The National Circuit Series heads to the south of England for round 3 on Wednesday for the popular Guildford Town Centre Races. Look out for cobblestones, crowds, and competitive racing.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
Organised by Charlotteville CC, the annual Guildford Town Centre Races are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Previously a National B event until 2023, the races elevated to National A level last year, becoming part of the National Circuit Series. This year’s races constitute Round 3 of the Series, following the first two rounds held in Otley and Ilkley last week.
The route
The circuit is relatively short at 1km, featuring a tight 180-degree hairpin bend, sweeping corners, and an uphill cobbled section leading to the finish line. Last year’s edition saw this course favour solo breakaways by the winners Alex Morrice and Ben Chilton.
Comprising a mix of tarmac, paving stones, and cobbles, riders must remain vigilant to adapt to the varying road surfaces, especially in wet conditions. Notably, there is a chamfered transition kerb where riders turn 90 degrees left from the tarmac of North Street onto the paving of Market Street, described by organisers as a “one-sided speed bump.”
The circuit begins on the High Street next to Holy Trinity Church. The route narrows at the top of the High Street, and after passing through this section, riders bear right at the junction and continue up the upper High Street on the right-hand side of the carriageway.
The circuit passes the “service pits” on the right-hand side and proceeds to the upper end of the High Street, where it makes a U-turn by Pizza Express, which should significantly thin the field. The circuit then heads back down Upper High Street, on the “wrong side of the road,” before making a 90-degree right-hand turn onto North Street.
The route then descends on the tarmac of North Street before turning left into the paved Market Street where the road narrows. The road ascends along Market Street before making another 90-degree turn onto the cobbled High Street. From there, it is an upward climb on the cobbles to the finish outside Holy Trinity Church.
The Series so far
The seven-round National Circuit Series began in Otley with Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion) taking the wins.
The winners in Round 2 at Ilkley were Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC), with Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Scott emerging as the leaders in the individual Series standings.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK enjoy a commanding lead in the women’s team standings, while in the Open team standings Ribble Rebellion now enjoy a 66 point lead over second-placed Tekkerz CC with Wheelbase CabTech Castelli not far behind in third.
The women’s field contains only of four of the top ten riders in the National Circuit Series. The most notable omissions are Series leader Robyn Clay and Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall (both DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) as they are both in Portugal for the Volta a Portugal Feminina – Cofidis (2.2).
Morrice wins in 2023. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Clay and Hall may well be missing, but the field is headlined by WorldTour rider Alex Morrice. This is a local race for Morrice, one she won in fine style last year was a resounding solo win. Don’t be surprised is she repeats the feat on Wednesday.
Corinne Side (Unattached) was third in this race last year on her way to winning the National Circuit Series overall. She has had an excellent start to the Series in 2024, sitting tied second in the rankings, and should be one of Morrice’s closest challengers. Likewise, Isabell Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea), who is also tied second in the Series so far. She was third in Ilkley and tenth in Otley and will be a contender at Guildford.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships. Women’s National Circuit Race Podium – Gold for Emma Jeffers of Liv AlUla Jayco, Silver for Eilidh Shaw of Alba Development Road Team and Bronze for Isabel Darvill of Doltcini – O’Shea. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) was second in the national circuit race championships, ahead of Darvill, and seems to be back to fitness after a period of illness.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK may not have their strongest squad but they nonetheless have riders that could contend, perhaps none more so than the fast-finishing Irish rider Caoimhe O’Brien, who finished 5th in Otley.
Local rider Emily Proud has had a tough time of it lately, and returns to racing after recovering from Covid. She had a breakthrough rider last year, coming back from a dropped chain to finish second. She’ll be hoping she can re-find similar form this time around.
Proud before 2023’s edition. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
The junior Shibden Apex RT team field Alice Colling – fifth at the national circuit race – and Lucy Glover, the victor at the 2023 Dudley Grand Prix. Others to watch include Loughborough Cycling Festival winner Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd), Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon), who had a breakthrough ride in finish second in Otley last week, and London Dynamo Summer Road Race winner Floren Scrafton.
