Katie Scott (Paralloy RT) outsprinted breakaway companion Anna Flynn (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) on the final ascent of Saltburn Bank to take the first road race win of her career after a day spent at the front of the race, securing the National Road Series lead in the process.

In the open race, Lucas Jowett (MyPad Racing p/b ONDO Sports) rode to victory from the early break, outsprinting Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and Alex Franks (JAKROO Handsling) after a thrilling race-long battle, becoming the National Road Series leader in the process.

Featured image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com

Report

Women’s race

In the picture-perfect North Yorkshire seaside town of Saltburn, it was perhaps fitting that a rainbow filled the sky as the peloton departed, the light rain nestled against the glorious sunshine a sign of what was to come — 105km spread across six laps of a gruelling, windswept circuit finishing atop Saltburn Bank, the 300m steep climb already proving a challenge for a number of riders as the race made its first passage — Lucy Lee (DAS–Hutchinson), winner of last season’s Curlew Cup one rider who found herself off the back of a thinned out peloton.

With DAS–Hutchinson missing both defending champion Alice McWilliam and National Road Series leader Noémie Thomson, Handsling Alba Development Road Team perhaps sensed a chink in their armour, lighting up the race with Arriane Holland and Anna Flynn — the pair making a dangerous early break with Capernwray Road Race winner Anna Morris (Private Member), Katie Scott (Paralloy RT), and Grace Sargeant (London Academy).

Conspicuous by their absence, it was not DAS–Hutchinson setting the pace on the front of the peloton however as the move was close to being caught on the slopes of the Bank, instead it was the infernal tempo set by Bob Lyons’ charges that saw the peloton strung out under the pressure.

With the tempo not slowing, just Flynn and Scott were left out front as the second lap commenced, 1 minute 25 a huge advantage with Handsling Alba Development Road Team clearly happy with the situation; Jo Tindley (Smurfit Westrock) realising the danger and attempting to bridge across alone despite the strong winds.

As the race ascended Saltburn Bank for the second time, marking the halfway point, Scott and Flynn continued to work well together, smoothly pedalling up the double-digit gradients. Behind, Tindley, fighting the bike as she stamped on the pedals, could see the peloton in the distance behind her — Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) putting a number of bike lengths into the pack such was her seated power on the hairpin bends. Further back were the DAS–Hutchinson collective, seemingly out of contention to add to Noémie Thomson’s CiCLE Classic triumph in the opening round of the National Road Series. No DAS–Hutchinson rider would finish in the top 20.

A lap later and the status quo ensued, Scott and Flynn working together as they rode by the seafront in Saltburn, the metronomic rhythm set by Scott enough to land a serious blow to the national cyclocross champion, Flynn, if not knock her out as the Paralloy RT rider edged clear. As they crossed the finish line on the gentler gradients of Glenside, Flynn was still in touching distance with the pair linking back up for a thrilling final lap showdown.

The pair’s decision to continue working together was a calculated one. “We weren’t sure how much yo-yoing there was going to be, just us two in the break,” Scott told The British Continental afterwards, “but I think the biggest gap we got was around five minutes, so it paid off.” She had briefly considered pushing on alone after almost dropping Flynn on the third ascent, but quickly reconsidered. “I didn’t really want to do 25k solo. We were going to commit together, so I said: let’s just keep going to the final bank.”

Meanwhile, three minutes behind was the battling Tindley, holding off a group of eight riders, led by Anna Morris and Kate Richardson, who had broken clear of the main peloton. Also in that eight-rider group was the talented first-year U23 Abi Miller (UAE Development Team) and junior Gabriella McHugh (camsmajaco), while McHugh’s teammate Melanie Rowe led the peloton, the Scot already a National B winner against a strong field this season.

As the final lap got underway, the valiant Tindley was joined by Morrow, part of the Handsling Alba Development Road Team who had looked collectively strong all day — their gap quickly increasing to over a minute, as the peloton returned to one.

As the leaders reached the final ascent of Saltburn Bank to the finish line, Scott made her move, decisively leaving her breakaway companion Flynn behind on the punishing gradients. “I knew I had it on the final Saltburn Bank, so I just waited for that,” she said. “I only relaxed with 100 metres to go — that’s when I could really enjoy it. I didn’t want to relax too soon.” A Diet Coke her reward for a day at the head of the race.

Morrow made a similar move to round out the podium, with Tindley a heroic fourth, while Anna Morris won the bunch sprint for 5th.

The win moves Scott to the top of the women’s National Road Series standings after two rounds, four points clear of Rowe, who leads the under-23 competition. CAMS majaco head the team standings.

For Scott, the win carried a weight beyond the result. “Incredible,” she said, visibly moved at the finish. “I’ve actually never won a road race, so I was pretty emotional.” The previous night she had lain awake picturing the moment. “I was saying to my boyfriend, I went to sleep last night just imagining winning.” A strong showing at the last National Road Series round — cut short by a wheel-change mechanical at the crucial moment — had only sharpened the hunger. “I had a really strong race at CiCLE, had a bit of bad luck with the wheel change and just missed that winning move. So I really wanted to come out today and, first of all, just enjoy it — and then, bonus to win.”

