Matthew Gilmour won the Chitterne Road Race on Sunday 26 April, sprinting clear of Deetray Jarrett after a break of eleven established a decisive advantage inside the first two laps.
Matthew Gilmour (Nopinz RT) delivered on the promise of his early season on Sunday, winning the Chitterne Road Race from a reduced sprint to claim his first National B victory of 2026. Deetray Jarrett (Vigo–Rías Baixas) took second, with Jack Baldie (Pronto Bikes) — whose acceleration set up the finish — fading to third in the closing metres after launching the decisive move.
Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The race was shaped early. On the second lap, following the main climb, a group of 11 riders established a gap that grew steadily as the bunch behind failed to organise. By the time the escapees were working in earnest the advantage had reached close to five minutes — a margin that effectively ended the race as a contest for the peloton and turned the afternoon into an eleven-man affair across the Wiltshire downland.
Within that group, Elliott Colyer (Aero CLCTV Race Team) was the aggressor. The team’s founder attacked repeatedly on the drags, probing for a gap that never came; each time the collective brought him back. The group contained Gilmour, Baldie, Jarrett, Colyer, Bobby Buenfeld (Aero CLCTV Race Team), George Whitlock (Draft Racing), George Smith (Saddleback Racing), Frank Schefer (Private Member), Richard Santhouse (PB Performance) and one other, and for a period it threatened to fragment further when Jarrett and Baldie moved clear together. Colyer and Buenfeld kept that move on a short leash before reeling it in, reasserting control for the Aero CLCTV duo ahead of what they anticipated would be a sprint finish for their man.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The final lap unfolded differently. Colyer took up the role of road captain for Buenfeld, managing the pace and positioning into the finish. It was Baldie who went first, launching his effort with around 300 metres remaining and catching much of the group by surprise. Gilmour had anticipated it. He sat on Baldie’s wheel and timed his own effort to perfection, coming round with 150 metres to go and holding off Jarrett, who had followed the moves but could not match the Nopinz RT rider’s finishing kick.
For Gilmour, it completed a consistent early season that had already produced second at Portsdown and ninth at the Jock Wadley Memorial. For Jarrett, a second domestic podium in a fortnight — after his solo victory at Capernwray — confirms him as one of the more interesting riders to track through the rest of the spring.
“I came into this race knowing I had good form and wanted to ride aggressively,” Gilmour told The British Continental afterwards. “Elliott tried going multiple times up the drags but was brought back each time by the collective strength of the group. I knew I had a good kick, so coming into the last two laps I committed to the sprint.”
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The execution matched the plan. “Jack went first with around 300 to go. I was straight on the wheel and launched my sprint with around 150 to go, coming round and holding off Deetray for the win.”
Earlier in the day, Grace Upshall (Shibden Apex RT) won the Regional A women’s race.
Matthew Gilmour (Nopinz RT) delivered on the promise of his early season on Sunday, winning the Chitterne Road Race from a reduced sprint to claim his first National B victory of 2026. Deetray Jarrett (Vigo–Rías Baixas) took second, with Jack Baldie (Pronto Bikes) — whose acceleration set up the finish — fading to third in the closing metres after launching the decisive move.
Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
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Report
The race was shaped early. On the second lap, following the main climb, a group of 11 riders established a gap that grew steadily as the bunch behind failed to organise. By the time the escapees were working in earnest the advantage had reached close to five minutes — a margin that effectively ended the race as a contest for the peloton and turned the afternoon into an eleven-man affair across the Wiltshire downland.
Within that group, Elliott Colyer (Aero CLCTV Race Team) was the aggressor. The team’s founder attacked repeatedly on the drags, probing for a gap that never came; each time the collective brought him back. The group contained Gilmour, Baldie, Jarrett, Colyer, Bobby Buenfeld (Aero CLCTV Race Team), George Whitlock (Draft Racing), George Smith (Saddleback Racing), Frank Schefer (Private Member), Richard Santhouse (PB Performance) and one other, and for a period it threatened to fragment further when Jarrett and Baldie moved clear together. Colyer and Buenfeld kept that move on a short leash before reeling it in, reasserting control for the Aero CLCTV duo ahead of what they anticipated would be a sprint finish for their man.
The final lap unfolded differently. Colyer took up the role of road captain for Buenfeld, managing the pace and positioning into the finish. It was Baldie who went first, launching his effort with around 300 metres remaining and catching much of the group by surprise. Gilmour had anticipated it. He sat on Baldie’s wheel and timed his own effort to perfection, coming round with 150 metres to go and holding off Jarrett, who had followed the moves but could not match the Nopinz RT rider’s finishing kick.
For Gilmour, it completed a consistent early season that had already produced second at Portsdown and ninth at the Jock Wadley Memorial. For Jarrett, a second domestic podium in a fortnight — after his solo victory at Capernwray — confirms him as one of the more interesting riders to track through the rest of the spring.
“I came into this race knowing I had good form and wanted to ride aggressively,” Gilmour told The British Continental afterwards. “Elliott tried going multiple times up the drags but was brought back each time by the collective strength of the group. I knew I had a good kick, so coming into the last two laps I committed to the sprint.”
The execution matched the plan. “Jack went first with around 300 to go. I was straight on the wheel and launched my sprint with around 150 to go, coming round and holding off Deetray for the win.”
Earlier in the day, Grace Upshall (Shibden Apex RT) won the Regional A women’s race.
Results
Awaiting full results.
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