2025 Harrogate Nova Road Race: preview and startlist
The Harrogate Nova Road Race returns to Nidderdale this Sunday, 25 May, with six punchy laps of the 12 km Dacre circuit. The women’s start list - small but stacked—pits top class talent against the circuit’s 12 % ramps. Harrogate Nova’s decision to run despite low numbers keeps elite women’s racing alive in Yorkshire - sign-on remains open right up to race day.
The Harrogate Nova Road Race returns to Nidderdale this Sunday, 25 May, with six punchy laps of the 12 km Dacre circuit. The women’s start list – small but stacked—pits UCI race-winning talent against the circuit’s 12 % ramps. Harrogate Nova’s decision to run despite low numbers keeps elite women’s racing alive in Yorkshire – sign-on remains open right up to race day.
The Harrogate Nova Road Race is a National B women’s contest staged by the storied Harrogate Nova club on Nidderdale’s testing lanes in the Yorkshire Dales. Running alongside it is an open Regional A race headlined by former Team Sky pro and 2009 Vuelta stage-winner Phil Deignan, making his first competitive appearance since 2018. Despite a slender start-list, the club has pushed ahead, underscoring its commitment to sustaining top-level women’s road racing in Yorkshire. Last year’s event was won by Frankie Hall.
Late-entry note: Entries will still be accepted after the official closing date (Thursday 22 May), including Entries on the Line. • Enter online here • After Thursday, email harrogatenovaroadrace@gmail.com to secure a spot.
Route
The race uses the Dacre circuit, a 12.4km course northwest of Harrogate. Despite its North Yorkshire location, it isn’t super lumpy, relatively speaking, involving 280m of elevation per lap. The most challenging section is the stretch at the northern end of the course from Dacre to Dike Lane, a 1.5km stretch that averages 6% and includes ramps up to 12%. The women’s race takes in six laps of the circuit in total.
Riders to watch
The field is compact but is not lacking in quality, with a number of high-profile UCI Continental riders represented, perhaps using the race as a tune-up ahead of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women next month.
Kate Richardson (Handsling–Alba Development) is arguably the headline act here. In 2024 she stormed to victory at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – one of Britain’s most prestigious one-day races – taking her first National Series win on the famous Michaelgate cobbles. That triumph came in a season of highs and lows: Richardson also struck gold on the track (she’s the reigning British individual pursuit champion) but suffered multiple injuries that could have derailed her career after being knocked off her bike by a driver. Now back with Alba Development, she’s started 2025 on fire – Richardson became the first Scottish rider to win the Tour de Feminin stage race in Czechia last week, an overall victory that underlines her class.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 2025 – Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) climbs Michaelgate. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Few riders had a rollercoaster 2024 quite like Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson). The 21-year-old Yorkshire native overcame a serious mid-season crash (a collarbone and spine fracture) and bounced back in style. By September she was the form rider, sprinting to victory in the Curlew Cup National Series race. A former Lincoln GP champion in 2023, Clay combines race savvy with a fast finish – and she’ll relish the attritional Nova course to showcase her resilience. She had a breakthrough victory last week, taking a stage at the Tour de Feminin, her first ever UCI road race win.
Clay will be joined by teammate Lucy Lee. Ryedale Grand Prix and Rás na mBan stage wins defined Lee’s 2024, underlining her reputation as a breakaway diesel with a rapid kick. She spent stretches leading the national rankings and rarely misses a move. If the elastic snaps, expect Lee to be up the road, driving the pace. 2024 Ronde van Wymeswold winner Tammy Miller is another DAS-Hutchinson rider capable of the win.
Fresh from lifting the Scottish road title, Lulu Bartlett (Team Boompods) arrives brimming with belief. Two National-B top-tens and a podium at last year’s Scottish champs confirmed her upward arc; now the 27-year-old all-rounder will be looking to build on her national success. She relishes rolling terrain – perfect weapons for Nidderdale’s kick-punch profile.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 2025 – Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson). Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
The student who studies hills for homework, Hannah Clough (University of Nottingham) was fifth at BUCSR Road Race Championships last weekend. Clough has had plenty of top tens in her young road racing career. A podium result is only a matter of time.
Alice Colling (Smurfit Westrock CT) is only 18 but already has a cyclocross pedigree that screams bike-handling class. She has made a solid start to her senior career this season and will be looking to build on that by getting in among the results here. She could steal the headlines if the big names hesitate.
