With the hustle and bustle of the National Circuit Series now well underway with two rounds this week, Sunday sees an event at the other end of the spectrum: the Upton 200, billed as the longest National B road race in the country.
At 200km long, the Upton 200 returns for it’s second edition, the first unfortunately cut short because of an unrelated road traffic accident on the course.
Taking in the short and fast Upton circuit, the race is the longest on the domestic calendar, further in distance than any National A, or the UCI 1.2 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.
The race is promoted by the profilic Yomp Bonk Crew, the collective responsible for some of the most innovative races on the calendar; their work becoming vital to keep the domestic scene thriving.
Route
Taking in 21 laps of the famous 9.6km Upton Circuit, situated north of Doncaster, the roads are flat, fast and wide, leading to what could be feel, ironically, like a long criterium to the riders.
Featuring one very slight descent and rise on the Eastern side of the course, the race is likey to come down to energy preservation, positioning and tactics. Riders may pay for a slight errors early in the race when it matters most towards the end, an attritional race expected, particularly in the latter stages.
The weather looks to be kind to the riders, the week’s earlier heatwave giving way to more comfortable temperatures with a light westerly breeze.
Riders to watch
With the circuit series in full swing, less than 60 riders have entered the race, although the field’s quality makes up for any shortfall in entries, a number of National B winners set to take the start.
Damien Clayton at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Yorkshireman Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) needs little introduction, the leader of The British Continentalnational road race rankings in brilliant form this season, picking up a host of National B wins and podiums. His sparring partner in recent weeks has been Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT), the former Ribble rider making a successful comeback to the sport this year.
Luhrs played the role of perfect teammate to Ben Pease in the Ronde van Wymeswold, Pease building on an excellent time trial with a strong and tactically astute performance to take his second National B victory.
Matt King (X-Speed United) makes another appearance in on home turf having impressed with a podium at the Rapha Lincoln GP. A rider with recent UCI race experience and a fast finishing kick, King starts among the favourites. Global 6 Cycling rider James Jobber should also be in contention.
Logan Maclean (Project1) has spent the majority of his season in Italy and favours attritional racing. A punchy climber, the Scot will need to work hard to find a way to win on the course, but the distance suits him.
Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT) has enjoyed his best season to date in 2024, taking his first National B win at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race. The East Midlands Divisional Champion will ride an attacking race as he looks to extend his good form.
Josh Housley wins the London Dynamo Summer Road Race. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
There are also a number of outsiders who will be looking to use the unique characteristics of the race to spring a surprise. John Bardsley (360Cycling) started the season well and YBC’s Tobias Bartlett (Doddington Cycling Club) looked in good shape at the Ronde van Wymeswold.
First year under-23s Deetray Jarrett (Tecnosylva Maglia Bembibre Cycling Team) and Matthew Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco) will look to gain experience, the former winner of a number of Regional A races this season as well as a strong 5th place at the Oakenclough road race, Cole riding for one of the world’s premier development teams.
Pete Cocker (Richardsons Trek-DAS) has the experience to be in the mix, while hill climb specialist Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) may be suited to different terrain, has finished in the top ten of the Lincoln GP, proving he isn’t a one trick pony.
With the hustle and bustle of the National Circuit Series now well underway with two rounds this week, Sunday sees an event at the other end of the spectrum: the Upton 200, billed as the longest National B road race in the country.
Featured image: Emma Wilcock
What is it?
At 200km long, the Upton 200 returns for it’s second edition, the first unfortunately cut short because of an unrelated road traffic accident on the course.
Taking in the short and fast Upton circuit, the race is the longest on the domestic calendar, further in distance than any National A, or the UCI 1.2 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.
The race is promoted by the profilic Yomp Bonk Crew, the collective responsible for some of the most innovative races on the calendar; their work becoming vital to keep the domestic scene thriving.
Route
Taking in 21 laps of the famous 9.6km Upton Circuit, situated north of Doncaster, the roads are flat, fast and wide, leading to what could be feel, ironically, like a long criterium to the riders.
Featuring one very slight descent and rise on the Eastern side of the course, the race is likey to come down to energy preservation, positioning and tactics. Riders may pay for a slight errors early in the race when it matters most towards the end, an attritional race expected, particularly in the latter stages.
The weather looks to be kind to the riders, the week’s earlier heatwave giving way to more comfortable temperatures with a light westerly breeze.
Riders to watch
With the circuit series in full swing, less than 60 riders have entered the race, although the field’s quality makes up for any shortfall in entries, a number of National B winners set to take the start.
Yorkshireman Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) needs little introduction, the leader of The British Continental national road race rankings in brilliant form this season, picking up a host of National B wins and podiums. His sparring partner in recent weeks has been Alex Luhrs (Moonglu RT), the former Ribble rider making a successful comeback to the sport this year.
Luhrs played the role of perfect teammate to Ben Pease in the Ronde van Wymeswold, Pease building on an excellent time trial with a strong and tactically astute performance to take his second National B victory.
Matt King (X-Speed United) makes another appearance in on home turf having impressed with a podium at the Rapha Lincoln GP. A rider with recent UCI race experience and a fast finishing kick, King starts among the favourites. Global 6 Cycling rider James Jobber should also be in contention.
Logan Maclean (Project1) has spent the majority of his season in Italy and favours attritional racing. A punchy climber, the Scot will need to work hard to find a way to win on the course, but the distance suits him.
Josh Housley (HUUB BCC RT) has enjoyed his best season to date in 2024, taking his first National B win at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race. The East Midlands Divisional Champion will ride an attacking race as he looks to extend his good form.
There are also a number of outsiders who will be looking to use the unique characteristics of the race to spring a surprise. John Bardsley (360Cycling) started the season well and YBC’s Tobias Bartlett (Doddington Cycling Club) looked in good shape at the Ronde van Wymeswold.
First year under-23s Deetray Jarrett (Tecnosylva Maglia Bembibre Cycling Team) and Matthew Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco) will look to gain experience, the former winner of a number of Regional A races this season as well as a strong 5th place at the Oakenclough road race, Cole riding for one of the world’s premier development teams.
Pete Cocker (Richardsons Trek-DAS) has the experience to be in the mix, while hill climb specialist Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) may be suited to different terrain, has finished in the top ten of the Lincoln GP, proving he isn’t a one trick pony.
Provisional startlist
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