The Cycling Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
The enjoyable and competitive rivalry between dedicated crit teams Ribble Rebellion and Tekkerz CC has been the highlight of the Open Series so far. Both teams look set to battle it out again in Guildford.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – E/1/2 The Rayner Foundation GP Race – Winner Matt Bostock of Ribble Rebellion. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Ribble Rebellion boast Otley winner Matt Bostock, Cole Davis – second in Ilkley and victor at the Upton 200 – and fast man Jim Brown among their number,
Tekkerz CC have National Circuit Series leader and Ilkley winner Rob Scott and Alec Briggs, who was second in the this race last year and won the event when it as a National B race.
Briggs at the 2023 edition. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have been best of the rest so far, but the northern-based team only bring three riders down south so won’t have the numbers they typically enjoy. They will miss Tim Shoreman but in Joseph Smith and Callum Laborde they have riders who finished 5th and 6th respectively last season.
Thirva-SRCT missed Ilkley after heading over to race in the Netherlands last weekend but return with a full squad here, spearheaded by William Truelove, who was 4th in Otley and 9th in the national circuit race this year. Tom Williams and Scott Redding were in the top 15 in last year’s event.
Will Roberts has flown the flag for Saint Piran so far in the Series, finishing 7th in Otley and sitting 9th overall. He’ll have the firepower of Harry Birchill and UCI road race winner Dylan Hicks alongside him.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Toby Barnes of Spectra Racing. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) will look to build on his excellent fourth at Ilkley on Friday night, while Tom Heal (Stolen Goat RT) finds himself sitting 8th in the Series after top 15 finishes in the first two rounds and will no doubt be hoping to continue his consistent start.
Timings
17.45 The Geared Up Cycles Under 8 Boys and Girls Race
18.00 The Chantries and Pewleys Under 10 & Under 12 Boys and Girls Race
18.20 The Chantries and Pewleys Under 14 & Under 16 Open and Girls Race
18.45 The Greyfriars Vineyard Local Heroes Open Race
19.40 The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
20.40 The Cycle Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
We are unsure if we’ll covering the race this year on social media – illness has struck – but if we are not, British Cycling’s social media channels should have you covered.
The National Circuit Series heads to the south of England for round 3 on Wednesday for the popular Guildford Town Centre Races. Look out for cobblestones, crowds, and competitive racing.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
Organised by Charlotteville CC, the annual Guildford Town Centre Races are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Previously a National B event until 2023, the races elevated to National A level last year, becoming part of the National Circuit Series. This year’s races constitute Round 3 of the Series, following the first two rounds held in Otley and Ilkley last week.
The route
The circuit is relatively short at 1km, featuring a tight 180-degree hairpin bend, sweeping corners, and an uphill cobbled section leading to the finish line. Last year’s edition saw this course favour solo breakaways by the winners Alex Morrice and Ben Chilton.
Comprising a mix of tarmac, paving stones, and cobbles, riders must remain vigilant to adapt to the varying road surfaces, especially in wet conditions. Notably, there is a chamfered transition kerb where riders turn 90 degrees left from the tarmac of North Street onto the paving of Market Street, described by organisers as a “one-sided speed bump.”
The circuit begins on the High Street next to Holy Trinity Church. The route narrows at the top of the High Street, and after passing through this section, riders bear right at the junction and continue up the upper High Street on the right-hand side of the carriageway.
The circuit passes the “service pits” on the right-hand side and proceeds to the upper end of the High Street, where it makes a U-turn by Pizza Express, which should significantly thin the field. The circuit then heads back down Upper High Street, on the “wrong side of the road,” before making a 90-degree right-hand turn onto North Street.
The route then descends on the tarmac of North Street before turning left into the paved Market Street where the road narrows. The road ascends along Market Street before making another 90-degree turn onto the cobbled High Street. From there, it is an upward climb on the cobbles to the finish outside Holy Trinity Church.
The Series so far
The seven-round National Circuit Series began in Otley with Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion) taking the wins.
The winners in Round 2 at Ilkley were Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC), with Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Scott emerging as the leaders in the individual Series standings.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK enjoy a commanding lead in the women’s team standings, while in the Open team standings Ribble Rebellion now enjoy a 66 point lead over second-placed Tekkerz CC with Wheelbase CabTech Castelli not far behind in third.
