The season’s second National B road race takes place this weekend with the Royal Navy Cup, a unique circuit race at RNAS Merryfield, Somerset.
Read on for our preview and startlists.
Featured image: PelotonPix /Dave Dodge Photography
What is it?
Organised by the South West Road Race Working Group (SWRRWG), the Royal Navy Cup is a unique road race held on the Ilton circuit at RNAS Merryfield, a working military base. The open race features a full field of 80 riders and, at 120km in length, qualifies as a road race—an uncommon distinction for circuit-style events. It provides an early-season opportunity for riders to log race miles and earn valuable ranking points. Alongside the road race, a National B women’s circuit race takes place on the same course.
Last year’s winners were Jordan Giles in the open event and Niamh Murphy in the women’s race.
Route
Riders will tackle a fast, flat 5.1km lap consisting of four sweeping bends; the open race covering 24 laps for a distance of 120km, the women’s circuit race a timed affair lasting 90 minutes. Both races due on the circuit at the same time, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open.
The latest forecast predicts sunshine and light winds, meaning that crosswind should not be a factor on the exposed airfield course.
Both races take place simultaneously, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open event.
Open race start: 11:00
Women’s race start: 12:20
Riders to watch
Open race
The Royal Navy Cup’s 120km open race promises a dynamic contest, with the flat, fast circuit at RNAS Merryfield favouring sprinters and breakaway specialists over climbers. This terrain could lead to a reduced bunch sprint or a successful breakaway, offering opportunities for riders who excel on flatter courses.
Danilo Riwnyj at the 2025 Portsdown Classic. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Foran CT, Le Col Race Team and Reflex Nopinz are the strongest of the squads fielding multiple riders.
Foran CT’s options include Charles Page and Danylo Riwnyj. Page, a seasoned competitor with six seasons at the UCI Continental level, secured victories at Hillingdon in the previous year, demonstrating his sprinting prowess suited for this course. Riwnyj, who finished 5th in this event in 2024, consistently achieved top-ten placements in National B road races, indicating his reliability and potential for a podium finish.
Among the Le Col Race Team, look out for Oliver Richardson and Monte Guerrini were second and third respectively in this race last season. Both riders are excellent circuit racers, Geurrini picking up no less than 11 circuit race wins in 2024.
Reflex Nopinz’s strongest card might be the fast-improving Joe Reeves who confirmed his excellent early season form last weekend with victory at the Azets Spring Classic. The under-23 rider only began racing last season and quickly progressed.
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) had a strong 2024, including finishing 2nd in the UK Armed Forces Inter-Services Road Race and 4th in the Upton Road Race against a strong field. He rode this race last year, finishing 8th.
Jamie Whitcher, Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
An excellent time triallist, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) is another rider to watch. He was second at the Portsdown Classic in 2024 and won the 360 Cycling Tour of the Northwest in a standout season.
46-year-old William Bjergfelt continues to astound. He made history as the first para-cyclist to participate in the Tour of Britain in 2021 and then in Glasgow in 2023 he took a gold medal in the Men’s C5 Road Race at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.
Freddie Grover (X-Speed United) is the only UCI Continental rider on the list and although his domestic results have been modest in the last two years, he picked up his first UCI road race win last year with a stage victory at the Tour of Albania.
Women’s race
19-year-old Katie-Anne Calton (Team Boompods) sharpened up her race legs at the recent national track championships and is a rider who performs well in circuit races, demonstrated by her 4th at the Will Houghton Memorial last year in her first season as a senior.
Loughborough Lightning rider Penny Colloff (4th in this race last year) is another rider at home in a circuit race, a regular participant (and winner) at Hillingdon.
The blanket finish at last season’s women’s race. Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
Bexy Dew (Smurfit Westrock) is one of two UCI Continental riders on the start line. Dew is a classy rider, and if she can begin her season as well as she finished 2024 – she was 5th at the Curlew Cup against a high-quality field – then she will be a serious threat.
The other UCI Continental rider is Tamsin Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) who had a notable 2024, including a 5th place finish in a stage of the Volta a Portugal Feminina, a GC win at the CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold and an 11th place in the British National Time Trial Championships.
