The National Circuit Series heads to Yorkshire on Wednesday night for the tenth edition of the Sheffield Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: SWpix.com
What is it?
The tenth edition of the popular Sheffield Grand Prix, organised by Marc Etches, set in the heart of the city centre. This year the event forms Round 5 of the women’s and open National Circuit Series.
Past winners include Graham Briggs, Helen Wyman, Dean Downing, Tom Pidcock and Katie Archibald. Last season Monica Greenwood, then of DAS-Handsling, and Finn Crockett, riding for Saint Piran, were the respective winners.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 19/07/2023 – Cycling – British Cycling National Circuit Series 2023 – McLaren Automotive Women’s Sheffield Grand Prix.
The route
Starting and finishing outside Browns on Union Street, the clockwise course is approximately 1.3km in length, a fast and flowing circuit.
The cobbled descent on Norfolk Street and the long drag up to the finish line are the circuit’s main obstacles. Toby Barnes tops the Strava leaderboard, completing the circuit in 1 minute sand 48 seconds last year, while Sophie Lewis holds the women’s record with a time of 2 minutes and 6 seconds.
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.
The previous round, in Dudley, saw Shaw take her second Series win in a row, while Ribble Rebellion made it 2-2 in their battle with Tekkerz CC after Bostock won from a group sprint.
In the women’s Series, it is very tight in the individual standings, just 14 points separating first from fifth. Isabel Darvill (Doltini-O’Shea) and Corinne Side (Spectra Racing) lead but Side will miss the rest of the season after breaking her collarbone in Dudley. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK lead the team standings with 413 points, 102 ahead of second-placed Alba Development Road Team.
Rank
Name
Team
Points
1
Isabel Darvill
Doltcini-O’Shea
135
2
Corinne Side
Spectra Racing
135
3
Frankie Hall
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
126
4
Dannie Watkinson
Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
121
5
Eilidh Shaw
Alba Development Road Team
121
In the Open Series, Rob Scott leads the individual standings by 28 points over Bostock, with Briggs in third. Ribble Rebellion leads the team standings with 459 points, Tekkerz CC on 393. However, with Ribble Rebellion only set to have two starters at Sheffield they risk losing their lead as the regulations say that, “Only teams starting a race with three riders will be considered for the team classification in that race.“
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
Riders to watch
The McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix
Anyone who has been watching the previous rounds of the National Circuit Series will be familiar by now with the likely cast of contenders.
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) headlines the bill for the women’s race after winning the previous rounds in Guildford and Dudley. Who would put it past her to take a hattrick, especially as she is supported by a full team including Keira Bond, 4th in Dudley.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 12/07/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling Lloyds Bank 2024 Women’s National Circuit Series – Women’s Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Alba Development Road Team’s Eilidh Shaw wins.
Last year’s winner Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) is another contender, although despite getting 4th in the national circuit race championships, hasn’t quite hit her stride in the National Circuit Series yet, her best place being 14th in Otley.
National Circuit Series leader Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) suffered some deep cuts to her knee at Dudley but hopes to battle on. Her rival Corinne Side (Spectra Racing) – tied on points with Darvill – was also a crash victim at Dudley and unfortunately is out of action now with a broken collarbone.
Picture by SWpix.com – 19/07/2023 – Cycling – British Cycling National Circuit Series 2023 – McLaren Automotive Women’s Sheffield Grand Prix – Monica Greenwood of DAS – Handsling Bikes wins
Greenwood’s former team, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, are likely to challenge. Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall is their strongest pick, a close second behind Shaw in Dudley. Lucy Lee is another option.
Fast-finishing junior Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT) won the Dudley Grand Prix in 2023 and will be looking to add another National Circuit Series victory to her palmares.
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) is coming back into circuit race form and could be up in the results if her rebuild continues. While former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) should never be discounted; her team will be motivated to shine, on the hunt for a new title sponsor for 2025 after long-term sponsor Pro-Noctis announced it will end its support at the end of the season.
