Race Report Curlew Cup & Beaumont Trophy | Sunday 15 Sept 2024
Press Release by British Cycling, Images by Chris Maher
George Kimber and Eilidh Shaw secure Lloyds Bank National Road Series titles as Clay and Rees sprint to breakaway success.
Women’s Race
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) powered to Curlew Cup victory, proving the fastest from an 18-rider break that escaped late in the race. Meanwhile, Eilidh Shaw’s (Alba Development Road Team) second place secured the Lloyds Bank National Road Series crown on a tense day in Stamfordham.
Autumnal conditions greeted the 72 riders for the early morning start, with the race rolling out under a blanket of tension. No rider wanted to risk opening the hostilities with three laps of the daunting 40km circuit awaiting them, each one featuring the infamous double-digit gradients of the Ryals climb.
The Ryals brought the first skirmishes of the race when Lauren Dickson (Alba Development Road Team) demonstrated the same climbing prowess that landed her second places at the previous two rounds of the Series in Lancaster and Ryedale. The Scot set a tough pace up the 2.7km ascent, taking maximum points at the Queen of the Mountains point and splitting the bunch before the race came back together on the descent.
The second lap followed the same pattern as the first. It was a cagey affair until Dickson hit the Ryals climb, the speed of her ascent causing the peloton to split in two under the pressure. The gap to the front group extended to 20 seconds and it was Dickson’s teammates who took charge of the chase in the second group, the Alba Development RT duo of Keira Bond and Abi Plowman out of position and on the back foot in Eilidh Shaw’s defence of the series lead.
With the status quo returned shortly after the leading group had crossed the line, the race was set for a final lap showdown. A small group escaped up the final ascent of the Ryals and it was Dickson leading the charge with Eilidh Shaw, soon to be joined by Katy Hill (London Academy), Carys Lloyd (Tofauti Everyone Active) and Lancaster Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK).
With the peloton in pieces, a chasing group of 12 made contact with the front group as the race reached the 3km to go mark. Molly Patch (The Phoenix Collective) took her opportunity to attack having been towards the head of the peloton throughout the race.
Patch was reeled in by the chasers shortly after and the race was set for a thrilling sprint finish. Robyn Clay delivered a devastating turn of speed as the line approached, powering ahead of her rivals with enough time to sit up, raise her arms, and savour the victory. Second was Eilidh Shaw, sealing the National Road Series title to add to her National Circuit Series crown, with junior Esther Wong (Shibden-Apex) rounding out the podium.
After racing on the front foot all day, the Alba Development Road Team took home the team prize courtesy of placing three riders in the top ten, while DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK secured the overall Series honours in the team classification.
Race Result
1 17 Robyn Clay (U23) DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK 3:19:57
2 6 Eilidh Shaw (U23) Alba Development Road Team st
3 88 Esther Wong (JR) Shibden Apex RT st
4 67 Carys Lloyd (JR) Tofauti Everyone Active st
5 43 Bexy Dew Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd st
6 77 Eluned King (U23) Lifeplus Wahoo st
7 8 Amelia Tyler (U23) Alba Development Road Team st
8 2 Lauren Dickson Alba Development Road Team st
9 52 Rachel Galler Saint Piran WRT st
10 46 Lucy Harris Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd st
Open Race Report
Ollie Rees (Sabgal / Anicolor) outsprinted his breakaway companions to claim the Beaumont Trophy on a hectic afternoon in the northeast, where George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) recovered from a puncture and last lap crash to be crowned the Lloyds Bank National Road Series winner.
The race start was delayed by 45 minutes following a crash in the morning’s race. When racing finally got underway, it was under blue skies following a heavy shower, with the race shortened to just four laps and 160km.
The peloton set out at a rapid pace and the early moves had no success for much of the opening lap. Logan Maclean (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) sacrificed his chances to play the team role for Kimber, policing the front of the bunch. Steven Parsonage (Richardsons Trek-DAS) was the first rider to force his way clear of the bunch on the Ryals climb, however, the peloton clawed him back on the descent, completing the first lap all together.
The autumn sunshine soon turned to persistent showers, with the gusting wind providing a chill amongst the heavy rain, and the conditions took their toll on the race with a number of riders going down in multiple crashes.
Among the riders to go down was James McKay (Saint Piran), who started the day as Kimber’s closest rival for the series title. Bloodied and bruised, with his skinsuit in shreds, McKay fought his way back into the bunch by the time the peloton had completed another lap. Meanwhile, the duo of Oliver Snodden (SN Vitae Huub pb BimBam Coaching) and Gabriel Dellar (Stolen Goat RT) held a slender advantage over the large bunch as they began the second lap.
