The British Team Cup continues this weekend with Round 5 at the Solihull CC Road Race on the Warwickshire-Worcestershire border.
This is our preview.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
A National B road race run by Solihull CC, the women’s race forms Round 5 of the ever-popular British Team Cup. At a time when some races are struggling for entries, it is reassuring to see an almost full field for a women’s National B road race despite almost the complete absence of Britain’s six UCI Continental teams
The British Team Cup race takes place in the after, and follows an open Regional A Road Race in the morning (part of the season-long West Midlands Road Race league).
Georgia Lancaster, then just 18, took a breakthrough win in last year’s event.
The British Team Cup so far…
Caitlin Dimbleby (then of FTP-Fulfil the Potential- Racing, now at Alba Road Development Team) sprinted to victory from a select group in Round 1 at the RCR FatCreations Road Race. In Round 2, the Dave Peck Memorial was won by Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK). Tour of Britain Women stage 1 breakaway star Lucy Harris (then at Loughborough Lightning, now at Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) was the victor at Round 3, the Banbury Star CC Road Race. Round 4, the London Dynamo Summer Road Race, was won by Floren Scrafton (FTP-Fulfil the Potential-Racing).
This is a team competition, of course, and Scrafton’s win helped FTP-Fulfil the Potential-Racing to the top of the standings with the Phoenix Collective also moving up in the last round, knocking previous leaders DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK down to third place (tied with the London Academy Orange Race Team).
The course is a long 22.4km circuit based around the village of Inkberrow to the west of Alcester. The roads are undulating but it’s pretty flat for British standards, one which favoured the sprinters in last year’s race. With 224 metres of elevation per lap, the riders will face less than 1000m of climbing over the 4.5 laps they are scheduled to take on.
Riders to watch
There are no clear favourites for the race, which should make it an open and unpredictable affair.
Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) is arguably the headline act. The current National Circuit Series leader has been in excellent form in circuit races over the past three weeks and has also shone in road races this season, 4th at the CiCLE Classic a particular highlight. Her teammate Georgia Bullard, is another contender, 4th in the last round at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race.
Isabel Darvill at the Guildford Town Centre Races. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK have two riders to watch in Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Sian Botteley. Former rower Hodgkins-Byrne has already won two National B road races this season, including the Dave Peck Memorial, round 2 of the British Team Cup. Botteley, meanwhile, is an experienced racer with five top ten finishes in Nat B road races in 2024.
Bexy Dew (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) is almost ever-present in the top ten in any Nat B road race she enters. She has been remarkably consistent this year, fifth place in Round 3 – the Banbury Star CC Road Race – her best placing to date this season.
Molly Patch (right) with teammates at the RCR FatCreations Road Race: Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Strong finisher Georgina Oakley (Loughborough Lightning) was close to winning the North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships where she was second. Her teammate Georgia Lancaster is the defending champion and although he season has had its setbacks, she has the speed to repeat her win if she can regain her form.
The British Team Cup continues this weekend with Round 5 at the Solihull CC Road Race on the Warwickshire-Worcestershire border.
This is our preview.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
What is it?
A National B road race run by Solihull CC, the women’s race forms Round 5 of the ever-popular British Team Cup. At a time when some races are struggling for entries, it is reassuring to see an almost full field for a women’s National B road race despite almost the complete absence of Britain’s six UCI Continental teams
The British Team Cup race takes place in the after, and follows an open Regional A Road Race in the morning (part of the season-long West Midlands Road Race league).
Georgia Lancaster, then just 18, took a breakthrough win in last year’s event.
The British Team Cup so far…
Caitlin Dimbleby (then of FTP-Fulfil the Potential- Racing, now at Alba Road Development Team) sprinted to victory from a select group in Round 1 at the RCR FatCreations Road Race. In Round 2, the Dave Peck Memorial was won by Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK). Tour of Britain Women stage 1 breakaway star Lucy Harris (then at Loughborough Lightning, now at Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) was the victor at Round 3, the Banbury Star CC Road Race. Round 4, the London Dynamo Summer Road Race, was won by Floren Scrafton (FTP-Fulfil the Potential-Racing).
This is a team competition, of course, and Scrafton’s win helped FTP-Fulfil the Potential-Racing to the top of the standings with the Phoenix Collective also moving up in the last round, knocking previous leaders DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK down to third place (tied with the London Academy Orange Race Team).
The route
The course is a long 22.4km circuit based around the village of Inkberrow to the west of Alcester. The roads are undulating but it’s pretty flat for British standards, one which favoured the sprinters in last year’s race. With 224 metres of elevation per lap, the riders will face less than 1000m of climbing over the 4.5 laps they are scheduled to take on.
Riders to watch
There are no clear favourites for the race, which should make it an open and unpredictable affair.
Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) is arguably the headline act. The current National Circuit Series leader has been in excellent form in circuit races over the past three weeks and has also shone in road races this season, 4th at the CiCLE Classic a particular highlight. Her teammate Georgia Bullard, is another contender, 4th in the last round at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK have two riders to watch in Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Sian Botteley. Former rower Hodgkins-Byrne has already won two National B road races this season, including the Dave Peck Memorial, round 2 of the British Team Cup. Botteley, meanwhile, is an experienced racer with five top ten finishes in Nat B road races in 2024.
Bexy Dew (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) is almost ever-present in the top ten in any Nat B road race she enters. She has been remarkably consistent this year, fifth place in Round 3 – the Banbury Star CC Road Race – her best placing to date this season.
Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) has come mightily close to winning a Nat B road race this year. Second at the RCR Fatcreations Road Race in March was followed by second at the Aughton road race and third at the North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships later in the year. Can she break her duck this weekend?
The Brother UK – On Form squad have a few riders that seem to be coming into their own in 2024. Lotty Dawson has impressed in 2024, particularly with her third place at the Dave Peck Memorial road race and the same again at the BUCS road race championships. Grace Reynolds, too, has developed well 10th at the Aughton road race at the beginning of May was followed by fourth at the Banbury Star CC Road Race and then third at the East Midland Road Race Championships.
The Phoenix Collective’s Molly Patch has been a top domestic performer this season, fifth places in the RCR Fatcreations Road Race and stage 3 of the Peaks 2 Day, and 4th at the CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold highlighting her strength.
Strong finisher Georgina Oakley (Loughborough Lightning) was close to winning the North West, Yorkshire & North East Regional Road Race Championships where she was second. Her teammate Georgia Lancaster is the defending champion and although he season has had its setbacks, she has the speed to repeat her win if she can regain her form.
Finally junior team Tofauti Everyone Active have riders to watch too. Mari Porton was third in an uphill sprint finish at the Witham Hall Grand Prix this year, while puncheur Ella Tandy won the East Midlands Road Race Championships road race.
Provisional startlist
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