Ben Granger (Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace VPM) told The British Continental before the Lancaster Grand Prix he hoped to be in the mix for victory and the Italian-based rider was true to his word, taking an iconic solo win in Williamson Park after bridging to, and then attacking the day’s early break over the top of the final climb.
In the women’s race, Frankie Hall soloed to glory in a blazing Williamson Park, the Loughborough rider bridging to her DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK teammate Tammy Miller and the surprise package Lauren Dickson (Edinburgh RC) on the final lap before attacking to take a memorable win.
Featured image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Report
Open race
Near perfect conditions met riders as they set off from Williamson Park early in the morning, 96 miles ahead of them in perhaps the most selective race on the National Road Series calendar.
This didn’t deter an early breakaway however, James McKay (Saint Piran), who was on the podium in the opening round of the National Road Series in April, the surpise inclusion in a group containing Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy), George Peden (PB Performance) and Louis Moore (Project1).
McKay leads the early break. 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
With the gap opening up to 35 seconds on the second of the ten laps, Finn McHenry wasted little time in hoovering up the Climber’s Competition points every lap, winning the competition outright with four laps to spare.
The pace in the peloton in the early laps was more relaxed than usual, the vast majority of the bunch in touch by lap two, with Matt Gibson and Rhys Britton (Saint Piran), both returning to road racing from spells on the sidelines, notable names to be distanced. By the third lap the pace had lifted, riders beginning to feel the large amount of elevation gain in each lap.
A number of riders attempted to bridge to the break in the opening laps, Ollie Hucks (TAAP-Kalas), Luke Brennan (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) and James Jobber (Global 6 United) among those in one move, Will Smith (Trinity Racing) electing to go alone.
With the moves neutralised, the break’s advantage stretched out to over two minutes four laps in, the lifting of the pace in the peloton by riders such as Ollie Rees (Sabgal Anicolor) causing riders to grit their teeth up the steepest parts of the course. Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing), so impressive in the National Circuit Series found the tempo too much as he was distanced.
With the gap falling to 1’37” as the race approached the halfway point, a number of riders from the peloton attacked through the Climber’s Competition summit; Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) the protagonist, the first time a rider from that team had hit the front with Laborde on the break up the road.
Will Smith (TRINITY Racing) leads the peloton. 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Despite the counter-move being pulled back, the pace did not relent, the gap closing significantly over the next lap as major cracks appeared in the peloton led by Will Smith, with favourites such as Rees and Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) looking good towards the front. However, Martin’s teammate and National Road Series leader Tim Shoreman was visibly suffering as he was the final rider to hang onto a 30 rider split, panic setting behind as riders tried to sprint across the rapidly opening gap.
With the race now on, a big move went from the front of the shattered peloton as the gap to the break continued to shorten. George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling), who impressed here last year, made a move with Martin and Granger , the trio wasting little time in catching the breakaway, which had dropped Moore.
Sensing the danger, Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) made an effort to get across, although when he was reeled back to the peloton the gap to the break extended to a minute. On the steepest slopes with just over three laps remaining, Will Smith was again dictating the tempo at the front of the bunch, again causing a split of around 30 riders, although crucially Shoreman, and perhaps surprisingly Dom Jackson (Foran CC) found themselves on the wrong side of it.
Adam Lewis (Team Skyline). 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
As another lap passed and the remains of the peloton reformed, the seven breakaway riders continued to work well; McKay reminding McHenry to take his turn as he continued to claim the climbing points. A minute behind a group of seven went clear from the peloton led by James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) and containing Lee Rosie (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Armstrong, Lewis, Matt Holmes (OGT), Matt Lord (Richardsons Trek-DAS) and Ben Pease (Moonglu RT).
With their gap established, the chasing group set about cutting the gap, 30 seconds separating the two breakaway groups with only a lap and the technical finish through the park remaining.
At this point the race situation was working out perfectly for the Wheelbase team, who apart from losing Shoreman from the front of the peloton hadn’t put a foot wrong. With two riders in both lead groups, could the local team finish it off?
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Ben Granger had other ideas, setting an infernal tempo up the final climb before the finish, he made his bid for glory over the top, quickly taking an advantage over the remaining trio of McHenry, who was riding well beyond his years, McKay and Kimber.
Behind, Matt Holmes was leading the remnants of the chasing group, both Martin and Armstrong dropped from it as Wheelbase’s day suddenly had a bitter taste to it. With the peloton in one’s and two’s just behind, it would be every man for himself to the finish as the leading four duked it out for National A success.
Ben Grangers takes the win. 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Granger battled on and took an advantage of ten seconds to the entrance of the park signalling 1km to go, the local rider taking a popular victory. With the race sewn up for the rider based in Italy, attention turned to second place, McKay unleashing a ferocious sprint to pip Kimber for second place, McHenry an impressive fourth.
