2026 East and West Midlands Road Race Championships: report and results
It was a double celebration for Sian Botteley and Adam Lewis on Sunday (31 May) as the couple took home National B wins and East Midlands regional titles to boot on a busy day of racing in the Vale of Belvoir, where no fewer than six regional titles were handed out.
It was a double celebration for Sian Botteley and Adam Lewis on Sunday (31 May) as the couple took home National B wins and East Midlands regional titles to boot on a busy day of racing in the Vale of Belvoir, where no fewer than six regional titles were handed out.
Fusion Media East and West Midlands (and Northern) Women’s Championships
Sian Botteley’s patience paid dividends as a late surge to the line brought the Brother UK–Team OnForm rider her first road race win in almost seven years as a bunch sprint decided the Fusion Media East and West Midlands (and Northern) Women’s Championships in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir on Sunday morning.
With 27 riders spread across four regions following the cancellation of the Northern championships scheduled for the same day, every rider in the startline had the potential to shape the race’s outcome—a flurry of attacks in the opening laps reflecting this unique situation.
Particularly active was Ella Tandy, the first-year U23 from the West Midlands, now racing with Simpson Nouvelles—the 2024 winner perfectly suited to the punchy nature of the Knipton course. However, she was unable to get away, each move tracked down by a number of riders eager to see the race come down to a bunch sprint as the speed of the race ebbed and flowed in accordance with the accelerations.
With a stiff breeze from the west, tactics coming into the finish were likely to prove decisive, an uphill drag punctuating the final kilometre preceded by a fast descent from the village of Woolsthorpe.
Finding herself out of position as the road began to rise, Botteley was forced to pull on the brakes as the sprint opened up, making her way to the more sheltered right hand side of the road with 300m to go, gaining speed as the metres passed.
Image: Gary Main
Still some 50m off the front with 200m to go, Botteley continued to sprint with the finish in sight, throwing the bike over the line unsure if she had done enough to take a memorable win ahead of Freya Taylor (Jadan Glasdon p/b Vive le Velo), who took the West Midlands title as Tandy rounded out the podium.
The Yorkshire championship went the way of Evie Smith (Redchilli Bikes O’Shea Racing) who sprinted to fourth, while Hannah Clough, studying at the nearby University of Nottingham took the North West title courtesy of a ninth place finish.
“It was close enough that I wasn’t sure if I had it or not, so I didn’t actually get to put the arms in the air,” Botteley told The British Continental after the race. “But [it was] nice to win, I haven’t won a race in a long time, I think it’s been seven years since I won a road race, which makes me sound very old!”
East and West Midlands Opens Championships
The course may have changed, but the method remained the same for Adam Lewis (APS Pro Cycling), a final lap solo attack delivering him a hat-trick of victories in the East and West Midlands Road Race Championships on the Knipton course in the shadow of the majestic Belvoir Castle.
With the morning’s wind only picking up on a course which once played host to the GA Bennett Road Race, the opening laps of the 125km race saw the elastic stretch, but not snap, as a significant move failed to establish itself.
Ever the aggressor, 30-year-old Lewis, who took his maiden UCI victory at the Tour of the Gila last month, courtesy of a long breakaway with his teammate, forced a move clear around the halfway mark, dragging with him some of the strongest riders in the race including Caleb Pain (RideRevolution Coaching) and recent GA Bennett winner Will Perrett (DAS Richardsons) [Denny — note: Perrett not on our DAS Richardsons roster — confirm team], his teammate Peter Cocker, the up-and-coming Lewis Tinsley (BCC Race Team), Dan Barnes (Wold Top Pactimo), Oliver Snodden (Mandene Racing), Oliver Hurdle (Stolen Goat 4Endurance) [Denny — note: not on our Stolen Goat roster — possible mix-up with Oliver Hucks/Foran CT?], and the race’s surprise package Nathaniel Ground (Dulwich Paragon).
Working well together, the gap remained steady until the final 13km lap—21-year-old Pain, ninth at the East Cleveland Classic, making his bid for victory, surging forward: solo and with intent as the bell tolled.
Lewis was among the first to sense the danger and moved across to the gap. And after consolidating their advantage Lewis acted decisively again—dropping Pain, who would be swallowed up by the group, with a stinging attack up the Harston Climb , soloing to his third win in as many years and the East Midlands title.
Image: Gary Main
Behind, the group worked well together to have Lewis within their sights, Will Perrett finding himself on the front as the final descent from Woolsthorpe levelled off to find no one wanted to take up the mantle as the line approached.
In the gallop to the finish Tinsley proved fastest, taking the West Midlands title with it, followed by Barnes and Snodden. After his last lap aggression Pain held on to round out the top five.
