The Capernwray Road Races have become a real gem of the domestic calendar in their short history, and return this weekend with two high-quality fields containing some of the best riders on the domestic circuit. Taking place only a week before the East Cleveland Classic, the race also offers an ideal last-minute test of form before the National Series races.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Ellen Isherwood
What is it?
Set on a challenging course on the edge of the picturesque Forest of Bowland, the race has been described by organisers Cold Dark North as a “heritage race”, a series of tough climbs and technical Lancashire roads proving a playground for some of Britain’s best talent to shine. An illustrious list of previous winners includes Cat Ferguson, who stunned as a first-year junior in 2023, and Finn Crockett, who took victory weeks before his win at the CiCLE Classic in 2022. Last year’s winners were under-23 riders Tyler Hannay, who led home a Saint Piran one-two, and DAS-Hutchinson’s Robyn Clay, who would go on to win the Curlew Cup later on in the season.
This year the race enters a new era as a standalone National B, organisers Cold Dark North revealing to The British Continental in December that the Proper Northern Road Race Series, a three-race series which the race was part of, would be taking a hiatus in 2025. With the funds from the three race series diverted solely to Capernwray, a bumper prize pot is on offer with £350 available for the winner of both the open and women’s races plus what the organisers describe as a “tonne of beer and coffee” provided by race sponsors Fell Brewery and Fuelling The Bold.
Route
A 12.7-kilometre anti-clockwise circuit concludes atop Sunny Bank, featuring 195 meters of ascent per lap. The open race is slated for 8 laps, while the women are set for 6. Characterised by its undulating, technical nature and several narrow road sections, the course offers ample opportunities for breakaway aspirants to make a move and disappear from view.
The route commences southward from Borwick and Priest Hutton Memorial Hall down Borwick Lane, veering left onto Capernwray Road upon reaching Borwick. Participants enter the circuit as Capernwray Road converges with Borwick Road at the Keer Holme Lane junction, embarking on the circuit in an anti-clockwise direction.
The peloton accesses the circuit shortly before approaching the Sunny Bank climb, affording riders an early chance to familiarise themselves with the run-up to the finish.
Beyond Sunny Bank, the route descends approximately four kilometres, sending riders swiftly towards Arkholme. However, complacency is ill-advised as three significant ascents dot the circuit. Shortly following the descent, riders left-turn at Arkholme into the 600-metre Bay Horse Inn climb, presenting an average gradient of 5% – a test for fatigued legs in the latter stages.
The subsequent ascent, Docker Park, materialises six and a half kilometres into the circuit, mirroring the Bay Horse Inn climb in gradient and length. Following a brief, swift descent, the terrain levels out for around three and a half kilometres.
Cold Dark North has a preference for concluding their races on an ascent—fondly dubbing them ‘stabby bastard hills’ – and this course faithfully adheres to that tradition. Indeed, the circuit reserves its most challenging climb for the finale: the 1.3-kilometre Sunny Bank ascent (known on Strava as Borwick Hill). With an average gradient of 7.1%, the climb is uneven, peaking at a steep 15.4% approximately midway, then moderates before a final steep section commences about 300 meters from the finish.
The climb takes around three minutes at full effort, give or take 15-20 seconds, and the first rider up this leg-sapper on the last lap will be crowned the winner.
Weather
The area is renowned for changeable conditions across its rugged landscape. However, the forecast looks excellent for the weekend – bright sunshine and temperatures reaching 12°c by the afternoon, punctuated by a breeze of 11mph from the east – although given the terrain it is unlikely the wind will play a vital role in proceedings.
Timings
9.00
Open road race
13.00
Women’s road race
Riders to watch
Open race
With a full field of 60 riders featuring some of the best talent in the UK, the race is not short of potential winners; the battle between the climbers and those wanting to break away promising to make for a fascinating, furiously paced battle over the short race distance.
Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck currently top The British Continental team rankings and bring three riders, each with the potential to continue their fine start to the season, in the shape of Alex Beldon, Ed Morgan and Will Truelove. Both Morgan and the very promising Truelove have been at the sharp end in National B races this season without tasting victory, while Beldon looked in excellent shape as he kept a low profile before picking the winning move in the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race on Sunday, taking the first round of the U23 National Series with a strong sprint from a small group. The course will suit him, and the second-year U23 looks to have stepped up a level this year as he looks to continue his perfect start to the campaign.
