2025 Mennock Pass Stage Race: preview and startlist
This weekend (14-15 June), the inaugural Mennock Pass Stage Race promises two days of uncompromising theatre in the Southern Uplands, where the sheep stare, the wind sneers and the roads never stop climbing.
This weekend (14-15 June), the inaugural Mennock Pass Stage Race promises two days of uncompromising theatre in the Southern Uplands, where the sheep stare, the wind sneers and the roads never stop climbing.
Forget manicured circuits and city‑centre crits; this is grassroots racing with soil under its nails and ambition in its eyes. Three tests – a twitchy prologue and two sprawling road stages – will sift grit from glamour. At stake? Mid‑season bragging rights, precious Alba Road Series points and the right to say you conquered a race that didn’t exist yesterday but might matter a great deal tomorrow.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Alan O’Dowd
What is it?
A brand-new, three-stage National B test pitched high in the Southern Uplands, the Mennock Pass Stage Race is organised by the ambitious Torvelo Racing outfit. It marries a short, punchy Saturday‑morning prologue with two rugged road stages that thread through the old mining villages and moorland of Dumfries & Galloway before taking in Scotland’s highest village, Wanlockhead.
Stage racing north of the border is a rarity; this is the first ever stage race to feature in Scottish Cycling’s Alba Road Series, instantly elevating it to show-piece status on the domestic calendar and offering E/1/2/3 seniors and top juniors a chance to bank series points on home soil.
It’s an event cut for climbers yet cunning enough to tempt the hardy rouleurs, and – if the organisers’ vision holds – a bold statement of intent for the future of Scottish road racing. There is also a Regional A single day race for women prior to stage 1 of the open race on Saturday.
How to follow
Alex will be manning the live ticker for us for stages 1 & 2. You can follow the action here from the live updates tab.
Schedule
Saturday 14 June
Time
Race
10.00
Prologue – start
11.30
Prologue – expected finish
13.30
Stage 1 – start
15.30
Stage 1 – expected finish
Sunday 16 June
Time
Race
10.00
Stage 2 – start
14.30
Stage 2 – expected finish
Route
Prologue
Riders can expect a rude awakening on Saturday morning as they tackle a 6.1km test against the clock. Whilst the distance may be fairly standard for a prologue, the terrain is anything but, the second half a tough climb with 165m of climbing packed into the short effort.
The race could be blown open before it has begun in earnest with a prologue of this nature, the large time gaps which may appear forcing riders onto the front foot for the remainder of the race.
Stage 1
Rolling and grippy, the field takes on two laps of a lengthy circuit near Douglas in the afternoon, racing over a distance just shy of 75km.
The roads are again testing with over 750m of elevation in store, although there is no significant climb to split the field; instead a high intensity over the two hours will produce a fascinating race.
Riders will be cautious not to let a group escape to the finish with a big gap, a small bunch sprint perhaps the most favourable outcome for the majority of favourites ahead of Sunday’s queen stage.
Stage 2
If Saturday is likely to provide high intensity chess-on-wheels, Sunday could turn into all out warfare, with a rare summit finish at Wanlockhead set to produce a worthy winner with the overall victory on the line.
The race takes on five ascents of the climb, the first four swinging left halfway up to complete another lap, before the final lap sees the race continue up the slope. 2km at 4.5% may not seem particularly challenging, but with the 134km stage climbing almost 1200m there is likely to be a lot of fatigue within the peloton, particularly with the race on the line.
The Alba Road Race Series so far
Scotland produces some of the most exciting racing the country has to offer with its varied landscapes and competitive fields, the Alba Road Race Series so far demonstrating both of these.
Logan Maclean and Alex Ball went head to head in the opening round back in March at the Gifford Road Race, with the former sprinting to the win at the end of a closely fought race.
Will Taylor (Moonglu Spatzwear) took a similar win in the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy, surging ahead of James Sawyers (Cycling Sheffield) and Ross Turner (Leadout Performance) in the final kilometre.
The Mennock Pass Stage Race is the penultimate round of the series, which is due to end at the Drummond Trophy, with everything still to play for.
Pos
Name
Pts
1
Alexander Ball
43
2
Ciaran McSherry
40
3
William Taylor
35
=
Logan Maclean
35
5
James Sawyers
30
Riders to watch
Alex Ball was BCC RT’s marquee signing coming into the season and has continued producing the results that brought him widespread acclaim in the second half of 2024. A lightweight climber with a strong sprint, Ball will have designs on all three stages, the Scot heading to the race with a strong team including Evan Marsh, the junior who rode to a brilliant, breakthrough 4th place at the Scottish Road Race Championship last month.
