Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) took an impressive solo win at the Plymouth Corinthian CC Summer Road Race, becoming the South Divisional Champion in the process. Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) retained his South West regional title, crossing the line seventh overall.
The 2024 Plymouth Corinthian CC Summer Road Race unfolded today on the Brentor circuit in Devon, a renowned staple of South West road racing. Incorporating the South West and South Open Divisional Championships, the 107km race drew 40 riders to its starting line, backed by the support of Pump & Pedal Okehampton.
Luke Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs) was the first rider to strike out and hold an advantage over a motivated peloton; stretching out to & holding around a ninety second solo advantage for several laps of the five mile circuit. Allowing his three Primera-TeamJobs teammates to sit in the bunch, Barfoot was eventually reeled back in after a commendable effort.
Eventual overall podium finishers, Charlie Genner (Halesowen A&CC) and Matt Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) established a gap over the peloton once Barfoot had been swallowed up. Several chasers attempted to join them, but couldn’t latch onto the duo who were already up the road and working cohesively. Attacks flew off the front of the peloton for several laps, but nothing stuck or got close to the duo already out front.
With a handful of laps remaining, a group of approximately eight riders broke clear from what remained of a dwindling peloton, worn down by the relentless finishing straight climb. The group appeared to almost catch the two riders out front, but Giles broke clear of the rest and joined the existing breakaway, contributing to the power they needed to stay away to the line.
A tiring peloton eased up with a lap or so to go, whilst Giles made his bid for victory on the penultimate lap, encouraged by the crowd gathered around the finish line. The race looked all but won, but over the final lap, Gilmour and Genner had continued to work together relentlessly and cut down the advantage Giles had gained on the climb less than a lap ago.
In the final mile, Genner powered away from his breakaway companion on the steeper section of the climb to secure second overall. Almost never in doubt, Giles’ advantage held steady as he crossed the line, hands aloft to win the Spry Memorial Trophy and South Regional Championship.
Gilmour crossed the line a handful of seconds after Genner to secure silver in the South region competition. The Halesowen rider had travelled down from the West Midlands this morning, his podium finish more than making up for the 5am start and journey down to Devon.
A three-up sprint decided 4th-6th positions overall, with Saint Piran’s Will Roberts first to the line. After his breakaway exploits early on, Barfoot recovered well and finished 6th to secure a South region bronze medal for the Bournemouth based outfit; who used their strength in numbers to secure two medals in the divisional championships.
Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) retained his South West regional title, crossing the line 7th overall. Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) continued his excellent run of form to finish just behind with silver in the South West region. Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) rounded out the South West podium a handful of seconds further back.
“The first half of the race was challenging as Primera had four riders controlling the race,” race winner Giles told The British Continental after the race. “As the race progressed, it became more attritional, breaking up the field. There was a break of two riders with 90 seconds on a reduced peloton. I finally managed to separate myself and bridge solo to the breakaway. We worked well together as a three for a lap and a half, consolidating our gap to approximately three minutes. I attacked on the main climb coming into one lap to go and managed to stay clear and win!”
Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) took an impressive solo win at the Plymouth Corinthian CC Summer Road Race, becoming the South Divisional Champion in the process. Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) retained his South West regional title, crossing the line seventh overall.
Featured image: Chris Godfrey
Report
The 2024 Plymouth Corinthian CC Summer Road Race unfolded today on the Brentor circuit in Devon, a renowned staple of South West road racing. Incorporating the South West and South Open Divisional Championships, the 107km race drew 40 riders to its starting line, backed by the support of Pump & Pedal Okehampton.
Luke Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs) was the first rider to strike out and hold an advantage over a motivated peloton; stretching out to & holding around a ninety second solo advantage for several laps of the five mile circuit. Allowing his three Primera-TeamJobs teammates to sit in the bunch, Barfoot was eventually reeled back in after a commendable effort.
Eventual overall podium finishers, Charlie Genner (Halesowen A&CC) and Matt Gilmour (Primera-TeamJobs) established a gap over the peloton once Barfoot had been swallowed up. Several chasers attempted to join them, but couldn’t latch onto the duo who were already up the road and working cohesively. Attacks flew off the front of the peloton for several laps, but nothing stuck or got close to the duo already out front.
With a handful of laps remaining, a group of approximately eight riders broke clear from what remained of a dwindling peloton, worn down by the relentless finishing straight climb. The group appeared to almost catch the two riders out front, but Giles broke clear of the rest and joined the existing breakaway, contributing to the power they needed to stay away to the line.
A tiring peloton eased up with a lap or so to go, whilst Giles made his bid for victory on the penultimate lap, encouraged by the crowd gathered around the finish line. The race looked all but won, but over the final lap, Gilmour and Genner had continued to work together relentlessly and cut down the advantage Giles had gained on the climb less than a lap ago.
In the final mile, Genner powered away from his breakaway companion on the steeper section of the climb to secure second overall. Almost never in doubt, Giles’ advantage held steady as he crossed the line, hands aloft to win the Spry Memorial Trophy and South Regional Championship.
Gilmour crossed the line a handful of seconds after Genner to secure silver in the South region competition. The Halesowen rider had travelled down from the West Midlands this morning, his podium finish more than making up for the 5am start and journey down to Devon.
A three-up sprint decided 4th-6th positions overall, with Saint Piran’s Will Roberts first to the line. After his breakaway exploits early on, Barfoot recovered well and finished 6th to secure a South region bronze medal for the Bournemouth based outfit; who used their strength in numbers to secure two medals in the divisional championships.
Callum Start (UCK Bretagne Sud Cyclisme) retained his South West regional title, crossing the line 7th overall. Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) continued his excellent run of form to finish just behind with silver in the South West region. Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching) rounded out the South West podium a handful of seconds further back.
“The first half of the race was challenging as Primera had four riders controlling the race,” race winner Giles told The British Continental after the race. “As the race progressed, it became more attritional, breaking up the field. There was a break of two riders with 90 seconds on a reduced peloton. I finally managed to separate myself and bridge solo to the breakaway. We worked well together as a three for a lap and a half, consolidating our gap to approximately three minutes. I attacked on the main climb coming into one lap to go and managed to stay clear and win!”
South West Divisional Championships
South Divisional Championships
Results
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.