as he clinched a significant win in a highly competitive field.
The final results saw Hartley take the top podium spot, followed by Tanfield in second, and Luhrs securing third. Clayton finished just off the podium in fourth.
Results
Women’s race
Provisional. Full results to be added when available.
Open race
Provisional. Full results to be added when available.
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