The National Road Series returns this Sunday with the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, one of the most challenging races on the domestic calendar.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
The historic Ampleforth Abbey hosts the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, the 19th running of the event which makes up the the fifth round of the Women’s National Road Series and fourth round of the Open competition, respectively.
Taking riders into the beautiful natural landscape of the Howardian Hills, the rolling terrain promises to deliver exciting racing, with the series overall on the line in this, the penultimate round, as it heads towards its climax at the Curlew Cup and Beaumont Trophy next month.
First run in 2005 as the National Road Race Championships, where Russell Downing and Nicole Cooke took home the jerseys, the race has been become a highlight of the domestic calendar with Ian Stannard, who also claimed National Championship glory in 2012, Sharon Laws, Abi Smith, James Shaw and Alex Richardson among an illustrious set of winners.
Last year Saint Piran dominated the Open race, with an unprecedented 1-2-3-4-5, led home by Harry Birchill, while 19-year-old Mille Couzens sprinted to victory from a group of ten riders in the women’s race.
2023 Women’s Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix – Millie Couzens of Fenix‐Deceuninck wins. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Route
The route remains unchanged from last year and has become a classic of the domestic calendar.
Starting around a 25.7km ‘long circuit’, the races then switch to a 16.1km ‘short circuit’, which cuts out the most westerly part of the long circuit which the riders through the village of Oulston and the toughest climb of the race. Both circuits pass through the finish line, situated outside Ampleforth Abbey, on the steepest section of a challenging ascent.
The women’s race takes in the long circuit twice before finishing with three loops of three of the short for a distance of 101.4km, while the Open race takes in three long circuits and five short for a testing 161km route.
Both circuits are punctuated by a series of testing climbs and technical country roads, making this race one of the most selective on the calendar, with the final ascent up to the Abbey set to decide the winner should it come down to a sprint.
The long circuit
Running anti-clockwise, the riders head north up the ‘East Lane Climb’, with start / finish line outside the Abbey half way up it. Continuing, they take a left turn before descending into Ampleforth village.
Heading south, and most likely into a head wind, the riders then ascend the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb as they reach Thorpe Beck. Averaging almost 7% for 1.5km and topping out at 10.9%, the climb is likely to be a decisive place in the race, featuring on both circuits. Once at the summit, the circuit takes a sharp right turn towards Oulston, delivering a short sharp rise before they reach the village. A relatively sustained section of descent then begins, taking the riders left through Oulston, then south, before heading east towards the River Foss.
As they reach the river, the ‘second climb’ begins, the toughest of the three main climbs on the course. Featuring only on the long circuit, the climb is 1.1m long, with an average gradient of 7.9%. It tops out at a gruelling 15% halfway up, with another sting in the tail towards the top. Although it is likely to wear down the riders and prove a good launch pad for attacks, its placement early in the race means it is unlikely to be decisive.
After a short dip, the course then rises again into Yearsley. From here, the route then descends pretty much all the way to Gilling, where the riders then head east and then north back to Ampleforth Abbey, finishing with the 2km East Lane Climb. Averaging only 4%, on paper it appears more of a power climb for the roulers; however, with the finish line situated just after the steepest section, it could prove decisive, and not only on the final lap.
The short circuit
Similar to the long circuit, the short circuit cuts out the section taking in Oulston, and the 2nd climb, with riders continuing straight to Yearsley, rejoining the long circuit there for the trip back to the Abbey.
Riders to Watch
Women’s race
All eyes will be on Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team), who is in pole position to take over the series lead with a strong performance here, currently sitting just one point behind leader Lucy Harris in the overall standings. Buoyed by her selection to race the Tour de L’Avenir Femmes, the former Scottish champion has been in majestic form this summer and should be in the mix.
Picture Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 23/07/2024 – Cycling – 2024 British Cycling Lloyds Bank Elite National Circuit Series – Round 6 – The Colne Grand Prix – Women’s GP – Eilidh Shaw of Alba Development Road Team
As well as American Kiera Bond, who demonstrated her ability throughout the National Circuit Series including a win the Sheffield GP, the Alba Development RT contains new signing Lauren Dickson, the revelation of the Lancaster GP where she finished second. The former triathlete seemed not to be surprised by her podium finish and should again go well on the hilly parcours.
Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) leads the series after a string of consistent performances, holding on to her advantage after finishing in the peloton at the Lancaster GP. Harris has a strong team around her including Lucy Gadd, Bexy Dew and Lizi Brooke, who should find the course to her liking.
