17-year-old Ella Tandy (Tofuati Everyone Active) and Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) took National B road race victories as Helena Shapton (Velo Bavarian) and Josh Housley were crowned East Midlands divisional champions, with Tandy also claiming the West Midlands crown, after a busy day of racing on a fast circuit in beautiful sunshine around the Vale of Belvoir.
The women’s race, combining both the East and West Midlands Regional Road Race Championships, covered six laps of a 14.4km circuit, 40 riders taking to the early start bathed in sunshine.
With the finish line at the top of the ascent of Waltham Lane, a 1.5km climb averaging just over 4% gradient, the slope served as the race’s critical segment, dictating the pace and strategy of the competitors.
Attacks were at a premium throughout the race with only occasional solo breakways escaping for short periods at a time. Despite a stiff pace on the rise of Waltham Lane at the end of each lap, there were no major moves or splits that changed the outlook of the race.
Most of the action tended to be out the back of the bunch with the fast corkscrew descent causing some splits towards the end of the race, winner Tandy experiencing a moment of tension on the penultimate lap when a split in the bunch during the fast descent forcing her into a hard chase. Nevertheless, she managed to rejoin the group, setting the stage for her decisive move.
With a large bunch still intact on the final lap, the race was set for a showdown on Waltham Lane. Tandy seized the opportunity during the second steep section of the climb. Her well-timed attack allowed her to break free from the pack, and the second-year junior tenaciously maintained her lead all the way to the finish line, securing a well-deserved victory.
Helena Shapton of Velo Bavarian RT finished in second place, closely followed by Grace Reynolds from Brother UK – On Form in third. The top five was rounded out by Georgia Lancaster of Loughborough Lightning and Mari Porton, Tandy’s teammate from Tofauti Everyone Active.
Speaking to The British Continental after the race, Tandy said the finishing climb played to her strengths. “I like a hillier race and do better when it is steeper instead of long drags,” the 17-year-old reflected post-race. “So it was a good course for me with a decent climb up to the finish.”
Open race
Adam Lewis continued his good form with his first National B win of the season in the Open Race, attacking at the bottom of Waltham Lane on the final lap to take victory from his breakaway rivals who had been together for almost the entire race.
After a subdued start with riders reluctant to make the first move as the flag dropped, Ewan Mackie (EFC-L&R-Van Mossel) was the first rider to move clear of the 80 rider field, quickly joined by Euan Bell (Ilkeston Cycling Club).
Bell would find Mackie’s pace too high and the U23 rider went solo, with small groups of riders chasing behind, the gap to the peloton already 30 seconds after a handful of kilometres.
Mackie was joined by another 14 riders off the back of the quick corkscrew descent, where riders were travelling at speeds of over 50mph, the group emerging on the fast straight road following it containing the likes of Ed Morgan (Spectra Racing) and David Hird (Cycling Sheffield) with four riders from HUUB-BCC making the selection.
With the pre-race favourites Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) and Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) missing from the sizeable leading group, the breakaway sensed the opportunity and worked well together, building a lead of 1.25 as they crossed the line for the first time with 10 laps to race.
The pace at the head of affairs remained high, Carl Stubbs (Moonglu RT) the only casualty from the breakaway group who continued to press on, their advantage consistent at around a minute for large parts of the race.
With seven laps remaining the first cracks appeared in the leading group, Mackie noticeably tiring towards the back along with Alex Galpin (Beeston Cycling Club), who called the team car over for some advice from DS Bryan Steel.
With reports that an 11 rider chase group had emerged from a shattered peloton and were closing the gap, Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT), recent winner of the Harvey Hadden circuit race series, attacked on the finishing climb with six laps to go; an audacious move that was ultimately doomed with no one willing to join him.
Meanwhile, Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing), Joseph Smith (Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli), Oliver Snodden (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) and second year junior Lewis Tinsley (Beeston Cycling Club) had emerged from the chasing group and were working well in pursuit; the same could not now be said of the leaders, Ed Morgan rallying the rear of group in an effort to get everyone to contribute to the pace.
