The spotlight falls on Wentworth Woodhouse this Sunday (31 August) as the grand Georgian estate hosts the inaugural Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. Taking over from the long-running Ryedale Grand Prix, Yorkshire’s new flagship road race doubles as the finale to both the National Road Series and the Rapha Super-League – ensuring the season’s two biggest prizes will be settled on its rolling South Yorkshire roads.
With a backdrop as imposing as Europe’s largest private home and a course that mixes sweeping estate roads with attritional lanes, the stage is set for a showdown worthy of settling four titles.
Featured image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
The Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix makes its debut on Sunday 31 August, taking over from the Ryedale Grand Prix as Yorkshire’s flagship National Road Series event. After 19 editions in North Yorkshire, the race now moves south to the stately setting of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham – the largest private home in Europe, with a façade stretching more than 600 feet.
It’s a fittingly grand stage for the final round of both the National Road Series and the Rapha Super-League, with the season’s overall titles set to be decided in front of the imposing Georgian frontage. The course itself blends the familiar with the novel: sections once used by the old Danum Trophy are linked by a four-kilometre stretch of private estate road that threads through the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse.
Route
The Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix unfolds on a rolling South Yorkshire circuit that combines the grandeur of a stately home with the attrition of classic British roads. Each lap begins with a sweep through the private estate roads of Wentworth Woodhouse itself, a four-kilometre passage lined with boarded cattle grids and framed by the vast Georgian façade. Few races can claim such a dramatic backdrop.
From the house, the route spills onto familiar local lanes — Harley Road, Cortworth Lane, Coley Lane and Wath Road — where the tarmac never truly settles. The profile shows no major climbs, but the undulating terrain and grippy surfaces offer little respite. Each lap packs in 264 metres of elevation gain, enough that the repeated efforts will accumulate and test even the most resilient legs. Open stretches also leave riders exposed to crosswinds, a factor that could turn the race into a war of attrition.
The women’s peloton will cover five laps, totalling 96.8km, while the open race stretches to eight laps and 156.8km. It’s not a course for pure climbers or out-and-out sprinters, but one that rewards robust all-rounders, those with the strength to grind out repeated efforts and the nous to seize opportunities when they appear. With the National Road Series and Rapha Super-League titles hanging in the balance, the route promises a finale as demanding as it is spectacular.
How to follow
Our reporter Joe Hudson will be on the ground bringing coverage of the National Road Series finale with interviews on our Instagram, and our live tickers over on the Stats Hub.
Timings
Race
Start Time
Estimated Finish Time
Podiums
Women’s race
09:15
11:52
Podium presentation at 12:15
Open race
14:00
17:49
Podium presentation at 18:10
Rapha Super-League and National Road Series: what’s at stake
In the National Road Series, Adam Howell (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK) and Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson) lead the Open and Women’s standings respectively, but with 50 points for a win, neither is quite out of reach yet.
Howell’s path to the title looks slightly easier. He sits on 202 points, with teammate Will Truelove next on 170. With the pair riding for the same squad, it’s hard to imagine too much intra-team rivalry over the jersey.
Adam Howell (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
There is, however, a wildcard in the form of Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner James McKay. The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rider has 156 points, so he would need at least second place—and for both Howell and Truelove to falter—to snatch the title in Yorkshire.
The Women’s standings are more straightforward. Clay is effectively in a two-horse race with Holly Ramsey, who trails by 42 points. That means Ramsey will need to finish at least 4th and hope Clay finishes outside the top 40. Unlikely, although she’ll have extra firepower this weekend as she makes her debut for Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team. That added support—and a slice of luck—could just tip the balance for the former Hess rider.
It’s also advantage Clay in the Rapha Super-League, where she and track legend Anna Morris are split by just 17 points. They are the only two riders still in contention for the inaugural Women’s crown, and with 70 points on offer at Wentworth Woodhouse, Sunday promises a fascinating battle.
