Following the culmination of the National Circuit Series in Beverley on Friday, the domestic peloton switches its collective attention to the National Road Series on Sunday for the Lancaster Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What is it?
Now in its fifth edition for the men and third for the women, the Lancaster Grand Prix is a key event on the UK road racing calendar. The event forms Round 4 of the women’s National Road Series and Round 3 of the open Series.
The race was created in 2019, with organisers Brian Cookson (former UCI President) and Graham Jones (chairman of the Lune RCC) hoping to make a name for the race as a British equivalent of an Ardennes classic.
It has quickly gained prestige and recognition for its challenging route and excellent organisation. The race takes place in Lancaster, starting and finishing at Williamson Park, known for its scenic beauty and festive atmosphere.
The first race was won by Ian Bibby of Madison Genesis. After a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020, the race had a surprise winner in 2021 winner, Josh Whitehead, who was then a relatively unknown elite-level rider racing for Team PB Performance. 2022 was the first time the Grand Prix also included a women’s race, won by Mary Wilkinson, while Rob Scott won the men’s race on his way to winning the National Road Series title. Last year, Ruth Shier (then of Hutchinson-Brother UK) scored an impressive solo win in the women’s race, with Saint Piran romping home to a 1-2-3, Zeb Kyffin crossing the line first.
2023 Men’s Lancaster Grand Prix – Zeb Kyffin of Saint Piran wins with Harry Birchill second and Jack Rootkin-Gray third. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Route
The puncheur-friendly route starts and finishes in the beautiful surroundings of Williamson Park, by the iconic Ashton Memorial. Spectators here will enjoy a festival atmosphere with a food market and a big screen showing the racing from the circuit.
After a short neutralised section rolling out of the park, the riders take on a challenging 14.8km circuit featuring 273m of elevation per lap. With three sharp climbs per lap, the course is selective. The women’s race includes six laps, totalling 90km, while the men’s race covers ten laps, totalling 150km.
The riders join the main race circuit on Grab Lane, with the flag dropping just before they pass over the M6 bridge on Quernmore Road.
The first of the three challenging climbs is at the beginning of each lap on Quernmore Road. Just under a kilometre long, it peaks at 13.6% with an average gradient of 5.6%.
The circuit then gently descends before hitting a sharp right-hand turn onto Postern Gate Road. The descent continues until the road reaches the River Conder, where the next climb begins. At 2.8km along ‘the valley’, this is a longer but less steep climb, with an average gradient of 2.2%. One of the organizers described it as “a grim, heavy drag.” This climb featured on stage 4 of the 2012 Tour of Britain, where it was called ‘Quernmore’ after the village it passes through. It was classified as a ‘category 3’ climb, with Rapha Condor’s Kristian House taking top points at the crest that day.
The route is then relatively flat until it reaches a ninety-degree right turn onto Proctor Moss Road. The riders then descend until they once again hit the River Conder, facing the third and most severe climb of the circuit. It’s just 0.7 km long but averages a 7% gradient, with much of the last half at 9-10%.
There will be a Climber’s Competition prime at the top of this climb (except on the final lap of each race), with the first four riders across the line scoring 5, 3, 2, and 1 points respectively. The winner of the Climber’s Competition will be the rider with the highest points score at the end of the race.
The race turns right onto Littlefell Lane at the top, but there is no real letup, with the road running along a rolling ridge until a left-turn onto Laithwaite Lane, where the riders face a final rise before descending again as they approach the M6.
The descent is the steepest of the circuit, and riders will need to pay attention here, with a particularly steep section of over 30% on the right-hand turn back onto Grab Lane.
On the final lap, the riders go straight on, missing this treacherous right-hander, for the final kilometre back to the finish line. Here, they face a final sting in the tail. Between 600m and 500m to go, the gradient reaches double digits again before a technical, slightly uphill final 500m. If a small group reaches this finale together, canny positioning will be as important as finding enough strength to power home to the win.
The National Road Series so far
Women’s Series
Eluned King clinched the ANEXO CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic crown for Lifeplus Wahoo as she improved from her previous best of third in 2022 to prevail in a close sprint in the opening round of the National Road Series.
In Round 2, Cat Ferguson (Shibden Apex RT) bounced back from a penultimate lap crash and bike change to take a first National Road Series victory in the inaugural East Cleveland Classic.
Then in May, Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) was triumphant at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Consistent performances throughout have earned Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) the individual Series lead, just ahead of previous leader Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team). Ferguson, who leads the under-23 standings, won’t race at Lancaster.