Hereward in action at the 2024 edition. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Maxwell Hereward made the leading group with Beldon on Sunday and forms part of a strong 360Cycling team who will look to perform well on local roads. John Bardsley hasn’t reached the heights of 2024 yet this season, although has potential for a big result this season, while Jake Edwards, always an aggressor, has been one of the form riders of the year so far.
Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli are another local team who will have an impact on the race as they look to get their season going after a slow start by their high standards. Tom Martin will be sure to animate the race and force the favourites’ hand with his aggressive style, and will be joined by Tom Armstrong, the climber who finished third in last year’s National Road Series, and new signing Dexter Leeming-Sykes who will be keen to refind the form that saw him breakthrough in 2023.
Tom Armstrong (right) in 2024. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Scots Alex Ball (BCC RT) and Logan Maclean (Private Member) went head to head at the Gifford Road Race last month, duking it out in a tight sprint finish with the latter coming out on top. The current Scottish Road Race Champion, puncheur Maclean suits the course and will be keen to show off the jersey, while all rounder Ball has also shown well in hilly races – a top ten in last year’s Ryedale GP one of his best results from a breakthrough year which underlines his potential to take a big win here.
Also making the journey south of the border is Ahron Dick (Equipo Finisher), who performed well at the PB Performance Espoirs race without making the impact he desired. Now in the ProTeam development ranks, he is joined in the race by Matt Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco), who is now in his second season with the WorldTour development team, both riders having progressed through the Beeston CC stable.
George Peden (PB Performance) put in a scintillating 10 mile time trial performance around the same course used for his team’s race last weekend, the only rider to clock south of 20 minutes. A former winner of the Peaks 2 Day, the course, and its numerous opportunities to escape, will suit him. Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs) is another rider unlikely to wait for the final ascent of Sunny Bank, the Nottingham rider’s performance at the Kennel Hill Classic better than the result sheet shows, with him attacking from the off and almost keeping the favourites at bay after two bold moves at the head of the race.
Bradley Symonds is another rider from the East Midlands who will be relishing the prospect of Sunny Bank, the Coalville climber joining Raptor Factory Racing over the winter, but failing to finish the Peaks 2 Day in his only outing so far for the Putney-based team.Symonds’ former Saint Piran teammates Rhys Britton (Dolan Factory Racing) and Will Tidball (Chorlton Velo) are two fascinating entries, both renowned for their track credentials, the latter a former Scratch Race World Champion. Both make their season debuts here following the National Track Championships in February, and although outsiders for the win, have the class to play a significant part in the race. The same can perhaps be said of Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC), who is known more for his fast finish than his ability to climb. However, the former professional has a wealth of experience, and talent, behind him and shouldn’t be discounted.
Women’s race
There are 37 entries to the women’s race in the afternoon, headed by CiCLE Classic victor and National Road Series leader Lucy Harris, who forms part of a strong Smurfit Westrock squad that has started the season in excellent form. Harris demonstrated her strength by holding off the charging peloton on the way to Melton Mowbray, delivering the biggest win of her career after an excellent 2024. Alongside her will be Bexy Dew, who won the season opening North Lincolnshire Classic, Alice Colling, Lucy Ellmore and Annabel Ramsey.
Ellmore at the 2024 edition. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Also among the favourites is Kate Richardson, a recent (re-)signing for the Handsling Alba Development Road Team. Having demonstrated her strength with a brutal solo win at the Rapha Lincoln GP last year, the Scot found her season derailed after being involved in a hit-and-run incident whilst out training. On the comeback trail this year, she could be difficult to stop on the tough circuit, which offers numerous opportunities to execute an advantage along the way. Alongside her is National B winner and first-year U23 Mari Porton, who was 7th in the season opening North Lincolnshire Classic, and Beth Morrow.
Another first-year U23 to watch is Esther Wong, who, like Richardson, is another Hess Cycling Team exile, now plying her trade for Torelli. Riding under an Irish licence, she won the final stage of the Peaks 2 Day last month and has recently been racing in Belgium following an excellent two years as a junior.
Morven Yeoman is the sole DAS-Hutchinson entrant, the young Scot capable of a good result, while criterium specialist Isabel Darvill (CJ O’Shea Racing Team) is an experienced rider with a strong finish should she be in a position to capitalise on it.
Yeoman at the 2024 edition. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Track sensation Anna Morris (Private Member) is another fascinating entrant, the Individual Pursuit World Champion and World Record holder needing little introduction. Rarely seen on the road outside a time trial, she could find herself heavily marked should she try and utilise her prowess against the clock in a breakaway.
