The National Circuit Series heads to Yorkshire on Wednesday night for the tenth edition of the Sheffield Grand Prix.

Here is our preview.

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.

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.

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

#	First name	Surname	Team
1	Monica	Greenwood	Team Coop-Hitec Products
2	Daisy	Barnes	Alba Development Road Team
3	Keira	Bond	Alba Development Road Team
4	Arianne	Holland	Alba Development Road Team
5	Lulu	Bartlett	Alba Development Road Team
6	Abi	Plowman	Alba Development Road Team
7	Eilidh	Shaw	Alba Development Road Team
8	Millie	Skinner	Alba Development Road Team
9	Victoria	Smith	Alba Development Road Team
10	Niamh	Boulding	Brother UK – On Form
11	Lily	Brindle	Brother UK – On Form
12	Rebecca	Carter	Brother UK – On Form
13	Lotty	Dawson	Brother UK – On Form
14	Electra	Morris	Brother UK – On Form
15	Rosie	Simmons	Brother UK – On Form
16	Amelia	Staunton	Brother UK – On Form
17	Sian	Botteley	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
18	Frankie	Hall	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
19	Lucy	Lee	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
20	Sophie	Lewis	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
21	Tamsin	Miller	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
22	Sophie	Thackray	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
23	Darcie	Richards	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
24	Robyn	Clay	DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK
25	Jacqueline	Kinsey	Doltcini – Cycle Division
26	Amy	Mourne	Doltcini – Cycle Division
27	Lindsay	Toy	Doltcini – Cycle Division
28	Georgia	Bullard	Doltcini – OShea
29	Isabel	Darvill	Doltcini – OShea
30	Libby	Smithson	Doltcini – OShea
31	Emily	Chilton	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
32	Skye	Davidson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
33	Laura	Davies	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
34	Kirstie	Drakeford	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
35	Isabella	Johnson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
36	Rebekah	Nash	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
37	Abbie	Taylor	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
38	Beth	Watson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
39	Penny	Colloff	Loughborough Lightning
40	Philippa	Draper	Loughborough Lightning
41	Jayati	Hine	Loughborough Lightning
42	Jenny	Holl	Loughborough Lightning
43	Miriam	Jessett	Loughborough Lightning
44	Olivia	Kelly	Loughborough Lightning
45	Georgia	Lancaster	Loughborough Lightning
46	Georgina	Oakley	Loughborough Lightning
47	Jessy	Carveth	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
48	Bexy	Dew	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
49	Lucy	Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
50	Amy	Gornall	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
51	Lucy	Harris	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
52	Annabel	Ramsay	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
53	Lowri	Richards	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
54	Jo	Tindley	Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd
55	Hannah	Bayes	Saint Piran WRT
56	Katie-Anne	Calton	Saint Piran WRT
57	Sophie	Holmes	Saint Piran WRT
58	Ailsa	McLagan	Saint Piran WRT
59	Xan	Crees	Spectra Racing
60	Samantha	Fawcett	Spectra Racing
61	Corinne	Side	Spectra Racing
62	Megan	Anderson	Team Boompods
63	Amy	Drysdale	Team Boompods
64	Sian	Marsh	Team Boompods
65	Rebecca	Hair	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
66	Elizabeth	Sanders	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
67	Emily	Proud	Le Col Race Team
68	Louise	Davidson	London Academy
69	Lucy	Neatham	London Academy
70	Sasha	Halsey	London Dynamo
71	Erin	Avill	Nouvelles Cycling x Prendas
72	Lucy	Glover	Shibden Apex RT
73	Evie	Smith	Shibden Apex RT
74	Alderney	Baker	Team Empella
75	Megan	Barker	TEKKERZ CC
76	Amy	Perryman	TEKKERZ CC
77	Ella	Tandy	Tofauti Everyone Active
78	Melissa	Denman	Stolen Goat Race Team
79	Nicola	Soden	Tactic UK WRT
80	Isabella	Torrie	Tactic UK WRT
81	Lydia	Turan	Unattached
82	Charlotte	Berry	The Phoenix Collection
83	Anastasia	Bowler	Saint Piran WRT
84	Eleina	McFadden	Inspire Racinf Adaston Scape
85	Laura	Senior	Spectra Racing
86	Hannah	McClorey	Doltcini – Cycle Division
87	Harriet	Evans	FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing

The Bike Box Alan Open Grand Prix

#	First name	Surname	Team
1	James	Hartley	Cycling Sheffield
2	Jack	Hartley	Cycling Sheffield
3	David	Hird	Cycling Sheffield
4	Max	Krasinski	Cycling Sheffield
5	Benjamin	Flatau	HUUB BCC Race Team
6	Josh	Housley	HUUB BCC Race Team
7	Ryan	Williams	HUUB BCC Race Team
8	William	Abbott	Primera-TeamJobs
9	Guido	Blee	Primera-TeamJobs
10	Thomas	Doig	Primera-TeamJobs
11	Max	Fleming	Primera-TeamJobs
12	Matthew	Bostock	Ribble Rebellion
13	Jim	Brown	Ribble Rebellion
14	Tom	Couzens	Ribble Rebellion
15	Max	Rushby	Ribble Rebellion
16	Cai	Davies	Richardsons Trek DAS
17	Olivier	Mangham	Richardsons Trek DAS
18	Alexander	Pritchard	Richardsons Trek DAS
19	Harry	Birchill	Saint Piran
20	Rhys	Britton	Saint Piran
21	Matthew	Gibson	Saint Piran
22	James	McKay	Saint Piran
23	William	Roberts	Saint Piran
24	Harry	Tanfield	Saint Piran
25	Dylan	Westley	Saint Piran
26	Daniel	Barnes	Spectra Racing
27	Toby	Barnes	Spectra Racing
28	Joe	Wilson	Spectra Racing
29	Simon	Wyllie	Spectra Racing
30	Matthew	Lock	TAAP Kalas
31	Harry	Macfarlane	TAAP Kalas
32	Cameron	McLaren	TAAP Kalas
33	Alec	Briggs	TEKKERZ CC
34	Joe	Holt	TEKKERZ CC
35	Benjamin	Tuchner	TEKKERZ CC
36	Ben	Bright	THRIVA-SRCT
37	Matthew	Ellis	THRIVA-SRCT
38	Jake	Jackson	THRIVA-SRCT
39	Josh	Price	THRIVA-SRCT
40	Scott	Redding	THRIVA-SRCT
41	William	Truelove	THRIVA-SRCT
42	Thomas	Armstrong	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
43	Aaron	King	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
44	Callum	Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
45	Joseph	Smith	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
46	John	Bardsley	360cycling
47	Cai	Curtis-Roberts	360cycling
48	Max	Hereward	360cycling
49	Archie	Fletcher	360cycling
50	Matthew	Leach	Addform – Vive le Velo
51	Sam	Walsham	Beeston Cycling Club
52	Edward	Clancy OBE	CAMS
53	Alistair	Slater	Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy
54	James	Jobber	Global 6 United
55	Joshua	Horsfield	Mud Dock Racing
56	Tom	Cullen	Otley CC
57	Jacob	Scott	REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland
58	Robert	Smart	Ribble rechrg Race Team
59	Jake	Hales	Ride Revolution Coaching
60	Matthew	Wilson	Ride Revolution Coaching
61	Oliver	Rees	Sabgal/Anicolor
62	Frank	Longstaff	Schils –  Doltcini Racing Team
63	Will	Thompson	Shibden-A.Fawcett RT
64	Inigo	Hawkings	SN Vitae Huub pb BimBam Coaching
65	Oliver	Snodden	SN Vitae Huub pb BimBam Coaching
66	Kieran	Riley	Spellman – Dublin Port Cycling Team
67	William	Perrett	Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling
68	Bernard	Galea	SPRNT
69	Nathan	Hardy	Team PB Performance
70	Max	Sillifant	Team PB Performance
71	Tom	Mazzone	trainSharp Orro Elite
72	Tim	Torrie	trainSharp Orro Elite
73	Taylor	Hill	Unattached
74	Joel	Hurt	Prologue Racing Team
75	Jack	Lucas	Shipden A Fawcett RT
76	Andrew	Nichols	Team Lifting Gear Products
77	Robert	Scott	TEKKERZ CC
78	Oliver	Snodden	SN Vitae Huub p/b BimBam Coaching
79	Andrew	Stephenson	Open Collective
80	Ross	Birrell	Unattached
81	Philip	Large	Wold Top The edge Pactimo
82	Jenson	Young	Spectra Racing
83	Cole	Davis	Ribble Rebellion
84	Alexander	Foster	Cycling Sheffield
85	Ben	Marsh	PROJECT 1 Cycling Team
86	Oliver	Dawson	Fensham Howes-MAS Design
87	Matti	Dobbins	Xspeed United Continental
88	Jack	Brough	AVC Aix en Provence
89	Oscar	Amey	TEKKERZ CC
90	Alfie	Amey	TEKKERZ CC