In the Open Super-League standings, Matt Bostock (TEKKERZ CC) wears the target but, like Clay, has just one rival: Truelove. With 35 points between them, Bostock has the edge to convert his lead into the title. But with Truelove also battling for the National Road Series, momentum could swing the way of the MUC-OFF rider.
Riders to watch
Women’s race
With the Wentworth Woodhouse GP closing out both the National Road Series and the inaugural Rapha Super-League, several names have emerged as potential protagonists. At the top of the lists is Robyn Clay, whose relentless consistency has her in charge of both series. Already the National Circuit Series winner in 2025, Clay has racked up wins and podiums in every discipline – from crits to road races – building a commanding 17‑point lead in the Rapha Super‑League standings and a 42-point buffer in the National Road Series.
Lucy Lee (DAS – Hutchinson) Wins The Curlew Cup. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The DAS-Hutchinson squad is stacked with potential winners for this final Nat A of the season, with Curlew Cup winner Lucy Lee – winning the North East race nearly 10 years after her first appearance – chomping at the bit to complete an end-of-campaign double. But look down just a few numbers on the start sheet and you’ll see the name of Noémie Thomson. The 22-year-old tops The British Continental’s points standings, and for very good reason as Thomson has had a debut season for the ages. A win on debut at the Florrie Newberry Classic was followed by Regional Champs success, two stages and the overall glory at the Ronde van Wymeswold, as well as a maiden Nat A win at the inaugural Witheridge Grand Prix in July. To say Thomson will take some beating is an understatement; she’ll be well suited to the undulating course and with the might of the DAS squad behind her, don’t be surprised if she caps her British season by climbing onto the top step of the podium once again.
Standing between the DAS riders and straight repeat victories are the Handsling Alba Development riders. Lauren Dickson took the early lead of the Rapha Super-League earlier this season with her Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix victory, and an impressive string of UCI race results has since earned her a two-year contract with French superteam FDJ-Suez. Teammate Kate Richardson is another potential race winner, the Scot coming back from a tumultous year to win the Tour de Feminin in May and the National Circuit Race Championships in June.
Madeline Cooper (Spectra Racing) has quietly been collecting points all season. Such is her consistency that she hasn’t finished outside the top ten in a National A race since the Otley Grand Prix at the beginning of July (where she finished 12th). Cooper was 4th at Witheridge and 4th again at the Curlew Cup, showing her speed in smaller group sprints after a tough day out. It feels only a matter of time before the rising road star takes her first National Road Series win.
Looking to round on the season on a high, is the Smurfit Westrock Cycling team. After a storming start to the season, the squad has been having to fend off ever stronger competition which has put a brake on the wins that were free-flowing earlier in the year. That said, Lucy Harris is always one to watch. Her heroic victory at the Women’s CiCLE Classic capped off a much-welcomed return to a happier place for the 32-year-old and a string of top 20s in other rounds of the National Road Series show she continues to be a force at the front of the peloton.
Holly Ramsey. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Alongside Harris is Holly Ramsey, a 19-year‑old U23 who has emerged as one of the season’s revelations. Racing for Smurfit this weekend after the sudden closure of Hess Cycling Team this week, Ramsey sits second in the National Road Series. She’s been everywhere this season: for example, she finished 6th at the Curlew Cup, 7th at Witheridge and 2nd in the East Cleveland Classic. Her steady climbing and sprinting prowess ensure she picks up points even in the hard, attritional races; a win this weekend would be the icing on the cake for her season – and would also give her a fighting chance of snatching the Road Series title from Clay. Add in the strength of Grace Reynolds, who capped off a strong breakaway performance with second at the Curlew Cup – a richly deserved result – and victory could easily go to the Smurfit squad.
We should also keep an eye on Grace Lister, another victim of Hess Cycling Team’s sudden demise. Lister showed her potential with third place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix this year, and a strong 4th place at the Cambridge Criterium last weekend indicates that her form is good. A nimble climber and punchy sprinter, she will have a point to prove this weekend.