A lone independent and relative veteran, Molly Patch was 8th at the both the Lancaster Grand Prix and Ryedale Grand Prix last season, so clearly thrives on hilly terrain. Her race nous make her a danger in small groups. She’s mastered the art of surfing bigger teams’ tactics – ignore her at your peril.
The Harrogate Nova Road Race returns to Nidderdale this Sunday, 25 May, with six punchy laps of the 12 km Dacre circuit. The women’s start list – small but stacked—pits UCI race-winning talent against the circuit’s 12 % ramps. Harrogate Nova’s decision to run despite low numbers keeps elite women’s racing alive in Yorkshire – sign-on remains open right up to race day.
This is our preview.
Featured image: Sarah Jane Swinscoe
What is it?
The Harrogate Nova Road Race is a National B women’s contest staged by the storied Harrogate Nova club on Nidderdale’s testing lanes in the Yorkshire Dales. Running alongside it is an open Regional A race headlined by former Team Sky pro and 2009 Vuelta stage-winner Phil Deignan, making his first competitive appearance since 2018. Despite a slender start-list, the club has pushed ahead, underscoring its commitment to sustaining top-level women’s road racing in Yorkshire. Last year’s event was won by Frankie Hall.
Late-entry note: Entries will still be accepted after the official closing date (Thursday 22 May), including Entries on the Line.
• Enter online here
• After Thursday, email harrogatenovaroadrace@gmail.com to secure a spot.
Route
The race uses the Dacre circuit, a 12.4km course northwest of Harrogate. Despite its North Yorkshire location, it isn’t super lumpy, relatively speaking, involving 280m of elevation per lap. The most challenging section is the stretch at the northern end of the course from Dacre to Dike Lane, a 1.5km stretch that averages 6% and includes ramps up to 12%. The women’s race takes in six laps of the circuit in total.
Riders to watch
The field is compact but is not lacking in quality, with a number of high-profile UCI Continental riders represented, perhaps using the race as a tune-up ahead of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women next month.
Kate Richardson (Handsling–Alba Development) is arguably the headline act here. In 2024 she stormed to victory at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – one of Britain’s most prestigious one-day races – taking her first National Series win on the famous Michaelgate cobbles. That triumph came in a season of highs and lows: Richardson also struck gold on the track (she’s the reigning British individual pursuit champion) but suffered multiple injuries that could have derailed her career after being knocked off her bike by a driver. Now back with Alba Development, she’s started 2025 on fire – Richardson became the first Scottish rider to win the Tour de Feminin stage race in Czechia last week, an overall victory that underlines her class.
Few riders had a rollercoaster 2024 quite like Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson). The 21-year-old Yorkshire native overcame a serious mid-season crash (a collarbone and spine fracture) and bounced back in style. By September she was the form rider, sprinting to victory in the Curlew Cup National Series race. A former Lincoln GP champion in 2023, Clay combines race savvy with a fast finish – and she’ll relish the attritional Nova course to showcase her resilience. She had a breakthrough victory last week, taking a stage at the Tour de Feminin, her first ever UCI road race win.
Clay will be joined by teammate Lucy Lee. Ryedale Grand Prix and Rás na mBan stage wins defined Lee’s 2024, underlining her reputation as a breakaway diesel with a rapid kick. She spent stretches leading the national rankings and rarely misses a move. If the elastic snaps, expect Lee to be up the road, driving the pace. 2024 Ronde van Wymeswold winner Tammy Miller is another DAS-Hutchinson rider capable of the win.
Fresh from lifting the Scottish road title, Lulu Bartlett (Team Boompods) arrives brimming with belief. Two National-B top-tens and a podium at last year’s Scottish champs confirmed her upward arc; now the 27-year-old all-rounder will be looking to build on her national success. She relishes rolling terrain – perfect weapons for Nidderdale’s kick-punch profile.
The student who studies hills for homework, Hannah Clough (University of Nottingham) was fifth at BUCSR Road Race Championships last weekend. Clough has had plenty of top tens in her young road racing career. A podium result is only a matter of time.
Alice Colling (Smurfit Westrock CT) is only 18 but already has a cyclocross pedigree that screams bike-handling class. She has made a solid start to her senior career this season and will be looking to build on that by getting in among the results here. She could steal the headlines if the big names hesitate.
A lone independent and relative veteran, Molly Patch was 8th at the both the Lancaster Grand Prix and Ryedale Grand Prix last season, so clearly thrives on hilly terrain. Her race nous make her a danger in small groups. She’s mastered the art of surfing bigger teams’ tactics – ignore her at your peril.
Provisional startlist
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