At the second round of the National Circuit Series, WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) took a commanding solo victory at the Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix, repeating her 2023 win.
In the Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix, Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC) went one better than he did in Otley on Wednesday after outmanoeuvring his three breakaway companions in the finale.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Millie Couzens, riding for Fenix-Deceuninck, delivered a masterclass performance at the 2024 Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix, securing a decisive victory in round two of the National Circuit Series. In stark contrast to last year’s wet and challenging conditions, this year’s race enjoyed dry weather, making for an exciting and fast-paced competition.
The race began with all riders staying together for the first two laps, with notable names like last year’s winner Couzens, Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT), Corinne Side (Unattached, Monica Greenwood (Coop-Repsol), Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea), Grace Lister, and the Scottish national circuit race champion Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) prominently positioned at the front.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The action kicked off on the third ascent of the climb when Meg Barker launched the first significant attack. WorldTour rider Couzens, showing her strength early, quickly neutralised the move with Shaw also in close pursuit, leading to a quick regrouping of the peloton.
As the race progressed, the field began to thin out with the attritional pace stringing out the riders each lap. With just 21 minutes left, only 25-30 riders remained in contention. Couzens was highly attentive, covering accelerations on the climb and waiting for the right moment to strike.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 28/06/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling 2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England. Image:
With 13 minutes, plus five laps, remaining, Couzens launched a decisive attack on the climb up Riddings Road, accompanied initially by Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), Darvill, a Team Boompods rider, and Lister. Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd, led by Amy Gornall, worked tirelessly to bring the reduced bunch back to the leaders, but Couzens’ determination was unyielding.
In the final phases of the race, with five minutes plus five laps left, Couzens unleashed another powerful surge on the climb, leaving her competitors in her wake. Amy Gornall valiantly attempted to stay in contact but was ultimately unable to match Couzens’ relentless pace. By the end of the lap, Couzens had opened up a seven-second gap, which continued to grow.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Fenix-Deceuninck’s Millie Couzens wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Despite efforts from Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) to counter-attack, they were soon caught by a select group of chasers. Couzens, meanwhile, extended her lead, turning the closing laps into a victory parade.
Couzens crossed the finish line with a commanding 43-second advantage, cementing her dominance in this year’s event. Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) showcased her sprinting prowess to claim second place, narrowly edging out Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea).
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – DAS – Hutchinson Brother’s Robyn Clay comes second. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Clay is now the National Circuit Series leader, four points ahead of three riders: her teammate Hall, Darvill and last year’s National Circuit Series winner Corinne Side.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK enjoy a commanding lead in the team standings, with second-placed Shibden Apex RT, who were largely absent from the race as they prepare for the national junior road race championships this weekend, well over hundred points behind.
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
In a fiercely contested race, Rob Scott of Tekkerz CC emerged victorious in the 2024 Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix. The dynamic race saw numerous attacks, culminating in a thrilling four-way sprint finish.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The race kicked off with early aggression from riders including James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield), Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL), Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor), and Bjoern Koerdt (CC Etupes). These initial moves set the tone for what would be a highly animated competition.
Rob Scott made his presence felt with a significant attack on the steep Riddings Road climb with 40 minutes and five laps remaining, creating a substantial gap. However, his effort was short-lived as he was reeled back in within a lap. The pace did not let up, however, as Scott’s teammate Alec Briggs and Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion) launched their own offensive, gaining a brief advantage.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT) soon bridged across to join Briggs and Davis, prompting a chase from Wheelbase CabTech Castelli before the peloton managed to regroup with 25 minutes and five laps to go.
The next decisive move came when Briggs again pushed forward, this time forming a leading group of five that included his teammate Scott, Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor), and Dylan Westley (Saint Piran). As a few riders bridged across to increase the escape’s size, Scott attacked, whittling the leaders down to three, with only Rees and Spectra Racing’s Toby Barnes able to follow. Cole Davis of Ribble Rebellion made a huge effort to join the trio, forming a quartet that led the race.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Tekkerz Rob Scott. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Tension grew among the leaders as Davis’s companions expressed dissatisfaction with his contribution to the pace-making. Despite this, the group’s lead expanded to 15 seconds over a diminished bunch with ten minutes and five laps to go.
As the quartet began to work more cohesively, their advantage solidified. With two laps remaining, it was clear the leaders would contest the win amongst themselves. And with two laps remaining, the games of cat and mouse began, setting up a nervy finale.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Tekkerz Rob Scott wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Barnes launched a significant attack over the Riddings Road climb on the final lap, leading the descent towards the finish. However, Scott surged past Barnes before the final corner with Davis in tow. Scott’s impeccable timing and inside line secured him the win, with Davis finishing second and Rees rounding out the podium in third.
Scott is the new leader of the National Circuit Series, six ahead of Otley winner Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion), who finished fifth on the night. In the team standings, Ribble Rebellion now enjoy a 66 point lead over second-placed Tekkerz CC with Wheelbase CabTech Castelli not far behind in third.