With the pace high it was only a matter of time before the elastic broke. A dangerous eight-man move went clear on the third lap including eventual race winner Ollie Rees, Will Truelove (Thriva-SRCT), Tom Armstrong and Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), Alex Ball (Project1), Dylan Westley (Saint Piran), Ryan Christensen (Foran CC), and Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield), who would later crash and abandon in the testing conditions.
Behind, Damien Clayton (Le Col Race Team) set off in pursuit, shortly followed by a group of four riders and driven on by James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield). Behind, the peloton upped the pace with Kimber sitting towards its rear, an untimely puncture forcing a wheel change and stressful chase back to the bunch.
The leading group’s gap was stable at 35 seconds as they crossed the line for the penultimate time, and it seemed the winner would come from this breakaway group.
Attacks rained down as the seven leaders ascended the Ryals for the final time and a group of three pulled away over the top of the climb. Tom Martin paid for his early aggression, the efforts taking their toll as he was the sole rider to drift off the back of the chase group. However, the leading trio were reeled in by the time the race had reached the final kilometre and a sprint beckoned.
Fresh from the Tour of Britain, Ollie Rees took a central line and timed his sprint well as the riders flew into Stamfordham. He held on in the rapid finish and crossed the line clear of a charging Truelove, with Thomas Armstrong rounding out the podium. Rees punched the air in celebration, finally taking a National Series victory after so many near-misses.
Behind, the race was back together and the Series title still hung in the balance. Kimber had suffered a crash on the final lap, but he had managed to move up from the back of the bunch and unleashed an adrenaline-fuelled sprint to arrive home in 10th just behind James McKay, securing the title after an action-packed finale.
Rees also claimed the King of the Mountains title after his work in the break, while Wheelbase CabTech Castelli took the team honours on the day, with both Martin and Armstrong forming part of the winning move.
However, they were powerless to stop Saint Piran winning the series, the Cornish team held the top spot all the way to the season finale after taking the lead in the first round.
Race Result
1 133 Oliver Rees Sabgal/Anicolor 3:39:04
2 68 William Truelove (U23) THRIVA-SRCT st
3 73 Thomas Armstrong Wheelbase CabTech Castelli st
4 29 Alexander Ball (U23) PROJECT 1 Cycling Team st
5 10 Ryan Christensen Foran CT st
6 46 Dylan Westley Saint Piran st
7 76 Tom Martin Wheelbase CabTech Castelli +9
8 84 John Bardsley (U23) 360cycling +29
9 43 James McKay Saint Piran st
10 52 George Kimber Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling st
Race Reaction
Robyn Clay, Race Winner
It’s been a rollercoaster year for you Robyn with injuries & all these wins.
“Yeh – It’s been a tough season & I really wanted to win this. It means a lot. I had a lot of help from the Team. Mia & Mon swapping bikes all day. I don’t know how they managed to lead me out.”
The first 2 laps were mostly altogether – did it kick off on the Ryals on the last lap?
“It took me a while to ride into the race. So the first lap really felt hard for me, but luckily it was a lot more tame so it didn’t split as much.
The next time it split up a bit. I was attacking a little and following moves. It was Monica Greenwood pushing on. It was all good, but just didn’t get away.
Then the last time, yes, it really split up. It was raining loads. I had to take my glasses off cos I couldn’t see.It was split up, then there was a crash. I don’t know how many came down but it was fast. It was so wet! Me & my teammates just missed it.
We caught groups ahead & it was lined out from there with DAS & Alba.
Molly Patch attacked which changed things around a little bit. This all carried out on the run in.
It was a long sprint. I went early & luckily I didn’t get caught in the chicane like I usually do.”
Is this the end of the season for you?
“ On the road yes. But I’m going to do a little Track. I’m very new to it, so I’ll see how it goes.”
Eilidh Shaw
Congratulations on winning the Women’s National Road Series here at the Curlew Cup Eilidh. Just talk through today’s race firstly.
“I was a little bit nervous going into it. The points were quite close at the top and if it was going down to a bunch sprint you can easily loose places very quickly.”
What is it like winning the series today – the overall?“It’s incredible, it’s been an amazing season. I can’t believe it started way backat the start of the year. The team have been amazing throughout. I can’t thank them enough.”
What are your plans for the future?
“I’ve got a bit of an off-season just now – then I’ve got a bit of track racing through the Winter which is exciting.”
Oli Rees
“This is definitely the best I’ve being going all year. I came out of the Tour really well. I had a few easy days afterwards. I was a little bit sick at the end of the race so a few easy days – then went back into training for this weekend.”
