National Road Race Championships | Glasgow 2013

Millar, Kennaugh, Cavendish & Swift… Nats 13

Kristian House, Ian Wilkinson, Luke Rowe, Simon Yates & Scott Thwaites…

Mark Cavendish, Ian Stannard, David Millar.

National Road Race Championships | Glasgow 2013

British Cycling – National Road Race Championships – Men’s

Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography. Thanks to British Cycling for media accreditation.

2008 Champion – Ryedale – Rob Hayles

2008 U23 Champion – Ryedale – Peter Kennaugh

2009 Champion – Abergavenny – Kristian House

2009 U23 Champion – Abergavenny – Peter Kennaugh

2010 Champion – Pendle – Geraint Thomas

2010 U23 Champion – Pendle – Andrew Fenn

2011 Champion – Stamfordham – Bradley Wiggins

2011 U23 Champion – Stamfordham – Scott Thwaites

2012 Champion – Ampleforth – Ian Stannard

2012 U23 Champion – Ampleforth – Michael Cuming

The 2013 National Road Championships

Preview

The 2013 British Cycling National Road Race Championships take place for the first time in a city centre. It’s also the first fully closed course and it takes place in the heart of Glasgow. Sunday 23rd of June will see Britain best cycling athletes ride for the coveted National Jersey that entitles the holder to display in all road racing both at home or abroad for the next twelve months.

Setting off from Glasgow Green, the clock-wise circuit of 14.2 Kms passes through some well known areas of the city including the Saltmarket, Buchannan Street, Kelvingrove Park and onto Byres Road in the West End, before retuning along Woodlands Road, Sauchiehall Street and George Square in the centre. Then back along to Glasgow Green.

The Women’s Event starts off the days racing at 9.30 am, and runs around the circuit eight times covering a distance of 112 Kms. The expected finishing time of 13.00pm will see a new Champion crowned. Defending Champion Sharon Laws will try and emulate last years victory in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, whilst former Champion and silver Olympic medallist Lizzie Armitstead will try to regain the title once again. Lizzie also won the U23 title in 2010, but Laura Trott will be looking to retain her win from last year and mix it with the big girls. Other quality riders to watch out for are, Hannah Barnes and Dani King both showing well in the Johnson Healthcare Series, along with Emma Trott, Lucy Garner, Lucy Martin and Katie Colclough. Missing this year, is retired ten times Champion Nicole Cooke and former Champion Emma Pooley.

The Men’s Event starts at 13.30pm and is expected to finish around 17.30pm. Covering thirteen circuits of the course the total distance is 182 Kms. They are a full 140 entries to this years race, and the spectators will be able to catch the world’s fastest sprinter “Mark Cavendish”, as he returns in a bid to claim a Jersey that has still evaded him. Defending Champion Ian Stannard returns but a wealth of other rides will make stiff competition on this undulating city course. Other riders to look out for are David Millar, Adam Blythe, Peter Kennaugh, Russell Downing, George Atkins (U23), Ben Swift and Andrew Fenn to name a few.

Result

With one hundred and thirty-nine riders on the start line for the 2013 Nationals. An estimated 30,000 spectators lining the route. The race got underway at 13.30pm. It wasn’t long before a break formed. Cavendish’s pro-team-mate Andrew Fenn and the defending Champion Ian Stannard gained fifteen seconds on the first lap, extending to twenty-odd a lap or two in. The next group behind were more continental pro’s David Millar, Peter Kennaugh, Ben Swift and the Manx Missile himself, Mark Cavendish. Further back, top domestic riders including former National Champion Kristian House, Ian Wilkinson, Simon Yates, Yanto Barker and Sky’s Luke Rowe were putting in a good effort and keeping the peleton at bay.

The race proved to be tougher than first anticipated, as the race averaged 41.5 km-ph over the 184.6 kilometres. Long drags up St. Vincent Street and repetitive steep climbs up Montrose Street wore down many of the riders including Adam Blythe and Alex Dowsett who didn’t complete the course.

Halfway through the race the front groups reformed and six men were now leading the peleton by over four minuets. Cavendish stretched his legs and both Swift & Fenn lost contact in these big efforts and eventually dropped back and retired from the race. Cavendish attacked again. Luke Rowe tried to bridge the gap but he became stranded in no mans land. Stannard, who led the early part of the race punctured, but the pace eased up and he was able to re-join the front three. Stannard attacked on the final lap and Kennaugh was dropped. This left the three giants of the road. It was Millar’s chance to go for a long one. But they all came back together entering the Green.

It was Mark Cavendish that sprinted on the home straight and took the Champions Jersey, leaving Stannard to ride in ahead of a spent David Millar. Kennaugh, Lowe, House then Scott Thwaites followed further behind, before U23 Champion, Simon Yates at eleven minuets and 52 seconds finished. In-all, twenty five riders finished this first city centre National Championships with many finishing out of time, or not at all.

Senior Result