Open race

Set off in bright sunshine with the wind dropping, riders were quick to remove their jackets as the 120-rider field lined up in Saltburn for what promised to be a fiery affair — a famous win and the lead of the National Road Series up for grabs for the winner. For Jowett, racing against a domestic field was a new experience. “It just goes full gas from pretty much the start,” he said. “It’s so different to racing abroad, which I’m used to.”

A strong five-man move was the first to stick, the quintet taking a lead of a minute into the bottom of Saltburn Bank on the opening lap, Josh Housley (RideRevolution Coaching CT) leading them up, with the powerful frame of sprinter Matt King (Atom6–Cycleur de Luxe–Auto Stroo) in his wheel. Joining them were Aaron King (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Louis Herring (Prologue Racing Team), and Ewan Mackie (MyPad Racing p/b ONDO Sports) — the latter suffering mechanical issue with his pedal just after the final hairpin.

Behind, there was little panic in the bunch as they eased their way up the slope with five laps still to race. On the next lap the pace increased, and with it the activity from the front of the peloton — a disorganised 11-rider group forging clear for a short-lived effort in pursuit. Meanwhile, out in front, Housley was putting the hammer down, the five-man group whittled down to a distinct three and two as he threatened to move solo on the lower slopes of Saltburn Bank. Not far behind was the peloton, back in one piece, with former junior national road race champion Oliver Dawson (JAKROO Handsling) attacking on the famous hairpin bends.

The race never stands still for long, and as the action passed Guisborough for a third time five more riders had joined the original five out front — James Sawyers (Cycling Sheffield), Tom Heal (JAKROO Handsling), Jordan Giles and Oliver Curd (DAS Richardsons), and Clay Davies, the RideRevolution Coaching CT teammate of Housley. Their gap to a chase group hovered around the 30-second mark, with the peloton just over a minute from the head of the race.

The time gaps had tightened by the third ascent of Saltburn Bank, the pace a sedate one in the leading group, with Davies shepherding them up. Behind, George Radcliffe (Atom6–Cycleur de Luxe–Auto Stroo) launched a stinging attack from a small second group as the peloton breathed down their necks, Cam Mason (Alpecin–PremierTech Development Team) launching a move with Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) in his wheel as they looked to make up the seconds on the steep slopes.

Another lap down, and as the race headed into its business end on the fourth ascent of Saltburn Bank, the leading group had swelled with notable additions Mason and Martin — the Cumbrian’s presence creating an imposing trio of green jerseys in the 20-rider group. Behind, a chase group lay at 40 seconds, with Alex Murphy (Stolen Goat 4Endurance), winner of the Portsdown Classic, chasing hard to make contact. Meanwhile, Rowan Baker (JAKROO Handsling), who won this race solo in 2024, led a peloton two minutes in arrears at an infernal pace, two teammates in his wheel as he strung out the bunch in what looked a now-or-never effort to move towards the front of the race.

Back at the head of the race, Martin’s presence was always going to make things attacking, and it would be him and Jowett who led up Saltburn Bank alongside Matt King — the dangerous trio gaining a solid advantage with less than 50km to race. Soon after they were joined by Giles and Davies, the quintet’s advantage 25 seconds to a pursuing Housley and Franks, with multiple small groups between the head of the race and the peloton at 1′ 30″.

As the race took to the seafront, and with it Saltburn Bank, for the penultimate time, Housley and Franks had made the junction to the leading group, the winner seeming set to come from the front seven. Jowett, who had looked strong on the climb on every occasion thus far, came to the front, stood on the pedals and accelerated — Matt King the only rider initially able to match him, before he faded and Jowett had the gap he wanted. “I didn’t really attack, I just kind of thought I’d press on,” Jowett told The British Continental. “Maybe damage people’s legs a bit. I wanted to go solo, because I knew it was so hard over the top.” By the summit it was several seconds, and 25km stood between him and the victory.

The East Cleveland Classic is rarely a simple race, however, the exposed, rolling terrain suiting a variety of riders. And so it was Martin and Franks who would join up with Jowett midway on the final circuit. “I could see Tom Martin and Alex coming across, and they looked like they were going way faster,” Jowett said. “So I sat up for about a minute, recovered a bit, let them come across, and then worked with them until the final.”

Franks and Jowett tried valiantly to distance the dangerous Martin, and at one point they succeeded, the Cumbrian clawing his way back as they entered the descent into Saltburn, everything to play for with one ascent of the gruelling Bank remaining. On the slopes it was Jowett who took control, Martin locked in his wheel until the line was in sight — Jowett powering away to take the win, Martin saluting his effort as he came home second, with Franks in third. Behind, King and Housley attacked to take fourth and fifth respectively, with RideRevolution Coaching CT picking up the team prize.

The win puts Jowett top of the open National Road Series standings. He was cautious about reading too much into what comes next, but the ambition was clear. “I was always meant to do Lincoln,” he said. “If Lincoln goes well, I may as well make it a goal.”

Results

Women’s race

Open race

To follow.