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.

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

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	1	Millie Couzens	Fenix-Deceuninck	49:12
2	11	Robyn Clay	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	+43
3	19	Isabel Darvill	Doltcini – OShea	st
4	96	Madelaine Leech	Lifeplus Wahoo	st
5	13	Lucy Lee	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
6	88	Megan Barker	TEKKERZ CC	st
7	89	Corinne Side		st
8	28	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	st
9	84	Anna Flynn	Spectra Racing	st
10	48	Elizabeth Hermolle	Team Boompods	st
11	97	Grace Lister	Hess Cycling Team	st
12	78	Jennifer Powell	Performance Development Team	st
13	12	Frankie Hall	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
14	6	Kiera Bond	Alba Development Road Team	st
15	65	Dannielle Watkinson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	st
16	15	Tamsin Miller	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
17	24	Amy Gornall	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	+1:09
18	37	Jenny Holl	Loughborough Lightning	+1:28
19	46	Megan Anderson	Team Boompods	+2:31
20	7	Eilidh Shaw	Alba Development Road Team	st
21	95	Alice Colling	Shibden Apex RT	st
22	26	Maddie Heywood	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	st
23	83	Xan Crees	Spectra Racing	st
24	8	Lulu Bartlett	Alba Development Road Team	+2:35
25	23	Lucy Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	+1 Lap
26	10	Tiffany Keep	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	+1 Lap
27	86	Monica Greenwood	Team Coop-Hitec Products	+3 Laps
28	92	Helen Auden		+3 Laps
29	62	Kirstie Drakeford	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
30	91	Amy Perryman	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
31	43	Rachel Galler	Saint Piran WRT	+4 Laps
32	67	Sasha Dyke	London Academy	+4 Laps
33	90	Charlotte Deykin	Peterborough Cycle Hub	+4 Laps
34	59	Elizabeth Sanders	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	+4 Laps
35	42	Anastasia Bowler	Saint Piran WRT	+4 Laps
36	27	Annabel Ramsay	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	+4 Laps
37	34	Penny Colloff	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
38	80	Lucy Glover	Shibden Apex RT	+4 Laps
39	69	Erin Avill	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas	+4 Laps
40	21	Matilda McKibben	Doltcini – OShea	+4 Laps
41	5	Beth Morrow	Alba Development Road Team	+4 Laps
42	14	Sophie Thackray	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	+4 Laps
43	36	Jayati Hine	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
44	32	Amelia Staunton	Brother UK – On Form	+4 Laps
45	47	Amy Drysdale	Team Boompods	+4 Laps
46	58	Rebecca Hair	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	+4 Laps
47	51	Gemma Mitchell	Team Boompods	+4 Laps
48	72	Freya Whiteside	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas	+4 Laps
49	64	Abbie Taylor	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
50	45	Ailsa McLagan	Saint Piran WRT	+4 Laps
51	68	Lucy Neatham	London Academy	+4 Laps
52	53	Katie Hadnum	Doltcini – Cycle Division	+4 Laps
53	2	Daisy Barnes	Alba Development Road Team	+4 Laps
54	31	Rosie Simmons	Brother UK – On Form	+4 Laps
55	39	Roisin Lally	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
56	40	Georgia Lancaster	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
57	85	Lauren OBrien	Stolen Goat Race Team	+4 Laps
58	63	Isabella Johnson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
59	30	Ellen Inglis	Brother UK – On Form	+4 Laps
60	61	Bex Clowes	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
61	54	Amy Mourne	Doltcini – Cycle Division	+4 Laps
62	71	Alisha Wells	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas	+4 Laps
63	57	Harriet Evans	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	+4 Laps
64	52	Bethany Bennett	Team Boompods	+4 Laps
65	93	Jasmine Townsend	Inspire Racing Adaston Scape	+5 Laps
66	66	Louise Davidson	London Academy	+5 Laps
67	94	Eleina McFadden	Inspire Racing Adaston Scape	+5 Laps
68	29	Rebecca Carter	Brother UK – On Form	+5 Laps
69	55	Lindsay Toy	Doltcini – Cycle Division	+5 Laps
70	70	Bee Townsend	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas	+5 Laps
71	74	Shona Mosley	Doddington Cycling Club	+6 Laps
72	60	Vivienne Tomlin	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	+6 Laps
73	82	Molly Evans	Solas Cycling	+6 Laps
	33	Grace Ward	Brother UK – On Form	DNF
	50	Sian Marsh	Team Boompods	DNF
	76	Ella Jamieson	Lifeplus Wahoo	DNF
	81	Amelia Walton	Shibden Cycling Club	DNF
	87	Ella Barnwell	Team Inspired UCI Track Team	DNF
	3	Caitlin Dimbleby	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	4	Arianne Holland	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	9	Amelia Tyler	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	16	Morven Yeoman	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	DNS
	17	Sannah Zaman	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	DNS
	18	Georgia Bullard	Doltcini – OShea	DNS
	20	Connie Hayes	Doltcini – OShea	DNS
	22	Libby Smithson	Doltcini – OShea	DNS
	25	Lucy Harris	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	DNS
	35	Philippa Draper	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	38	Miriam Jessett	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	41	Georgina Oakley	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	49	Lauren Langham	Team Boompods	DNS
	56	Anna Boniface	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	DNS
	73	Ruby Blanc	360cycling	DNS
	75	Henrietta Colborne	GT Krush Rebellease Pro Cycling	DNS
	77	Kate Richardson	Lifeplus Wahoo	DNS
	79	Anna Kay	Proximus – Cyclis CT	DNS
	44	Sophie Holmes	Saint Piran WRT	DSQ

Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	36	Robert Scott	TEKKERZ CC	49:13
2	79	Cole Davis	Ribble Rebellion	st
3	56	Oliver Rees	Sabgal/Anicolor	st
4	30	Toby Barnes	Spectra Racing	st
5	17	Matthew Bostock	Ribble Rebellion	+21
6	28	Dylan Westley	Saint Piran	+23
7	48	Bjoern Koerdt	CC Etupes	+25
8	68	Alex Beldon	Trinity Racing	st
9	18	Jim Brown	Ribble Rebellion	st
10	34	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	st
11	40	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
12	44	Joseph Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
13	61	Thomas Heal	Stolen Goat Race Team	st
14	62	Harry Macfarlane	TAAP Kalas	st
15	49	Oliver Peace	Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL	st
16	77	Alex Ball	PROJECT 1 Cycling Team	+29
17	31	Edward Morgan	Spectra Racing	+39
18	8	Zak Machin	HUUB BCC Race Team	+47
19	20	Max Rushby	Ribble Rebellion	+52
20	22	Matt Lord	Richardsons Trek DAS	+1:29
21	13	Luke Barfoot	Primera-TeamJobs	st
22	25	Josh Ludman	Saint Piran	+1:42
23	21	Cai Davies	Richardsons Trek DAS	+1:45
24	19	Tom Couzens	Ribble Rebellion	+2:03
25	26	William Roberts	Saint Piran	+2:34
26	38	Thomas Armstrong	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	+1 Lap
27	7	Josh Housley	HUUB BCC Race Team	+1 Lap
28	73	Archie Peet	Reflex Racing	+1 Lap
29	14	Guido Blee	Primera-TeamJobs	+3 Laps
30	29	Daniel Barnes	Spectra Racing	+4 Laps
31	67	Matthew Ellis	THRIVA-SRCT	+4 Laps
32	3	David Hird	Cycling Sheffield	+4 Laps
33	32	Alfie Amey	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
34	54	Daniel McDermott	Ride Revolution Coaching	+4 Laps
35	46	Cai Curtis-Roberts	360cycling	+4 Laps
36	45	John Bardsley	360cycling	+4 Laps
37	43	Jacob Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	+4 Laps
38	55	Matthew Wilson	Ride Revolution Coaching	+4 Laps
39	50	Tom Cullen	Otley CC	+4 Laps
40	33	Oscar Amey	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
41	24	Rhys Britton	Saint Piran	+4 Laps
42	63	Harvey Stroh	TAAP Kalas	+4 Laps
43	9	Thomas Adby	Mud Dock Racing	+5 Laps
44	10	William Jewitt	Mud Dock Racing	+5 Laps
45	5	Matthew Brown	HUUB BCC Race Team	+5 Laps
46	59	Kieran Riley	Spellman – Dublin Port Cycling Team	+5 Laps
47	15	Thomas Doig	Primera-TeamJobs	+6 Laps
48	12	Felix Skelton	Mud Dock Racing	+6 Laps
49	11	Charlie Parry	Mud Dock Racing	+6 Laps
	2	James Hartley	Cycling Sheffield	DNF
	4	Max Krasinski	Cycling Sheffield	DNF
	16	Max Fleming	Primera-TeamJobs	DNF
	27	Bradley Symonds	Saint Piran	DNF
	35	Joe Holt	TEKKERZ CC	DNF
	41	Tom Martin	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	DNF
	42	Tim Shoreman	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	DNF
	52	Zackary Hamon	Reflex Racing	DNF
	53	Jacob Scott	REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland	DNF
	58	Joe Shillabeer	Shibden-A.Fawcett RT	DNF
	65	Andrew Dalzell	Team PB Performance	DNF
	70	Keir Gaffney	Vanelli-Project Go	DNF
	78	Thomas Mitchell	Dolan Ellesse Race Team	DNF
	1	Jack Hartley	Cycling Sheffield	DNS
	6	Benjamin Flatau	HUUB BCC Race Team	DNS
	23	Alex Peters	Richardsons Trek DAS	DNS
	37	Benjamin Tuchner	TEKKERZ CC	DNS
	39	Aaron King	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	DNS
	47	Maxwell Hereward	360cycling	DNS
	51	Ben Marsh	PROJECT 1 Cycling Team	DNS
	57	Corran Carrick-Anderson	SCOTT Pioneer DJ	DNS
	60	Sam Kettlewell	Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling	DNS
	64	Nathan Smith	Team Novo Nordisk	DNS
	66	Adam Lewis	Team Skyline	DNS
	69	Josh Charlton	Trinity Racing	DNS
	71	Ross Birrell		DNS
	72	Archie Cross	Schills-Doltcini Racing Team	DNS
	74	James Jobber	Global 6 United	DNS
	75	Philip Large	Wold Top The Edge Pactimo	DNS
	76	Sam Llewelyn	Team PB Performance	DNS

