2026 Sherpa Performance Stage Race: report and results
Ben Hinchcliffe made his return to UK racing pay off in fine style as the US Collegiate Road Race Champion prevailed at the Sherpa Performance Stage Race
Ben Hinchliffe (Jamison Racing team) marked his return from studying in the United States with victory in the Sherpa Performance Stage Race. Aggressive racing over Saturday’s two circuit races and a strong six kilometre time trial paid dividends for the 21-year-old who won the attritional final stage around Abberton Reservoir in fine style, outsprinting Joel Hurt (Moonglu SpatzWear) to claim the stage win and overall honours.
Joe Adlam-Cook (Ride Revolution Coaching) finished second overall, while a battling ride from stage one victor and local rider Frank Longstaff (DAS-Richardsons) saw him round out the podium. Overnight leader and stage two winner James Ambrose-Parish (Ride Revolution Cycling) was unable to make an impact on a ruthless final stage, whilst yellow jersey holder Rowan Baker (JAKROO-Handsling) couldn’t capitalise on his TT win on stage three.
Saturday’s two circuit races, run in either direction around the purpose-built Northern Gateway circuit in Colchester seemed simple on paper, but a strong group of riders had other ideas. Ambrose-Parish instigated a move after the first intermediate of sprint containing Baker, Adlam-Cook, Hinchliffe, and Ed Charles (University of Nottingham CC), with circuit race specialist Frank Longstaff (DAS-Richardsons) the final man across to form an elite six rider group.
Working well together in the breezy conditions, their advantage stretched to over a minute by the end of the hour-long race leaving the stage win down to one of the lead half-dozen and a sprint to the line. Longstaff was forced to go long as he was stuck on the wheel of Adlam-Cook who had left himself with a large gap to the riders ahead going into the final corner.
However, Longstaff’s track prowess carried him to the line to take another circuit win in trademark fashion, leaving Ambrose-Parish and Baker to pick up what was left of the podium positions.
Charles was the only rider from the leading group to cede any time, losing four seconds as he came in home in sixth, while Lance Childs (Ride Revolution Coaching) led the peloton home over a minute in arrears.
Stage Two followed an almost identical blueprint with aggressive racing early on forcing leader Longstaff to mark a number of moves. But his exertions in the opening stage left him powerless to bridge across as a group containing Ambrose-Parish, Hinchliffe, Charles, Baker, and Adlam-Cook forced themselves clear with just 15 minutes of the hour remaining, this time joined by Joel Hurt (Moonglu-SpatzWear).
Ambrose-Parish, in the green Points Jersey, took glory on the stage, followed by Hinchliffe and Charles. Longstaff lost 18 valuable seconds as he came home in 9th place behind late attacker Archie Wright (Aero CLCTV Race Team) and Cycling Sheffield’s Josh Horsfield.
Stage 3
Sunday morning’s six-kilometre time trial was a further opportunity for the favourites to land not only a physiological blow to their rivals, but gain valuable time ahead of the afternoon’s road race, with the vast majority of the small field still in contention.
Baker showed his strength, finishing top of the standings in 8m09s, taking the leader’s jersey in the process, finishing just a second ahead of time trial specialist, and previous Ronde van Wymeswold winner, Ben Pease (Moonglu-SpatzWear). Ever-consistent, Hinchliffe finished just five seconds further back in third with the top seven riders, rounded out by Longstaff, separated by less than 20 seconds. Perhaps the biggest casualty of the time trial was Ambrose-Parish, the stage two winner finishing 40 seconds back on Baker, with Ed Charles a further five seconds adrift.
Stage 4
All was still to play for, however, coming into the afternoon’s queen stage with 11 laps of the famous Layer and Birch circuit used in the Jock Wadley Memorial providing the climax to a gruelling weekend of flat-out racing.
Flat roads, narrow lanes, and exposed sections punctuated the course, with a tactical, fast, and aggressive affair playing out in the opening laps. Childs, Horsfield, Huw Watkins (Stolen Goat 4Endurance), Morris Bacon (DAP Cycling Club), Patrick Fotheringham (Schils-Doltcini), and Jonny Britton (Moonglu SpatzWear) were the first group to get way. They didn’t stay out front long, though, as the majority were reeled back in after an hour of racing, with only Horsfield managing to stay out in front thanks to support from Archie Wright.
As the race progressed, Watkins proved aggressive throughout, hoovering up as many intermediate sprint points as he could to take the Points Jersey off Longstaff. The latter, showing little of the fatigue that many predicted given his focus on the National Circuit Series, was making multiple efforts to get away in a fascinating tactical battle with overall race leader Baker.
Eventually the elastic snapped, and a group of six riders joined the fast-finishing Horsfield and Wright at the head of the race with Hinchliffe, Hurt, Pease, Longstaff, Adlam-Cook, and Bacon making the junction. Baker was left to battle from the remains of the peloton from which Ambrose-Parish had been dropped.
Out front, the race continued to be aggressive in nature, with riders thinking of the overall standings as well as the stage win. It proved to be Hinchliffe who made best work of the mental arithmetic as he made the decisive move alongside Hurt with the Jamison Racing Team rider outsprinting his companion to take the stage and overall win, having finished in the top five of every stage.
Pease was next across the line to take third, 16 seconds back, with Wright following. Longstaff’s brave ride earned him fifth on the stage ahead of Adlam-Cook – that result enough for the pair to claim the remaining spots on the podium as the remaining riders rolled in in ones and twos, testament to how difficult the final stage had been.
For Hinchliffe, it was a welcome return to the UK, the US Collegiate Road Race Champion and triathlete something a lesser-predicted winner in a strong field, marking him out as a rider to watch for the remainder of the season.
