Prepare for battle!

Crosstrax bring you another chance to make your name in road racing. 

This end-of-season autumn road race takes riders across the infamous Towton battlefield on the West/North Yorkshire border. Steeped in history, the location will be used for battle once more, this time on wheels. The circuit is undulating, with opportunities for all types of rider to make a bid for victory. Attacks and breaks stand as equal chance as the powerful thrust of the climber or the 'last stab' of the heroic sprinter.

This race is within the domain of the North Yorkshire police and as such will operate with Traffic Management, which as you know, is required for safety of riders and the general motoring public. The course is light on traffic, but this measure is required and as such, has to be built into the entry fee, nominally £15 plus £7 Traffic Management cost per rider.

The roads are generally in good condition (!) with only 100 metres affected by patchwork repairs. Safe for your best wheels, but the choice of weaponry is yours.

Crosstrax Cycles, the sponsoring team, are proud to present this race and do so with the intention of making it a permanent calendar fixture.

Priority of entry will go to local, event organising teams first, and I'll be making the event as fair as practical, subject to entry numbers.

May the strongest rider win!

Course notes:

This is a fantastic circuit with some technical aspects. A perfect course for the lone breakaway specialist, the powerful climber or the rocket-propelled sprinter. Take heed of the course notes.

Saxton is normally a quiet village on a Sunday morning. Respect the residents and recognise your role in making this a repeatable race. The people of this village are looking forward to seeing the battle and we have only made it possible by their involvement and support.

Course Map:

11 laps of 5 miles, totalling 55 miles

Course notes:

The race starts and finishes on Wakefield Road, approximately 1 mile from the HQ. This is a wide single carriageway. There will be oncoming traffic throughout the race, although the race is on generally quiet roads. You are obliged to follow the rules of the road at all times. On the climb on Wakefield road, there is a DOUBLE WHITE LINE. Do not cross this line. It is there for a reason. Safety.

The climb up to Lotherton Hall peaks at 6% gradient and has a flat halfway up. The left turn onto Copley Lane has an adverse camber followed by the only section of patchwork road, about 100m with various good repairs to the surface. Then Copley Lane becomes a smooth tarmac heaven, before the turn onto Coldhill Lane (appropriately named as the crosswinds here can bite through skinny cyclists!). The winding descent back to Saxton Village includes some off-camber corners. The marshalling team will endeavour to make this as safe by removing gravel where possible. It is your duty to ride safely for the safety of you and your fellow riders. A blind bend beyond the cricket club leads onto Saxton Main Street. This street takes you through the centre of the medieval village, past some medieval parked cars, and onto the midi-evil climb of Cotcher’s Hill. This is a gentle but strength-sapping narrow section of road leading up to a sharp left turn onto the descent of Wakefield Road. From this turn, the finish line is approximately 0.5 miles. Plenty of time to wind up your weapons!

Race notes:

• The race briefing will take place at 9.55am outside the HQ.
• Primes will be announced on the day, subject to available funds/prizes.
• Prize presentation will take place in the HQ, after the judges have reached their final decision.
• Junior riders are obliged to use junior gearing. This will be checked after the race, if you place.

Info for Riders

The event headquarters will be announced closer to the date as we are currently approaching a number of prospects. Details will be included in further updates to this event page.