Picture by Elliot Keen/British Cycling via SWpix.com – 06/06/2024 – Cycling – UCI Women’s World Tour – Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women – Stage 2 : The Wrexham Stage, Wales – Lucy Harris of Pro-Noctis
With the team’s future now secure, the riders will feel unshackled from the pressure and uncertainty surrounding their futures and will be looking to start a new era in the perfect way.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK bring a formidable team to Yorkshire, led by Lancaster GP winner Frankie Hall, who sits third in the series. Supported by Tammy Miller, who was third after joining Hall in the decisive break at Lancaster as well as the likes of Ruth Shier and Lucy Lee, fresh off the back of a trip to Belgium, expect the UCI Continental squad to race aggressively from the front once again.
Picture by Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com – 28/07/2024 – British Cycling – 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Women’s Race – Francesca Hall of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK wins
The junior Shibden Apex RT team may be having issues with their team car, leading to them appealing for help but their riders continue to work as a well oiled machine with Esther Wong leading the line for the Yorkshire squad here. With a 4th place in the Lincoln GP her standout result this season, the second year junior has yet to be outside the top ten in the three National Road Series rounds she has ridden this year.
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing rider American Katherine Sheridan – 7th last year – and Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) – 5th at the Lancaster GP – are good outside bets for a strong result, while Caitlin Dimbleby (Unattached) started the season with some standout results and is back on form after a strong showing in Lancaster.
Open race
Series leader George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) delivered perhaps his finest National A performance in the Lancaster GP, bridging to the winning move with victor Ben Granger, then finishing on the podium. Consistent and able to win on a variety of courses, the Devon-born engineer finds himself in the box seat to win the series overall with top challengers Ollie Rees and Adam Lewis absent for this round. He will be backed up by a strong team with newly crowned Scottish Road Race ChampionLogan Maclean and track star Will Perrett offering support.
Picture by Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com – 28/07/2024 – British Cycling – 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series – Lancaster Grand Prix 2024, Open Race – Podium – George Kimber of Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling, Series Leader
Saint Piran have yet to reach the dizzy heights of 2023 and a repeat of the incredible 1-2-3-4-5 from last year looks almost impossible. However, the Cornish squad bring a strong team led by Rowan Baker, the East Cleveland GP winner impressing in France in recent weeks. James McKay sits 5th in the series, one of the closest threats to Kimber on the start line, as he looks for yet another National Road Series podium. They are joined by the likes of Harry Birchill, who hasn’t yet shown the form in 2024 which saw him win this race last year, Tyler Hannay and Olympic medallist Ollie Wood, fresh from the Paris games.
Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) took a superb comeback win at the Lincoln GP and will find the hilly nature of this race to his liking, while Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) has been one of the most consistent performers at National B level this season and will be looking to make the step up after racing infrequently over the summer. He currently sits 4th overall in the series, the closest challenger to Kimber on paper.
Wheelsebase CabTech Castelli raced almost perfectly at Lancaster GP before their hopes fell apart on the final lap. They bring another strong team with the ambition of taking their first National Road Series win. Thomas Armstrong sits 6th in the series, the climber enjoying his best season in the UK, while Tom Martin can never be ruled out.
Picture Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 23/07/2024 – Cycling – 2024 British Cycling Lloyds Bank Elite National Circuit Series – Round 6 – The Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix – Open Men’s GP – Thomas Armstrong of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy) was the surprise package of the Lancaster GP, taking the Climber’s Competition on the way to 4th place, the Irishman one of the riders to have been out on a trip to France before racing here. Matt Lord (Richardsons Trek-DAS) is another rider to have raced across the channel and has steadily improved this year.
Further down the startlist, Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) is in excellent form, winning two of the three stages of the Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race last weekend. Matt King leads an X-Speed United contingent, the Lincoln GP podium finisher an outsider here on much hillier terrain. James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) has been in good form recently and along with David Hird is the best bet for a result for Dave Coulson’s outfit.
Ràs Tailteann winner Dom Jackson (Foran CC) is another rider with the ability to win a race of this calibre, the hilly nature suiting the former rowers credentials. Matthew Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) is a promising first year U23 and another rider to keep an eye on.
Picture Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 19/06/2024 – Road Cycling – British Cycling 2024 Lloyds Bank National Individual Time Trial Championships – Elite and U23 Men – Catterick, North Yorkshire – Matthew Cole of Hagens Berman Jayco CT
Timings
The women’s race begins at 9.15 and finishes at approximately 12.25, while the men’s start is at 14.00 with an estimated finish of 18.25.
