Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) and Matt Bostock were the winners at the Dudley Grand Prix, 12 July 2024, Round 4 of the National Circuit Series
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.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 Women’s National Circuit Series – Women’s Dudley GP – Dudley, England – The riders set off. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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).
Lloyds Bank 2024 Women’s National Circuit Series – Women’s Dudley GP – Dudley, England – DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK Frankie Hall. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 Women’s National Circuit Series – Women’s Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Alba Development Road Team’s Keira Bond. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 Women’s National Circuit Series – Women’s Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Alba Development Road Team’s Eilidh Shaw wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Thomas Armstrong. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Saint Piran. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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.
Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Ribble Rebellion’s Matt Bostock sprints to victory at the Dudley GP. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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
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.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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
The Dudley Open Grand Prix
National Circuit Series standings
Women
Individual
Team
Open
Individual
Team
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