National Circuit Series standings

Women

Individual

Rank	Name	Team		Points
1	Robyn Clay	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK		82
2	Frankie Hall	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK		78
3	Isabel Darvill	Doltcini – OShea		78
4	Corinne Side			78
5	Dannielle Watkinson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon		74
6	Millie Couzens	Fenix-Deceuninck		50
7	Alice Colling	Shibden Apex RT		48
8	Cat Ferguson	Shibden Apex RT		46
9	Xan Crees	Spectra Racing		44
10	Anna Flynn	Spectra Racing		44
11	Esther Wong	Shibden Apex RT		44
12	Madelaine Leech	Lifeplus Wahoo		44
13	Caoimhe OBrien	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK		42
14	Lucy Lee	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK		42
15	Monica Greenwood	Team Coop-Hitec Products		41
16	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd		40
17	Megan Barker	TEKKERZ CC		40
18	Jennifer Powell	Performance Development Team		38
19	Abigail Miller	Tofauti Everyone Active		38
20	Emma Jeffers	Liv AlUla Jayco		36

Team

Rank	Team		Points
1	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK		244
2	Shibden Apex RT		119
3	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd		103
4	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon		86
4	Alba Development Road Team		86
6	Tofauti Everyone Active		79
7	Team Boompods		65
8	Spectra Racing		59
9	Loughborough Lightning		55
10	Saint Piran WRT		41
11	Doltcini – OShea		39
12	London Academy		9
13	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing		7
14	Brother UK – On Form		5
15	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas		2

Open

Individual

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Robert Scott	TEKKERZ CC	98
2	Matthew Bostock	Ribble Rebellion	92
3	Oliver Rees	Sabgal/Anicolor	86
4	Jim Brown	Ribble Rebellion	80
5	Bjoern Koerdt	CC Etupes	67
6	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	66
7	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	58
8	Thomas Heal	Stolen Goat Race Team	54
9	William Roberts	Saint Piran	54
10	Joseph Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	49
11	Cole Davis	Ribble Rebellion	48
12	Oliver Peace	Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL	45
13	Harry Macfarlane	TAAP Kalas	45
14	Max Rushby	Ribble Rebellion	44
15	Toby Barnes	Spectra Racing	44
16	William Truelove	THRIVA-SRCT	44
17	Tim Shoreman	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	42
18	Thomas Armstrong	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	42
19	David Hird	Cycling Sheffield	41
20	Dylan Westley	Saint Piran	40

Team

Rank	Team	Points
1	Ribble Rebellion	242
2	TEKKERZ CC	176
3	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	171
4	Saint Piran	136
5	Spectra Racing	102
6	Ride Revolution Coaching	82
7	Cycling Sheffield	73
8	HUUB BCC Race Team	63
9	THRIVA-SRCT	58
10	Primera-TeamJobs	44
11	TAAP Kalas	18
12	Richardsons Trek DAS	13
13	360cycling	7