Elsewhere, two second places on the roads – never mind her glittering performances in the National Circuit Series – have put Anna Morris within striking distance of dethroning Clay at the final round of the Rapha Super-League. While she’s more familiar with the circuits, and dazzling on the track, there’s nothing about this course that would stop the World Track Champion from at least replicating her runner-up performance in Witheridge. Riding as a Private Member means she hasn’t got any immediate teammate support, but that’s not stopped Morris in the past. Can she end the season with a bang?
Anna Morris. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Other names to watch include Esther Wong (Torelli). Wong was 8th at Curlew, demonstrating that the Capernwray Road Race winner is in fine form as she searches for her first podium of the season in a National Road Series event. Finally, Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT) is a 17‑year‑old Scot who was third overall at the Ronde van Wymeswold earlier this season and showed that she can compete with senior-level competition with 11th place at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir not long afterwards.
Open race
The MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK squad has been a revelation this season, with three of its riders occupying the upper reaches of our points standings. Two National Road Series wins – including Adam Howell’s remarkable crash, remount, and sprint to victory at the Tour of the Reservoir – have deservedly put him in the Series Leader’s jersey. But the strength in depth of Scott Redding’s team means there are plenty in the blue-and-pink kit capable of leaving South Yorkshire with the win.
Chief among them is Will Truelove. He sits second in both the National Road Series points table and the Rapha Super-League, in a season where – discounting the rare DNF – he has finished outside the top 20 only once. While his priority will no doubt be to help Howell secure the overall title, there is no reason why Truelove cannot once again animate the peloton and put himself in the frame for a podium at the very least.
William Truelove (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Another MUC-OFF rider with race-winning potential is 19-year-old Alex Beldon, who has enjoyed a blistering campaign. In late March he won the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race, before backing it up the following weekend with victory at the storied Danum Trophy. More big results followed: 6th at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, 2nd at the Tour of the Reservoir, and an outstanding 8th place at the National Road Championships against WorldTour opposition. Such performances on steep, punchy courses underline the sharpness of Beldon’s explosive kick.
Few teams arrive at Wentworth with as much strength in depth as Wheelbase CabTech Castelli. The Cumbrian outfit has enjoyed one of its most successful seasons to date, with big wins marking them out as one of the most dangerous squads on the domestic scene. National Circuit Series victor Tom Armstrong has been the team’s figurehead. The Lancashire rider has thrived on the tight, fast crits this summer, demonstrated by his Cambridge Criterium crown last weekend. Add in top tens at the East Cleveland Classic and the Witheridge Grand Prix, and Armstrong has proven himself one of the most reliable all-rounders in the country.
Alongside him, James McKay has been one of the domestic riders of the year. His triumph at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May – the team’s first ever National Road Series victory – was a landmark moment. The sight of McKay powering clear up Michaelgate to take a career-defining win was one of the highlights of the season. Results since Lincoln may have been quieter, but that ride underlined his ability to seize the biggest races, and a rolling circuit like Wentworth suits his punchy, aggressive style. Another to watch is Tim Shoreman, whose results abroad have been just as eye-catching. The Scot won two stages of Rás Tailteann in May, and took second at the Beaumont Trophy two weeks ago, indicating that he is in top form. Finally, Tom Martin continues to be one of the team’s most consistent and loyal performers. A regular in the move, Martin has been a dependable figure in Wheelbase’s line-ups all year. His ability to cover attacks, marshal moves and still finish strongly gives the team another option for Wentworth.
