The National Circuit Series continues on Friday (12 July) with the second edition of the Dudley Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson
What is it?
A circuit race in the heart of Dudley in the West Midlands, held for the first time in 2023. Held by entrepreneurial race organiser Chris Lawrence (Generation Pro Cycling Events), the event forms Round 4 of the National Circuit Series.
Last season first-year junior Lucy Glover stunned the women’s field with a brilliant sprint victory, while Jim Brown took the honour’s in the open event. Both riders return to defend their crowns in 2024.
The route
The epicentre of the 1.4km circuit is Priory Road, where the start/finish line is positioned. From here, the course runs anticlockwise taking in several sharp turns – the acutest at the roundabout turn into the finishing straight – before a straight, uphill 200m dash to the finish line.
It is a fast, twisty, and technical circuit, meaning bike handling and positioning will be as important as raw power and speed. Wide roads and a lack of elevation means it is not quite as selective as Ilkley or Guildford, evidenced by the fact that the 2023 races ended in group sprints.
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.
Round 3 in Guildford witnessed 19-year-old Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) outsprinting Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) to take her first National Circuit Series victory, while Scott delivered a commanding solo win for his second Series victory.
Fifth place for Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) at Guildford moved her to the top of the individual standings in the National Circuit Series, just two points ahead of Corinne Side (Unattached) and 20 points in front of Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon).
With three riders in the top ten, Alba Development Road Team move up to second place in the team standings, closing the gap to leaders DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK to 73 points with four rounds remaining.
In the open Series, Scott leads the individual standings by 32 points over Matt Bostock with Scott’s teammate Briggs in third, just four points behind. Ribble Rebellion are ahead in the team classification, however, sitting on 335 points, a lead of 37 over TEKKERZ CC.
The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix sponsored by 202020 Cars
Defending champion Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT) may have surprised many with her win last year, but the junior rider will start as one of the favourites on Friday, one of the fastest finishers in the domestic peloton.
Eilidh Shaw at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Guildford winner Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) is no slouch in a sprint finish either, the diminutive Scot a rider who can cut it on variety of terrains. Again, she’ll be a marked rider on Friday.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK return with a full squad after key players missed the Guildford round to race at the UCI Volta a Portugal. Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall was the team’s outstanding rider in Portugal, finishing the race in 6th overall. And with Robyn Clay (second in Ilkley) a threat in a sprint and Lucy Lee (8th overall in Portugal) also in great form, the team will be hard to beat.
From left to right: Corinne Side, Keira Bond and Isabel Darvill at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
National Circuit Series leader Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) has been the model of consistency so far in the Series. Her best result was third in Ilkley and she’ll be gunning for another top finish to maintain her Series lead. Breathing down her neck in the Series is Corinne Side, who has just joined Spectra Racing after riding as an independent at the beginning of the Series. Side, the 2023 Curlew Cup victor has not finished lower than 7th so far this Series.
Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) had a breakthrough ride in Otley with second place. She is third in the Series rankings now so will be looking to continue her progress.
Danni Watkinson at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) has an excellent race at Guildford, finishing tenth after battling back from Covid and burnout. If she can build on that in Dudley she should be among the top finishers in Dudley.
Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) won the Sheffield Grand Prix last year and will be hunting more Circuit Series success in Dudley. While former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) should enjoy this course, so expect her to be in amongst it too.
The Dudley Open Grand Prix
The open Series so far has been defined by a tense battle between the Tekkerz CC and Ribble Rebellion teams. Tekkerz have won two rounds versus Ribble’s one, but Ribble Rebellion lead the team standings. Expect the battle to continue in Dudley.
Tekkerz CC’s Rob Scott, winner at Ilkley and Guildford, is the form pick, demonstrating he can win on very different terrains. Wingman Alec Briggs is a fast finisher and will want to improve on his ninth place in 2023.
Rob Scott on his way to victory at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Ribble Rebellion suit this course perhaps more than the circuits in the previous rounds. In Jim Brown they have last year’s victor, and in Matt Bostock they have the Otley winner and the former national circuit race champion. Both have electric sprints, so will be a threat on a circuit that seems to favour group finishes. Tom Couzens and Max Rushby are excellent foils to the pair too.
Matt Bostock at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
UCI Continental team Saint Piran field their strongest line-up yet this in the National Circuit Series. Will Roberts has been their standout performer in the Series so far and sits 9th in the Series standings. They also include fast man Rhys Britton – 8th in the national circuit race championships this year – as well a fan favourite Harry Tanfield, who continues his comeback from illness earlier this year.
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) has had an excellent series so far, finishing fourth in Ilkley and then second in Guildford. Can he reach the top step in Dudley? Will Truelove (Thriva-SRCT) is another rider in a rich vein of form, fourth at both Otley and Guildford. A podium is surely not far off.
Toby Barnes at the 2024 Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have strong line-up led by Callum Laborde. He sits fifth in the Series rankings thanks to a string of consistent results that has seen him finish in the top 15 of every round so far. Thomas Armstrong and Joseph Smith provide useful back-up although they will need to go lose the sprinters to stand a chance of a top result.
Finally, Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) is another rider to have caught the eye in the Series so far, with fifth at Guildford last week the standout result for him.
The National Circuit Series continues on Friday (12 July) with the second edition of the Dudley Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson
What is it?
A circuit race in the heart of Dudley in the West Midlands, held for the first time in 2023. Held by entrepreneurial race organiser Chris Lawrence (Generation Pro Cycling Events), the event forms Round 4 of the National Circuit Series.