Jacques Coates (PB Performance) was was unfortunate to puncture out of the front group – and ultimately the race – after a number of riders had attempted to force Mackie into taking a turn at the head of affairs, the original protagonist continually skipping turns at rear of the group but finding the pace up the long climb of Waltham Lane to his liking.
Coming up to four laps to go, only 25 riders remained within the race convoy after an incident with a spooked horse caused a large proportion of the peloton to come to a halt.
Alex Richardson, thus far only notable for his absence in proceedings, made it through the chaos and with the commissaires electing not to neutralise the race, set about launching a series of stinging attacks, chasing the group of four ahead with James Bentley (Race Ride Fire) and Dan Barnes (Spectra Racing). However, with the Londoner languishing at over three minutes in arrears to the front of the race with 60km remaining, it would be a tall order for the Saint Piran rider to have an impact on the result.
With Tinsley dropped from the chase and Toby Barnes retiring with back pain, Smith and Snodden were left bridging a gap of 1.25 to the lead group with just under a third of the race to run, their hopes dwindling with a rampaging Richardson making his way through the race, his presence in the race now concerning riders in the leading group, Morgan asking the commissaire about his progress through the multiple groups scattered across the road.
Richardson, who would ultimately be disqualified for a series of infringements, was running out of time as his group, minus a tiring Dan Barnes, collected Adam Kenway (HUUB BCC RT) and Alex Galpin, who found the pace, and the searing 24 degree heat too much in the leading group; the pair unable to keep up with the strong pace up the climb as they crested the finish line to enter the penultimate lap.
With the leading group now void of passengers, the penultimate lap was ridden at an infernal pace by the ten riders left at the head of affairs, Joseph Smith now teaming up with Richardson to form the next group on the road, albeit two minutes in arrears.
With the winner only coming from the original breakaway, Morgan set a strong pace up the penultimate ascent of Waltham Lane to the finish line; Oliver Hurdle (StolenGoat RT), Edward Callow (Royal Air Force) and Michael Gill (Richardsons Trek DAS) all briefly losing contact.
With the stage set for a last lap showdown with the ten man group back together with 14km to go, Hurdle chanced his arm with a number of attacks, clearly not wanting to wait for the sprint up the long climb to the finish. He was joined at one point by David Hird (Cycling Sheffield), their move a dangerous one as the remaining eight looked at one another to pull it back.
With the move neutralised and none of the constant attacks sticking, it was down to the final 1.5km climb to decide the race. Adam Lewis, who had kept his cards close to his chest until now, launching a devastating attack with 1km to go. Josh Housley was the only rider able to match the blistering acceleration, the pair able to work together to consolidate their advantage with a few hundred metres still to go.
With Housley stuck in front effectively leading out Lewis, the Team Skyline rider made his dart for the line, raising his arms in the air as he took a convincingly win. Ed Morgan emerged from the remains of the group to pip Housley into third, the East Midlands title consolation for the Derby based rider.
Mackie, the first to attack at the very start of the race, would claim 4th place on the line and take the silver medal for the East Midlands division, Barnard Galea (SPRNT) picking up the bronze.
Speaking to The British Continental after the race Lewis, who now heads to Canada for the UCI 2.2 Tour de Beauce explained, “I was the last one to jump across to the move and I thought it would put the pressure on the strong riders behind, it was either going to be a big chase to catch us or we’d be out front all race.
“I hit it when we went onto the small road and Josh [Housley] came with me, we were just able to play it out between ourselves.”
Newly crowned East Midlands champion Housley revealed there were more tactics involved in the finish, as he reflected on his third place.
“Adam [Lewis] went in the last kilometre and I followed, we got a big gap. Adam flicked me through, I then flicked him back, and he just said ‘mate, you’re the East Midlands champ if you carry on! It was a headwind, and I think Ed [Morgan] must have sent a flyer to come over. I almost got him back, but I can’t complain with a place on the podium.
“It’s nice to have the title, there’s a lot of good names on that trophy. It’s vaguely frustrating not winning it, but the two guys ahead of me are class.”
