The National road racing calendar is getting into full swing now Spring has almost sprung, with three National B road races taking place over the weekend, one of which is the Evesham Vale Road Race in the West Midlands on Sunday morning.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
A staple of the early season calendar, the long-running 100km race is organised by Evesham and District Wheelers. After last year’s cancellation, the event returns in 2025 with a typically strong field, a host of Britain’s best riders hoping to add their name to a previous list of winners including the likes of Will Bjergfelt, who takes to the start again this year, Yanto Barker and Liam Holohan, who led a memorable Raleigh-GAC 1-2-3-4 all the way back in 2011.
Route
Sitting between the Shakespearian town of Stratford-upon-Avon and the cathedral city of Worcester, the Inkberrow circuit is widely used in National B road races. Riders will take on four and half laps of the 22km course; a relatively flat affair with less than 1000m of climbing overall, the run into the finish line the toughest obstacle which could provide a launch pad for attacks towards the end of the 100km race.
The weather is set fair with highs of 10°c punctuated by light winds from the north which are unlikely to have any impact on proceedings.
Riders to watch
2024 National Road Series winner George Kimber (Spirit Racing Team) headlines the 80 rider field as he makes his return to racing following his epic ride to clinch the Star Trophy at the Beaumont Trophy last September. With his confidence at an all-time high and a solitary teammate in tow, the Devon engineer will most likely try and split the race up and foil the sprinters, although he is no slouch from a small group at the end of a tough race.
The British Continental’s breakthrough rider of 2024 Tom Williams is another favourite, the 2024 Ryedale Grand Prix winner now riding in the white of UCI Continental team Monzon – Incolor – Gub. A former Junior National Hill Climb champion, Williams excels at short uphill efforts, as he showed when sprinting to the win in front of Ampleforth Abbey last August. The question is, will he look to go clear before the finish or back his sprint up the climb?
Jordan Giles at the 2025 Jock Wadley Memorial. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Williams and Kimber will face tough competition from John Archibald (HUUB-Wattshop). The former professional will not be waiting for a sprint, his modus operandi long solo breaks – most famously riding to a stunning victory in the 2019 Stockton GP after a 100km solo escape.
DAS Richardsons bring a very strong three rider team to the race which covers all bases. Rouleur Alex Pritchard is a time trial specialist who has turned his hand to road racing with success, a stage win in the Ràs Tailteann the highlight from his first year with the squad. Jordan Giles started the season perfectly with a commanding win in the Portsdown Classic, while sprinter Frank Longstaff will enjoy the course and gives the team an option in a bunch gallop, his win at the Cambridge Criterium last year a masterclass in tactics and timing.
Foran CT are another team from the South East looking for victory as they enter a full quota of five riders, Kiwi Ryan Christensen and Mauritian Alex Mayer, both formerly on UCI squads, offering their best chance of taking the win.
Monte Guerrini (left). Image: Mark James
Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT) currently tops The British Continental Road Race Rankings after his victory from the break at the Royal Navy Cup, and arrives in the West Midlands in excellent form. An all rounder, the London art dealer can cover all bases, riding the race from the front or mixing it in a sprint finish.
Ride Revolution Coaching bring three riders to the race including the dynamic duo of James Ambrose Parish and Clay Davies. Once rivals, the pair are now teammates and form a strong partnership with Davies having an excellent track record on this sort of course and in possession of a good kick to the line.
James Ambrose-Parish. Image: Mark James
A number of good U23 riders will be hoping to showcase their talent, including Will Gilbank and Will Salter from BCC RT. Rouleur Gilbank will find the course to his liking while Salter found much success on the track as a junior and will look to transfer that onto the road. 21-year-old Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club) outfoxed the favourites to finish second in the PB Performance Road Race, the opening round of the U23 National Series last season and will be hoping to pull off something similar, while John Bardsley had a very consistent 2024 culminating in a top ten at the Beaumont Trophy. A big result beckons for the 360 Cycling rider.