The Capernwray Road Races have become a real gem of the domestic calendar in their short history, and return this weekend with two high-quality fields containing some of the best riders on the domestic circuit. Taking place only a week before the East Cleveland Classic, the race also offers an ideal last-minute test of form before the National Series races.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Ellen Isherwood
What is it?
Set on a challenging course on the edge of the picturesque Forest of Bowland, the race has been described by organisers Cold Dark North as a “heritage race”, a series of tough climbs and technical Lancashire roads proving a playground for some of Britain’s best talent to shine. An illustrious list of previous winners includes Cat Ferguson, who stunned as a first-year junior in 2023, and Finn Crockett, who took victory weeks before his win at the CiCLE Classic in 2022. Last year’s winners were under-23 riders Tyler Hannay, who led home a Saint Piran one-two, and DAS-Hutchinson’s Robyn Clay, who would go on to win the Curlew Cup later on in the season.
This year the race enters a new era as a standalone National B, organisers Cold Dark North revealing to The British Continental in December that the Proper Northern Road Race Series, a three-race series which the race was part of, would be taking a hiatus in 2025. With the funds from the three race series diverted solely to Capernwray, a bumper prize pot is on offer with £350 available for the winner of both the open and women’s races plus what the organisers describe as a “tonne of beer and coffee” provided by race sponsors Fell Brewery and Fuelling The Bold.
Route
A 12.7-kilometre anti-clockwise circuit concludes atop Sunny Bank, featuring 195 meters of ascent per lap. The open race is slated for 8 laps, while the women are set for 6. Characterised by its undulating, technical nature and several narrow road sections, the course offers ample opportunities for breakaway aspirants to make a move and disappear from view.
The route commences southward from Borwick and Priest Hutton Memorial Hall down Borwick Lane, veering left onto Capernwray Road upon reaching Borwick. Participants enter the circuit as Capernwray Road converges with Borwick Road at the Keer Holme Lane junction, embarking on the circuit in an anti-clockwise direction.
The peloton accesses the circuit shortly before approaching the Sunny Bank climb, affording riders an early chance to familiarise themselves with the run-up to the finish.
Beyond Sunny Bank, the route descends approximately four kilometres, sending riders swiftly towards Arkholme. However, complacency is ill-advised as three significant ascents dot the circuit. Shortly following the descent, riders left-turn at Arkholme into the 600-metre Bay Horse Inn climb, presenting an average gradient of 5% – a test for fatigued legs in the latter stages.
The subsequent ascent, Docker Park, materialises six and a half kilometres into the circuit, mirroring the Bay Horse Inn climb in gradient and length. Following a brief, swift descent, the terrain levels out for around three and a half kilometres.
Cold Dark North has a preference for concluding their races on an ascent—fondly dubbing them ‘stabby bastard hills’ – and this course faithfully adheres to that tradition. Indeed, the circuit reserves its most challenging climb for the finale: the 1.3-kilometre Sunny Bank ascent (known on Strava as Borwick Hill). With an average gradient of 7.1%, the climb is uneven, peaking at a steep 15.4% approximately midway, then moderates before a final steep section commences about 300 meters from the finish.
The climb takes around three minutes at full effort, give or take 15-20 seconds, and the first rider up this leg-sapper on the last lap will be crowned the winner.
Weather
The area is renowned for changeable conditions across its rugged landscape. However, the forecast looks excellent for the weekend – bright sunshine and temperatures reaching 12°c by the afternoon, punctuated by a breeze of 11mph from the east – although given the terrain it is unlikely the wind will play a vital role in proceedings.
Timings
Riders to watch
Open race
With a full field of 60 riders featuring some of the best talent in the UK, the race is not short of potential winners; the battle between the climbers and those wanting to break away promising to make for a fascinating, furiously paced battle over the short race distance.
Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck currently top The British Continental team rankings and bring three riders, each with the potential to continue their fine start to the season, in the shape of Alex Beldon, Ed Morgan and Will Truelove. Both Morgan and the very promising Truelove have been at the sharp end in National B races this season without tasting victory, while Beldon looked in excellent shape as he kept a low profile before picking the winning move in the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race on Sunday, taking the first round of the U23 National Series with a strong sprint from a small group. The course will suit him, and the second-year U23 looks to have stepped up a level this year as he looks to continue his perfect start to the campaign.