The season’s second National B road race takes place this weekend with the Royal Navy Cup, a unique circuit race at RNAS Merryfield, Somerset.
Read on for our preview and startlists.
Featured image: PelotonPix /Dave Dodge Photography
What is it?
Organised by the South West Road Race Working Group (SWRRWG), the Royal Navy Cup is a unique road race held on the Ilton circuit at RNAS Merryfield, a working military base. The open race features a full field of 80 riders and, at 120km in length, qualifies as a road race—an uncommon distinction for circuit-style events. It provides an early-season opportunity for riders to log race miles and earn valuable ranking points. Alongside the road race, a National B women’s circuit race takes place on the same course.
Last year’s winners were Jordan Giles in the open event and Niamh Murphy in the women’s race.
Route
Riders will tackle a fast, flat 5.1km lap consisting of four sweeping bends; the open race covering 24 laps for a distance of 120km, the women’s circuit race a timed affair lasting 90 minutes. Both races due on the circuit at the same time, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open.
The latest forecast predicts sunshine and light winds, meaning that crosswind should not be a factor on the exposed airfield course.
Both races take place simultaneously, with the women’s race scheduled to finish ten minutes before the open event.
Riders to watch
Open race
The Royal Navy Cup’s 120km open race promises a dynamic contest, with the flat, fast circuit at RNAS Merryfield favouring sprinters and breakaway specialists over climbers. This terrain could lead to a reduced bunch sprint or a successful breakaway, offering opportunities for riders who excel on flatter courses.
Foran CT, Le Col Race Team and Reflex Nopinz are the strongest of the squads fielding multiple riders.
Foran CT’s options include Charles Page and Danylo Riwnyj. Page, a seasoned competitor with six seasons at the UCI Continental level, secured victories at Hillingdon in the previous year, demonstrating his sprinting prowess suited for this course. Riwnyj, who finished 5th in this event in 2024, consistently achieved top-ten placements in National B road races, indicating his reliability and potential for a podium finish.
Among the Le Col Race Team, look out for Oliver Richardson and Monte Guerrini were second and third respectively in this race last season. Both riders are excellent circuit racers, Geurrini picking up no less than 11 circuit race wins in 2024.
Reflex Nopinz’s strongest card might be the fast-improving Joe Reeves who confirmed his excellent early season form last weekend with victory at the Azets Spring Classic. The under-23 rider only began racing last season and quickly progressed.
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) had a strong 2024, including finishing 2nd in the UK Armed Forces Inter-Services Road Race and 4th in the Upton Road Race against a strong field. He rode this race last year, finishing 8th.
An excellent time triallist, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) is another rider to watch. He was second at the Portsdown Classic in 2024 and won the 360 Cycling Tour of the Northwest in a standout season.
46-year-old William Bjergfelt continues to astound. He made history as the first para-cyclist to participate in the Tour of Britain in 2021 and then in Glasgow in 2023 he took a gold medal in the Men’s C5 Road Race at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.
Freddie Grover (X-Speed United) is the only UCI Continental rider on the list and although his domestic results have been modest in the last two years, he picked up his first UCI road race win last year with a stage victory at the Tour of Albania.
Women’s race
19-year-old Katie-Anne Calton (Team Boompods) sharpened up her race legs at the recent national track championships and is a rider who performs well in circuit races, demonstrated by her 4th at the Will Houghton Memorial last year in her first season as a senior.
Loughborough Lightning rider Penny Colloff (4th in this race last year) is another rider at home in a circuit race, a regular participant (and winner) at Hillingdon.
Bexy Dew (Smurfit Westrock) is one of two UCI Continental riders on the start line. Dew is a classy rider, and if she can begin her season as well as she finished 2024 – she was 5th at the Curlew Cup against a high-quality field – then she will be a serious threat.
The other UCI Continental rider is Tamsin Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) who had a notable 2024, including a 5th place finish in a stage of the Volta a Portugal Feminina, a GC win at the CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold and an 11th place in the British National Time Trial Championships.
Startlists
Open race
Women’s race
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