The National road racing calendar is getting into full swing now Spring has almost sprung, with three National B road races taking place over the weekend, one of which is the Evesham Vale Road Race in the West Midlands on Sunday morning.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
A staple of the early season calendar, the long-running 100km race is organised by Evesham and District Wheelers. After last year’s cancellation, the event returns in 2025 with a typically strong field, a host of Britain’s best riders hoping to add their name to a previous list of winners including the likes of Will Bjergfelt, who takes to the start again this year, Yanto Barker and Liam Holohan, who led a memorable Raleigh-GAC 1-2-3-4 all the way back in 2011.
Route
Sitting between the Shakespearian town of Stratford-upon-Avon and the cathedral city of Worcester, the Inkberrow circuit is widely used in National B road races. Riders will take on four and half laps of the 22km course; a relatively flat affair with less than 1000m of climbing overall, the run into the finish line the toughest obstacle which could provide a launch pad for attacks towards the end of the 100km race.
The weather is set fair with highs of 10°c punctuated by light winds from the north which are unlikely to have any impact on proceedings.
Riders to watch
2024 National Road Series winner George Kimber (Spirit Racing Team) headlines the 80 rider field as he makes his return to racing following his epic ride to clinch the Star Trophy at the Beaumont Trophy last September. With his confidence at an all-time high and a solitary teammate in tow, the Devon engineer will most likely try and split the race up and foil the sprinters, although he is no slouch from a small group at the end of a tough race.
The British Continental’s breakthrough rider of 2024 Tom Williams is another favourite, the 2024 Ryedale Grand Prix winner now riding in the white of UCI Continental team Monzon – Incolor – Gub. A former Junior National Hill Climb champion, Williams excels at short uphill efforts, as he showed when sprinting to the win in front of Ampleforth Abbey last August. The question is, will he look to go clear before the finish or back his sprint up the climb?
Williams and Kimber will face tough competition from John Archibald (HUUB-Wattshop). The former professional will not be waiting for a sprint, his modus operandi long solo breaks – most famously riding to a stunning victory in the 2019 Stockton GP after a 100km solo escape.
DAS Richardsons bring a very strong three rider team to the race which covers all bases. Rouleur Alex Pritchard is a time trial specialist who has turned his hand to road racing with success, a stage win in the Ràs Tailteann the highlight from his first year with the squad. Jordan Giles started the season perfectly with a commanding win in the Portsdown Classic, while sprinter Frank Longstaff will enjoy the course and gives the team an option in a bunch gallop, his win at the Cambridge Criterium last year a masterclass in tactics and timing.
Foran CT are another team from the South East looking for victory as they enter a full quota of five riders, Kiwi Ryan Christensen and Mauritian Alex Mayer, both formerly on UCI squads, offering their best chance of taking the win.
Monte Guerrini (Le Col RT) currently tops The British Continental Road Race Rankings after his victory from the break at the Royal Navy Cup, and arrives in the West Midlands in excellent form. An all rounder, the London art dealer can cover all bases, riding the race from the front or mixing it in a sprint finish.
Ride Revolution Coaching bring three riders to the race including the dynamic duo of James Ambrose Parish and Clay Davies. Once rivals, the pair are now teammates and form a strong partnership with Davies having an excellent track record on this sort of course and in possession of a good kick to the line.
A number of good U23 riders will be hoping to showcase their talent, including Will Gilbank and Will Salter from BCC RT. Rouleur Gilbank will find the course to his liking while Salter found much success on the track as a junior and will look to transfer that onto the road. 21-year-old Ben Pierce (Bridgnorth Cycling Club) outfoxed the favourites to finish second in the PB Performance Road Race, the opening round of the U23 National Series last season and will be hoping to pull off something similar, while John Bardsley had a very consistent 2024 culminating in a top ten at the Beaumont Trophy. A big result beckons for the 360 Cycling rider.
Provisional startlist
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