2026 Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix: report and results
Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco CT) and Matthew Bostock (Rapha Cycling Club) won the women's and open races at Colne on Tuesday, 16 June, the opening round of the National Circuit Series, to take the early lead in both standings.
Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco Continental Team) and Matthew Bostock (Rapha Cycling Club) won the women’s and open races at Colne on Tuesday, 16 June, the opening round of the National Circuit Series, to take the early lead in both standings.
Emma Jeffers built her reputation on closed town-centre circuits, winning Tour Series rounds as a teenager before her career took her to Europe. On Tuesday evening the Lancashire rider returned to one in her home county — 830 metres of Colne’s one-way system — and won the opening round of the women’s National Circuit Series, taking the sprint ahead of Megan Barker and Sophie Lewis.
It was a first win back from injury for the Liv AlUla Jayco rider. “Just coming back from injury, I just wanted to have a bit of fun tonight and get back smashing round the crits,” she told The British Continental. “Colne definitely didn’t disappoint.”
Josie Knight of DAS-Hutchinson. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The pace was relentless, driven by the two strongest squads in the field. “Constant attacks from Alba and DAS, constant high pace,” Jeffers said. “I just tried to pick where to use energy and when I needed to save it.” Handsling Alba and DAS-Hutchinson pressed all evening but could not get clear of a race that came back together for a sprint, and Jeffers timed the finish best. “Last lap was chaotic as always, but coming out the last corner I found a gap to open up my sprint and get round Meg just before the line.”
That late surge edged out Barker (Rapha Cycling Club), the 2023 national circuit champion, by a fraction, with Lewis (DAS-Hutchinson) third — her Colne finishes now reading first, second and third across the past three editions. Madeline Cooper led Handsling Alba’s effort in fourth.
For Jeffers, now with the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team, it adds the series opener to a palmarès that already includes the 2024 British national circuit title. The win puts her top of the National Circuit Series standings after one round. Handsling Alba Development Road Team lead the team classification, while Morven Yeoman (DAS-Hutchinson) heads the sprint competition, having won both intermediate sprints.
Emma Jeffers of Liv AlUla Jayco wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The new leader will not be there to defend it at round two, though: Jeffers told The British Continental she will be racing in Portugal with Liv AlUla Jayco when the series resumes at Otley on 1 July, and hopes to return later in the season. “Hopefully I’ll be able to do some of the others, depending on the team schedule,” she said.
Open race
Three days after winning the City of London Nocturne, Matthew Bostock did it again. The Rapha Cycling Club rider won the opening round of the National Circuit Series at Colne alone, crossing the line on Market Street — three fingers raised — six seconds clear of Aaron King (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), with Frank Longstaff (DAS Richardsons) leading the bunch home for third a further three seconds back. It was his third Colne victory, after 2019 and 2024, and his second win in four days.
It came at the end of an aggressive race in which attacks went all night, multiple groups forming and being chased back down. The decisive move was King’s: the Wheelbase rider went clear alone with seven laps to go. Bostock bridged across to him with two laps remaining, then went again to ride away for the win, leaving King to hold on for second and Longstaff to take the bunch sprint for third.
It made for a strong night for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, who paired King’s second with the team prize, topping the team classification on 114 points from Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT and Cycling Sheffield, level on 78. Tim Shoreman came home sixth and last year’s series winner Thomas Armstrong 15th.
National circuit champion Cameron Mason (Alpecin–Premier Tech Development Team) came home seventh.
Matthew Bostock of Rapha Cycling Club wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The win puts Bostock top of the National Circuit Series standings after one round, from King and Longstaff. Daniel Barnes (Wold Top Pactimo) leads the sprint competition, having won the second of the two intermediate sprints and placed in the first.
The series resumes at Otley on 1 July, which also forms round 4 of the Rapha Super-League.
Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco Continental Team) and Matthew Bostock (Rapha Cycling Club) won the women’s and open races at Colne on Tuesday, 16 June, the opening round of the National Circuit Series, to take the early lead in both standings.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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Report
Women’s race
Emma Jeffers built her reputation on closed town-centre circuits, winning Tour Series rounds as a teenager before her career took her to Europe. On Tuesday evening the Lancashire rider returned to one in her home county — 830 metres of Colne’s one-way system — and won the opening round of the women’s National Circuit Series, taking the sprint ahead of Megan Barker and Sophie Lewis.
It was a first win back from injury for the Liv AlUla Jayco rider. “Just coming back from injury, I just wanted to have a bit of fun tonight and get back smashing round the crits,” she told The British Continental. “Colne definitely didn’t disappoint.”
The pace was relentless, driven by the two strongest squads in the field. “Constant attacks from Alba and DAS, constant high pace,” Jeffers said. “I just tried to pick where to use energy and when I needed to save it.” Handsling Alba and DAS-Hutchinson pressed all evening but could not get clear of a race that came back together for a sprint, and Jeffers timed the finish best. “Last lap was chaotic as always, but coming out the last corner I found a gap to open up my sprint and get round Meg just before the line.”
That late surge edged out Barker (Rapha Cycling Club), the 2023 national circuit champion, by a fraction, with Lewis (DAS-Hutchinson) third — her Colne finishes now reading first, second and third across the past three editions. Madeline Cooper led Handsling Alba’s effort in fourth.
For Jeffers, now with the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team, it adds the series opener to a palmarès that already includes the 2024 British national circuit title. The win puts her top of the National Circuit Series standings after one round. Handsling Alba Development Road Team lead the team classification, while Morven Yeoman (DAS-Hutchinson) heads the sprint competition, having won both intermediate sprints.
The new leader will not be there to defend it at round two, though: Jeffers told The British Continental she will be racing in Portugal with Liv AlUla Jayco when the series resumes at Otley on 1 July, and hopes to return later in the season. “Hopefully I’ll be able to do some of the others, depending on the team schedule,” she said.
Open race
Three days after winning the City of London Nocturne, Matthew Bostock did it again. The Rapha Cycling Club rider won the opening round of the National Circuit Series at Colne alone, crossing the line on Market Street — three fingers raised — six seconds clear of Aaron King (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), with Frank Longstaff (DAS Richardsons) leading the bunch home for third a further three seconds back. It was his third Colne victory, after 2019 and 2024, and his second win in four days.
It came at the end of an aggressive race in which attacks went all night, multiple groups forming and being chased back down. The decisive move was King’s: the Wheelbase rider went clear alone with seven laps to go. Bostock bridged across to him with two laps remaining, then went again to ride away for the win, leaving King to hold on for second and Longstaff to take the bunch sprint for third.
It made for a strong night for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, who paired King’s second with the team prize, topping the team classification on 114 points from Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT and Cycling Sheffield, level on 78. Tim Shoreman came home sixth and last year’s series winner Thomas Armstrong 15th.
National circuit champion Cameron Mason (Alpecin–Premier Tech Development Team) came home seventh.
The win puts Bostock top of the National Circuit Series standings after one round, from King and Longstaff. Daniel Barnes (Wold Top Pactimo) leads the sprint competition, having won the second of the two intermediate sprints and placed in the first.
The series resumes at Otley on 1 July, which also forms round 4 of the Rapha Super-League.
Results
Women’s race
Open race
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