Matthew Bostock (TEKKERZ CC) wins the Sheffield Grand Prix. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Sprinter Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) has been in imperious form this season, a fact reflected in his leadership of the Rapha Super-League. In late July he claimed back-to-back victories, first outsprinting a breakaway to win the Sheffield Grand Prix ahead of Alex Beldon and former national champion Cameron Mason, then dominating the Dawlish GP a week later by outkicking Frank Longstaff. His road form has been just as sharp, highlighted by fourth place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, and he lines up here fresh from a training camp as he prepares to represent Great Britain at the forthcoming Tour of Britain.
Ukraine-born Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT) has been one of the revelations of 2025. In June he stormed to his first National B victory on the opening stage of the Ronde van Wymeswold, then added the prestigious Victor Berlemont Trophy last weekend with a well-timed attack and a fierce sprint from the breakaway. Those wins, together with a string of consistent results, have vaulted him to fifth in the British Continental national road rankings and mark him out as a genuine contender here.
Ollie Hucks (TAAP–Kalas) has also found timely form. Two weeks ago he notched his best ever National Road Series result with sixth at the Beaumont Trophy, and backed it up with seventh at the Victor Berlemont Trophy after an aggressive ride that kept him in the mix all day.
Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing – Factor Racing). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Former WorldTour rider Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing–Factor Racing) brings pedigree and proven class. Winner of last year’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, he returned to the top step in July by taking the Open race at the Witheridge Grand Prix, launching a decisive move and holding off the chasers in the closing kilometre. A consistent top-15 finisher in the NRS, Holmes is one to watch if Wentworth’s rolling course forces the race into a selective finale.
At just 20, Maxwell Hereward (360cycling) has been one of the breakout riders of the year. The U23 National Series leader has pieced together a remarkable campaign, with victories at the Yorkshire Classic and the Clive Tiley Memorial stage race, plus fourth at the National Circuit Championships against elite opposition. He also claimed the mountains prize at the Beaumont Trophy, showcasing his versatility. With climbing legs, a fast finish, and stage-race resilience, he comes into Wentworth in peak condition.
Finally, 21-year-old Dylan Hicks (Raptor Factory Racing) underlined his rising status two weeks ago by delivering his team’s first ever National Road Series win, soloing clear on the demanding Beaumont Trophy course. Already a podium finisher at the Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic earlier this year, the under-23 rider cannot be overlooked if Wentworth produces another selective showdown.
The spotlight falls on Wentworth Woodhouse this Sunday (31 August) as the grand Georgian estate hosts the inaugural Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. Taking over from the long-running Ryedale Grand Prix, Yorkshire’s new flagship road race doubles as the finale to both the National Road Series and the Rapha Super-League – ensuring the season’s two biggest prizes will be settled on its rolling South Yorkshire roads.
With a backdrop as imposing as Europe’s largest private home and a course that mixes sweeping estate roads with attritional lanes, the stage is set for a showdown worthy of settling four titles.
Featured image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
The Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix makes its debut on Sunday 31 August, taking over from the Ryedale Grand Prix as Yorkshire’s flagship National Road Series event. After 19 editions in North Yorkshire, the race now moves south to the stately setting of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham – the largest private home in Europe, with a façade stretching more than 600 feet.
It’s a fittingly grand stage for the final round of both the National Road Series and the Rapha Super-League, with the season’s overall titles set to be decided in front of the imposing Georgian frontage. The course itself blends the familiar with the novel: sections once used by the old Danum Trophy are linked by a four-kilometre stretch of private estate road that threads through the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse.
Route
The Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix unfolds on a rolling South Yorkshire circuit that combines the grandeur of a stately home with the attrition of classic British roads. Each lap begins with a sweep through the private estate roads of Wentworth Woodhouse itself, a four-kilometre passage lined with boarded cattle grids and framed by the vast Georgian façade. Few races can claim such a dramatic backdrop.
From the house, the route spills onto familiar local lanes — Harley Road, Cortworth Lane, Coley Lane and Wath Road — where the tarmac never truly settles. The profile shows no major climbs, but the undulating terrain and grippy surfaces offer little respite. Each lap packs in 264 metres of elevation gain, enough that the repeated efforts will accumulate and test even the most resilient legs. Open stretches also leave riders exposed to crosswinds, a factor that could turn the race into a war of attrition.
