Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) sprinted to another breakaway victory in the 202020 Taxis Women’s Dudley Grand Prix, the 19-year-old Scottish Circuit Race Champion picking up where she left off in Guildford last week.

In the open race, Matt Bostock returned to winning ways, the Ribble Rebellion rider proving the fastest of an elite breakaway group to finish off an excellent tactical display from his team.

Report

The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix sponsored by 202020 Cars

With the roads dry following the afternoon showers, the race got underway with a high pace immediately stretching the 80 rider bunch; regular protagonists Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team), last year’s winner Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT) and series leader Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) comfortable at the head of affairs.

Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), winner of the opening round in Otley, was the first rider to attack, sprinting up the finishing straight after five laps with Shaw immediately glued to her wheel, the chain reaction thinning the group considerably.

The slight drag up the finishing straight appeared to be the desired place to make the difference, Keira Bond (Alba Development Road Team) making a huge effort a few laps later, pressuring the group into single file, Hall attentive and returning to the front of the group with teammate Lucy Lee; the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK squad attentive in defending their series lead.

A crash involving Lucy Glover hampered the front group which had naturally emerged, taking out a number of contenders: series leader Darvill dropping a number of groups after needing a new bike, and new Spectra Racing signing Corinne Side carrying on to finish the race with a suspected collarbone injury.

Jennifer Powell (Performance Development Team) made her continued presence towards the front of the race felt as she made a group of five to escape, including Shaw, Bond and Sophie Thrackray (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK).

A frenzied Hall and Lee immediately sensed the danger and bridged across to the elite group, the seven riders extending their advantage over the next lap, Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) leading the chase on the front of the bunch as the 9 laps to go board was produced.

Heading into the business end of the race, Scottish champion Shaw and the aggressive Bond made another move, getting a gap over Hall and Powell, the chase behind in pieces with riders scattered all over the road.

With the two leading groups joining up, what was left of the bunch continued to be led by Watkinson, who was looking to improve on her third place in the series. Her efforts led to the camera bike being taken out of the gap as it began to close.

As the laps ticked down it was a question of when, not if the Alba Development Road Team would make their move, Shaw proving her sprint prowess with a phenomenal victory up the cobblestones in Guildford, while Bond showed good form and an ability to ride solo at the Ronde van Wymeswold last month.

With just two laps remaining, the gap had opened up again, the junior squad of Tofuati-Everyone Active taking up the reins at the front of the chase, Watkinson’s reserves spent in an ultimately fruitless pursuit. At the front, Bond kept the pace high, putting in a big attack up the finishing drag as the bell tolled.

With the four coming into the finishing straight as one, it was Shaw who opened up the sprint on the right hand side of the road, team mate Bond sitting up as the Scottish Circuit Race Champion, resplendent in the white and blue bands, powered to another National Series victory ahead of Hall.

Junior Abigail Miller (Tofuati Everyone Active) led home the bunch for 5th.

Corinne Side now leads the National Circuit Series, nine points ahead of Hall, and ten ahead of previous leader Darvill. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK continue to lead the team standings, enjoying a 101 point lead over Alba Development Road Team with three rounds remaining.

The Dudley Open Grand Prix

In cool evening conditions, Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas), on the back of an impressive performance in Guildford last week, was the first rider to attack after one lap, using the lead motorbike to his advantage as he drew out an incredible 12 second advantage after only a lap.

In response the Ribble Rebellion and Wheelbase CabTech Castelli squads amassed at the front of the group as the chase gathered pace, memories of Rob Scott’s tremendous long range solo win in Guildford still fresh in the memory and not one either team were keen to repeat.

As the laps passed and Macfarlane’s gap held, Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing), himself in a rich vein of form, made an attempt to bridge to the lone leader, taking series leader Rob Scott (Ribble Rebellion) with him. They were followed by the Wheelbase duo of Tom Armstrong and Callum Laborde, the Cumbrian squad looking to make amends after a tough start to the series.

With Barnes and Scott joining Macfarlane to create a leading group with the pedigree to go all the way, George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) led the chase through the finishing line after barely ten minutes of racing. The Ribble Rebellion team held back, seemingly happy to leave the chase to others.

Only a lap later it appeared the gamble had paid off for Ribble Rebellion; the race back as one and former National Circuit Race Champion Matt Bostock on the charge with the remains of the peloton strung out behind him.

Small gaps began to appear in the bunch as Bostock continued to apply the pressure, Will Truelove (Thriva SRCT) taking his wheel as Rhys Britton (Saint Piran) battled to avoid a split opening up towards the front. Max Rushby (Ribble Rebellion) was the next rider to attack, Armstrong again the rider to immediately respond.

