2025 Clayton Spring Classic Handicap: preview and startlist

Updated 20.30, 21 February

Two weeks on from Britain’s ‘Opening Weekend’ with the Portsdown Classic, road racing makes its return to the North of England on Sunday 23 February with the Clayton Spring Classic Handicap, another early season tradition.

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What is it?

Back for it’s 57th edition, and again sponsored by PM+M Solutions for Business LLP, this open category race takes place just outside of the stunning landscapes of the Forest of Bowland, taking in 15 laps of the short Bashall Eaves circuit; 58 miles of frantic racing in store for the 80 rider field.

Classified as Regional C+, the race is one of the most prestigious in the early season. Using handicap conditions, as the name suggests, it is also a rare opportunity for the women’s and open fields to race together. Its place on the calendar takes on extra significance this year following the announcement that the Eddie Soens Memorial, another traditional early season handicap, would be taking a break for 2025, citing rising costs and dwindling entry numbers.

Riders are set off at different times according to their British Cycling license category, the aim for all groups to be competitive. The scratch group, due to contain just nine first and elite category licence holders, is due to set off five minutes in arrears of the first group, consisting of the two female entries and the the 3rd/4th category riders. Sandwiched between the two are the second category riders, who enjoy a two minute buffer on the scratch group, but will want to waste no time closing the three minute gap to the first group. These handicaps are provisional and can be adjusted by the chief commissaire on the day.

The list of previous winners reads like a who’s who of British cycling, Tyler Hannay’s victory last year putting him alongside the likes of Paul Curran, Rob Hayles and Tom Pidcock, who held off a charging Ian Wilkinson to win the race as a junior in 2016.

Tom Martin, who won the race in 2023, told The British Continental it’s a good race to start the season, with an eye on bigger goals. “It’s not one to take too seriously, it’s a good race, a good season opener.

“It’s obviously nice to win, but it’s one of those races where it’s a training race for a lot of people. There’s such a long gap between Clayton and the first Prem. It’s nice to be going well early doors, but you don’t want to be going too well, because it doesn’t really kick off until April in the UK.”

With that in mind, the race can offer some surprises, with third category rider Carl Potter taking the spoils for Lancashire Road Club three years ago, while juniors have often made a name for themselves against strong opposition: Ollie Rees the last to taste victory in 2019. However, now on unrestricted gears they no longer have the luxury of a separate start and are placed within their categories.

The course

“It’s a good course, it’s a lot like a Kermesse style course, where it’s pretty flat out,” says Martin, talking through the 3.9 mile Bashall Eaves circuit.

With only 100ft of elevation per lap, the route avoids the more difficult climbs the area is famous for, a number of small drags instead punctuating the course, the toughest being to the finish line, a sweeping bend marking the 200m to go point.

Conditions can play a major role in how the race is run, harsh February conditions often adding another tough element to the grippy, less than optimal road surface.

“Watch out for the potholes, don’t bring your best wheels!” laughs Martin, who also warns that the wind can play a major factor. “It depends on the wind, really. Sometimes you get a good bit of wind and that can split it up a bit too.”

Riders to watch

The startlist is headed by Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Martin, who had to settle for third last year after a thrilling pursuit of Tyler Hannay in the final laps. However, having fallen on ice while out training earlier in the month, it remains to be seen what form the Cumbrian is in.

His aggressive style will be supplemented by new teammate Dexter Leeming-Sykes, who returns to Britain after a tough year in France. The 21-year-old will be looking to re-establish himself with a return to the form he showed in a breakthrough 2023, which saw him take multiple National A top tens.

The pair form part of a scratch group who will be hoping to dictate proceedings, Martin noting what a profound difference cooperation among the group can make. “Last year everyone knew we needed to get cracking or we wouldn’t have been in the race,” he notes as a stark reminder of the task they face to begin with.

Late entrant Josh Whitehead (Team Bricquebec Cotentin) will be a marked man. The former Lancaster Grand Prix rider is the biggest name on the startlist and will start as a favourite.

They will be joined by Alex Beldon, the former TRINITY Racing rider, who makes his debut for MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK, who also have Jake Jackson on the startlist. As well as Beldon, there are two other second-year U23s in the group who could make an impression in Alex Foster (Cycling Sheffield) and John Bardsley (360 Cycling). Foster will be looking to make a step up after spending last year on Dave Coulson’s squad, while Bardsley impressed last year with 4th in this race, a catalyst to his strong season. Matthew Webster (Unattached) is something of a crit specialist and could be a dark horse on the short, fast course.

The second category group have numbers on their side as they look to make their advantage count, within it some of the most talented riders in the country. Second year juniors Harrison Dainty (Fensham Howes – MAS Design) and Isaac Oliver (Harrogate Nova Race Team) have the potential to cause an upset; Dainty a stage winner in last year’s Junior Tour of the North West, while Oliver impressed here last year, clinging onto the coattails of Martin and Logan Maclean as they struck out for victory. He should arrive in good form after a winter of cyclocross. On the other end of the age spectrum is Karl Smith (Unattached), the 58-year-old was professional in the late 1980s and remains competitive today as he takes to the start for the 20th time.

Finally, the first group off should never be discounted, 2022 winner Carl Potter evidence of that. He returns this year in the colours of Tactic Sport UK, with another former pro in Tom Barras (SPATZWEAR) starting alongside him a decade on since retiring and moving into a DS role for NFTO.

Startlist