Stirling’s Logan Maclean got the better of Ball in the Gifford Road Race at the start of the year and has the potential for a repeat performance here. Despite focusing on the track ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, Maclean has proven he can still climb with the best, a top ten at the Capernwray Road Race and bronze medal when defending his title at the National Championships evidence of that. It’s his first outing since that race however, having had his tonsils removed; the Mennock Pass his opening target for the second half of the season.
Logan Maclean (Scotland) at the 2025 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Will Taylor (Moonglu Spatzwear) has gone well on hilly terrain this season, his standout win in the last round of the Alba Road Race Series delivering on the promise shown in strong performances at the Peaks 2 Day, where he was the best of the rest behind a rampaging Rowan Baker on the final stage, and at the Capernwray Road Race, where he was just a place behind Logan Maclean.
James Sawyers heads a youthful Cycling Sheffield squad on the back of second place in the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy, while Charlie Genner (Telco’m – On Clima – Osés) is another U23 rider with the potential for victory. Already a National B winner this season at the Chiterrne Road Race in April, the 22-year-old is very consistent having finished in the top ten of his two further National B outings this season. Spending the majority of his season racing in Spain, Genner will be hoping for the opportunity to use his international experience on similar terrain over the weekend.
Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) burst onto the scene at last season’s Lancaster GP, winning every sprint on his way to the climber’s prize and topping it off with a majestic 4th place. This season hasn’t quite gone to plan for the Irish rider, 22nd place at the Gifford Road Race his best result. However, the terrain gives him an opportunity to demonstrate his climbing ability and cause another upset.
Finn McHenry at the 2024 Lancaster Grand Prix. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Henry Hunter (Kendal CC) is having a very consistent season, 13th place on the slopes of Saltburn Bank in the East Cleveland Classic an example of him going somewhat under the radar on the big occasion. The young rider has held his form, coming within a tyre width of the win at the North of England Championships a fortnight ago.
A dark horse for the spoils is Ciaran McSherry (Defined Cycling Team), who hasn’t been out of the top six in Scottish National B races so far this year, a 5th and 6th place at the Gifford Road Race and Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy places him towards the top of the series standings. Former Junior CiCLE Classic winner Ahron Dick (Equipo Finisher) also be places in this category, having raced a stage race midweek in Spain in his build up for this weekend, while Ross Turner (Leadout Performance) took home third from the previous round at the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy.
This weekend (14-15 June), the inaugural Mennock Pass Stage Race promises two days of uncompromising theatre in the Southern Uplands, where the sheep stare, the wind sneers and the roads never stop climbing.
Forget manicured circuits and city‑centre crits; this is grassroots racing with soil under its nails and ambition in its eyes. Three tests – a twitchy prologue and two sprawling road stages – will sift grit from glamour. At stake? Mid‑season bragging rights, precious Alba Road Series points and the right to say you conquered a race that didn’t exist yesterday but might matter a great deal tomorrow.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Alan O’Dowd
What is it?
A brand-new, three-stage National B test pitched high in the Southern Uplands, the Mennock Pass Stage Race is organised by the ambitious Torvelo Racing outfit. It marries a short, punchy Saturday‑morning prologue with two rugged road stages that thread through the old mining villages and moorland of Dumfries & Galloway before taking in Scotland’s highest village, Wanlockhead.
Stage racing north of the border is a rarity; this is the first ever stage race to feature in Scottish Cycling’s Alba Road Series, instantly elevating it to show-piece status on the domestic calendar and offering E/1/2/3 seniors and top juniors a chance to bank series points on home soil.
It’s an event cut for climbers yet cunning enough to tempt the hardy rouleurs, and – if the organisers’ vision holds – a bold statement of intent for the future of Scottish road racing. There is also a Regional A single day race for women prior to stage 1 of the open race on Saturday.
How to follow
Alex will be manning the live ticker for us for stages 1 & 2. You can follow the action here from the live updates tab.
Schedule
Saturday 14 June
Sunday 16 June
Route
Prologue
Riders can expect a rude awakening on Saturday morning as they tackle a 6.1km test against the clock. Whilst the distance may be fairly standard for a prologue, the terrain is anything but, the second half a tough climb with 165m of climbing packed into the short effort.
