A massive weekend of racing saw some of the country’s best compete for the top spot in the National Track Series, while there were National Road Series races for youth, junior and under-23s.
MAS Design Yorkshire Classic – Junior Men and Junior/Under-23 Women’s National Road Series
MAS Design – Fensham Howes claimed a clean sweep of the podium in their home race at the MAS Design Yorkshire Classic in the fourth round of the Junior Men’s National Road Series, while Esther Wong secured the win as part of the second round of the Junior and Under-23 Women’s National Road Series.
In the junior men’s race, Jacob Bush (MAS Design – Fensham Howes) took the win after a sprint finish with his teammates. An early attack from Mark Lightfoot (Toufati Everyone Active) split the bunch with attacks made frequently. As Lightfoot was caught, more breaks were formed and caught until eventually Bush and teammates Matthew Brennan and Sebastian Grindley managed to escape the active bunch. Oliver Peace (Toufati Everyone Active) attempted to bridge the gap, but had to settle for fourth as the front three worked together and powered on. Coming up the final hill of the 120km race, Bush launched his final attack and managed to cross the line victorious as Brennan took second and Grindley third.
Junior rider Esther Wong (Shibden Hope Tech Apex) took a solo win in the women’s 68km race. Wong had managed to breakaway from the field with Annabel Ramsay (RFDA), before increasing the pace to go solo. As the peloton’s pace increased, the front of the bunch fractured. Wong crossed the finish punching the air, with Ella Jamieson (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) claiming second 15 seconds later, outsprinting Amelia Cebak (Toufati Everyone Active). Ramsay followed soon after to finish fourth, before the bunch followed in.
Loughborough Cycling Festival – Youth Circuit Series
Rory Gravelle and Abigail Miller claimed Youth A wins in the Loughborough Cycling Festival, while Aalia Clay and Finlay Storrie took home Youth B victories in the fifth round of the Youth Circuit Series.
The race around Loughborough University campus saw Rory Gravelle (Velo Myrddin Cc Powered By Y Beic) tale the win in a solo effort, crossing the over 20 seconds ahead of the bunch. Seth Jackson (Acrog-Tormans) managed second in a sprint finish over Harry Speak (Clifton CC).
In the Youth A girls, it was all down to a bunch sprint in the 40-minute race, with Abigail Miller (Clifton CC) seizing victory from Rebecca Gardiner (Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club) and Erin Boothman (East Kilbride Road Club).
Finlay Storrie (Maindy Flyers CC) took another Youth Circuit Series win, accelerating away from the Youth B field to claim the win six seconds clear of the bunch. Jake Bird (Beeston Cycling Club) dived to take second, while Noah Smith (GKR Racing) squeezed for third.
The girls’ equivalent saw Aalia Clay (VC Londres) take her first win of the series, overpowering the peloton to win in a sprint finish ahead of Grace Upshall (Poole Wheelers CC) and Katie Robertson (Clifton CC).
Black Line Open – National Track Series (Sprinters League)
Amy Cole and Aaron Pope were crowned the sprint champions in the second round of the National Track Series sprinters league at Newport’s Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales.
Oliver Aloul (ESV Manchester) qualified quickest on 10.271, with teammate Matt Rotherham (ESV Manchester) second on 10.299. Eventual winner Aaron Pope (University of Exeter) qualified third on 10.327, and battled his way to the top spot, beating Aloul to the line in the gold match sprint. Rotherham took third after a great battle with Benjamin Gill (Enhanced).
In the women’s, Amy Cole (Wales Racing Academy) qualified first in 11.480 ahead of Sylvi Misztal (Glasgow Track Racing Team) and Anna Whitworth Hay in third to match the eventual podium. Cole beat Misztal in the final match sprint, while Whitworth Hay took the win over Sarah Johnson (Edinburgh RC).