The women’s peloton will cover five laps, totalling 96.8km, while the open race stretches to eight laps and 156.8km. It’s not a course for pure climbers or out-and-out sprinters, but one that rewards robust all-rounders, those with the strength to grind out repeated efforts and the nous to seize opportunities when they appear. With the National Road Series and Rapha Super-League titles hanging in the balance, the route promises a finale as demanding as it is spectacular.
How to follow
Our reporter Joe Hudson will be on the ground bringing coverage of the National Road Series finale with interviews on our Instagram, and our live tickers over on the Stats Hub.
Timings
Rapha Super-League and National Road Series: what’s at stake
In the National Road Series, Adam Howell (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK) and Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson) lead the Open and Women’s standings respectively, but with 50 points for a win, neither is quite out of reach yet.
Howell’s path to the title looks slightly easier. He sits on 202 points, with teammate Will Truelove next on 170. With the pair riding for the same squad, it’s hard to imagine too much intra-team rivalry over the jersey.
There is, however, a wildcard in the form of Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner James McKay. The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli rider has 156 points, so he would need at least second place—and for both Howell and Truelove to falter—to snatch the title in Yorkshire.
The Women’s standings are more straightforward. Clay is effectively in a two-horse race with Holly Ramsey, who trails by 42 points. That means Ramsey will need to finish at least 4th and hope Clay finishes outside the top 40. Unlikely, although she’ll have extra firepower this weekend as she makes her debut for Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team. That added support—and a slice of luck—could just tip the balance for the former Hess rider.
It’s also advantage Clay in the Rapha Super-League, where she and track legend Anna Morris are split by just 17 points. They are the only two riders still in contention for the inaugural Women’s crown, and with 70 points on offer at Wentworth Woodhouse, Sunday promises a fascinating battle.
In the Open Super-League standings, Matt Bostock (TEKKERZ CC) wears the target but, like Clay, has just one rival: Truelove. With 35 points between them, Bostock has the edge to convert his lead into the title. But with Truelove also battling for the National Road Series, momentum could swing the way of the MUC-OFF rider.
Riders to watch
Women’s race
With the Wentworth Woodhouse GP closing out both the National Road Series and the inaugural Rapha Super-League, several names have emerged as potential protagonists. At the top of the lists is Robyn Clay, whose relentless consistency has her in charge of both series. Already the National Circuit Series winner in 2025, Clay has racked up wins and podiums in every discipline – from crits to road races – building a commanding 17‑point lead in the Rapha Super‑League standings and a 42-point buffer in the National Road Series.
The DAS-Hutchinson squad is stacked with potential winners for this final Nat A of the season, with Curlew Cup winner Lucy Lee – winning the North East race nearly 10 years after her first appearance – chomping at the bit to complete an end-of-campaign double. But look down just a few numbers on the start sheet and you’ll see the name of Noémie Thomson. The 22-year-old tops The British Continental’s points standings, and for very good reason as Thomson has had a debut season for the ages. A win on debut at the Florrie Newberry Classic was followed by Regional Champs success, two stages and the overall glory at the Ronde van Wymeswold, as well as a maiden Nat A win at the inaugural Witheridge Grand Prix in July. To say Thomson will take some beating is an understatement; she’ll be well suited to the undulating course and with the might of the DAS squad behind her, don’t be surprised if she caps her British season by climbing onto the top step of the podium once again.
Standing between the DAS riders and straight repeat victories are the Handsling Alba Development riders. Lauren Dickson took the early lead of the Rapha Super-League earlier this season with her Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix victory, and an impressive string of UCI race results has since earned her a two-year contract with French superteam FDJ-Suez. Teammate Kate Richardson is another potential race winner, the Scot coming back from a tumultous year to win the Tour de Feminin in May and the National Circuit Race Championships in June.