17-year-old Ella Tandy (Tofuati Everyone Active) and Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) took National B road race victories as Helena Shapton (Velo Bavarian) and Josh Housley were crowned East Midlands divisional champions, with Tandy also claiming the West Midlands crown, after a busy day of racing on a fast circuit in beautiful sunshine around the Vale of Belvoir.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
Women’s race
Report
The women’s race, combining both the East and West Midlands Regional Road Race Championships, covered six laps of a 14.4km circuit, 40 riders taking to the early start bathed in sunshine.
With the finish line at the top of the ascent of Waltham Lane, a 1.5km climb averaging just over 4% gradient, the slope served as the race’s critical segment, dictating the pace and strategy of the competitors.
Attacks were at a premium throughout the race with only occasional solo breakways escaping for short periods at a time. Despite a stiff pace on the rise of Waltham Lane at the end of each lap, there were no major moves or splits that changed the outlook of the race.
Most of the action tended to be out the back of the bunch with the fast corkscrew descent causing some splits towards the end of the race, winner Tandy experiencing a moment of tension on the penultimate lap when a split in the bunch during the fast descent forcing her into a hard chase. Nevertheless, she managed to rejoin the group, setting the stage for her decisive move.
With a large bunch still intact on the final lap, the race was set for a showdown on Waltham Lane. Tandy seized the opportunity during the second steep section of the climb. Her well-timed attack allowed her to break free from the pack, and the second-year junior tenaciously maintained her lead all the way to the finish line, securing a well-deserved victory.
Helena Shapton of Velo Bavarian RT finished in second place, closely followed by Grace Reynolds from Brother UK – On Form in third. The top five was rounded out by Georgia Lancaster of Loughborough Lightning and Mari Porton, Tandy’s teammate from Tofauti Everyone Active.
Speaking to The British Continental after the race, Tandy said the finishing climb played to her strengths. “I like a hillier race and do better when it is steeper instead of long drags,” the 17-year-old reflected post-race. “So it was a good course for me with a decent climb up to the finish.”
Open race
Adam Lewis continued his good form with his first National B win of the season in the Open Race, attacking at the bottom of Waltham Lane on the final lap to take victory from his breakaway rivals who had been together for almost the entire race.
After a subdued start with riders reluctant to make the first move as the flag dropped, Ewan Mackie (EFC-L&R-Van Mossel) was the first rider to move clear of the 80 rider field, quickly joined by Euan Bell (Ilkeston Cycling Club).
Bell would find Mackie’s pace too high and the U23 rider went solo, with small groups of riders chasing behind, the gap to the peloton already 30 seconds after a handful of kilometres.
Mackie was joined by another 14 riders off the back of the quick corkscrew descent, where riders were travelling at speeds of over 50mph, the group emerging on the fast straight road following it containing the likes of Ed Morgan (Spectra Racing) and David Hird (Cycling Sheffield) with four riders from HUUB-BCC making the selection.
With the pre-race favourites Alex Richardson (Saint Piran) and Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) missing from the sizeable leading group, the breakaway sensed the opportunity and worked well together, building a lead of 1.25 as they crossed the line for the first time with 10 laps to race.
The pace at the head of affairs remained high, Carl Stubbs (Moonglu RT) the only casualty from the breakaway group who continued to press on, their advantage consistent at around a minute for large parts of the race.
With seven laps remaining the first cracks appeared in the leading group, Mackie noticeably tiring towards the back along with Alex Galpin (Beeston Cycling Club), who called the team car over for some advice from DS Bryan Steel.
With reports that an 11 rider chase group had emerged from a shattered peloton and were closing the gap, Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT), recent winner of the Harvey Hadden circuit race series, attacked on the finishing climb with six laps to go; an audacious move that was ultimately doomed with no one willing to join him.
Meanwhile, Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing), Joseph Smith (Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli), Oliver Snodden (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) and second year junior Lewis Tinsley (Beeston Cycling Club) had emerged from the chasing group and were working well in pursuit; the same could not now be said of the leaders, Ed Morgan rallying the rear of group in an effort to get everyone to contribute to the pace.