Coverage
Fans can follow the race on British Cycling’s social media channels and watch it live on Monument TV.
We’ll also be covering the action at Ampleforth, with Joe Hudson on the ground posting updates on our Instagram stories.
The National Road Series returns this Sunday with the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, one of the most challenging races on the domestic calendar.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
The historic Ampleforth Abbey hosts the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, the 19th running of the event which makes up the the fifth round of the Women’s National Road Series and fourth round of the Open competition, respectively.
Taking riders into the beautiful natural landscape of the Howardian Hills, the rolling terrain promises to deliver exciting racing, with the series overall on the line in this, the penultimate round, as it heads towards its climax at the Curlew Cup and Beaumont Trophy next month.
First run in 2005 as the National Road Race Championships, where Russell Downing and Nicole Cooke took home the jerseys, the race has been become a highlight of the domestic calendar with Ian Stannard, who also claimed National Championship glory in 2012, Sharon Laws, Abi Smith, James Shaw and Alex Richardson among an illustrious set of winners.
Last year Saint Piran dominated the Open race, with an unprecedented 1-2-3-4-5, led home by Harry Birchill, while 19-year-old Mille Couzens sprinted to victory from a group of ten riders in the women’s race.
Route
The route remains unchanged from last year and has become a classic of the domestic calendar.
Starting around a 25.7km ‘long circuit’, the races then switch to a 16.1km ‘short circuit’, which cuts out the most westerly part of the long circuit which the riders through the village of Oulston and the toughest climb of the race. Both circuits pass through the finish line, situated outside Ampleforth Abbey, on the steepest section of a challenging ascent.
The women’s race takes in the long circuit twice before finishing with three loops of three of the short for a distance of 101.4km, while the Open race takes in three long circuits and five short for a testing 161km route.
Both circuits are punctuated by a series of testing climbs and technical country roads, making this race one of the most selective on the calendar, with the final ascent up to the Abbey set to decide the winner should it come down to a sprint.
The long circuit
Running anti-clockwise, the riders head north up the ‘East Lane Climb’, with start / finish line outside the Abbey half way up it. Continuing, they take a left turn before descending into Ampleforth village.
Heading south, and most likely into a head wind, the riders then ascend the ‘N Moor Ln’ climb as they reach Thorpe Beck. Averaging almost 7% for 1.5km and topping out at 10.9%, the climb is likely to be a decisive place in the race, featuring on both circuits. Once at the summit, the circuit takes a sharp right turn towards Oulston, delivering a short sharp rise before they reach the village. A relatively sustained section of descent then begins, taking the riders left through Oulston, then south, before heading east towards the River Foss.
As they reach the river, the ‘second climb’ begins, the toughest of the three main climbs on the course. Featuring only on the long circuit, the climb is 1.1m long, with an average gradient of 7.9%. It tops out at a gruelling 15% halfway up, with another sting in the tail towards the top. Although it is likely to wear down the riders and prove a good launch pad for attacks, its placement early in the race means it is unlikely to be decisive.
After a short dip, the course then rises again into Yearsley. From here, the route then descends pretty much all the way to Gilling, where the riders then head east and then north back to Ampleforth Abbey, finishing with the 2km East Lane Climb. Averaging only 4%, on paper it appears more of a power climb for the roulers; however, with the finish line situated just after the steepest section, it could prove decisive, and not only on the final lap.
The short circuit
Similar to the long circuit, the short circuit cuts out the section taking in Oulston, and the 2nd climb, with riders continuing straight to Yearsley, rejoining the long circuit there for the trip back to the Abbey.
Riders to Watch
Women’s race
All eyes will be on Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team), who is in pole position to take over the series lead with a strong performance here, currently sitting just one point behind leader Lucy Harris in the overall standings. Buoyed by her selection to race the Tour de L’Avenir Femmes, the former Scottish champion has been in majestic form this summer and should be in the mix.
As well as American Kiera Bond, who demonstrated her ability throughout the National Circuit Series including a win the Sheffield GP, the Alba Development RT contains new signing Lauren Dickson, the revelation of the Lancaster GP where she finished second. The former triathlete seemed not to be surprised by her podium finish and should again go well on the hilly parcours.
Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) leads the series after a string of consistent performances, holding on to her advantage after finishing in the peloton at the Lancaster GP. Harris has a strong team around her including Lucy Gadd, Bexy Dew and Lizi Brooke, who should find the course to her liking.