Rowan Baker took a stunning solo victory to ensure Saint Piran continued the same imperious form the squad showed in last year’s National Road Series in this year’s season-opener at the East Cleveland Classic.
However, Matt Holmes disrupted Saint Piran’s domination at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in a fairytale return to racing for the former WorldTour rider.
Scot Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) leads the standings just ahead of Damien Clayton (Le Col), while Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) leads the under-23 standings.
National Road Series leader Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) will set out to defend her leaders’ jersey but will have strong competition.
2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women – Stage 1: Welshpool to Llandudno, Wales – Lucy Harris of Pro-Noctis-200° Coffee-Hargreaves Contracting. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Young Scottish sensation Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) is only 8 points behind Harris in the Series standings and is in scintillating form, demonstrated by her recent wins in Guildford and Dudley in the National Circuit Series. Shaw’s teammate Amelia Tyler, 5th at the CiCLE Classic this year, is another potential contender.
Expect DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK to feature prominently. The team’s line-up includes last season’s Lancaster GP winner Ruth Shier. The in-form Frankie Hall, victor at the Otley Grand Prix and 6th overall at the Volta a Portugal recently, and last year’s Lincoln Grand Prix champion Robyn Clay also grace the team’s strong line-up. Lucy Lee, Tammy Miller and Morven Yeoman are all capable of top results too.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 28/06/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling 2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Frankie Hall of DAS Hutchinson Brother UK
2023 National Road Series champion Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) will be on the hunt for her first National Road Series win, while Jess Finney (Doltcini-O’Shea) will look to add to 2022 Stockton Grand Prix and 2023 CiCLE Classic wins in the National Road Series, especially after coming close to the win here last year, finishing second behind Shier.
After Cat Ferguson’s win in the East Cleveland Classic in April, we could see more exciting junior prospects to shine. Among the junior picks are Shibden Apex RT’s Esther Wong (4th in the Lincoln Grand Prix this year) and Ruby Oakes, as well as junior UCI road race winners Carys Lloyd and Amelia Cebak, both of Tofauti Everyone Active.
British Cycling Cyclo-cross National Trophy Series 2023/24 Round 6: Tong, Bradford – Home Farm, Tong, Yorkshire – Junior Female Trophy race – Esther Wong of Shibden Apex RT. Image: John Clifton/SWpix.com
For an outsider pick, Team Boompods’ Lizzie Hermolle has thrived in National B road racing this season and should suit the Lancashire hills.
Open race
Series leader Tim Shoreman headlines the field, although the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rider comes into the race with uncertain form, not having raced since the Otley Grand Prix. He is backed by a strong team, including Tom Martin, a stage winner at the Rás Tailteann this year like Shoreman, journeyman Thomas Armstrong, and under-23s Jacob and Joseph Smith.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – E/1/2 The Rayner Foundation GP Race – Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) sits just two points behind Shoreman in the Series rankings and has been Mr Consistent this year, winning three National B road races and topping our national road race rankings. Can he grapple the lead from the Scot?
Saint Piran dominated this race last year. This season, however, much of its team will be in France riding the UCI stage race Kreiz Breizh Elites, along with fellow British squads Thriva-SRCT and Sn Vitae HUUB p/b Bim Bam Coaching, leaving James McKay and Harry Birchill to lead the Cornish squad. McKay has raced infrequently this year but was nonetheless the team’s best performer at the national road race championships (19th) and was third in East Cleveland. 2023 Ryedale Grand Prix victor Birchill was second in Lancaster last year and will aim to go one better this time around, although he’s yet to the heights he reached in 2023 so far this season.
2023 Men’s Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix – Harry Birchill of Saint Piran wins. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
There are plenty of other contenders, none more so than Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing), whose Dad helps to organise this race. He will be a marked man.
Rás Tailteann winner Dom Jackson (Foran CT) will look to continue his breakthrough season. He was the best British performer at the UCI Grand Prix de la ville Pérenchies recently, finishing 8th. Ben Granger and Matthew Kingston of the Italian UCI Continental team Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace are local riders and should thrive on the terrain.
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) finished on the top ten of the first two rounds so expect him to challenge again. East Midlands road race champion Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) was second at the Lincoln Grand Prix. Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) was 7th at East Cleveland so can thrive on hilly terrain in a National A road race.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Oliver Rees of Sabgal Anicolor pursued by Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Others to watch? American Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion) is a great road race, as demonstrated by his win at the Upton 200. It will be fascinating how he fares in his first National Road Series race. George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) 4th Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, seems to have the knack of rising to the occasion, while Cycling’s Sheffield’s David Hird is probably the pick of the development team’s exciting cohort.
