Saturday’s Gifford Road Race marks the start of National Road season in Scotland, an Open National B the feature race of a programme that includes a standalone women’s Regional C+ race for the first time.
Featured image: Ian Henderson
What is it?
Organised by Edinburgh RC, the Gifford Road Race has become a staple of the Scottish National B calendar, 2025 marking its 17th edition. An Open race, it is the opening round of four in the Scottish Cycling supported Alba Road Series, the highest level of competition in the country. Tom Martin won last year’s edition.
Before the flagship National B race, the event features two additional races: an Open Regional B road race, starting at 10:00, followed by a Regional C+ women’s race at 12:00. The National B race then gets underway at 14:30.
Tom Martin wins the 2024 edition. Image: Ian Henderson
Route
The National B race takes in nine laps of the Gifford course, a diverse 13km loop through the rolling East Lothian countryside, approximately 40km east of Edinburgh. The route follows relatively quiet roads but remains open to traffic. However, the event is well marshalled, with lead cars, motorcycle outriders, and corner marshals ensuring that traffic is aware of the race and that conditions remain as safe as possible.
The race begins in the heart of Gifford village, just outside the hall, with a mandatory rider briefing typically held 10 minutes before the start. A short neutralised section follows as the route turns left towards the first climb—Broun’s Hill. Though not particularly long or steep, it’s tough enough in the neutralised zone, let alone at race pace. After reaching the “top” at the right-hand turn, a long false flat drag keeps riders working. This leads into the long, straight descent of Cockles Brae, ending at Cockles Corner, where a sharp 90-degree left turn requires some heavy braking. The best approach is to take the corner conservatively and be ready to sprint out of it.
Next, the course heads towards Haddington on a long, straight stretch that’s often exposed to crosswinds, making it prime for echelons. Riders must stick to the left lane before turning onto a smaller back road that skirts past Lennoxlove Estate, offering a little more shelter. A left turn onto the B6368 towards Bolton soon introduces another climb – shorter but steeper – flattening out near Bolton village. This section is usually met with a headwind and frequently serves as the launchpad for breakaway attempts, meaning the effort rarely eases.
Beyond Bolton, a left-hand turn leads into the main section of the Bolton climb—a sharp ramp followed by a right-hand bend, then a long drag that steepens towards Bolton Woods crossroads. The true summit lies just around the corner, but if you’ve managed to stay with the group by this point, you can afford a moment of relief.
The lap concludes with the rolling terrain of Bolton Woods – a stretch that can feel exhilarating when fresh or utterly relentless when fatigued. The final ramp leads to the finish line on the hill crest by the golf course. However, if a lap counter is displayed rather than the chequered flag, riders will turn left and plunge back down into Gifford to start another circuit.
Riders to watch
Despite two other National B road races taking place over the weekend, a full field of 70 riders are set to take to the start. With defending champion Tom Martin and his Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team focusing on the Peaks 2 Day south of the border, there isn’t a dominant team to take control of the race, with a number of riders in contention of scoring a prestigious victory.
Alex Ball makes his road race debut for BCC Race Team after a breakthrough 2024 which culminated in a fine 4th place at the Beaumont Trophy. A multiple National B winner in Scotland, the 23-year-old all-rounder is armed with a good sprint and should find the course to his liking. Scottish Road Race Champion Logan MacLean (Unattached) impressed in support of National Road Series winner George Kimber in the second half of last season, and despite focusing on track as he bids to ride in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year, he has the skill to produce a result here.
Alex Ball wins the 2024 Straiton Struggle. Image: Kenny Girvan
Ross Birrell will be hoping to get his 2025 off to a good start after a difficult few years where he suffered from bad luck in the form of team closures and glandular fever. A good sprinter, the course and conditions should suit the U23 rider who makes his debut for Moonglu SpatzWear, who have the most riders of any team in the race. Opposite to Birrell, a rider who favours the road going uphill is Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT), who shot to attention with an incredible 4th place in last year’s Lancaster GP. A talented climber, he is going to need to make his moves count should be successful on Sunday.
Former Junior National Road Race Champion Finn Mason now plies his trade for the Belgian Hubo Remotive CT team and is joined on the start list by Matti Dobbins (Unattached) and UCI Continental rider James Jobber (Hurricane and Thunder CT), with all three capable of a positive result. 2023 Alba Road Series winner Craig Paterson is another rider to watch as he makes his debut for the new Edinburgh Bike Fitting Race Team.
Outside bets include Sam Barbour, who makes his Cycling Sheffield debut, and Hamish Strachan, who rides his first National B with TAAP Kalas after spending time in Spain with the Torres-Trigon squad last year.