Kimber now sits atop the individual standings of the National Road Series, just two points ahead of Lewis, who finished seventh. Saint Piran continue to lead the team standings but are only two points ahead of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli with two rounds of the Series remaining.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Women’s race
In the afternoon, the women’s peloton rolled out of Williamson Park in beautiful July sunshine, ahead of them six laps of the same circuit tackled by the open race that morning, plus the sting in the tail of the technical uphill finish back in the park.
The DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK duo of Morven Yeoman and Sannah Zaman were the first two riders to attack up one of the numerous climbs, gaining a small gap but signalling the UCI Continental team’s ambitions.
As Zaman dropped back to a largely intact peloton, Katie Scott (Spectra Racing) made her move to join Yeoman.
Morven Yeoman and Caitlin Dimbleby. 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Women’s Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
In the early stages of the race it seemed as if Yeoman was destined to be out front with a different partner every lap – Caitlin Dimbleby, back to riding as a private member after a spell with the Alba Development RT, replacing Scott and helping to build a solid advantage of over 20 seconds, with the junior squads of Tofuati-Everyone Active and Shibden-Apex charged with the chase.
Their advantage would only last one lap however, the Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting squad coming to the fore to reel them back in, series leader Lucy Harris racing from the front to defend the jersey.
With three laps remaining it was Tammy Miller’s turn to attack from the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK squad, the strong time triallist and Ronde van Wymeswold winner joined by surprise package Lauren Dickson (Edinburgh RC), the pair working well together to solidify their advantage.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Women’s Race. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Behind, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) set off in hot pursuit as the bunch became very thinned down as a result of the rise in the pace, Harris again leading the chase.
With the leading duo continuing to press on as the finish grew ever closer, behind a group of five riders had detached themselves from the peloton including Dimbleby and the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK pairing of Frankie Hall and Lucy Lee.
Hall would bridge across to the leading pair on the final lap, making it a difficult situation for the inexperienced Dickson, who has a triathlon background. With the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK pair working the Scot over, it was only a matter of time before the elastic would snap – Hall going clear only a handful of kilometres from the line.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Women’s Race – Frankie Hall , takes the win. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
As Hall rode through the park, raising her arms in celebration as she crossed the line, Miller and Dickson were locked in a titanic battle for second, Dickson refusing to give in as Miller piled on the pressure. As they approached the line it was Dickson who would edge out Miller in the sprint, Lee crossing the line for fourth.
Lucy Harris retains her series lead courtesy of finishing 14th, but is now only a point ahead of 9th-placed Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Series) with two rounds to go. In the team standings DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK hold a 20 point lead ahead of Shibden Apex RT.
Picture by Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com – 28/07/2024 – British Cycling – 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Women’s Race – Podium –
Ben Granger (Mg.K VIS Colors for Peace VPM) told The British Continental before the Lancaster Grand Prix he hoped to be in the mix for victory and the Italian-based rider was true to his word, taking an iconic solo win in Williamson Park after bridging to, and then attacking the day’s early break over the top of the final climb.
In the women’s race, Frankie Hall soloed to glory in a blazing Williamson Park, the Loughborough rider bridging to her DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK teammate Tammy Miller and the surprise package Lauren Dickson (Edinburgh RC) on the final lap before attacking to take a memorable win.
Featured image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Report
Open race
Near perfect conditions met riders as they set off from Williamson Park early in the morning, 96 miles ahead of them in perhaps the most selective race on the National Road Series calendar.
This didn’t deter an early breakaway however, James McKay (Saint Piran), who was on the podium in the opening round of the National Road Series in April, the surpise inclusion in a group containing Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy), George Peden (PB Performance) and Louis Moore (Project1).
With the gap opening up to 35 seconds on the second of the ten laps, Finn McHenry wasted little time in hoovering up the Climber’s Competition points every lap, winning the competition outright with four laps to spare.
The pace in the peloton in the early laps was more relaxed than usual, the vast majority of the bunch in touch by lap two, with Matt Gibson and Rhys Britton (Saint Piran), both returning to road racing from spells on the sidelines, notable names to be distanced. By the third lap the pace had lifted, riders beginning to feel the large amount of elevation gain in each lap.
A number of riders attempted to bridge to the break in the opening laps, Ollie Hucks (TAAP-Kalas), Luke Brennan (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) and James Jobber (Global 6 United) among those in one move, Will Smith (Trinity Racing) electing to go alone.
With the moves neutralised, the break’s advantage stretched out to over two minutes four laps in, the lifting of the pace in the peloton by riders such as Ollie Rees (Sabgal Anicolor) causing riders to grit their teeth up the steepest parts of the course. Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing), so impressive in the National Circuit Series found the tempo too much as he was distanced.
With the gap falling to 1’37” as the race approached the halfway point, a number of riders from the peloton attacked through the Climber’s Competition summit; Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) the protagonist, the first time a rider from that team had hit the front with Laborde on the break up the road.
