Toby Bartlett (Wold Top Pactimo) outsprinted breakaway companion Morris Bacon on the Lophams circuit on Sunday to take his first road race win in more than 10 years; in a season he had all but written off.
The deal was done long before the line. Two riders, clear of the race for the best part of 80 kilometres, agreed to settle the VC Norwich Road Race the honest way—a straight sprint up the narrow Lopham Road finish—and Toby Bartlett (Wold Top Pactimo) won it, crossing two seconds ahead of Morris Bacon (DAP Cycling Club).
Featured image: That Shot Media
Report
On a hot afternoon on the flat, exposed triangle between North Lopham and Kenninghall, the National B—promoted jointly by VC Norwich and Diss CC, two clubs pooling volunteers to keep road racing alive in the northern half of the Eastern region—was every bit the race of wind and attrition the roads promised. Of 27 starters, just nine were classified as finishers over the 117 kilometres, with riders outside the three-minute limit pulled as the organisers had warned. Among them, eventually, were two of the startlist’s biggest names: Frank Longstaff (DAS Richardsons), the highest-ranked rider in the field, retired with four laps remaining, while Dan Bigham (WattShop) was out of the race after 13 laps.
Image: That Shot Media
Bigham had already left his mark. An early move containing Philip Large (Wold Top Pactimo) established the first gap, with Bartlett blocking behind for his teammate. “I blocked to let it get a gap and then sat in to save the legs,” Bartlett told The British Continental. When that group was brought back, the former Hour Record holder went on the offensive. “Dan Bigham did two massive attacks in the crosswind, which I covered, and then went over the top with Morris with about 80k to go, and that was it.”
The pair’s lead stretched to two and a half minutes. “We hoped that a small group would get across to us, but when we heard the gap was at 2min 30 it was make or break,” Bartlett said. “We worked really well together and started tying up with 20k to go, but the gap was so big we were safe. Came into the finish and made a deal to drag race it to the line.”
Behind, Elliot Barratt took the sprint for 3rd from Nathaniel Ground (Dulwich Paragon CC) at 17 seconds, with Jonny Britton (Moonglu SpatzWear) 5th and Large rewarded for Wold Top Pactimo’s early aggression with 6th.
Image: That Shot Media
For Bartlett, the result carried more weight than most National B wins. Health problems—a recurring condition that caused his throat to close up, then being hit by a car while training—had stopped him finishing a road race for over a year, and until a month ago he had all but written off the season.
“So to finally win a road race after over 10 years of trying is pretty special,” he said. “Especially when it’s against guys like Dan, Frank, and Callum”—Bigham, Longstaff, and Callum Laborde (Ornata Factory Racing).
He credited one final call, too: choosing a mesh skinsuit and a more breathable helmet in the heat, while much of the field went full aero and, he said, paid for it.
The deal was done long before the line. Two riders, clear of the race for the best part of 80 kilometres, agreed to settle the VC Norwich Road Race the honest way—a straight sprint up the narrow Lopham Road finish—and Toby Bartlett (Wold Top Pactimo) won it, crossing two seconds ahead of Morris Bacon (DAP Cycling Club).
Featured image: That Shot Media
Report
On a hot afternoon on the flat, exposed triangle between North Lopham and Kenninghall, the National B—promoted jointly by VC Norwich and Diss CC, two clubs pooling volunteers to keep road racing alive in the northern half of the Eastern region—was every bit the race of wind and attrition the roads promised. Of 27 starters, just nine were classified as finishers over the 117 kilometres, with riders outside the three-minute limit pulled as the organisers had warned. Among them, eventually, were two of the startlist’s biggest names: Frank Longstaff (DAS Richardsons), the highest-ranked rider in the field, retired with four laps remaining, while Dan Bigham (WattShop) was out of the race after 13 laps.
Bigham had already left his mark. An early move containing Philip Large (Wold Top Pactimo) established the first gap, with Bartlett blocking behind for his teammate. “I blocked to let it get a gap and then sat in to save the legs,” Bartlett told The British Continental. When that group was brought back, the former Hour Record holder went on the offensive. “Dan Bigham did two massive attacks in the crosswind, which I covered, and then went over the top with Morris with about 80k to go, and that was it.”
The pair’s lead stretched to two and a half minutes. “We hoped that a small group would get across to us, but when we heard the gap was at 2min 30 it was make or break,” Bartlett said. “We worked really well together and started tying up with 20k to go, but the gap was so big we were safe. Came into the finish and made a deal to drag race it to the line.”
Behind, Elliot Barratt took the sprint for 3rd from Nathaniel Ground (Dulwich Paragon CC) at 17 seconds, with Jonny Britton (Moonglu SpatzWear) 5th and Large rewarded for Wold Top Pactimo’s early aggression with 6th.
For Bartlett, the result carried more weight than most National B wins. Health problems—a recurring condition that caused his throat to close up, then being hit by a car while training—had stopped him finishing a road race for over a year, and until a month ago he had all but written off the season.
“So to finally win a road race after over 10 years of trying is pretty special,” he said. “Especially when it’s against guys like Dan, Frank, and Callum”—Bigham, Longstaff, and Callum Laborde (Ornata Factory Racing).
He credited one final call, too: choosing a mesh skinsuit and a more breathable helmet in the heat, while much of the field went full aero and, he said, paid for it.
Result
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