Timings
The open race kicks off at 9:00am and is expected to finish around 12:45pm. The women’s race begins at 2:20pm, with an estimated finish time of 4:45pm.
Coverage
Fans can follow the race on British Cycling’s social media channels and watch it live on Monument TV.
For those attending in person, Williamson Park offers a prime viewing experience with the big screen and various family-friendly activities, including the Booths Food Festival.
Following the culmination of the National Circuit Series in Beverley on Friday, the domestic peloton switches its collective attention to the National Road Series on Sunday for the Lancaster Grand Prix.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What is it?
Now in its fifth edition for the men and third for the women, the Lancaster Grand Prix is a key event on the UK road racing calendar. The event forms Round 4 of the women’s National Road Series and Round 3 of the open Series.
The race was created in 2019, with organisers Brian Cookson (former UCI President) and Graham Jones (chairman of the Lune RCC) hoping to make a name for the race as a British equivalent of an Ardennes classic.
It has quickly gained prestige and recognition for its challenging route and excellent organisation. The race takes place in Lancaster, starting and finishing at Williamson Park, known for its scenic beauty and festive atmosphere.
The first race was won by Ian Bibby of Madison Genesis. After a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020, the race had a surprise winner in 2021 winner, Josh Whitehead, who was then a relatively unknown elite-level rider racing for Team PB Performance. 2022 was the first time the Grand Prix also included a women’s race, won by Mary Wilkinson, while Rob Scott won the men’s race on his way to winning the National Road Series title. Last year, Ruth Shier (then of Hutchinson-Brother UK) scored an impressive solo win in the women’s race, with Saint Piran romping home to a 1-2-3, Zeb Kyffin crossing the line first.
Route
The puncheur-friendly route starts and finishes in the beautiful surroundings of Williamson Park, by the iconic Ashton Memorial. Spectators here will enjoy a festival atmosphere with a food market and a big screen showing the racing from the circuit.
After a short neutralised section rolling out of the park, the riders take on a challenging 14.8km circuit featuring 273m of elevation per lap. With three sharp climbs per lap, the course is selective. The women’s race includes six laps, totalling 90km, while the men’s race covers ten laps, totalling 150km.
The riders join the main race circuit on Grab Lane, with the flag dropping just before they pass over the M6 bridge on Quernmore Road.
The first of the three challenging climbs is at the beginning of each lap on Quernmore Road. Just under a kilometre long, it peaks at 13.6% with an average gradient of 5.6%.
The circuit then gently descends before hitting a sharp right-hand turn onto Postern Gate Road. The descent continues until the road reaches the River Conder, where the next climb begins. At 2.8km along ‘the valley’, this is a longer but less steep climb, with an average gradient of 2.2%. One of the organizers described it as “a grim, heavy drag.” This climb featured on stage 4 of the 2012 Tour of Britain, where it was called ‘Quernmore’ after the village it passes through. It was classified as a ‘category 3’ climb, with Rapha Condor’s Kristian House taking top points at the crest that day.
The route is then relatively flat until it reaches a ninety-degree right turn onto Proctor Moss Road. The riders then descend until they once again hit the River Conder, facing the third and most severe climb of the circuit. It’s just 0.7 km long but averages a 7% gradient, with much of the last half at 9-10%.
There will be a Climber’s Competition prime at the top of this climb (except on the final lap of each race), with the first four riders across the line scoring 5, 3, 2, and 1 points respectively. The winner of the Climber’s Competition will be the rider with the highest points score at the end of the race.
The race turns right onto Littlefell Lane at the top, but there is no real letup, with the road running along a rolling ridge until a left-turn onto Laithwaite Lane, where the riders face a final rise before descending again as they approach the M6.
The descent is the steepest of the circuit, and riders will need to pay attention here, with a particularly steep section of over 30% on the right-hand turn back onto Grab Lane.
On the final lap, the riders go straight on, missing this treacherous right-hander, for the final kilometre back to the finish line. Here, they face a final sting in the tail. Between 600m and 500m to go, the gradient reaches double digits again before a technical, slightly uphill final 500m. If a small group reaches this finale together, canny positioning will be as important as finding enough strength to power home to the win.
The National Road Series so far
Women’s Series
Eluned King clinched the ANEXO CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic crown for Lifeplus Wahoo as she improved from her previous best of third in 2022 to prevail in a close sprint in the opening round of the National Road Series.
In Round 2, Cat Ferguson (Shibden Apex RT) bounced back from a penultimate lap crash and bike change to take a first National Road Series victory in the inaugural East Cleveland Classic.