Rushby held his advantage, Britton replacing Armstrong, as the duo began to work to build their advantage, which had quickly risen to 12 seconds in under two laps.

Having been jettisoned from the move, Armstrong again took up responsibilities at the front of the chase as Tekkerz CC appeared to be under pressure, Alfie Amey struggling near the back of the leading group. Kimber and his team mate Will Perrett aided the chase along with this season’s breakthrough rider Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) as the gap started to extend towards 20 seconds.

With Tekkerz CC contributing little, the race appeared to be slipping away from the peloton, Will Truelove taking matters into his own hands with a brave attempt to bridge across as Scott finally led his Tekkerz CC team to the head of the chase.

Truelove joined up with Rushby and Britton with ten laps to go, their advantage decimated though as Scott led a strung out bunch just four seconds in arrears, the series leader now with the bit between his teeth sensing another victory.

With the race back as one Barnes returned to the head of affairs, his effort up the finishing drag not only stringing the group out, but splitting it, Saint Piran putting two riders on the right side of it as well as Ribble Rebellion.

Having made the split Scott made a huge attack with four laps to go, Bostock passing team mate Tom Couzens as he sensed the danger, while Will Roberts, who sprinted to third last year, struggled to keep in contact.

As Bostock and Scott joined forces at the head of the race, Barnes, Armstrong and Britton chased the strong duo down; five riders from five teams ready to duke it out for the win with two laps to go.

Armstrong attacked up the finishing straight as the bell rang out, the journeyman climber looking to take the biggest victory of his career in style as Ed Morgan (Spectra Racing) and Roberts rejoined the group to aid the chase.

However, Armstrong’s moved was foiled, Bostock leading out the sprint as the group rounded the corner to he finishing straight, the Manx rider powering to the win in convincing fashion, arms aloft as he crossed the line, beating Britton and old adversary Scott on the line.

Despite Bostock’s win, Scott still leads the National Circuit Series, 28 points ahead of Bostock, with Briggs in third. Ribble Rebellion continue at the head of the team standings, however, 66 points in front of Tekkerz CC.

Results

The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix sponsored by 202020 Cars