Ben Hinchliffe (Jamison Racing team) marked his return from studying in the United States with victory in the Sherpa Performance Stage Race. Aggressive racing over Saturday’s two circuit races and a strong six kilometre time trial paid dividends for the 21-year-old who won the attritional final stage around Abberton Reservoir in fine style, outsprinting Joel Hurt (Moonglu SpatzWear) to claim the stage win and overall honours.
Joe Adlam-Cook (Ride Revolution Coaching) finished second overall, while a battling ride from stage one victor and local rider Frank Longstaff (DAS-Richardsons) saw him round out the podium. Overnight leader and stage two winner James Ambrose-Parish (Ride Revolution Cycling) was unable to make an impact on a ruthless final stage, whilst yellow jersey holder Rowan Baker (JAKROO-Handsling) couldn’t capitalise on his TT win on stage three.
Featured image, and all images below: Markovich James
Report
Stage 1 and 2
Saturday’s two circuit races, run in either direction around the purpose-built Northern Gateway circuit in Colchester seemed simple on paper, but a strong group of riders had other ideas. Ambrose-Parish instigated a move after the first intermediate of sprint containing Baker, Adlam-Cook, Hinchliffe, and Ed Charles (University of Nottingham CC), with circuit race specialist Frank Longstaff (DAS-Richardsons) the final man across to form an elite six rider group.
Working well together in the breezy conditions, their advantage stretched to over a minute by the end of the hour-long race leaving the stage win down to one of the lead half-dozen and a sprint to the line. Longstaff was forced to go long as he was stuck on the wheel of Adlam-Cook who had left himself with a large gap to the riders ahead going into the final corner.
However, Longstaff’s track prowess carried him to the line to take another circuit win in trademark fashion, leaving Ambrose-Parish and Baker to pick up what was left of the podium positions.
Charles was the only rider from the leading group to cede any time, losing four seconds as he came in home in sixth, while Lance Childs (Ride Revolution Coaching) led the peloton home over a minute in arrears.
Stage Two followed an almost identical blueprint with aggressive racing early on forcing leader Longstaff to mark a number of moves. But his exertions in the opening stage left him powerless to bridge across as a group containing Ambrose-Parish, Hinchliffe, Charles, Baker, and Adlam-Cook forced themselves clear with just 15 minutes of the hour remaining, this time joined by Joel Hurt (Moonglu-SpatzWear).
Ambrose-Parish, in the green Points Jersey, took glory on the stage, followed by Hinchliffe and Charles. Longstaff lost 18 valuable seconds as he came home in 9th place behind late attacker Archie Wright (Aero CLCTV Race Team) and Cycling Sheffield’s Josh Horsfield.
Stage 3
Sunday morning’s six-kilometre time trial was a further opportunity for the favourites to land not only a physiological blow to their rivals, but gain valuable time ahead of the afternoon’s road race, with the vast majority of the small field still in contention.
Baker showed his strength, finishing top of the standings in 8m09s, taking the leader’s jersey in the process, finishing just a second ahead of time trial specialist, and previous Ronde van Wymeswold winner, Ben Pease (Moonglu-SpatzWear). Ever-consistent, Hinchliffe finished just five seconds further back in third with the top seven riders, rounded out by Longstaff, separated by less than 20 seconds. Perhaps the biggest casualty of the time trial was Ambrose-Parish, the stage two winner finishing 40 seconds back on Baker, with Ed Charles a further five seconds adrift.
Stage 4
All was still to play for, however, coming into the afternoon’s queen stage with 11 laps of the famous Layer and Birch circuit used in the Jock Wadley Memorial providing the climax to a gruelling weekend of flat-out racing.
Flat roads, narrow lanes, and exposed sections punctuated the course, with a tactical, fast, and aggressive affair playing out in the opening laps. Childs, Horsfield, Huw Watkins (Stolen Goat 4Endurance), Morris Bacon (DAP Cycling Club), Patrick Fotheringham (Schils-Doltcini), and Jonny Britton (Moonglu SpatzWear) were the first group to get way. They didn’t stay out front long, though, as the majority were reeled back in after an hour of racing, with only Horsfield managing to stay out in front thanks to support from Archie Wright.
As the race progressed, Watkins proved aggressive throughout, hoovering up as many intermediate sprint points as he could to take the Points Jersey off Longstaff. The latter, showing little of the fatigue that many predicted given his focus on the National Circuit Series, was making multiple efforts to get away in a fascinating tactical battle with overall race leader Baker.
Eventually the elastic snapped, and a group of six riders joined the fast-finishing Horsfield and Wright at the head of the race with Hinchliffe, Hurt, Pease, Longstaff, Adlam-Cook, and Bacon making the junction. Baker was left to battle from the remains of the peloton from which Ambrose-Parish had been dropped.
Out front, the race continued to be aggressive in nature, with riders thinking of the overall standings as well as the stage win. It proved to be Hinchliffe who made best work of the mental arithmetic as he made the decisive move alongside Hurt with the Jamison Racing Team rider outsprinting his companion to take the stage and overall win, having finished in the top five of every stage.
Pease was next across the line to take third, 16 seconds back, with Wright following. Longstaff’s brave ride earned him fifth on the stage ahead of Adlam-Cook – that result enough for the pair to claim the remaining spots on the podium as the remaining riders rolled in in ones and twos, testament to how difficult the final stage had been.
For Hinchliffe, it was a welcome return to the UK, the US Collegiate Road Race Champion and triathlete something a lesser-predicted winner in a strong field, marking him out as a rider to watch for the remainder of the season.
Results
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