Over the weekend, there were big wins abroad for the junior women, and also at home in the Under-23 Open National Road Series, while the first rounds of the cycle speedway and para-cycling national series kicked off with a bang!
National Para-cycling and Disability Road Series: Round 1
The first round of the National Para-cycling and Disability Road Series saw riders take to the start line in the East Midlands for time-trial and circuit races.
In the time-trial, Ben Hetherington took the MC1-3 win with a time of 45:33, finishing ahead of Rik Waddon and Jacob Smith, while Christopher Scott won the MC4-5 time-trial, clocking 40:21 to win by over a minute. Xavier Disley’s 41:59 was enough to claim the silver as Samuel Davies finished in third place. Amelia Cass took the WC2 victory, while Morgan Newberry clocked the quickest time of 25:39 in the WC5 category to finish seven seconds ahead of Rebecca Newark. Benjamin Molnar and Gretchen Zoeller won the CD categories, while Rachael Elliot with pilot Miriam Jessett and Christopher Wilkins with Henry Latimer won the tandem time-trials. World medallist Felix Barrow took the win in the MT2 event, while James Hubbard took the MR win. In the handcycle races, Callum Russell (MH4), Luke Jones (MH3) and Claire Danson (WH3) all collected wins.
Keep your eyes peeled for the circuit results to follow!
Women's Battle of Britain and Grand Prix: Round 1
The cycle speedway Women’s Battle of Britain kicked off in Ipswich this weekend, with wins for the South and South Wales, and Lizzie Rigley and Yoanna Gilpin in the Individual Grand Prix.
The South and South Wales team of Lauren Hookway, Maddie Saunders, Shannon Tucker, Natalie Goulden and Ellie George dominated for the start, with Hookway and Saunders showing their skill as experienced riders, picking up 19 points each. Amberley Gant from the South East and Eastern division and Lizzie Rigley from the Midlands put out brilliant performances to both collect 20 points in the match, but were unable to overpower the South and South Wales squad, who took the overall win on a total of 72 points. The South East and Eastern finished second on 68 points, while the Midlands came third on 59 points. The North and Scotland team were unable to field a full squad due to injuries, but five young riders stepped up from around the regions to ensure that they could get a ride, and came home fourth on 37 points.
In the Individual Grand Prix, Yoanna Gilpin scored 25 points in the intermediate A final, having collected a maximum 16 points in the rounds to win all four races, and take the overall title. Lola Martin has worked hard all off season and finished in second place on 20 points, while Maisie Baker and Charlie Jane Herbert finished in third and fourth.
In the experts, Lizzie Rigley dropped a point on heat six to Natalie Goulden but still finished with 15 points, and took the overall win on 25 points. Maddie Saunders took second place on 20 points, while Natalie Goulden finished third on 18, and Lily Parr came fourth.
PB Performance Espoirs Road Race and National B races
The second round of the Under-23 Open National Road Series saw Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) claim a big win in Coalville.
Bridgnorth CC teammates Ben Pierce and James Satoor led the field coming into the final lap, before Peet kicked hard from the peloton to bridge over and pass the pair.
Peet had time to cross the line with his arms up, before Pierce finished second and Satoor in third. East Cleveland Classic winner Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) won the bunch sprint to finish in fourth.
The next round will take place on Sunday 5 May at the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic.
Elsewhere in the UK, Damien Clayton (Le Col Race Team) and Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) were the winners of the second round of the Proper Northern Road Race Series in Oakenclough, Alex Luhrs won a very wet Drummond Trophy in Scotland, and Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) was victorious in the second round of the British Team Cup at the Dave Peck Memorial Race.
Juniors abroad
It was a brilliant weekend out in the Netherlands for the Great Britain Cycling Team junior women squad, where Cat Ferguson won a stage and finished second twice on her way to GC victory at Omloop Borsele Juniors.
There were also two stage wins for Carys Lloyd, who finished fifth overall, and a top-10 finish on stage one for Lucy Glover.
Amelia Cebak, racing for Toufauti Everyone Active, claimed the win at Gent-Wevelgem Juniors over the weekend, with teammate Becky Gardiner finishing in second, and Shibden Apex’s Imogen Wolff, Ruby Oakes and Esther Wong finishing fourth, sixth and seventh respectively, to make it five Brits in the top 10.
In the Gent-Wevelgem Youth race, Millie Salmon took the women's under-17 win, while Aelwen Davies came home third.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Tom Pidcock continued his successful season with a 10th place finish at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, while Anna Henderson was the top Brit in the women’s race, coming home in 14th position.