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	5	Eilidh Shaw	Alba Development Road Team	51:15
2	18	Frankie Hall	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
3	82	Jennifer Powell	Performance Development Team	st
4	4	Keira Bond	Alba Development Road Team	st
5	81	Abigail Miller	Tofauti Everyone Active	+21
6	19	Lucy Lee	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
7	57	Mari Porton	Tofauti Everyone Active	st
8	20	Sophie Thackray	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
9	36	Jayati Hine	Loughborough Lightning	st
10	75	Sophie Holmes	Saint Piran WRT	st
11	84	Megan Anderson	Team Boompods	st
12	44	Lucy Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	st
13	50	Samantha Fawcett	Spectra Racing	st
14	11	Lotty Dawson	Brother UK – On Form	st
15	45	Maddie Heywood	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	st
16	13	Electra Morris	Brother UK – On Form	st
17	68	Alderney Baker	Team Empella	st
18	28	Nicola Greenwood	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	st
19	62	Elizabeth Sanders	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	st
20	32	Dannielle Watkinson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	st
21	12	Hope Inglis	Brother UK – On Form	st
22	56	Sian Marsh	Team Boompods	st
23	21	Tamsin Miller	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	st
24	52	Corinne Side	Spectra Racing	+48
25	72	Charlotte Berry	The Phoenix Collective	+1:32
26	71	Amy Perryman	TEKKERZ CC	st
27	34	Penny Colloff	Loughborough Lightning	st
28	42	Charlotte Deykin	Peterborough Cycle Hub	st
29	61	Rebecca Hair	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	st
30	14	Amelia Staunton	Brother UK – On Form	st
31	30	Rebekah Nash	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	st
32	47	Anastasia Bowler	Saint Piran WRT	st
33	48	Emma McDonald	Saint Piran WRT	+1 Lap
34	55	Amy Drysdale	Team Boompods	+1 Lap
35	31	Abbie Taylor	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+1 Lap
36	25	Isabel Darvill	Doltcini – OShea	+1 Lap
37	33	Beth Watson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
38	22	Darcie Richards	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	+4 Laps
39	6	Millie Skinner	Alba Development Road Team	+4 Laps
40	49	Ailsa McLagan	Saint Piran WRT	+4 Laps
41	54	Bethany Bennett	Team Boompods	+4 Laps
42	3	Lulu Bartlett	Alba Development Road Team	+4 Laps
43	8	Ellen Bennett	Brother UK – On Form	+4 Laps
44	40	Georgia Lancaster	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
45	80	Rosie Wayland	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing	+4 Laps
46	29	Isabella Johnson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+4 Laps
47	10	Ellen Inglis	Brother UK – On Form	+4 Laps
48	59	Ella Tandy	Tofauti Everyone Active	+4 Laps
49	83	Lindsay Toy	Doltcini – Cycle Division	+4 Laps
50	66	Nicola Soden	Tactic UK WRT	+4 Laps
51	73	Alice Butcher	Wolfox x Pedal Mafia RT	+4 Laps
52	65	Louise Davidson	London Academy	+4 Laps
53	64	Megan Lloyd	Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films	+4 Laps
54	53	Rebecca Babbage	Team Boompods	+5 Laps
55	78	Alice Connor	London Academy	+5 Laps
56	76	Grace Bell	London Academy	+5 Laps
	1	Lucy Glover	Shibden Apex RT	DNF
	9	Lily Brindle	Brother UK – On Form	DNF
	69	Ella Barnwell	Team Inspired UCI Track Team	DNF
	79	Keela McHale	Tactic UK WRT	DNF
	2	Daisy Barnes	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	7	Victoria Smith	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	15	Grace Ward	Brother UK – On Form	DNS
	16	Sian Botteley	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	DNS
	17	Robyn Clay	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	DNS
	23	Sannah Zaman	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	DNS
	24	Georgia Bullard	Doltcini – OShea	DNS
	26	Libby Smithson	Doltcini – OShea	DNS
	27	Laura Davies	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	DNS
	35	Philippa Draper	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	37	Alice Lethbridge	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	38	Miriam Jessett	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	39	Roisin Lally	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	41	Georgina Oakley	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	43	Jessy Carveth	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	DNS
	46	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	DNS
	51	Laura Senior	Spectra Racing	DNS
	58	Mia Rutterford	Tofauti Everyone Active	DNS
	60	Amelia Southall	Doltcini – Cycle Division	DNS
	63	Emily Proud	Le Col Race Team	DNS
	67	Monica Greenwood	Team Coop-Hitec Products	DNS
	70	Megan Barker	TEKKERZ CC	DNS
	74	Gabriella Homer	Wolfox x Pedal Mafia RT	DNS