“I knew the form was good heading into the race however I was made to work hard with multiple teams working against me.” Lewis reflected after the race, his next assignment in Canada as he targets a stage win in the Tour de Beauce in 10 days’ time.
It was a double celebration for Sian Botteley and Adam Lewis on Sunday (31 May) as the couple took home National B wins and East Midlands regional titles to boot on a busy day of racing in the Vale of Belvoir, where no fewer than six regional titles were handed out.
Featured image: Gary Main
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Report
Fusion Media East and West Midlands (and Northern) Women’s Championships
Sian Botteley’s patience paid dividends as a late surge to the line brought the Brother UK–Team OnForm rider her first road race win in almost seven years as a bunch sprint decided the Fusion Media East and West Midlands (and Northern) Women’s Championships in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir on Sunday morning.
With 27 riders spread across four regions following the cancellation of the Northern championships scheduled for the same day, every rider in the startline had the potential to shape the race’s outcome—a flurry of attacks in the opening laps reflecting this unique situation.
Particularly active was Ella Tandy, the first-year U23 from the West Midlands, now racing with Simpson Nouvelles—the 2024 winner perfectly suited to the punchy nature of the Knipton course. However, she was unable to get away, each move tracked down by a number of riders eager to see the race come down to a bunch sprint as the speed of the race ebbed and flowed in accordance with the accelerations.
With a stiff breeze from the west, tactics coming into the finish were likely to prove decisive, an uphill drag punctuating the final kilometre preceded by a fast descent from the village of Woolsthorpe.
Finding herself out of position as the road began to rise, Botteley was forced to pull on the brakes as the sprint opened up, making her way to the more sheltered right hand side of the road with 300m to go, gaining speed as the metres passed.
Still some 50m off the front with 200m to go, Botteley continued to sprint with the finish in sight, throwing the bike over the line unsure if she had done enough to take a memorable win ahead of Freya Taylor (Jadan Glasdon p/b Vive le Velo), who took the West Midlands title as Tandy rounded out the podium.
The Yorkshire championship went the way of Evie Smith (Redchilli Bikes O’Shea Racing) who sprinted to fourth, while Hannah Clough, studying at the nearby University of Nottingham took the North West title courtesy of a ninth place finish.
“It was close enough that I wasn’t sure if I had it or not, so I didn’t actually get to put the arms in the air,” Botteley told The British Continental after the race. “But [it was] nice to win, I haven’t won a race in a long time, I think it’s been seven years since I won a road race, which makes me sound very old!”
East and West Midlands Opens Championships
The course may have changed, but the method remained the same for Adam Lewis (APS Pro Cycling), a final lap solo attack delivering him a hat-trick of victories in the East and West Midlands Road Race Championships on the Knipton course in the shadow of the majestic Belvoir Castle.
With the morning’s wind only picking up on a course which once played host to the GA Bennett Road Race, the opening laps of the 125km race saw the elastic stretch, but not snap, as a significant move failed to establish itself.
Ever the aggressor, 30-year-old Lewis, who took his maiden UCI victory at the Tour of the Gila last month, courtesy of a long breakaway with his teammate, forced a move clear around the halfway mark, dragging with him some of the strongest riders in the race including Caleb Pain (RideRevolution Coaching) and recent GA Bennett winner Will Perrett (DAS Richardsons) [Denny — note: Perrett not on our DAS Richardsons roster — confirm team], his teammate Peter Cocker, the up-and-coming Lewis Tinsley (BCC Race Team), Dan Barnes (Wold Top Pactimo), Oliver Snodden (Mandene Racing), Oliver Hurdle (Stolen Goat 4Endurance) [Denny — note: not on our Stolen Goat roster — possible mix-up with Oliver Hucks/Foran CT?], and the race’s surprise package Nathaniel Ground (Dulwich Paragon).
Working well together, the gap remained steady until the final 13km lap—21-year-old Pain, ninth at the East Cleveland Classic, making his bid for victory, surging forward: solo and with intent as the bell tolled.
Lewis was among the first to sense the danger and moved across to the gap. And after consolidating their advantage Lewis acted decisively again—dropping Pain, who would be swallowed up by the group, with a stinging attack up the Harston Climb , soloing to his third win in as many years and the East Midlands title.
Behind, the group worked well together to have Lewis within their sights, Will Perrett finding himself on the front as the final descent from Woolsthorpe levelled off to find no one wanted to take up the mantle as the line approached.
In the gallop to the finish Tinsley proved fastest, taking the West Midlands title with it, followed by Barnes and Snodden. After his last lap aggression Pain held on to round out the top five.
“I knew the form was good heading into the race however I was made to work hard with multiple teams working against me.” Lewis reflected after the race, his next assignment in Canada as he targets a stage win in the Tour de Beauce in 10 days’ time.
Results
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