Alex Pickering (Elysium Kalas Race Team) won the stage 3 time trial at the Sherpa Performance stage race on his way to securing the overall classification in only his third ever road race, while Sean Dawson won stage 4 with a late attack.
Stage 3 of the Sherpa Performance Stage Race featured an 8km road bike time trial, testing the riders’ individual speed and endurance. Time trial specialist Alex Pickering of Elysium Kalas Race Team delivered a masterclass performance, clocking an impressive 10:01.9 to take the stage win and overall race lead from overnight leader Frank Longstaff.
Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) secured second place with a time of 10:06.6, while Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) finished third in 10:12.3, narrowly edging out Bernard Galea of SPRNT by 0.1 seconds.
Frank Longstaff (Schils – Doltcini Racing Team), who had led the race after day one, finished in sixth place with a time of 10:17.8. Despite his strong effort, Longstaff relinquished the overall lead to Pickering, setting up an exciting final stage. Pickering stood 5 seconds ahead of Whitcher and ten ahead of Davies and Galea.
Stage 4
The final stage of the Sherpa Performance Stage Race was held on the same undulating circuit used for the Jock Wadley Memorial road race. Alex Pickering, holding the overall lead after his outstanding time trial performance, faced the daunting task of defending his position against a field eager to challenge him.
The race began at a blistering pace, with riders aggressively vying for position and attempting to form breakaways. From the start, the peloton maintained a high speed, making it difficult for any group to establish a lasting lead. Pickering, aware of his narrow margin in the GC standings, positioned himself near the front, vigilantly monitoring any potential threats.
A break did eventually form, however, with Jake Hales, Adam Robertson (both Ride Revolution), and Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), which formed while sprinting for points in the classification. The escape gained a significant gap, putting pressure on the GC contenders. At one point, Robertson even held the virtual lead on the road, which intensified the chase from the main bunch.
Clay Davies recounted the urgency of the chase: “A few moves went up the road, one with Jake Hales, Adam Robertson, and Callum Laborde. This group got a very big gap, and at one point, Robertson was the virtual GC leader on the road.”
Sensing an opportunity, Whitcher bridged over to the lead group with Frank Longstaff as the took the bell. Whitcher hit the front after realising that Pickering was not present and pressed on for several minutes, but the firepower back in the bunch pulled it back.
In the closing kilometres, Sean Dawson (Private Member) and Colin Ward (Primo RT) – neither a threat to the GC – launched a last-ditch effort to claim the stage win. The move paid off, with Dawson taking a surprise win.
As the main GC riders rolled in with the bunch, Pickering’s efforts throughout the race paid off, successfully defending his overall lead, securing the general classification win in only his third road race and first stage race. Whitcher remained second on GC, with Davies third, just 0.1 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Galea.
Reflecting on his triumph, Pickering expressed his satisfaction: “Being only my third road race and my first stage race, I am really pleased. My goal was to go for the GC, but I never thought I could have won it! After doing Lancaster GP last week, it gave me more confidence going into the race, and I will hopefully get more results going forward.”
Alex Pickering (Elysium Kalas Race Team) won the stage 3 time trial at the Sherpa Performance stage race on his way to securing the overall classification in only his third ever road race, while Sean Dawson won stage 4 with a late attack.
Featured image: Capture The Moment Photography
Report
Stage 3
Stage 3 of the Sherpa Performance Stage Race featured an 8km road bike time trial, testing the riders’ individual speed and endurance. Time trial specialist Alex Pickering of Elysium Kalas Race Team delivered a masterclass performance, clocking an impressive 10:01.9 to take the stage win and overall race lead from overnight leader Frank Longstaff.
Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) secured second place with a time of 10:06.6, while Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) finished third in 10:12.3, narrowly edging out Bernard Galea of SPRNT by 0.1 seconds.
Frank Longstaff (Schils – Doltcini Racing Team), who had led the race after day one, finished in sixth place with a time of 10:17.8. Despite his strong effort, Longstaff relinquished the overall lead to Pickering, setting up an exciting final stage. Pickering stood 5 seconds ahead of Whitcher and ten ahead of Davies and Galea.
Stage 4
The final stage of the Sherpa Performance Stage Race was held on the same undulating circuit used for the Jock Wadley Memorial road race. Alex Pickering, holding the overall lead after his outstanding time trial performance, faced the daunting task of defending his position against a field eager to challenge him.
The race began at a blistering pace, with riders aggressively vying for position and attempting to form breakaways. From the start, the peloton maintained a high speed, making it difficult for any group to establish a lasting lead. Pickering, aware of his narrow margin in the GC standings, positioned himself near the front, vigilantly monitoring any potential threats.
A break did eventually form, however, with Jake Hales, Adam Robertson (both Ride Revolution), and Callum Laborde (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), which formed while sprinting for points in the classification. The escape gained a significant gap, putting pressure on the GC contenders. At one point, Robertson even held the virtual lead on the road, which intensified the chase from the main bunch.
Clay Davies recounted the urgency of the chase: “A few moves went up the road, one with Jake Hales, Adam Robertson, and Callum Laborde. This group got a very big gap, and at one point, Robertson was the virtual GC leader on the road.”
Sensing an opportunity, Whitcher bridged over to the lead group with Frank Longstaff as the took the bell. Whitcher hit the front after realising that Pickering was not present and pressed on for several minutes, but the firepower back in the bunch pulled it back.
In the closing kilometres, Sean Dawson (Private Member) and Colin Ward (Primo RT) – neither a threat to the GC – launched a last-ditch effort to claim the stage win. The move paid off, with Dawson taking a surprise win.
As the main GC riders rolled in with the bunch, Pickering’s efforts throughout the race paid off, successfully defending his overall lead, securing the general classification win in only his third road race and first stage race. Whitcher remained second on GC, with Davies third, just 0.1 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Galea.
Reflecting on his triumph, Pickering expressed his satisfaction: “Being only my third road race and my first stage race, I am really pleased. My goal was to go for the GC, but I never thought I could have won it! After doing Lancaster GP last week, it gave me more confidence going into the race, and I will hopefully get more results going forward.”
Results
Stage 3
Stage 4
General classification
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