Scottish National Champion Logan Maclean opened the Alba Road Race Series with an excellent breakaway win at the Gifford Road Race in East Lothian.
Paralympic Champion on the tandem Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) scored the win in the women’s E1234 race on Saturday lunchtime.
Featured image: Charles McSherry
Report
Men’s Race – 120km – Alba Series (Nat B)
A glorious day in the village of Gifford saw the first round of the Alba Road Race series – the 120km Gifford Road Race – organised by Edinburgh Road Club.
An early break was established on the second of nine tours of the 12km course. First formed by Sam Chisholm (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) and Toby Tanfield (Leadout Performance), they were then joined by Tanfield’s teammate Ross Turner, after he bridged across a lap later.
Image: Charles McSherry
The trio were kept on a tight leash by the bunch, and their advantage would not grow more than 30 seconds, before eventually they would be reeled in by an interested bunch.
The key move would come with four laps remaining, Maclean would be clear of the bunch alongside Alex Ball (BCC Race Team), Noah Bleteau (Paris Cycliste Olympique) and James Jobber (Hurricane and Thunder CT).
The four would work well together and continue to grow their advantage of the field – which itself had fractured in two.
Maclean, Ball and Bleteau sprint it out. Image: Charles McSherry
Coming into the finish – held just outside the village of Gifford – Bleteau would launch his effort early in the final kilometre. Jobber would be unable to follow, while Alex Ball would launch his sprint early also to pass the former Cycling Academy rider.
Maclean would follow over the top of the rise and manage to cross first – a bike length clear of Ball – with Bleteau coming third.
Logan Maclean wins. Video: Alex Marr
After the race Maclean said:
“Surprised myself a little bit, I’ve been focusing on the track a lot. My legs didn’t seem to tire, and I just kept persisting.
“The bunch wasn’t breaking up much, so with four laps to go I put the pressure on, and it split up into smaller groups – and I was thankful to take it in the sprint.
“I don’t have too much planned on the road this year, hopefully I’ll go abroad a bit on the track and see what I can do around Commonwealth Games qualification. I’m still training hard on the road bike.
I’m currently without a team and doing a bit of privateering but I’m enjoying the freedom to do the track, and the training on the bike.”
Logan Maclean speaks to Alex Marr
Women’s Race – 52km – E1234 (Regional C+)
Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) claimed the victory in the Female race on Saturday lunchtime.
The Stirling native was part of a four rider move alongside Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing), Amy Gornall (Handsling-Alba) and Rebecca Saunderson (Studio Velo).
The quartet worked well over the 50km race to build a decent advantage over the peloton behind and come the final lap it was clear that the leading four would contest the win.
Holl was able to use her track speed to her advantage and was able to power her way to the line, with a great dash in the final few metres enough for Flynn to claim second, and Saunderson rounding off the podium.
Scottish National Champion Logan Maclean opened the Alba Road Race Series with an excellent breakaway win at the Gifford Road Race in East Lothian.
Paralympic Champion on the tandem Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) scored the win in the women’s E1234 race on Saturday lunchtime.
Featured image: Charles McSherry
Report
Men’s Race – 120km – Alba Series (Nat B)
A glorious day in the village of Gifford saw the first round of the Alba Road Race series – the 120km Gifford Road Race – organised by Edinburgh Road Club.
An early break was established on the second of nine tours of the 12km course. First formed by Sam Chisholm (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) and Toby Tanfield (Leadout Performance), they were then joined by Tanfield’s teammate Ross Turner, after he bridged across a lap later.
The trio were kept on a tight leash by the bunch, and their advantage would not grow more than 30 seconds, before eventually they would be reeled in by an interested bunch.
The key move would come with four laps remaining, Maclean would be clear of the bunch alongside Alex Ball (BCC Race Team), Noah Bleteau (Paris Cycliste Olympique) and James Jobber (Hurricane and Thunder CT).
The four would work well together and continue to grow their advantage of the field – which itself had fractured in two.
Coming into the finish – held just outside the village of Gifford – Bleteau would launch his effort early in the final kilometre. Jobber would be unable to follow, while Alex Ball would launch his sprint early also to pass the former Cycling Academy rider.
Maclean would follow over the top of the rise and manage to cross first – a bike length clear of Ball – with Bleteau coming third.
After the race Maclean said:
“Surprised myself a little bit, I’ve been focusing on the track a lot. My legs didn’t seem to tire, and I just kept persisting.
“The bunch wasn’t breaking up much, so with four laps to go I put the pressure on, and it split up into smaller groups – and I was thankful to take it in the sprint.
“I don’t have too much planned on the road this year, hopefully I’ll go abroad a bit on the track and see what I can do around Commonwealth Games qualification. I’m still training hard on the road bike.
I’m currently without a team and doing a bit of privateering but I’m enjoying the freedom to do the track, and the training on the bike.”
Women’s Race – 52km – E1234 (Regional C+)
Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) claimed the victory in the Female race on Saturday lunchtime.
The Stirling native was part of a four rider move alongside Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing), Amy Gornall (Handsling-Alba) and Rebecca Saunderson (Studio Velo).
The quartet worked well over the 50km race to build a decent advantage over the peloton behind and come the final lap it was clear that the leading four would contest the win.
Holl was able to use her track speed to her advantage and was able to power her way to the line, with a great dash in the final few metres enough for Flynn to claim second, and Saunderson rounding off the podium.
Results
Open race
Women’s race
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