Jacques Coates (PB Performance) was was unfortunate to puncture out of the front group – and ultimately the race – after a number of riders had attempted to force Mackie into taking a turn at the head of affairs, the original protagonist continually skipping turns at rear of the group but finding the pace up the long climb of Waltham Lane to his liking.
Coming up to four laps to go, only 25 riders remained within the race convoy after an incident with a spooked horse caused a large proportion of the peloton to come to a halt.
Alex Richardson, thus far only notable for his absence in proceedings, made it through the chaos and with the commissaires electing not to neutralise the race, set about launching a series of stinging attacks, chasing the group of four ahead with James Bentley (Race Ride Fire) and Dan Barnes (Spectra Racing). However, with the Londoner languishing at over three minutes in arrears to the front of the race with 60km remaining, it would be a tall order for the Saint Piran rider to have an impact on the result.
With Tinsley dropped from the chase and Toby Barnes retiring with back pain, Smith and Snodden were left bridging a gap of 1.25 to the lead group with just under a third of the race to run, their hopes dwindling with a rampaging Richardson making his way through the race, his presence in the race now concerning riders in the leading group, Morgan asking the commissaire about his progress through the multiple groups scattered across the road.
Richardson, who would ultimately be disqualified for a series of infringements, was running out of time as his group, minus a tiring Dan Barnes, collected Adam Kenway (HUUB BCC RT) and Alex Galpin, who found the pace, and the searing 24 degree heat too much in the leading group; the pair unable to keep up with the strong pace up the climb as they crested the finish line to enter the penultimate lap.
With the leading group now void of passengers, the penultimate lap was ridden at an infernal pace by the ten riders left at the head of affairs, Joseph Smith now teaming up with Richardson to form the next group on the road, albeit two minutes in arrears.
With the winner only coming from the original breakaway, Morgan set a strong pace up the penultimate ascent of Waltham Lane to the finish line; Oliver Hurdle (StolenGoat RT), Edward Callow (Royal Air Force) and Michael Gill (Richardsons Trek DAS) all briefly losing contact.
With the stage set for a last lap showdown with the ten man group back together with 14km to go, Hurdle chanced his arm with a number of attacks, clearly not wanting to wait for the sprint up the long climb to the finish. He was joined at one point by David Hird (Cycling Sheffield), their move a dangerous one as the remaining eight looked at one another to pull it back.
With the move neutralised and none of the constant attacks sticking, it was down to the final 1.5km climb to decide the race. Adam Lewis, who had kept his cards close to his chest until now, launching a devastating attack with 1km to go. Josh Housley was the only rider able to match the blistering acceleration, the pair able to work together to consolidate their advantage with a few hundred metres still to go.
With Housley stuck in front effectively leading out Lewis, the Team Skyline rider made his dart for the line, raising his arms in the air as he took a convincingly win. Ed Morgan emerged from the remains of the group to pip Housley into third, the East Midlands title consolation for the Derby based rider.
Mackie, the first to attack at the very start of the race, would claim 4th place on the line and take the silver medal for the East Midlands division, Barnard Galea (SPRNT) picking up the bronze.
Speaking to The British Continental after the race Lewis, who now heads to Canada for the UCI 2.2 Tour de Beauce explained, “I was the last one to jump across to the move and I thought it would put the pressure on the strong riders behind, it was either going to be a big chase to catch us or we’d be out front all race.
“I hit it when we went onto the small road and Josh [Housley] came with me, we were just able to play it out between ourselves.”
Newly crowned East Midlands champion Housley revealed there were more tactics involved in the finish, as he reflected on his third place.
“Adam [Lewis] went in the last kilometre and I followed, we got a big gap. Adam flicked me through, I then flicked him back, and he just said ‘mate, you’re the East Midlands champ if you carry on! It was a headwind, and I think Ed [Morgan] must have sent a flyer to come over. I almost got him back, but I can’t complain with a place on the podium.
“It’s nice to have the title, there’s a lot of good names on that trophy. It’s vaguely frustrating not winning it, but the two guys ahead of me are class.”
Results
Women’s race
Open race
Full results to be added when available.
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