2025 Wheldrake 200 Road Race | YBC: report and results
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) claimed a breakthrough win at Sunday’s Wheldrake 200, outkicking a reduced group to seal victory in Britain’s longest one-day race.
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) claimed a breakthrough win at Sunday’s Wheldrake 200, outkicking a reduced group to seal victory in Britain’s longest one-day race.
Britain’s longest road race delivered its usual cocktail of subtle suffering and long-range moves. Held on a pan-flat circuit south of York, the third edition of Yomp Bonk Crew’s 200-kilometre event once again attracted a hardened field of domestic elite and university racers ready to test their limits. But it was Portsmouth-based Swindley who emerged with the spoils – his first major road race win after years in the sport.
“It was a typically fast start with nothing getting much of a gap,” he said after the finish. “A good-looking break established after about 90 minutes, so I bridged over and 10 of us worked well for the next hour and a half.”
With little let-up from behind, the bunch threatened to reel the escapees in. But a core group of six dug in, stretching the elastic as the clock ticked down. Another chase group eventually joined, adding fresh legs but also new calculations as the attacks began to fly.
“I’d run out of drink at this point, not having any support, but fortunately it wasn’t hot and the two bottles were just about enough,” Swindley added. “It got a bit cagey with some attacking and two guys held a small gap into the finish, but I trusted my sprint and had enough to come round for my first ever road race win.” One of the last-gasp breakaway duo, Ben Pease (Moonglu Spatzwear), held on for second, with Andrew Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) rounding out the podium.
For Swindley, the victory is as much about persistence as performance. “I’ve loved cycling ever since I was hanging on for dear life to club runs round the lanes of Kent 15 years ago,” he reflected. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs since, but I wouldn’t change any of it. And likewise, this win doesn’t change anything for me – but it means everything.”
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) claimed a breakthrough win at Sunday’s Wheldrake 200, outkicking a reduced group to seal victory in Britain’s longest one-day race.
Featured image: Sarah Jane Swinscoe
Report
Britain’s longest road race delivered its usual cocktail of subtle suffering and long-range moves. Held on a pan-flat circuit south of York, the third edition of Yomp Bonk Crew’s 200-kilometre event once again attracted a hardened field of domestic elite and university racers ready to test their limits. But it was Portsmouth-based Swindley who emerged with the spoils – his first major road race win after years in the sport.
“It was a typically fast start with nothing getting much of a gap,” he said after the finish. “A good-looking break established after about 90 minutes, so I bridged over and 10 of us worked well for the next hour and a half.”
With little let-up from behind, the bunch threatened to reel the escapees in. But a core group of six dug in, stretching the elastic as the clock ticked down. Another chase group eventually joined, adding fresh legs but also new calculations as the attacks began to fly.
“I’d run out of drink at this point, not having any support, but fortunately it wasn’t hot and the two bottles were just about enough,” Swindley added. “It got a bit cagey with some attacking and two guys held a small gap into the finish, but I trusted my sprint and had enough to come round for my first ever road race win.” One of the last-gasp breakaway duo, Ben Pease (Moonglu Spatzwear), held on for second, with Andrew Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) rounding out the podium.
For Swindley, the victory is as much about persistence as performance. “I’ve loved cycling ever since I was hanging on for dear life to club runs round the lanes of Kent 15 years ago,” he reflected. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs since, but I wouldn’t change any of it. And likewise, this win doesn’t change anything for me – but it means everything.”
Results
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