Last season first-year junior Lucy Glover stunned the women’s field with a brilliant sprint victory, while Jim Brown took the honour’s in the open event. Both riders return to defend their crowns in 2024.
The route
The epicentre of the 1.4km circuit is Priory Road, where the start/finish line is positioned. From here, the course runs anticlockwise taking in several sharp turns – the acutest at the roundabout turn into the finishing straight – before a straight, uphill 200m dash to the finish line.
It is a fast, twisty, and technical circuit, meaning bike handling and positioning will be as important as raw power and speed. Wide roads and a lack of elevation means it is not quite as selective as Ilkley or Guildford, evidenced by the fact that the 2023 races ended in group sprints.
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.
Round 3 in Guildford witnessed 19-year-old Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) outsprinting Alex Morrice (CANYON//SRAM) to take her first National Circuit Series victory, while Scott delivered a commanding solo win for his second Series victory.
Fifth place for Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) at Guildford moved her to the top of the individual standings in the National Circuit Series, just two points ahead of Corinne Side (Unattached) and 20 points in front of Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon).
With three riders in the top ten, Alba Development Road Team move up to second place in the team standings, closing the gap to leaders DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK to 73 points with four rounds remaining.
In the open Series, Scott leads the individual standings by 32 points over Matt Bostock with Scott’s teammate Briggs in third, just four points behind. Ribble Rebellion are ahead in the team classification, however, sitting on 335 points, a lead of 37 over TEKKERZ CC.
Riders to watch
The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix sponsored by 202020 Cars
Defending champion Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT) may have surprised many with her win last year, but the junior rider will start as one of the favourites on Friday, one of the fastest finishers in the domestic peloton.
Guildford winner Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) is no slouch in a sprint finish either, the diminutive Scot a rider who can cut it on variety of terrains. Again, she’ll be a marked rider on Friday.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK return with a full squad after key players missed the Guildford round to race at the UCI Volta a Portugal. Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall was the team’s outstanding rider in Portugal, finishing the race in 6th overall. And with Robyn Clay (second in Ilkley) a threat in a sprint and Lucy Lee (8th overall in Portugal) also in great form, the team will be hard to beat.
National Circuit Series leader Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) has been the model of consistency so far in the Series. Her best result was third in Ilkley and she’ll be gunning for another top finish to maintain her Series lead. Breathing down her neck in the Series is Corinne Side, who has just joined Spectra Racing after riding as an independent at the beginning of the Series. Side, the 2023 Curlew Cup victor has not finished lower than 7th so far this Series.
Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) had a breakthrough ride in Otley with second place. She is third in the Series rankings now so will be looking to continue her progress.
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) has an excellent race at Guildford, finishing tenth after battling back from Covid and burnout. If she can build on that in Dudley she should be among the top finishers in Dudley.
Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) won the Sheffield Grand Prix last year and will be hunting more Circuit Series success in Dudley. While former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) should enjoy this course, so expect her to be in amongst it too.
The Dudley Open Grand Prix
The open Series so far has been defined by a tense battle between the Tekkerz CC and Ribble Rebellion teams. Tekkerz have won two rounds versus Ribble’s one, but Ribble Rebellion lead the team standings. Expect the battle to continue in Dudley.
Tekkerz CC’s Rob Scott, winner at Ilkley and Guildford, is the form pick, demonstrating he can win on very different terrains. Wingman Alec Briggs is a fast finisher and will want to improve on his ninth place in 2023.
Ribble Rebellion suit this course perhaps more than the circuits in the previous rounds. In Jim Brown they have last year’s victor, and in Matt Bostock they have the Otley winner and the former national circuit race champion. Both have electric sprints, so will be a threat on a circuit that seems to favour group finishes. Tom Couzens and Max Rushby are excellent foils to the pair too.
UCI Continental team Saint Piran field their strongest line-up yet this in the National Circuit Series. Will Roberts has been their standout performer in the Series so far and sits 9th in the Series standings. They also include fast man Rhys Britton – 8th in the national circuit race championships this year – as well a fan favourite Harry Tanfield, who continues his comeback from illness earlier this year.
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) has had an excellent series so far, finishing fourth in Ilkley and then second in Guildford. Can he reach the top step in Dudley? Will Truelove (Thriva-SRCT) is another rider in a rich vein of form, fourth at both Otley and Guildford. A podium is surely not far off.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have strong line-up led by Callum Laborde. He sits fifth in the Series rankings thanks to a string of consistent results that has seen him finish in the top 15 of every round so far. Thomas Armstrong and Joseph Smith provide useful back-up although they will need to go lose the sprinters to stand a chance of a top result.
Finally, Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) is another rider to have caught the eye in the Series so far, with fifth at Guildford last week the standout result for him.
Timings
17.00 Under 12s racing
17.25 Combined Under 14s & 16s racing
18.00 Regional / Amateurs’ race
19.00 The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix
20.00 The Open Dudley Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
The races will be streamed live for free here.
Social media
British Cycling’s social media channels should have you covered.
Provisional startlists
The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix sponsored by 202020 Cars
2DaisyBarnesAlba Development Road Team7VictoriaSmithAlba Development Road Team39RoisinLallyLoughborough Lightning70MeganBarkerTEKKERZ CCThe Dudley Open Grand Prix
4ColeDavisRibble RebellionShare this:
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