All it takes is one rider to change the outcome of the whole race.
Guildford might quite possibly be one of the tightest and most technical circuits on the National Circuit Series calendar. From numerous tight 90-degree left-handers to a dead hairpin, it is perfectly suited to those with great technical ability. The downside is that the bunch is very quickly broken up; in 2023, only four riders finished the open race without being lapped.
At a circuit as technical as Guildford, the rate at which riders were being lapped was so great that each lap the leading bunch sometimes struggled to navigate some of the larger groups being passed
This year’s race was no different. Racing went off straight from the gun, and I can’t remember a single minute where the pace let up. The problem this presented was that riders were very quickly being lapped. In these situations, there is a certain race etiquette and sportsmanship: lapped riders sacrifice the racing line for the leading rider or riders. In fact, it goes beyond sportsmanship – the rules published in the regulations given to every rider prior to the race are very clear:
“Lapped riders must not impede the progress of the lapping riders, nor must they manipulate the outcome of the race. Riders found to be deliberately flouting this regulation will be penalised. Riders that are lapped and do not heed the instructions from the Chief Commissaire or Commissaire Panel to withdraw will be disqualified.”
At a circuit as technical as Guildford, the rate at which riders were being lapped was so great that each lap the leading bunch sometimes struggled to navigate some of the larger groups being passed. This resulted in some very close passes, and sadly for me, this went further than just a close pass.
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Twenty minutes into the race, attacks started to fire off the front, with Rob Scott breaking clear of the bunch and quickly gaining roughly a 20-second lead to the main peloton. With no unison in the chase, I took it on to try to bring the gap down for the Ribble Rebellion team. To my surprise, as I looked back, I had gapped the riders behind and a few metres soon turned into a handful of seconds. Before I knew it I had started to distance the group and eat into Scott’s lead.
As the laps went by, Toby Barnes of Spectra Racing put in a big attack from the bunch behind, quickly closing me down, navigating lapped riders having slowed my progress. With the gap to Scott out front still hovering at 10 seconds, I knew with Barnes’ help, we would have a better chance of making the catch. As riders started to be lapped at a staggering rate, often making it impossible to overtake due to the tight nature of the course, Barnes was able to successfully make it across the gap and onto my back wheel.
With 20 minutes of racing left, it was 2 vs 1, with the gap to the bunch behind growing lap by lap. A podium position at minimum felt like it was secured. You don’t race to finish second; you race to win, and knowing Scott was still up the road, it was time to start opening up the gas. Before Barnes was even able to come through and pull a turn, a lapped rider had other ideas.
Just as we were about to enter the hairpin, a rider in the middle of the lapped bunch made for a dart for the racing line, and things were only going to go one way.
As we neared the hairpin at the top end of the course, we closed on a rather large group of riders about to be lapped. Multiple shouts making it clear that we were approaching, and the riders started to move to the outside of the course to allow us through. With plenty of room, Barnes and I started to move up the inside of the bunch on the racing line. Just as we were about to enter the hairpin, a rider in the middle of the lapped bunch made for a dart for the racing line, and things were only going to go one way.
Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
A front wheel slid out and the lapped rider was on the floor. With no room to manoeuvre I went straight into the back of him. Thankfully, the crash happened at such a slow speed I was able to almost walk over the top of my bike and came away unscathed. But sadly the force of impact was enough to jam my chain up. Seeing Barnes nearly come to a complete standstill, edge around the lapped rider on the floor, and dart off to continue his chase left me standing there attempting to get my chain back on. By the time it was on, the chasing bunch had caught up, leaving me watching the first two podium spots disappear up the road.
An event such as this highlights that on courses as technical as this, for both the safety and fairness of lead riders, something has to be done. In the pre-race manual, it states that “In the event of rider(s) being lapped by the leading group, these lapped rider(s) will continue until three laps to go, where they will be withdrawn and placed, after sprinting for position on the line.”
British Cycling should introduce a rule stating that riders should be pulled before they are lapped. This is a rule that is implemented at national-level cyclocross races and shows it is possible to introduce
Personally, I think this needs to be changed, and it is disappointing that it has taken an experience such as mine before this issue has been spoken about.
How should things change? Very simply, British Cycling should introduce a rule stating that riders should be pulled before they are lapped. This is a rule that is implemented at national-level cyclocross races and shows it is possible to introduce.