Oli finished 24th in the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.
“This race couldn’t really have come at a better time. It’s perfect after the ToB.
I can’t remember the last time I have won a race to be honest. I’ve been trying for so long. It’s never really gone my way. Never quite been strong enough – so to win today – I’m really pleased.I knew in the finish it’s a little bit twisty, So I knew to go quite early cos I’m not the most punchy off the line. Once I get going I’m quite fast – so I went early – straight lined it.
There was lots of crashes today because of the weather. It rained a lot and made it slippy. For me – it was about staying at the front. Stay out of trouble – where I could go and not be on the back foot – cos I’m on my own without a team. Once it’s gone and I’m not there, then it’s really hard to bring it back – that was my main goal.
As a whole the race was mostly together with a few small breaks on the early laps.
Our group went just after the start here in Stamfordham with just under two laps remaining. We did about eighty kilometers out front. The gap came down in the headwind by half-a-minute, then back up in the tail wind bits. We worked really well together as a group and stayed away.”
George
“It was a stressful day to be honest. I’m happy to have done it. We were following each other (closest competitor to Oli) about definitely.
Then James crashed. I thought the race could be wrapped up here. Then he got back in! Then I crashed and would of thought he had the same thoughts. I managed to get back in – so we sprinted head-to-head at the finish.
So yes. It’s a relief at the moment. I cried as well!
The team were brilliant. They all sacrificed their race for me.
We had mechanical problems. Jason helped me get back in the race. So a lot of things went wrong – he dealt with them in the right way. So I’ve the team to thank for that.
It wasn’t a goal for me coming into the series to win overall. I just wanted to do my best each race. Then after Lancaster – I’d set that as my goal – that gave me motivation to train for the last few races, few weeks, and kept me going.
It’s a great moment for the team – so it’s credit to them and everyone involved.”
Women’s 2024 Series Overall Standings
1 Eilidh Shaw (U23) Alba Development Road Team 220
2 Lucy Harris Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd 188
3 Esther Wong (JR) Shibden Apex RT 184
4 Frankie Hall DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK 178
5 Amelia Tyler (U23) Alba Development Road Team 159
6 Bexy Dew Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd 153
7 Morven Yeoman (U23) DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK 147
8 Lauren Dickson Alba Development Road Team 132
9 Lucy Lee DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK 131
10 Eluned King (U23) Lifeplus Wahoo 130
Women’s 2024 Series Overall Team Standings
1 DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK 626
2 Alba Development Road Team 519
3 Shibden Apex RT 516
4 Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd 412
5 Tofauti Everyone Active 262
Open 2024 Series Overall Standings
1 George Kimber Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling 171
2 James McKay Saint Piran 162
3 Oliver Rees Sabgal/Anicolor 149
4 Thomas Armstrong Wheelbase CabTech Castelli 149
5 Matthew Holmes One Good Thing Orientation Marketing 122
6 Rowan Baker (U23) Saint Piran 119
7 James Hartley (U23) Cycling Sheffield 118
8 David Hird (U23) Cycling Sheffield 116
9 Dylan Westley Saint Piran 110
10 Adam Lewis Team Skyline 105
Open 2024 Series Overall Team Standings
1 Saint Piran 513
2 Wheelbase CabTech Castelli 435
3 Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling 274
4 Cycling Sheffield 266
5 Richardsons Trek DAS 241
BRITISH CYCLING RACE REPORT RYEDALE
Press Release by British Cycling, Images by Chris Maher | Sunday 18 August 2024
Lucy Lee capped a commanding DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK performance while Thriva-SRCT’s Tom Williams scored the biggest victory of his career at the latest round of the 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series.
Women's Race Report
Lucy Lee was the strongest rider on a day with over 100km covered in the rolling Howardian Hills. The race started in earnest on the long opening circuit, and the action was mainly out of the back of the race. The lengthy, and often steep climbs, proved too much for some as the Alba Development Road Team and DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK riders set a strong pace early on.
It wasn’t until the third lap of the race, and the first on the short circuit, that the action really ignited with the peloton splitting on the technical descent from the Abbey; tired legs, and minds, strung out the peloton as they passed through the grounds of Ampleforth.
The pace at the front of the race remained high, and a further split occurred later on in the lap as a group of twelve went clear including the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK trio of Lee, Lancaster Grand Prix winner Frankie Hall and Morven Yeoman, as well as Shaw and her new Alba Development RT teammate Lauren Dickson. Joining them were Elizabeth Hermolle (Team Boompods), Caitlin Dimbleby (Unattached), Grace Reynolds (Brother UK-On Form), Jennifer Powell (The Performance Collective), Molly Patch (The Phoenix Collective), Ruby Oakes (Shibden-Apex), and Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing).
