Jack Hartley took an emotional first win for Moonglu Spatzwear just weeks after returning home from France as he out-sprinted Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) to defend his GA Bennett Road Race p/b Pedal Pushers of Grantham victory, a year on from claiming his first Nat B glory in the same race (Monday 26 May).
Featured image: Sarah Swinscoe
Report
Although the result was the same as 12 months previously, Hartley’s method was different. The Yorkshireman was aggressive from the off, bridging across to an early move by George Stephen (Beeston Cycling Club) as the race rolled out of a lengthy neutralised zone, with Zak Machin (BCC RT) the only other rider able to follow.
With a strong wind swirling, Hartley and Machin worked well together after dispatching Stephen, as the young BCC rider set a strong tempo out front. They were quickly joined by Adam Duggleby MBE (Addform-Vive Le Velo) and a Primo RT rider to form a quartet by the end of the second of six and 3 / 4 laps.
Behind, a group of 11 riders fought the elements to organise a chase as Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) showed his strength by bridging the gap alone.
The five outfront worked well together to extend their lead as the race progressed and heavy rain began to fall, the gap sitting at 45 seconds with only 36km, or two laps remaining. Hartley was the first of the leaders to lay a card on the table, driving hard through a fast rolling section, and then sitting up to wait for Still and Duggleby to come across as the quintet found themselves spread across the road in a matter of metres.
Duggleby sat on as the trio crossed the finish line for the penultimate time, with Still and Hartley sharing the load equally as they looked to secure a spot on the podium.
In the crosswinds at the bottom of the course, Still was the first to attack with the rested Duggleby finding the strength to attach himself to his wheel. Hartley pushed hard and joined the pair as the finish closed in, setting himself up as the favourite if it came down to a sprint – having notably outmanoeuvred Matt Bostock to win the 2024 Eddie Soens Memorial in a bunch gallop.
Duggleby, realising the danger, was the next to make a solo move. The chase fell to Still, who took himself and Hartley straight over the top once they had bridged the gap. A struggling Duggleby was left behind, having seemingly used all of his matches trying to get away from the pair before the finish.
As the finish approached, Hartley sat on Still’s wheel as they went over the final climb through the now-redundant feed zone, the stiff pace unable to unsettle the new Moonglu recruit as they reached the summit, marked by a right-hand bend into the finishing straight.
Leading the pair out, Still opened up his sprint on the left side of the road but Hartley launched a powerful acceleration to his right, easing past the Ride Revolution rider for an emotional win, punching the air as he crossed the line.
“I didn’t feel great, but it was nice to be at the front of a bike race again,” Hartley said after the finish, the Yorkshireman enjoying adding to the recent successes of his new team.
“I won this race last year, then went on to win the [Divisional Championships], so I’d really like to win them again and get my name back on the trophy.” He added, pointing ahead to Sunday where he will defend his Northern title in Cumbria.
Jack Hartley took an emotional first win for Moonglu Spatzwear just weeks after returning home from France as he out-sprinted Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) to defend his GA Bennett Road Race p/b Pedal Pushers of Grantham victory, a year on from claiming his first Nat B glory in the same race (Monday 26 May).
Featured image: Sarah Swinscoe
Report
Although the result was the same as 12 months previously, Hartley’s method was different. The Yorkshireman was aggressive from the off, bridging across to an early move by George Stephen (Beeston Cycling Club) as the race rolled out of a lengthy neutralised zone, with Zak Machin (BCC RT) the only other rider able to follow.
With a strong wind swirling, Hartley and Machin worked well together after dispatching Stephen, as the young BCC rider set a strong tempo out front. They were quickly joined by Adam Duggleby MBE (Addform-Vive Le Velo) and a Primo RT rider to form a quartet by the end of the second of six and 3 / 4 laps.
Behind, a group of 11 riders fought the elements to organise a chase as Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) showed his strength by bridging the gap alone.
The five outfront worked well together to extend their lead as the race progressed and heavy rain began to fall, the gap sitting at 45 seconds with only 36km, or two laps remaining. Hartley was the first of the leaders to lay a card on the table, driving hard through a fast rolling section, and then sitting up to wait for Still and Duggleby to come across as the quintet found themselves spread across the road in a matter of metres.
Duggleby sat on as the trio crossed the finish line for the penultimate time, with Still and Hartley sharing the load equally as they looked to secure a spot on the podium.
In the crosswinds at the bottom of the course, Still was the first to attack with the rested Duggleby finding the strength to attach himself to his wheel. Hartley pushed hard and joined the pair as the finish closed in, setting himself up as the favourite if it came down to a sprint – having notably outmanoeuvred Matt Bostock to win the 2024 Eddie Soens Memorial in a bunch gallop.
Duggleby, realising the danger, was the next to make a solo move. The chase fell to Still, who took himself and Hartley straight over the top once they had bridged the gap. A struggling Duggleby was left behind, having seemingly used all of his matches trying to get away from the pair before the finish.
As the finish approached, Hartley sat on Still’s wheel as they went over the final climb through the now-redundant feed zone, the stiff pace unable to unsettle the new Moonglu recruit as they reached the summit, marked by a right-hand bend into the finishing straight.
Leading the pair out, Still opened up his sprint on the left side of the road but Hartley launched a powerful acceleration to his right, easing past the Ride Revolution rider for an emotional win, punching the air as he crossed the line.
“I didn’t feel great, but it was nice to be at the front of a bike race again,” Hartley said after the finish, the Yorkshireman enjoying adding to the recent successes of his new team.
“I won this race last year, then went on to win the [Divisional Championships], so I’d really like to win them again and get my name back on the trophy.” He added, pointing ahead to Sunday where he will defend his Northern title in Cumbria.
Results
To follow.
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