With the team’s future now secure, the riders will feel unshackled from the pressure and uncertainty surrounding their futures and will be looking to start a new era in the perfect way.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK bring a formidable team to Yorkshire, led by Lancaster GP winner Frankie Hall, who sits third in the series. Supported by Tammy Miller, who was third after joining Hall in the decisive break at Lancaster as well as the likes of Ruth Shier and Lucy Lee, fresh off the back of a trip to Belgium, expect the UCI Continental squad to race aggressively from the front once again.
The junior Shibden Apex RT team may be having issues with their team car, leading to them appealing for help but their riders continue to work as a well oiled machine with Esther Wong leading the line for the Yorkshire squad here. With a 4th place in the Lincoln GP her standout result this season, the second year junior has yet to be outside the top ten in the three National Road Series rounds she has ridden this year.
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing rider American Katherine Sheridan – 7th last year – and Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) – 5th at the Lancaster GP – are good outside bets for a strong result, while Caitlin Dimbleby (Unattached) started the season with some standout results and is back on form after a strong showing in Lancaster.
Open race
Series leader George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) delivered perhaps his finest National A performance in the Lancaster GP, bridging to the winning move with victor Ben Granger, then finishing on the podium. Consistent and able to win on a variety of courses, the Devon-born engineer finds himself in the box seat to win the series overall with top challengers Ollie Rees and Adam Lewis absent for this round. He will be backed up by a strong team with newly crowned Scottish Road Race Champion Logan Maclean and track star Will Perrett offering support.
Saint Piran have yet to reach the dizzy heights of 2023 and a repeat of the incredible 1-2-3-4-5 from last year looks almost impossible. However, the Cornish squad bring a strong team led by Rowan Baker, the East Cleveland GP winner impressing in France in recent weeks. James McKay sits 5th in the series, one of the closest threats to Kimber on the start line, as he looks for yet another National Road Series podium. They are joined by the likes of Harry Birchill, who hasn’t yet shown the form in 2024 which saw him win this race last year, Tyler Hannay and Olympic medallist Ollie Wood, fresh from the Paris games.
Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) took a superb comeback win at the Lincoln GP and will find the hilly nature of this race to his liking, while Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) has been one of the most consistent performers at National B level this season and will be looking to make the step up after racing infrequently over the summer. He currently sits 4th overall in the series, the closest challenger to Kimber on paper.
Wheelsebase CabTech Castelli raced almost perfectly at Lancaster GP before their hopes fell apart on the final lap. They bring another strong team with the ambition of taking their first National Road Series win. Thomas Armstrong sits 6th in the series, the climber enjoying his best season in the UK, while Tom Martin can never be ruled out.
Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy) was the surprise package of the Lancaster GP, taking the Climber’s Competition on the way to 4th place, the Irishman one of the riders to have been out on a trip to France before racing here. Matt Lord (Richardsons Trek-DAS) is another rider to have raced across the channel and has steadily improved this year.
Further down the startlist, Tom Williams (Thriva-SRCT) is in excellent form, winning two of the three stages of the Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race last weekend. Matt King leads an X-Speed United contingent, the Lincoln GP podium finisher an outsider here on much hillier terrain. James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) has been in good form recently and along with David Hird is the best bet for a result for Dave Coulson’s outfit.
Ràs Tailteann winner Dom Jackson (Foran CC) is another rider with the ability to win a race of this calibre, the hilly nature suiting the former rowers credentials. Matthew Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) is a promising first year U23 and another rider to keep an eye on.
Timings
The women’s race begins at 9.15 and finishes at approximately 12.25, while the men’s start is at 14.00 with an estimated finish of 18.25.
Coverage
Fans can follow the race on British Cycling’s social media channels and watch it live on Monument TV.
We’ll also be covering the action at Ampleforth, with Joe Hudson on the ground posting updates on our Instagram stories.
Provisional startlists
Women’s race
MillieSkinnerSeniorAlba Development Road Team29HarrietEvansSeniorFTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing30RebeccaHairSeniorFTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing32FlorenScraftonSeniorFTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing50GeorginaOakleySeniorLoughborough Lightning60AnastasiaBowlerSeniorSaint Piran WRT72MeganAndersonSeniorTeam Boompods83ElektraGeorgiakakisSeniorFTP Fusion93CorinneSideSeniorSpectra RacingOpen race
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