Madeline Cooper (Spectra Racing) has quietly been collecting points all season. Such is her consistency that she hasn’t finished outside the top ten in a National A race since the Otley Grand Prix at the beginning of July (where she finished 12th). Cooper was 4th at Witheridge and 4th again at the Curlew Cup, showing her speed in smaller group sprints after a tough day out. It feels only a matter of time before the rising road star takes her first National Road Series win.
Looking to round on the season on a high, is the Smurfit Westrock Cycling team. After a storming start to the season, the squad has been having to fend off ever stronger competition which has put a brake on the wins that were free-flowing earlier in the year. That said, Lucy Harris is always one to watch. Her heroic victory at the Women’s CiCLE Classic capped off a much-welcomed return to a happier place for the 32-year-old and a string of top 20s in other rounds of the National Road Series show she continues to be a force at the front of the peloton.
Alongside Harris is Holly Ramsey, a 19-year‑old U23 who has emerged as one of the season’s revelations. Racing for Smurfit this weekend after the sudden closure of Hess Cycling Team this week, Ramsey sits second in the National Road Series. She’s been everywhere this season: for example, she finished 6th at the Curlew Cup, 7th at Witheridge and 2nd in the East Cleveland Classic. Her steady climbing and sprinting prowess ensure she picks up points even in the hard, attritional races; a win this weekend would be the icing on the cake for her season – and would also give her a fighting chance of snatching the Road Series title from Clay. Add in the strength of Grace Reynolds, who capped off a strong breakaway performance with second at the Curlew Cup – a richly deserved result – and victory could easily go to the Smurfit squad.
We should also keep an eye on Grace Lister, another victim of Hess Cycling Team’s sudden demise. Lister showed her potential with third place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix this year, and a strong 4th place at the Cambridge Criterium last weekend indicates that her form is good. A nimble climber and punchy sprinter, she will have a point to prove this weekend.
Elsewhere, two second places on the roads – never mind her glittering performances in the National Circuit Series – have put Anna Morris within striking distance of dethroning Clay at the final round of the Rapha Super-League. While she’s more familiar with the circuits, and dazzling on the track, there’s nothing about this course that would stop the World Track Champion from at least replicating her runner-up performance in Witheridge. Riding as a Private Member means she hasn’t got any immediate teammate support, but that’s not stopped Morris in the past. Can she end the season with a bang?
Other names to watch include Esther Wong (Torelli). Wong was 8th at Curlew, demonstrating that the Capernwray Road Race winner is in fine form as she searches for her first podium of the season in a National Road Series event. Finally, Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT) is a 17‑year‑old Scot who was third overall at the Ronde van Wymeswold earlier this season and showed that she can compete with senior-level competition with 11th place at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir not long afterwards.
Open race
The MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK squad has been a revelation this season, with three of its riders occupying the upper reaches of our points standings. Two National Road Series wins – including Adam Howell’s remarkable crash, remount, and sprint to victory at the Tour of the Reservoir – have deservedly put him in the Series Leader’s jersey. But the strength in depth of Scott Redding’s team means there are plenty in the blue-and-pink kit capable of leaving South Yorkshire with the win.
Chief among them is Will Truelove. He sits second in both the National Road Series points table and the Rapha Super-League, in a season where – discounting the rare DNF – he has finished outside the top 20 only once. While his priority will no doubt be to help Howell secure the overall title, there is no reason why Truelove cannot once again animate the peloton and put himself in the frame for a podium at the very least.
Another MUC-OFF rider with race-winning potential is 19-year-old Alex Beldon, who has enjoyed a blistering campaign. In late March he won the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race, before backing it up the following weekend with victory at the storied Danum Trophy. More big results followed: 6th at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, 2nd at the Tour of the Reservoir, and an outstanding 8th place at the National Road Championships against WorldTour opposition. Such performances on steep, punchy courses underline the sharpness of Beldon’s explosive kick.