Maxwell Hereward made the leading group with Beldon on Sunday and forms part of a strong 360Cycling team who will look to perform well on local roads. John Bardsley hasn’t reached the heights of 2024 yet this season, although has potential for a big result this season, while Jake Edwards, always an aggressor, has been one of the form riders of the year so far.
Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli are another local team who will have an impact on the race as they look to get their season going after a slow start by their high standards. Tom Martin will be sure to animate the race and force the favourites’ hand with his aggressive style, and will be joined by Tom Armstrong, the climber who finished third in last year’s National Road Series, and new signing Dexter Leeming-Sykes who will be keen to refind the form that saw him breakthrough in 2023.
Scots Alex Ball (BCC RT) and Logan Maclean (Private Member) went head to head at the Gifford Road Race last month, duking it out in a tight sprint finish with the latter coming out on top. The current Scottish Road Race Champion, puncheur Maclean suits the course and will be keen to show off the jersey, while all rounder Ball has also shown well in hilly races – a top ten in last year’s Ryedale GP one of his best results from a breakthrough year which underlines his potential to take a big win here.
Also making the journey south of the border is Ahron Dick (Equipo Finisher), who performed well at the PB Performance Espoirs race without making the impact he desired. Now in the ProTeam development ranks, he is joined in the race by Matt Cole (Hagens Berman Jayco), who is now in his second season with the WorldTour development team, both riders having progressed through the Beeston CC stable.
George Peden (PB Performance) put in a scintillating 10 mile time trial performance around the same course used for his team’s race last weekend, the only rider to clock south of 20 minutes. A former winner of the Peaks 2 Day, the course, and its numerous opportunities to escape, will suit him. Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs) is another rider unlikely to wait for the final ascent of Sunny Bank, the Nottingham rider’s performance at the Kennel Hill Classic better than the result sheet shows, with him attacking from the off and almost keeping the favourites at bay after two bold moves at the head of the race.
Bradley Symonds is another rider from the East Midlands who will be relishing the prospect of Sunny Bank, the Coalville climber joining Raptor Factory Racing over the winter, but failing to finish the Peaks 2 Day in his only outing so far for the Putney-based team.Symonds’ former Saint Piran teammates Rhys Britton (Dolan Factory Racing) and Will Tidball (Chorlton Velo) are two fascinating entries, both renowned for their track credentials, the latter a former Scratch Race World Champion. Both make their season debuts here following the National Track Championships in February, and although outsiders for the win, have the class to play a significant part in the race. The same can perhaps be said of Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC), who is known more for his fast finish than his ability to climb. However, the former professional has a wealth of experience, and talent, behind him and shouldn’t be discounted.
Women’s race
There are 37 entries to the women’s race in the afternoon, headed by CiCLE Classic victor and National Road Series leader Lucy Harris, who forms part of a strong Smurfit Westrock squad that has started the season in excellent form. Harris demonstrated her strength by holding off the charging peloton on the way to Melton Mowbray, delivering the biggest win of her career after an excellent 2024. Alongside her will be Bexy Dew, who won the season opening North Lincolnshire Classic, Alice Colling, Lucy Ellmore and Annabel Ramsey.
Also among the favourites is Kate Richardson, a recent (re-)signing for the Handsling Alba Development Road Team. Having demonstrated her strength with a brutal solo win at the Rapha Lincoln GP last year, the Scot found her season derailed after being involved in a hit-and-run incident whilst out training. On the comeback trail this year, she could be difficult to stop on the tough circuit, which offers numerous opportunities to execute an advantage along the way. Alongside her is National B winner and first-year U23 Mari Porton, who was 7th in the season opening North Lincolnshire Classic, and Beth Morrow.
Another first-year U23 to watch is Esther Wong, who, like Richardson, is another Hess Cycling Team exile, now plying her trade for Torelli. Riding under an Irish licence, she won the final stage of the Peaks 2 Day last month and has recently been racing in Belgium following an excellent two years as a junior.
Morven Yeoman is the sole DAS-Hutchinson entrant, the young Scot capable of a good result, while criterium specialist Isabel Darvill (CJ O’Shea Racing Team) is an experienced rider with a strong finish should she be in a position to capitalise on it.
Track sensation Anna Morris (Private Member) is another fascinating entrant, the Individual Pursuit World Champion and World Record holder needing little introduction. Rarely seen on the road outside a time trial, she could find herself heavily marked should she try and utilise her prowess against the clock in a breakaway.
Provisional startlists
Open race
Women’s race
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