Riders to watch
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
The women’s field contains only of four of the top ten riders in the National Circuit Series. The most notable omissions are Series leader Robyn Clay and Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall (both DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) as they are both in Portugal for the Volta a Portugal Feminina – Cofidis (2.2).
Clay and Hall may well be missing, but the field is headlined by WorldTour rider Alex Morrice. This is a local race for Morrice, one she won in fine style last year was a resounding solo win. Don’t be surprised is she repeats the feat on Wednesday.
Corinne Side (Unattached) was third in this race last year on her way to winning the National Circuit Series overall. She has had an excellent start to the Series in 2024, sitting tied second in the rankings, and should be one of Morrice’s closest challengers. Likewise, Isabell Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea), who is also tied second in the Series so far. She was third in Ilkley and tenth in Otley and will be a contender at Guildford.
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) was second in the national circuit race championships, ahead of Darvill, and seems to be back to fitness after a period of illness.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK may not have their strongest squad but they nonetheless have riders that could contend, perhaps none more so than the fast-finishing Irish rider Caoimhe O’Brien, who finished 5th in Otley.
Local rider Emily Proud has had a tough time of it lately, and returns to racing after recovering from Covid. She had a breakthrough rider last year, coming back from a dropped chain to finish second. She’ll be hoping she can re-find similar form this time around.
The junior Shibden Apex RT team field Alice Colling – fifth at the national circuit race – and Lucy Glover, the victor at the 2023 Dudley Grand Prix. Others to watch include Loughborough Cycling Festival winner Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd), Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon), who had a breakthrough ride in finish second in Otley last week, and London Dynamo Summer Road Race winner Floren Scrafton.
The Cycling Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
The enjoyable and competitive rivalry between dedicated crit teams Ribble Rebellion and Tekkerz CC has been the highlight of the Open Series so far. Both teams look set to battle it out again in Guildford.
Ribble Rebellion boast Otley winner Matt Bostock, Cole Davis – second in Ilkley and victor at the Upton 200 – and fast man Jim Brown among their number,
Tekkerz CC have National Circuit Series leader and Ilkley winner Rob Scott and Alec Briggs, who was second in the this race last year and won the event when it as a National B race.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have been best of the rest so far, but the northern-based team only bring three riders down south so won’t have the numbers they typically enjoy. They will miss Tim Shoreman but in Joseph Smith and Callum Laborde they have riders who finished 5th and 6th respectively last season.
Thirva-SRCT missed Ilkley after heading over to race in the Netherlands last weekend but return with a full squad here, spearheaded by William Truelove, who was 4th in Otley and 9th in the national circuit race this year. Tom Williams and Scott Redding were in the top 15 in last year’s event.
Will Roberts has flown the flag for Saint Piran so far in the Series, finishing 7th in Otley and sitting 9th overall. He’ll have the firepower of Harry Birchill and UCI road race winner Dylan Hicks alongside him.
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) will look to build on his excellent fourth at Ilkley on Friday night, while Tom Heal (Stolen Goat RT) finds himself sitting 8th in the Series after top 15 finishes in the first two rounds and will no doubt be hoping to continue his consistent start.
Timings
17.45 The Geared Up Cycles Under 8 Boys and Girls Race
18.00 The Chantries and Pewleys Under 10 & Under 12 Boys and Girls Race
18.20 The Chantries and Pewleys Under 14 & Under 16 Open and Girls Race
18.45 The Greyfriars Vineyard Local Heroes Open Race
19.40 The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
20.40 The Cycle Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
We are unsure if we’ll covering the race this year on social media – illness has struck – but if we are not, British Cycling’s social media channels should have you covered.
Provisional startlists
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
CaitlinDimblebyAlba Development Road TeamArianneHollandAlba Development Road TeamAmeliaTylerAlba Development Road Team11RobynClayDAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK12FrankieHallDAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK23JoTindleyPro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd65MeganBarkerTEKKERZ CCReserves
The Cycling Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
42BenjaminTuchnerTEKKERZ CC51AaronKingWheelbase CabTech Castelli66MakLarkintrainSharp Development TeamReserves
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