This rule change would have three main benefits:
It would improve rider safety
It would prevent lapped riders from impeding the race
It would make it clearer to spectators on the roadside – and on TV for that matter – which riders are leading, enhancing the spectacle for fans.
In a tightly fought Series, points and positions matter. Adopting this rule change – already successful in national-level cyclocross races – would be a logical step forward in maintaining the high standards of competition and safety in National Circuit Series events.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
All it takes is one rider to change the outcome of the whole race.
Guildford might quite possibly be one of the tightest and most technical circuits on the National Circuit Series calendar. From numerous tight 90-degree left-handers to a dead hairpin, it is perfectly suited to those with great technical ability. The downside is that the bunch is very quickly broken up; in 2023, only four riders finished the open race without being lapped.
This year’s race was no different. Racing went off straight from the gun, and I can’t remember a single minute where the pace let up. The problem this presented was that riders were very quickly being lapped. In these situations, there is a certain race etiquette and sportsmanship: lapped riders sacrifice the racing line for the leading rider or riders. In fact, it goes beyond sportsmanship – the rules published in the regulations given to every rider prior to the race are very clear:
“Lapped riders must not impede the progress of the lapping riders, nor must they manipulate the outcome of the race. Riders found to be deliberately flouting this regulation will be penalised. Riders that are lapped and do not heed the instructions from the Chief Commissaire or Commissaire Panel to withdraw will be disqualified.”
At a circuit as technical as Guildford, the rate at which riders were being lapped was so great that each lap the leading bunch sometimes struggled to navigate some of the larger groups being passed. This resulted in some very close passes, and sadly for me, this went further than just a close pass.
Twenty minutes into the race, attacks started to fire off the front, with Rob Scott breaking clear of the bunch and quickly gaining roughly a 20-second lead to the main peloton. With no unison in the chase, I took it on to try to bring the gap down for the Ribble Rebellion team. To my surprise, as I looked back, I had gapped the riders behind and a few metres soon turned into a handful of seconds. Before I knew it I had started to distance the group and eat into Scott’s lead.
As the laps went by, Toby Barnes of Spectra Racing put in a big attack from the bunch behind, quickly closing me down, navigating lapped riders having slowed my progress. With the gap to Scott out front still hovering at 10 seconds, I knew with Barnes’ help, we would have a better chance of making the catch. As riders started to be lapped at a staggering rate, often making it impossible to overtake due to the tight nature of the course, Barnes was able to successfully make it across the gap and onto my back wheel.
With 20 minutes of racing left, it was 2 vs 1, with the gap to the bunch behind growing lap by lap. A podium position at minimum felt like it was secured. You don’t race to finish second; you race to win, and knowing Scott was still up the road, it was time to start opening up the gas. Before Barnes was even able to come through and pull a turn, a lapped rider had other ideas.
As we neared the hairpin at the top end of the course, we closed on a rather large group of riders about to be lapped. Multiple shouts making it clear that we were approaching, and the riders started to move to the outside of the course to allow us through. With plenty of room, Barnes and I started to move up the inside of the bunch on the racing line. Just as we were about to enter the hairpin, a rider in the middle of the lapped bunch made for a dart for the racing line, and things were only going to go one way.
A front wheel slid out and the lapped rider was on the floor. With no room to manoeuvre I went straight into the back of him. Thankfully, the crash happened at such a slow speed I was able to almost walk over the top of my bike and came away unscathed. But sadly the force of impact was enough to jam my chain up. Seeing Barnes nearly come to a complete standstill, edge around the lapped rider on the floor, and dart off to continue his chase left me standing there attempting to get my chain back on. By the time it was on, the chasing bunch had caught up, leaving me watching the first two podium spots disappear up the road.
An event such as this highlights that on courses as technical as this, for both the safety and fairness of lead riders, something has to be done. In the pre-race manual, it states that “In the event of rider(s) being lapped by the leading group, these lapped rider(s) will continue until three laps to go, where they will be withdrawn and placed, after sprinting for position on the line.”
Personally, I think this needs to be changed, and it is disappointing that it has taken an experience such as mine before this issue has been spoken about.
How should things change? Very simply, British Cycling should introduce a rule stating that riders should be pulled before they are lapped. This is a rule that is implemented at national-level cyclocross races and shows it is possible to introduce.
This rule change would have three main benefits:
In a tightly fought Series, points and positions matter. Adopting this rule change – already successful in national-level cyclocross races – would be a logical step forward in maintaining the high standards of competition and safety in National Circuit Series events.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
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