Few teams arrive at Wentworth with as much strength in depth as Wheelbase CabTech Castelli. The Cumbrian outfit has enjoyed one of its most successful seasons to date, with big wins marking them out as one of the most dangerous squads on the domestic scene. National Circuit Series victor Tom Armstrong has been the team’s figurehead. The Lancashire rider has thrived on the tight, fast crits this summer, demonstrated by his Cambridge Criterium crown last weekend. Add in top tens at the East Cleveland Classic and the Witheridge Grand Prix, and Armstrong has proven himself one of the most reliable all-rounders in the country.
Alongside him, James McKay has been one of the domestic riders of the year. His triumph at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May – the team’s first ever National Road Series victory – was a landmark moment. The sight of McKay powering clear up Michaelgate to take a career-defining win was one of the highlights of the season. Results since Lincoln may have been quieter, but that ride underlined his ability to seize the biggest races, and a rolling circuit like Wentworth suits his punchy, aggressive style. Another to watch is Tim Shoreman, whose results abroad have been just as eye-catching. The Scot won two stages of Rás Tailteann in May, and took second at the Beaumont Trophy two weeks ago, indicating that he is in top form. Finally, Tom Martin continues to be one of the team’s most consistent and loyal performers. A regular in the move, Martin has been a dependable figure in Wheelbase’s line-ups all year. His ability to cover attacks, marshal moves and still finish strongly gives the team another option for Wentworth.
Sprinter Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) has been in imperious form this season, a fact reflected in his leadership of the Rapha Super-League. In late July he claimed back-to-back victories, first outsprinting a breakaway to win the Sheffield Grand Prix ahead of Alex Beldon and former national champion Cameron Mason, then dominating the Dawlish GP a week later by outkicking Frank Longstaff. His road form has been just as sharp, highlighted by fourth place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, and he lines up here fresh from a training camp as he prepares to represent Great Britain at the forthcoming Tour of Britain.
Ukraine-born Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT) has been one of the revelations of 2025. In June he stormed to his first National B victory on the opening stage of the Ronde van Wymeswold, then added the prestigious Victor Berlemont Trophy last weekend with a well-timed attack and a fierce sprint from the breakaway. Those wins, together with a string of consistent results, have vaulted him to fifth in the British Continental national road rankings and mark him out as a genuine contender here.
Ollie Hucks (TAAP–Kalas) has also found timely form. Two weeks ago he notched his best ever National Road Series result with sixth at the Beaumont Trophy, and backed it up with seventh at the Victor Berlemont Trophy after an aggressive ride that kept him in the mix all day.
Former WorldTour rider Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing–Factor Racing) brings pedigree and proven class. Winner of last year’s Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, he returned to the top step in July by taking the Open race at the Witheridge Grand Prix, launching a decisive move and holding off the chasers in the closing kilometre. A consistent top-15 finisher in the NRS, Holmes is one to watch if Wentworth’s rolling course forces the race into a selective finale.
At just 20, Maxwell Hereward (360cycling) has been one of the breakout riders of the year. The U23 National Series leader has pieced together a remarkable campaign, with victories at the Yorkshire Classic and the Clive Tiley Memorial stage race, plus fourth at the National Circuit Championships against elite opposition. He also claimed the mountains prize at the Beaumont Trophy, showcasing his versatility. With climbing legs, a fast finish, and stage-race resilience, he comes into Wentworth in peak condition.
Finally, 21-year-old Dylan Hicks (Raptor Factory Racing) underlined his rising status two weeks ago by delivering his team’s first ever National Road Series win, soloing clear on the demanding Beaumont Trophy course. Already a podium finisher at the Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic earlier this year, the under-23 rider cannot be overlooked if Wentworth produces another selective showdown.
Provisional startlist
Women’s race
Open race
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.