Crucially, the Series leader, Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis 200 Degrees Coffee Hargreaves Contracting) did not make the split, and again the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and Alba Development RT riders came to the fore in the lead group as the gap extended to over two minutes. Shaw, who started the day just one point behind Harris, now had one hand on the jersey.
As the bell for the final lap rang through the grounds of the Abbey, Hall made her move. She powered through the finish line with just 16km remaining as she attempted an audacious solo move. However, her gap never got above half a dozen seconds as she was chased down, the leading group of ten then preparing for an uphill sprint to decide the win, Flynn and Oakes the only two to have lost contact.
Hall and Yeoman combined as the group entered the Abbey grounds with only a few hundred metres remaining to lead out their teammate Lee, her powerful sprint pipping Dickson to the line, as the Scot took another National Road Series podium. Frankie Hall came home third to complete a memorable day for the DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK team, who extended their lead in the team standings to a whopping 90 points over Shibden-Apex with only next month’s Curlew Cup remaining.
Shaw’s fifth place behind Caitlin Dimbleby gives her the series lead, 16 points ahead of Harris with Hall in third, a further five points in arrears.
Open Race Report
Tom Williams took a fine sprint victory in the open Ryedale Grand Prix, powering to the line ahead of a depleted front group.
Attacks were few and far between at the start of the race, again the action was mostly out of the back of the peloton on a brisk opening tour of the long circuit.
On the hilly terrain, Saint Piran were keen to get back to winning ways, having fired blanks at both the Lincoln and Lancaster Grand Prixs. The Cornish squad set the pace in the early stages as they looked for a positive result on the back of an incredible 1-2-3-4-5 here last year.
Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CC) was the first rider to attack as the race reached the Abbey grounds for the first time. However, his tenure out front was short lived as the Scottish road race champion Logan Maclean (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling), Josh Housley (HUUB-BCC) and Gabriel Dellar (Stolen Goat RT) were the next to go off the front.
With the race set alight, their advantage was quickly closed down as a dangerous group of five took advantage of the status quo. Former national cyclocross champion Thomas Mein (Project1) was joined by Tom Martin (Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli), Will Roberts (Saint Piran), James Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) and eventual winner, Williams, as their advantage grew to 25 seconds at the end of the second lap.
Sensing the danger, Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) pulled a phenomenal turn to bring back the quintet, continuing to set the pace as the peloton tackled the third ascent of Thorpe Lane.
The attacks continued to rain down as Dom Jackson (Foran CC) and Maclean found themselves caught as they crossed the finish line as the race moved onto five laps of the short circuit.
Using Thorpe Lane as a launch pad, Mein went on the attack again, the Gateshead rider extending his advantage to 21 seconds before 14 riders bridged across to him with just over four circuits left to race.
With just over two laps to go, it was the effervescent Martin who threatened to make a move stick, attacking with the finish line in sight and building up a 38-second lead, Holmes burning more matches as he set an infernal pace to close the deficit on the penultimate lap.
As the bell tolled in front of the imposing Abbey, James Hartley set off in pursuit of Martin, his lead cut substantially in less than a lap.
By the time the race reached the final ascent of Thorpe Lane, Martin was one of a leading group of 20 setting an unusually pedestrian pace up the challenging slopes, indicative of how hard the race had been thus far. A rare bunch sprint to the line was on the cards.
A group of twelve entered the Abbey grounds to battle it out for the win, Martin among those unable to hold the wheels to contest the sprint. With the finish line in sight, Thriva-SRCT’s Williams powered up the right hand side, timing his effort to perfection, punching the air as he crossed the line a couple of bike lengths clear of Holmes, with the East Cleveland Grand Prix winner, Rowan Baker (Saint Piran), in third.
George Kimber extends his series lead to 11 points with a battling 10th place after his closest rivals were absent for this round. Saint Piran’s James McKay is now his closest challenger after his ninth place finish. Holmes’ podium puts him right in the hunt for the overall series win, the former WorldTour rider a further six points adrift heading into the Beaumont Trophy, while Saint Piran retain their commanding lead in the team classification.
Results
Men
1. Tom Williams (THRIVA-SRCT)
2. Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing)
3. Rowan Baker (Saint Piran)
Women
1. Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK)
2. Lauren Dickson (Alba Development Road Team)
3. Frankie Hall (Shibden Apex RT)