Finally, 2023 national circuit race champion Meg Barker (Tekkerz CC) returns after missing the last two rounds. 7th in this year’s national circuit race and 6th in Ilkley suggests she has the form to challenge.
The Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix
Matt Bostock’s (Ribble Rebellion) win at Dudley made it 2-2 in the series battle between Ribble Rebellion and Tekkerz CC, Bostock taking both of Ribble’s victories so far. Bostock will start as one of the favourites but only has one teammate for company in the form of Max Rushby so may need to freestyle somewhat.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 12/07/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England – RIbble Rebellion’s Matt Bostock with Tekkerz CC’s Rob Scott.
Tekkerz CC’s Rob Scott, winner at Ilkley and Guildford, is a freestyler par excellence, and will hope to engineer his way to another win. Teammate Alec Briggs is an ever-present threat too.
Behind Scott, Bostock and Briggs, Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) has been best of the rest in the Series so far; he has’t finished outside the top five in the previous three rounds. 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.
UCI Continental team Saint Piran could be set to challenge the Ribble-Tekkerz stranglehold. Former national circuit race champion Matt Gibson makes a welcome return to the team. Accompanied by Will Roberts (6th in the series standings), Rhys Britton (2nd in Dudley) and crit crusher Harry Tanfield, among others, the men in black offer a very strong line-up.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 12/07/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling Lloyds Bank 2024 National Open Circuit Series – Open Dudley GP – Dudley, England – Rhys Britton of Saint Piran.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have had a consistent Series, Callum Laborde and Thomas Armstrong their best performers so far. Armstrong’s 4th place in Dudley propelled him to 5th in the Series standings.
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) returns to the Series after missing the last two rounds. He was a standout performer in Otley (6th) and Ilkley (3rd) and will no doubt challenge in the city of steel. Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland), Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) and Will Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) are among the other riders to watch. And David Hird and his Cycling Sheffield team will be motivated to shine in their home race.
Timings
17.00 Community Ride
17.55 Cocker & Carr Youth Race
18.35 JE James Classic Race
19.25 McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
British Cycling’s social media channels should have you covered.
The National Circuit Series heads to Yorkshire on Wednesday night for the tenth edition of the Sheffield Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: SWpix.com
What is it?
The tenth edition of the popular Sheffield Grand Prix, organised by Marc Etches, set in the heart of the city centre. This year the event forms Round 5 of the women’s and open National Circuit Series.
Past winners include Graham Briggs, Helen Wyman, Dean Downing, Tom Pidcock and Katie Archibald. Last season Monica Greenwood, then of DAS-Handsling, and Finn Crockett, riding for Saint Piran, were the respective winners.
The route
Starting and finishing outside Browns on Union Street, the clockwise course is approximately 1.3km in length, a fast and flowing circuit.
The cobbled descent on Norfolk Street and the long drag up to the finish line are the circuit’s main obstacles. Toby Barnes tops the Strava leaderboard, completing the circuit in 1 minute sand 48 seconds last year, while Sophie Lewis holds the women’s record with a time of 2 minutes and 6 seconds.
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.
The previous round, in Dudley, saw Shaw take her second Series win in a row, while Ribble Rebellion made it 2-2 in their battle with Tekkerz CC after Bostock won from a group sprint.
In the women’s Series, it is very tight in the individual standings, just 14 points separating first from fifth. Isabel Darvill (Doltini-O’Shea) and Corinne Side (Spectra Racing) lead but Side will miss the rest of the season after breaking her collarbone in Dudley. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK lead the team standings with 413 points, 102 ahead of second-placed Alba Development Road Team.
In the Open Series, Rob Scott leads the individual standings by 28 points over Bostock, with Briggs in third. Ribble Rebellion leads the team standings with 459 points, Tekkerz CC on 393. However, with Ribble Rebellion only set to have two starters at Sheffield they risk losing their lead as the regulations say that, “Only teams starting a race with three riders will be considered for the team classification in that race.“
Riders to watch
The McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix
Anyone who has been watching the previous rounds of the National Circuit Series will be familiar by now with the likely cast of contenders.