The Dudley Open Grand Prix

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	2	Matthew Bostock	Ribble Rebellion	50:14
2	18	Rhys Britton	Saint Piran	st
3	74	Robert Scott	TEKKERZ CC	st
4	42	Thomas Armstrong	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
5	24	Toby Barnes	Spectra Racing	st
6	3	Tom Couzens	Ribble Rebellion	st
7	20	William Roberts	Saint Piran	st
8	25	Edward Morgan	Spectra Racing	+12
9	5	Max Rushby	Ribble Rebellion	+17
10	55	Jake Hales	Ride Revolution Coaching	st
11	41	William Truelove	THRIVA-SRCT	st
12	21	Harry Tanfield	Saint Piran	st
13	75	George Kimber	Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling	st
14	33	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	st
15	44	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
16	57	Frank Longstaff	Schils –  Doltcini Racing Team	st
17	71	Archie Peet	Reflex Racing	st
18	45	Joseph Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
19	34	Joe Holt	TEKKERZ CC	st
20	36	Joseph Beckingsale	THRIVA-SRCT	st
21	56	Matthew Wilson	Ride Revolution Coaching	st
22	9	Josh Housley	HUUB BCC Race Team	st
23	63	Cameron McLaren	TAAP Kalas	st
24	37	Ben Bright	THRIVA-SRCT	st
25	16	Cai Davies	Richardsons Trek DAS	st
26	59	William Perrett	Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling	st
27	38	Matthew Ellis	THRIVA-SRCT	+30
28	40	Josh Price	THRIVA-SRCT	+46
29	30	Nathan Hardy	Team PB Performance	+1:42
30	79	Thomas Mitchell	Dolan Ellesse Race Team	+1:50
31	27	Thomas Charles	Team PB Performance	+4 Laps
32	72	Alfie Amey	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
33	60	Bernard Galea	SPRNT	+4 Laps
34	17	Alexander Pritchard	Richardsons Trek DAS	+4 Laps
35	53	Thomas Doig	Primera-TeamJobs	+4 Laps
36	73	Oscar Amey	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
37	6	John Bardsley	360cycling	+4 Laps
38	12	Joshua Horsfield	Mud Dock Racing	+4 Laps
39	13	William Jewitt	Mud Dock Racing	+4 Laps
40	76	Luke Brennan	Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling	+4 Laps
41	11	Lewis Tinsley	HUUB BCC Race Team	+4 Laps
42	22	William Tidball	Saint Piran	+4 Laps
43	8	Archie Fletcher	360cycling	+4 Laps
44	10	Zak Machin	HUUB BCC Race Team	+4 Laps
45	7	Cai Curtis-Roberts	360cycling	+4 Laps
46	68	Matthew Ellmore	Prologue Racing Team	+4 Laps
47	28	Andrew Dalzell	Team PB Performance	+4 Laps
48	65	Philip Large	Wold Top The Edge Pactimo	+4 Laps
49	39	Jake Jackson	THRIVA-SRCT	+4 Laps
50	54	Mohammad Ganjkhanlou	Reading CC	+4 Laps
51	31	Sam Llewelyn	Team PB Performance	+5 Laps
52	14	Charlie Parry	Mud Dock Racing	+5 Laps
53	50	Owain Williams	London Dynamo	+5 Laps
54	49	Benjamin Hellebo	London Dynamo	+5 Laps
55	52	George Cottrell	Primera-TeamJobs	+6 Laps
56	77	Philip Campbell	Johnstone Wheelers CC	+6 Laps
57	67	Galahd Bland	Team Tor 2000 Kalas	+6 Laps
58	47	Sam Holwill	Bridgnorth Cycling Club	+6 Laps
	23	Daniel Barnes	Spectra Racing	DNF
	26	Simon Wyllie	Spectra Racing	DNF
	32	Max Sillifant	Team PB Performance	DNF
	46	Thomas Herbert	Bridgnorth Cycling Club	DNF
	48	Jamieson Blain	Halesowen A & CC	DNF
	51	Tom Cullen	Otley CC	DNF
	62	Harry Macfarlane	TAAP Kalas	DNF
	69	Patrick Fotheringham	SN Vitae Huub pb BimBam Coaching	DNF
	1	Jim Brown	Ribble Rebellion	DNS
	4	Cole Davis	Ribble Rebellion	DNS
	15	Peter Cocker	Richardsons Trek DAS	DNS
	19	Dylan Hicks	Saint Piran	DNS
	29	Jamie Gostick	Team PB Performance	DNS
	35	Benjamin Tuchner	TEKKERZ CC	DNS
	43	Aaron King	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	DNS
	58	Matthew Jones	Spectrum Racing	DNS
	61	Ross Fawcett	Stolen Goat Race Team	DNS
	64	Tom Mazzone	trainSharp Orro Elite	DNS
	66	Sam Andrews	PDQ CyCle Coaching Property Elite	DNS
	70	Luke Harris	Halesowen A & CC	DNS
	78	Harry Birchill	Saint Piran	DNS

National Circuit Series standings

Women

Individual

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Corinne Side	Spectra Racing	135
2	Frankie Hall	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	126
3	Isabel Darvill	Doltcini – O’Shea	125
4	Dannielle Watkinson	Alba Development Road Team	121
5	Eilidh Shaw	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+121
6	Keira Bond	Alba Development Road Team	107
7	Megan Anderson	Team Boompods	90
8	Mari Porton	Tofauti Everyone Active	85
9	Jennifer Powell	Performance Development Team	84
10	Robyn Clay	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	82

Team

Pos	Team	Points
1	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK	413
2	Alba Development Road Team	312
3	Tofauti Everyone Active	247
4	Team Boompods	180
5	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	167
6	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd	160
7	Brother UK – On Form	146
8	Loughborough Lightning	131
9	9         Shibden Apex RT	119
10	Saint Piran WRT	116

Open

Individual

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Robert Scott	TEKKERZ CC	194
2	Matthew Bostock	Ribble Rebellion	166
3	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	139
4	Toby Barnes	Spectra Racing	134
5	Thomas Armstrong	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	122
6	William Roberts	Saint Piran	120
7	William Truelove	THRIVA-SRCT	118
8	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	116
9	Joseph Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	99
10	Max Rushby	Ribble Rebellion	98

Team

Rank	Team	Points
1	Ribble Rebellion	459
2	TEKKERZ CC	393
3	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	359
4	Saint Piran	251
5	Spectra Racing	242
6	THRIVA-SRCT	211
7	Ride Revolution Coaching	106
8	HUUB BCC Race Team	83
9	Foran CT	74
10	Cycling Sheffield	73