Despite the counter-move being pulled back, the pace did not relent, the gap closing significantly over the next lap as major cracks appeared in the peloton led by Will Smith, with favourites such as Rees and Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) looking good towards the front. However, Martin’s teammate and National Road Series leader Tim Shoreman was visibly suffering as he was the final rider to hang onto a 30 rider split, panic setting behind as riders tried to sprint across the rapidly opening gap.
With the race now on, a big move went from the front of the shattered peloton as the gap to the break continued to shorten. George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling), who impressed here last year, made a move with Martin and Granger , the trio wasting little time in catching the breakaway, which had dropped Moore.
Sensing the danger, Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) made an effort to get across, although when he was reeled back to the peloton the gap to the break extended to a minute. On the steepest slopes with just over three laps remaining, Will Smith was again dictating the tempo at the front of the bunch, again causing a split of around 30 riders, although crucially Shoreman, and perhaps surprisingly Dom Jackson (Foran CC) found themselves on the wrong side of it.
As another lap passed and the remains of the peloton reformed, the seven breakaway riders continued to work well; McKay reminding McHenry to take his turn as he continued to claim the climbing points. A minute behind a group of seven went clear from the peloton led by James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) and containing Lee Rosie (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Armstrong, Lewis, Matt Holmes (OGT), Matt Lord (Richardsons Trek-DAS) and Ben Pease (Moonglu RT).
With their gap established, the chasing group set about cutting the gap, 30 seconds separating the two breakaway groups with only a lap and the technical finish through the park remaining.
At this point the race situation was working out perfectly for the Wheelbase team, who apart from losing Shoreman from the front of the peloton hadn’t put a foot wrong. With two riders in both lead groups, could the local team finish it off?
Ben Granger had other ideas, setting an infernal tempo up the final climb before the finish, he made his bid for glory over the top, quickly taking an advantage over the remaining trio of McHenry, who was riding well beyond his years, McKay and Kimber.
Behind, Matt Holmes was leading the remnants of the chasing group, both Martin and Armstrong dropped from it as Wheelbase’s day suddenly had a bitter taste to it. With the peloton in one’s and two’s just behind, it would be every man for himself to the finish as the leading four duked it out for National A success.
Granger battled on and took an advantage of ten seconds to the entrance of the park signalling 1km to go, the local rider taking a popular victory. With the race sewn up for the rider based in Italy, attention turned to second place, McKay unleashing a ferocious sprint to pip Kimber for second place, McHenry an impressive fourth.
Kimber now sits atop the individual standings of the National Road Series, just two points ahead of Lewis, who finished seventh. Saint Piran continue to lead the team standings but are only two points ahead of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli with two rounds of the Series remaining.
Women’s race
In the afternoon, the women’s peloton rolled out of Williamson Park in beautiful July sunshine, ahead of them six laps of the same circuit tackled by the open race that morning, plus the sting in the tail of the technical uphill finish back in the park.
The DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK duo of Morven Yeoman and Sannah Zaman were the first two riders to attack up one of the numerous climbs, gaining a small gap but signalling the UCI Continental team’s ambitions.
As Zaman dropped back to a largely intact peloton, Katie Scott (Spectra Racing) made her move to join Yeoman.
In the early stages of the race it seemed as if Yeoman was destined to be out front with a different partner every lap – Caitlin Dimbleby, back to riding as a private member after a spell with the Alba Development RT, replacing Scott and helping to build a solid advantage of over 20 seconds, with the junior squads of Tofuati-Everyone Active and Shibden-Apex charged with the chase.
Their advantage would only last one lap however, the Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting squad coming to the fore to reel them back in, series leader Lucy Harris racing from the front to defend the jersey.
With three laps remaining it was Tammy Miller’s turn to attack from the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK squad, the strong time triallist and Ronde van Wymeswold winner joined by surprise package Lauren Dickson (Edinburgh RC), the pair working well together to solidify their advantage.
Behind, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) set off in hot pursuit as the bunch became very thinned down as a result of the rise in the pace, Harris again leading the chase.
With the leading duo continuing to press on as the finish grew ever closer, behind a group of five riders had detached themselves from the peloton including Dimbleby and the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK pairing of Frankie Hall and Lucy Lee.
Hall would bridge across to the leading pair on the final lap, making it a difficult situation for the inexperienced Dickson, who has a triathlon background. With the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK pair working the Scot over, it was only a matter of time before the elastic would snap – Hall going clear only a handful of kilometres from the line.
As Hall rode through the park, raising her arms in celebration as she crossed the line, Miller and Dickson were locked in a titanic battle for second, Dickson refusing to give in as Miller piled on the pressure. As they approached the line it was Dickson who would edge out Miller in the sprint, Lee crossing the line for fourth.
Lucy Harris retains her series lead courtesy of finishing 14th, but is now only a point ahead of 9th-placed Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Series) with two rounds to go. In the team standings DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK hold a 20 point lead ahead of Shibden Apex RT.
Results
Open race
Women’s race
National Road Series standings
Open
Individual
Team
Women
Individual
Team
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