Saturday’s Gifford Road Race marks the start of National Road season in Scotland, an Open National B the feature race of a programme that includes a standalone women’s Regional C+ race for the first time.
Featured image: Ian Henderson
What is it?
Organised by Edinburgh RC, the Gifford Road Race has become a staple of the Scottish National B calendar, 2025 marking its 17th edition. An Open race, it is the opening round of four in the Scottish Cycling supported Alba Road Series, the highest level of competition in the country. Tom Martin won last year’s edition.
Before the flagship National B race, the event features two additional races: an Open Regional B road race, starting at 10:00, followed by a Regional C+ women’s race at 12:00. The National B race then gets underway at 14:30.
Route
The National B race takes in nine laps of the Gifford course, a diverse 13km loop through the rolling East Lothian countryside, approximately 40km east of Edinburgh. The route follows relatively quiet roads but remains open to traffic. However, the event is well marshalled, with lead cars, motorcycle outriders, and corner marshals ensuring that traffic is aware of the race and that conditions remain as safe as possible.
The race begins in the heart of Gifford village, just outside the hall, with a mandatory rider briefing typically held 10 minutes before the start. A short neutralised section follows as the route turns left towards the first climb—Broun’s Hill. Though not particularly long or steep, it’s tough enough in the neutralised zone, let alone at race pace. After reaching the “top” at the right-hand turn, a long false flat drag keeps riders working. This leads into the long, straight descent of Cockles Brae, ending at Cockles Corner, where a sharp 90-degree left turn requires some heavy braking. The best approach is to take the corner conservatively and be ready to sprint out of it.
Next, the course heads towards Haddington on a long, straight stretch that’s often exposed to crosswinds, making it prime for echelons. Riders must stick to the left lane before turning onto a smaller back road that skirts past Lennoxlove Estate, offering a little more shelter. A left turn onto the B6368 towards Bolton soon introduces another climb – shorter but steeper – flattening out near Bolton village. This section is usually met with a headwind and frequently serves as the launchpad for breakaway attempts, meaning the effort rarely eases.
Beyond Bolton, a left-hand turn leads into the main section of the Bolton climb—a sharp ramp followed by a right-hand bend, then a long drag that steepens towards Bolton Woods crossroads. The true summit lies just around the corner, but if you’ve managed to stay with the group by this point, you can afford a moment of relief.
The lap concludes with the rolling terrain of Bolton Woods – a stretch that can feel exhilarating when fresh or utterly relentless when fatigued. The final ramp leads to the finish line on the hill crest by the golf course. However, if a lap counter is displayed rather than the chequered flag, riders will turn left and plunge back down into Gifford to start another circuit.
Riders to watch
Despite two other National B road races taking place over the weekend, a full field of 70 riders are set to take to the start. With defending champion Tom Martin and his Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team focusing on the Peaks 2 Day south of the border, there isn’t a dominant team to take control of the race, with a number of riders in contention of scoring a prestigious victory.
Alex Ball makes his road race debut for BCC Race Team after a breakthrough 2024 which culminated in a fine 4th place at the Beaumont Trophy. A multiple National B winner in Scotland, the 23-year-old all-rounder is armed with a good sprint and should find the course to his liking. Scottish Road Race Champion Logan MacLean (Unattached) impressed in support of National Road Series winner George Kimber in the second half of last season, and despite focusing on track as he bids to ride in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year, he has the skill to produce a result here.
Ross Birrell will be hoping to get his 2025 off to a good start after a difficult few years where he suffered from bad luck in the form of team closures and glandular fever. A good sprinter, the course and conditions should suit the U23 rider who makes his debut for Moonglu SpatzWear, who have the most riders of any team in the race. Opposite to Birrell, a rider who favours the road going uphill is Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT), who shot to attention with an incredible 4th place in last year’s Lancaster GP. A talented climber, he is going to need to make his moves count should be successful on Sunday.
Former Junior National Road Race Champion Finn Mason now plies his trade for the Belgian Hubo Remotive CT team and is joined on the start list by Matti Dobbins (Unattached) and UCI Continental rider James Jobber (Hurricane and Thunder CT), with all three capable of a positive result. 2023 Alba Road Series winner Craig Paterson is another rider to watch as he makes his debut for the new Edinburgh Bike Fitting Race Team.
Outside bets include Sam Barbour, who makes his Cycling Sheffield debut, and Hamish Strachan, who rides his first National B with TAAP Kalas after spending time in Spain with the Torres-Trigon squad last year.
Provisional startlist
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