Then in May, Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) was triumphant at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Consistent performances throughout have earned Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) the individual Series lead, just ahead of previous leader Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team). Ferguson, who leads the under-23 standings, won’t race at Lancaster.
Open Series
Rowan Baker took a stunning solo victory to ensure Saint Piran continued the same imperious form the squad showed in last year’s National Road Series in this year’s season-opener at the East Cleveland Classic.
However, Matt Holmes disrupted Saint Piran’s domination at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in a fairytale return to racing for the former WorldTour rider.
Scot Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) leads the standings just ahead of Damien Clayton (Le Col), while Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) leads the under-23 standings.
Riders to watch
Women’s race
National Road Series leader Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) will set out to defend her leaders’ jersey but will have strong competition.
Young Scottish sensation Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) is only 8 points behind Harris in the Series standings and is in scintillating form, demonstrated by her recent wins in Guildford and Dudley in the National Circuit Series. Shaw’s teammate Amelia Tyler, 5th at the CiCLE Classic this year, is another potential contender.
Expect DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK to feature prominently. The team’s line-up includes last season’s Lancaster GP winner Ruth Shier. The in-form Frankie Hall, victor at the Otley Grand Prix and 6th overall at the Volta a Portugal recently, and last year’s Lincoln Grand Prix champion Robyn Clay also grace the team’s strong line-up. Lucy Lee, Tammy Miller and Morven Yeoman are all capable of top results too.
2023 National Road Series champion Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) will be on the hunt for her first National Road Series win, while Jess Finney (Doltcini-O’Shea) will look to add to 2022 Stockton Grand Prix and 2023 CiCLE Classic wins in the National Road Series, especially after coming close to the win here last year, finishing second behind Shier.
After Cat Ferguson’s win in the East Cleveland Classic in April, we could see more exciting junior prospects to shine. Among the junior picks are Shibden Apex RT’s Esther Wong (4th in the Lincoln Grand Prix this year) and Ruby Oakes, as well as junior UCI road race winners Carys Lloyd and Amelia Cebak, both of Tofauti Everyone Active.
For an outsider pick, Team Boompods’ Lizzie Hermolle has thrived in National B road racing this season and should suit the Lancashire hills.
Open race
Series leader Tim Shoreman headlines the field, although the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rider comes into the race with uncertain form, not having raced since the Otley Grand Prix. He is backed by a strong team, including Tom Martin, a stage winner at the Rás Tailteann this year like Shoreman, journeyman Thomas Armstrong, and under-23s Jacob and Joseph Smith.
Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) sits just two points behind Shoreman in the Series rankings and has been Mr Consistent this year, winning three National B road races and topping our national road race rankings. Can he grapple the lead from the Scot?
Saint Piran dominated this race last year. This season, however, much of its team will be in France riding the UCI stage race Kreiz Breizh Elites, along with fellow British squads Thriva-SRCT and Sn Vitae HUUB p/b Bim Bam Coaching, leaving James McKay and Harry Birchill to lead the Cornish squad. McKay has raced infrequently this year but was nonetheless the team’s best performer at the national road race championships (19th) and was third in East Cleveland. 2023 Ryedale Grand Prix victor Birchill was second in Lancaster last year and will aim to go one better this time around, although he’s yet to the heights he reached in 2023 so far this season.
There are plenty of other contenders, none more so than Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing), whose Dad helps to organise this race. He will be a marked man.
Rás Tailteann winner Dom Jackson (Foran CT) will look to continue his breakthrough season. He was the best British performer at the UCI Grand Prix de la ville Pérenchies recently, finishing 8th. Ben Granger and Matthew Kingston of the Italian UCI Continental team Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace are local riders and should thrive on the terrain.
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) finished on the top ten of the first two rounds so expect him to challenge again. East Midlands road race champion Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) was second at the Lincoln Grand Prix. Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas) was 7th at East Cleveland so can thrive on hilly terrain in a National A road race.
Others to watch? American Cole Davis (Ribble Rebellion) is a great road race, as demonstrated by his win at the Upton 200. It will be fascinating how he fares in his first National Road Series race. George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) 4th Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, seems to have the knack of rising to the occasion, while Cycling’s Sheffield’s David Hird is probably the pick of the development team’s exciting cohort.
Timings
The open race kicks off at 9:00am and is expected to finish around 12:45pm. The women’s race begins at 2:20pm, with an estimated finish time of 4:45pm.
Coverage
Fans can follow the race on British Cycling’s social media channels and watch it live on Monument TV.
For those attending in person, Williamson Park offers a prime viewing experience with the big screen and various family-friendly activities, including the Booths Food Festival.
Provisional startlists
Women’s race
Open race
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