Monte Guerrini (Le Col Race Team) won the Royal Navy Cup road race in a two-up sprint with breakaway companion Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE).
In the women’s circuit race, Katie-Anne Calton (Team Boompods) secured a dramatic victory, edging out UCI Continental rider Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling Team) in an exhilarating sprint finish. Jennifer Lemen (PDQ Cycle Coaching Property Elite) completed the podium in after instigating the decisive move in the closing stages.
Featured image: PelotonPix/Dave Dodge Photography
Report
Open race
Held on a beautiful, crisp day with clear sunshine and virtually no wind, the race unfolded on the fast, flat 5.1km circuit at RNAS Merryfield, a working military base. Organised by the South West Road Race Working Group (SWRRWG), this unique 120km road race provided early-season opportunities for riders to accumulate race miles and valuable ranking points.
Guerrini, renowned for his prowess on circuits after a remarkable 2024 season featuring 11 circuit wins, showed exceptional strength alongside under-23 Whitcher, himself a formidable rider known for his time trial prowess.
Image Credit: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The race began calmly, with few early moves sticking until Whitcher and Guerrini ignited the action after two laps, quickly establishing a lead group. Elijah Kwon from the newly formed Edinburgh Bike Fitting Race Team, who finished fourth, provided insight into the race dynamics, stating: “Initially, it was very easy in the bunch, and it seemed like no attacks were going. After two laps, Jamie Whitcher attacked with Monte Guerrini and took a group of four off the front, where they stayed for about half an hour.”
At about 40 minutes in, Kwon went with a group of six, including three Le Col RT riders, who combined well for the next 20 to 30 minutes to bridge across to the leaders. “Once we got across, the group worked nicely together,” says Kwon.
However, with the leaders beginning to ease off as the race wore on, the bunch started getting closer. The gap came down to about 40 seconds, motivating the leaders to pick the pace back up, take the gap out again.
The decisive moment came late when Guerrini attacked again with Whitcher close behind, decisively splitting the group. Kwon explained, “With two and a half laps to go, Monty Guerrini jumped, followed by Jamie Whitcher, and the two of them just rode off.”
Image Credit: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
With the Le Col riders present in the chase group refusing to work, it became clear that the pair out front would not be caught. With the chasers decided to roll through easily, Charles Page (Foran CT) and Benjamin Hellebo (Le Col RT) took the initiative to jump across from the bunch.
Guerinni bested Whitcher in the sprint for first to win the second National B road race of the season. In the chasing group, Kwon led the sprint out, with Page coming around him in the closing metres to take the podium. Kwon was fourth, while Guerrini’s teammate Hellebo completed the top five.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
For 20-year-old Whitcher, the race was a satisfying test of early form. “was just happy being off the front the whole race, made for a good workout . I made the move that made the initial break go clear and I just kept pulling through till the end,” he reflected. “I came into the finish straight ahead and Monte kicked around me. I still had plenty of energy but that type of finish is more challenging for me.”
Women’s race
The women’s event, a 90-minute circuit race held concurrently with the open race. With little wind to challenge the riders, the race stayed compact and competitive throughout. Eventual race winner Kate-Anne Calton described the race as “quite attacking, with no one really up to taking up the pace or chasing.”
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The key moment came on the final lap when Lemen launched a strong attack with about 2km remaining. Ramsey immediately counter-attacked, forming a dangerous two-rider breakaway. Recognising the threat, Calton responded swiftly, bridging solo to join Ramsey and Lemen. The trio collaborated effectively, holding off the chasing group to set up an exciting finish.
In a gripping sprint, Calton narrowly overcame Ramsey, clinching victory by the smallest margin on the line. Lemen was third, while behind, Laura Furness (Army Cycling Union) led home the chasing pack to finish fourth, with Bexy Dew (Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team) completing the top five, both riders finishing within ten seconds of Calton’s winning time.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
Reflecting on her triumph, Calton highlighted the personal significance: “It’s really nice to start the season off with a win in a new team, especially since I was taken out by a car two weeks ago while out on a training ride. It’s a major confidence boost and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds.”