At the second round of the National Circuit Series, WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) took a commanding solo victory at the Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix, repeating her 2023 win.
In the Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix, Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC) went one better than he did in Otley on Wednesday after outmanoeuvring his three breakaway companions in the finale.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Millie Couzens, riding for Fenix-Deceuninck, delivered a masterclass performance at the 2024 Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix, securing a decisive victory in round two of the National Circuit Series. In stark contrast to last year’s wet and challenging conditions, this year’s race enjoyed dry weather, making for an exciting and fast-paced competition.
The race began with all riders staying together for the first two laps, with notable names like last year’s winner Couzens, Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT), Corinne Side (Unattached, Monica Greenwood (Coop-Repsol), Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea), Grace Lister, and the Scottish national circuit race champion Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) prominently positioned at the front.
The action kicked off on the third ascent of the climb when Meg Barker launched the first significant attack. WorldTour rider Couzens, showing her strength early, quickly neutralised the move with Shaw also in close pursuit, leading to a quick regrouping of the peloton.
As the race progressed, the field began to thin out with the attritional pace stringing out the riders each lap. With just 21 minutes left, only 25-30 riders remained in contention. Couzens was highly attentive, covering accelerations on the climb and waiting for the right moment to strike.
With 13 minutes, plus five laps, remaining, Couzens launched a decisive attack on the climb up Riddings Road, accompanied initially by Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), Darvill, a Team Boompods rider, and Lister. Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd, led by Amy Gornall, worked tirelessly to bring the reduced bunch back to the leaders, but Couzens’ determination was unyielding.
In the final phases of the race, with five minutes plus five laps left, Couzens unleashed another powerful surge on the climb, leaving her competitors in her wake. Amy Gornall valiantly attempted to stay in contact but was ultimately unable to match Couzens’ relentless pace. By the end of the lap, Couzens had opened up a seven-second gap, which continued to grow.
Despite efforts from Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) to counter-attack, they were soon caught by a select group of chasers. Couzens, meanwhile, extended her lead, turning the closing laps into a victory parade.
Couzens crossed the finish line with a commanding 43-second advantage, cementing her dominance in this year’s event. Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) showcased her sprinting prowess to claim second place, narrowly edging out Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea).
Clay is now the National Circuit Series leader, four points ahead of three riders: her teammate Hall, Darvill and last year’s National Circuit Series winner Corinne Side.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK enjoy a commanding lead in the team standings, with second-placed Shibden Apex RT, who were largely absent from the race as they prepare for the national junior road race championships this weekend, well over hundred points behind.
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
In a fiercely contested race, Rob Scott of Tekkerz CC emerged victorious in the 2024 Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix. The dynamic race saw numerous attacks, culminating in a thrilling four-way sprint finish.
The race kicked off with early aggression from riders including James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield), Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL), Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor), and Bjoern Koerdt (CC Etupes). These initial moves set the tone for what would be a highly animated competition.
Rob Scott made his presence felt with a significant attack on the steep Riddings Road climb with 40 minutes and five laps remaining, creating a substantial gap. However, his effort was short-lived as he was reeled back in within a lap. The pace did not let up, however, as Scott’s teammate Alec Briggs and Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion) launched their own offensive, gaining a brief advantage.
Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT) soon bridged across to join Briggs and Davis, prompting a chase from Wheelbase CabTech Castelli before the peloton managed to regroup with 25 minutes and five laps to go.
The next decisive move came when Briggs again pushed forward, this time forming a leading group of five that included his teammate Scott, Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor), and Dylan Westley (Saint Piran). As a few riders bridged across to increase the escape’s size, Scott attacked, whittling the leaders down to three, with only Rees and Spectra Racing’s Toby Barnes able to follow. Cole Davis of Ribble Rebellion made a huge effort to join the trio, forming a quartet that led the race.
Tension grew among the leaders as Davis’s companions expressed dissatisfaction with his contribution to the pace-making. Despite this, the group’s lead expanded to 15 seconds over a diminished bunch with ten minutes and five laps to go.
As the quartet began to work more cohesively, their advantage solidified. With two laps remaining, it was clear the leaders would contest the win amongst themselves. And with two laps remaining, the games of cat and mouse began, setting up a nervy finale.
Barnes launched a significant attack over the Riddings Road climb on the final lap, leading the descent towards the finish. However, Scott surged past Barnes before the final corner with Davis in tow. Scott’s impeccable timing and inside line secured him the win, with Davis finishing second and Rees rounding out the podium in third.
Scott is the new leader of the National Circuit Series, six ahead of Otley winner Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion), who finished fifth on the night. In the team standings, Ribble Rebellion now enjoy a 66 point lead over second-placed Tekkerz CC with Wheelbase CabTech Castelli not far behind in third.
Results
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
National Circuit Series standings
Women
Individual
Team
Open
Individual
Team
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