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) headlines the bill for the women’s race after winning the previous rounds in Guildford and Dudley. Who would put it past her to take a hattrick, especially as she is supported by a full team including Keira Bond, 4th in Dudley.
Last year’s winner Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) is another contender, although despite getting 4th in the national circuit race championships, hasn’t quite hit her stride in the National Circuit Series yet, her best place being 14th in Otley.
National Circuit Series leader Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) suffered some deep cuts to her knee at Dudley but hopes to battle on. Her rival Corinne Side (Spectra Racing) – tied on points with Darvill – was also a crash victim at Dudley and unfortunately is out of action now with a broken collarbone.
Greenwood’s former team, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, are likely to challenge. Otley Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall is their strongest pick, a close second behind Shaw in Dudley. Lucy Lee is another option.
Fast-finishing junior Lucy Glover (Shibden Apex RT) won the Dudley Grand Prix in 2023 and will be looking to add another National Circuit Series victory to her palmares.
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) is coming back into circuit race form and could be up in the results if her rebuild continues. While former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) should never be discounted; her team will be motivated to shine, on the hunt for a new title sponsor for 2025 after long-term sponsor Pro-Noctis announced it will end its support at the end of the season.
Finally, 2023 national circuit race champion Meg Barker (Tekkerz CC) returns after missing the last two rounds. 7th in this year’s national circuit race and 6th in Ilkley suggests she has the form to challenge.
The Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix
Matt Bostock’s (Ribble Rebellion) win at Dudley made it 2-2 in the series battle between Ribble Rebellion and Tekkerz CC, Bostock taking both of Ribble’s victories so far. Bostock will start as one of the favourites but only has one teammate for company in the form of Max Rushby so may need to freestyle somewhat.
Tekkerz CC’s Rob Scott, winner at Ilkley and Guildford, is a freestyler par excellence, and will hope to engineer his way to another win. Teammate Alec Briggs is an ever-present threat too.
Behind Scott, Bostock and Briggs, Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) has been best of the rest in the Series so far; he has’t finished outside the top five in the previous three rounds. 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.
UCI Continental team Saint Piran could be set to challenge the Ribble-Tekkerz stranglehold. Former national circuit race champion Matt Gibson makes a welcome return to the team. Accompanied by Will Roberts (6th in the series standings), Rhys Britton (2nd in Dudley) and crit crusher Harry Tanfield, among others, the men in black offer a very strong line-up.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have had a consistent Series, Callum Laborde and Thomas Armstrong their best performers so far. Armstrong’s 4th place in Dudley propelled him to 5th in the Series standings.
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) returns to the Series after missing the last two rounds. He was a standout performer in Otley (6th) and Ilkley (3rd) and will no doubt challenge in the city of steel. Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland), Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) and Will Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) are among the other riders to watch. And David Hird and his Cycling Sheffield team will be motivated to shine in their home race.
Timings
17.00 Community Ride
17.55 Cocker & Carr Youth Race
18.35 JE James Classic Race
19.25 McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
British Cycling’s social media channels should have you covered.
Provisional startlists
The McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix
12RebeccaCarterBrother UK – On Form16AmeliaStauntonBrother UK – On Form24RobynClayDAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK28GeorgiaBullardDoltcini – OShea30LibbySmithsonDoltcini – OShea47JessyCarvethPro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd51LucyHarrisPro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd61CorinneSideSpectra RacingThe Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix
7RyanWilliamsHUUB BCC Race Team13JimBrownRibble Rebellion14TomCouzensRibble Rebellion40ScottReddingTHRIVA-SRCT52EdwardClancy OBECAMS58RobertSmartRibble rechrg Race Team83ColeDavisRibble RebellionShare this:
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