Monte Guerrini (Le Col Race Team) won the Royal Navy Cup road race in a two-up sprint with breakaway companion Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE).
In the women’s circuit race, Katie-Anne Calton (Team Boompods) secured a dramatic victory, edging out UCI Continental rider Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling Team) in an exhilarating sprint finish. Jennifer Lemen (PDQ Cycle Coaching Property Elite) completed the podium in after instigating the decisive move in the closing stages.
Featured image: PelotonPix/Dave Dodge Photography
Report
Open race
Held on a beautiful, crisp day with clear sunshine and virtually no wind, the race unfolded on the fast, flat 5.1km circuit at RNAS Merryfield, a working military base. Organised by the South West Road Race Working Group (SWRRWG), this unique 120km road race provided early-season opportunities for riders to accumulate race miles and valuable ranking points.
Guerrini, renowned for his prowess on circuits after a remarkable 2024 season featuring 11 circuit wins, showed exceptional strength alongside under-23 Whitcher, himself a formidable rider known for his time trial prowess.
The race began calmly, with few early moves sticking until Whitcher and Guerrini ignited the action after two laps, quickly establishing a lead group. Elijah Kwon from the newly formed Edinburgh Bike Fitting Race Team, who finished fourth, provided insight into the race dynamics, stating: “Initially, it was very easy in the bunch, and it seemed like no attacks were going. After two laps, Jamie Whitcher attacked with Monte Guerrini and took a group of four off the front, where they stayed for about half an hour.”
At about 40 minutes in, Kwon went with a group of six, including three Le Col RT riders, who combined well for the next 20 to 30 minutes to bridge across to the leaders. “Once we got across, the group worked nicely together,” says Kwon.
However, with the leaders beginning to ease off as the race wore on, the bunch started getting closer. The gap came down to about 40 seconds, motivating the leaders to pick the pace back up, take the gap out again.
The decisive moment came late when Guerrini attacked again with Whitcher close behind, decisively splitting the group. Kwon explained, “With two and a half laps to go, Monty Guerrini jumped, followed by Jamie Whitcher, and the two of them just rode off.”
With the Le Col riders present in the chase group refusing to work, it became clear that the pair out front would not be caught. With the chasers decided to roll through easily, Charles Page (Foran CT) and Benjamin Hellebo (Le Col RT) took the initiative to jump across from the bunch.
Guerinni bested Whitcher in the sprint for first to win the second National B road race of the season. In the chasing group, Kwon led the sprint out, with Page coming around him in the closing metres to take the podium. Kwon was fourth, while Guerrini’s teammate Hellebo completed the top five.
For 20-year-old Whitcher, the race was a satisfying test of early form. “was just happy being off the front the whole race, made for a good workout . I made the move that made the initial break go clear and I just kept pulling through till the end,” he reflected. “I came into the finish straight ahead and Monte kicked around me. I still had plenty of energy but that type of finish is more challenging for me.”
Women’s race
The women’s event, a 90-minute circuit race held concurrently with the open race. With little wind to challenge the riders, the race stayed compact and competitive throughout. Eventual race winner Kate-Anne Calton described the race as “quite attacking, with no one really up to taking up the pace or chasing.”
The key moment came on the final lap when Lemen launched a strong attack with about 2km remaining. Ramsey immediately counter-attacked, forming a dangerous two-rider breakaway. Recognising the threat, Calton responded swiftly, bridging solo to join Ramsey and Lemen. The trio collaborated effectively, holding off the chasing group to set up an exciting finish.
In a gripping sprint, Calton narrowly overcame Ramsey, clinching victory by the smallest margin on the line. Lemen was third, while behind, Laura Furness (Army Cycling Union) led home the chasing pack to finish fourth, with Bexy Dew (Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team) completing the top five, both riders finishing within ten seconds of Calton’s winning time.
Reflecting on her triumph, Calton highlighted the personal significance: “It’s really nice to start the season off with a win in a new team, especially since I was taken out by a car two weeks ago while out on a training ride. It’s a major confidence boost and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds.”
Results
Provisional results.
Open race
For rankings points and rider teams click here.
Women’s race
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.