Suffolk’s Ringsfield circuit hosts the DAP CC Road Race this Sunday (25 May): eight flat, 15 km laps where crosswinds, not climbs, are more likely to decide the outcome. The field includes a former hour-record holder, the winner of the UK’s longest road race and a clutch of the quickest finishers in the domestic peloton itching to sprint for glory.
What is it?
An open National B road race on the rural roads of north Suffolk organised by DAP Cycling Club. James Ambrose-Parish (then of TAAP Kalas) won the 2024 edition.
Route
The 15.2km Ringsfield course is one of the flattest around, with just 60m of climbing per lap. The race takes in 8 laps of the circuit, with a total length of 122km.
Timings
The race is one for early risers, starting at 9.00 and an approximate finish time of 11.45.
Riders to watch
Daniel Bigham (HUUB WattShop) – A surprise inclusion on the start list, Bigham is better known as a world-class time triallist and track specialist. The 33-year-old famously broke the UCI Hour Record in 2022 with a staggering 55.548 km ride, and he’s an engineer for a WorldTour team Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe in his day job. Now he’s back pinning on a number in a domestic road race, bringing a powerhouse engine that could split the race apart. Bigham’s form is unknown – his only race this year was the Ixworth criterium (where he finished 16th) – but the pack will be wary of letting a rider of his pedigree go away solo. Expect the HUUB WattShop rider’s aero prowess and experience to shine if a breakaway dares to stick.
Yanto Barker (Le Col Race Team) – At 45 years old, Barker is the elder statesman of the peloton – and a living link to Britain’s pro scene of the 2000s. A former pro who once cracked the top ten at the Tour of Britain, Barker hung up his wheels years ago to build his clothing business (he’s the founder of Le Col) but seemingly can’t resist the lure of competition; he has popped up in many National B road races in recent years but this is his first in 2025. He may not have recent results to shout about, but his know-how is invaluable – and if an opportunistic move goes up the road, who better than a cagey veteran with nothing to prove and nothing to lose?
Monte Guerrini (Le Col Race Team) – The form rider of the moment, Guerrini has been racking up results since the season opener. He kicked off 2025 with a win at the Royal Navy Cup, and he hasn’t let up since – podiums at the Evesham Vale and Andrews Trophy races (both fine 2nd places) and a fighting 4th at the prestigious Jock Wadley Memorial underline his consistency. The 27-year-old even donned the leader’s yellow jersey at Ireland’s Rás Mumhan after anchoring his composite team’s victorious TTT. A prolific winner on the criterium circuit (no fewer than 11 crit wins last year), Guerrini combines sprint speed with endurance. With a #7 national ranking and 204 points to his name already, the fast-finisher is among the top favourites – count on him to surf wheels and strike if a reduced bunch sprint decides the day.
Frank Longstaff (DAS–Richardsons) – A towering sprinter with an underdog’s instinct, Longstaff might just be the most underrated rider in the domestic scene. He returned to racing last season after a hiatus and promptly amassed an eye-catching win tally. Notably, he surged to victory in the inaugural Cambridge Criterium with a blistering long-range sprint that stunned more heralded rivals. He also ventured abroad to claim a UCI stage win at the Tour of Albania, showing his class on an international stage. A reigning national Madison champion on the track, Longstaff brings speed and tactical savvy to the DAS–Richardsons squad.
Samuel Nisbet (Reflex Nopinz) – Nisbet is a young rider on a steep upward trajectory. The 22-year-old Reflex Nopinz talent opened 2025 with a flurry of results: he took a superb 2nd place at the PB Performance Espoirs road race and followed it up with 5th overall at the Totnes Vire stage race, where he snagged a podium on Stage 2. This comes after a breakout 2024 in which he notched a stage win at the Tour of the North West and consistently cracked the top 10 in national-level events.
Stephen Swindley (Royal Navy Cycling) – Fresh off the biggest win of his career last week, Swindley arrives in peak condition. The Portsmouth-based rider triumphed in Sunday’s Wheldrake 200, outkicking a select group at the end of Britain’s longest one-day race. It was a breakthrough moment for the 30-year-old serviceman, delivering his first major road race victory after years of plugging away in the amateur ranks. Last season Swindley had shown flashes of his quality – a runner-up in the UK Armed Forces championship and a fourth place in the gruelling Upton 200 – but 2025 has seen him reach new heights.
Sam Walsham (Reflex Nopinz) – Walsham has quickly proven his early season form. He blasted to 2nd place in February’s Clayton Spring Classic (the traditional northern opener) and then turned heads with a strong 4th overall at the Peaks Two-Day stage race. In that race he was consistently at the sharp end, including a 6th place on Stage 3. The 25-year-old is an all-rounder with a Time Trial background, evident in his smooth engine work. Walsham also hung tough to take 11th in the 200 km slugfest of the Wheldrake race, proving his endurance. Having moved from a local club to a more ambitious setup this year, he seems to be thriving. In a race that could come down to attrition or a small group, Walsham’s combination of TT power and resilience makes him a real podium dark horse.
Callum Laborde (Private Member) – Laborde has been relentless consistent in 2025. Racing without a trade team, he has already podiumed or come close in several National B races this spring – notably 3rd at the Kennel Hill Classic and 5th in both the Andrews Trophy and Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix. Those results have him sitting 28th in the national rankings with 115 points, an impressive haul for a privateer. Last season, riding for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, Laborde mixed it with the best in the National Road Series, highlighted by a superb 6th place at the Lancaster Grand Prix. He also snagged podiums in the Sherpa Tour stage race, showcasing his sprint kick on stage finishes. Laborde is a versatile racer who can climb with the front group and still pack a punch at the line.
Provisional startlist
Entries on the line available.