The race could be blown open before it has begun in earnest with a prologue of this nature, the large time gaps which may appear forcing riders onto the front foot for the remainder of the race.
Stage 1
Rolling and grippy, the field takes on two laps of a lengthy circuit near Douglas in the afternoon, racing over a distance just shy of 75km.
The roads are again testing with over 750m of elevation in store, although there is no significant climb to split the field; instead a high intensity over the two hours will produce a fascinating race.
Riders will be cautious not to let a group escape to the finish with a big gap, a small bunch sprint perhaps the most favourable outcome for the majority of favourites ahead of Sunday’s queen stage.
Stage 2
If Saturday is likely to provide high intensity chess-on-wheels, Sunday could turn into all out warfare, with a rare summit finish at Wanlockhead set to produce a worthy winner with the overall victory on the line.
The race takes on five ascents of the climb, the first four swinging left halfway up to complete another lap, before the final lap sees the race continue up the slope. 2km at 4.5% may not seem particularly challenging, but with the 134km stage climbing almost 1200m there is likely to be a lot of fatigue within the peloton, particularly with the race on the line.
The Alba Road Race Series so far
Scotland produces some of the most exciting racing the country has to offer with its varied landscapes and competitive fields, the Alba Road Race Series so far demonstrating both of these.
Logan Maclean and Alex Ball went head to head in the opening round back in March at the Gifford Road Race, with the former sprinting to the win at the end of a closely fought race.
Will Taylor (Moonglu Spatzwear) took a similar win in the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy, surging ahead of James Sawyers (Cycling Sheffield) and Ross Turner (Leadout Performance) in the final kilometre.
The Mennock Pass Stage Race is the penultimate round of the series, which is due to end at the Drummond Trophy, with everything still to play for.
Riders to watch
Alex Ball was BCC RT’s marquee signing coming into the season and has continued producing the results that brought him widespread acclaim in the second half of 2024. A lightweight climber with a strong sprint, Ball will have designs on all three stages, the Scot heading to the race with a strong team including Evan Marsh, the junior who rode to a brilliant, breakthrough 4th place at the Scottish Road Race Championship last month.
Stirling’s Logan Maclean got the better of Ball in the Gifford Road Race at the start of the year and has the potential for a repeat performance here. Despite focusing on the track ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, Maclean has proven he can still climb with the best, a top ten at the Capernwray Road Race and bronze medal when defending his title at the National Championships evidence of that. It’s his first outing since that race however, having had his tonsils removed; the Mennock Pass his opening target for the second half of the season.
Will Taylor (Moonglu Spatzwear) has gone well on hilly terrain this season, his standout win in the last round of the Alba Road Race Series delivering on the promise shown in strong performances at the Peaks 2 Day, where he was the best of the rest behind a rampaging Rowan Baker on the final stage, and at the Capernwray Road Race, where he was just a place behind Logan Maclean.
James Sawyers heads a youthful Cycling Sheffield squad on the back of second place in the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy, while Charlie Genner (Telco’m – On Clima – Osés) is another U23 rider with the potential for victory. Already a National B winner this season at the Chiterrne Road Race in April, the 22-year-old is very consistent having finished in the top ten of his two further National B outings this season. Spending the majority of his season racing in Spain, Genner will be hoping for the opportunity to use his international experience on similar terrain over the weekend.
Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) burst onto the scene at last season’s Lancaster GP, winning every sprint on his way to the climber’s prize and topping it off with a majestic 4th place. This season hasn’t quite gone to plan for the Irish rider, 22nd place at the Gifford Road Race his best result. However, the terrain gives him an opportunity to demonstrate his climbing ability and cause another upset.
Henry Hunter (Kendal CC) is having a very consistent season, 13th place on the slopes of Saltburn Bank in the East Cleveland Classic an example of him going somewhat under the radar on the big occasion. The young rider has held his form, coming within a tyre width of the win at the North of England Championships a fortnight ago.
A dark horse for the spoils is Ciaran McSherry (Defined Cycling Team), who hasn’t been out of the top six in Scottish National B races so far this year, a 5th and 6th place at the Gifford Road Race and Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy places him towards the top of the series standings. Former Junior CiCLE Classic winner Ahron Dick (Equipo Finisher) also be places in this category, having raced a stage race midweek in Spain in his build up for this weekend, while Ross Turner (Leadout Performance) took home third from the previous round at the Andrew Matheson Memorial Trophy.
Provisional startlist
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