Amelia Cebak and Finn Mason were crowned the junior national road race champions as Cat Ferguson and Jacob Bush stormed to the time-trial titles on a packed weekend of racing in Clitheroe.
Time-Trial
Cat Ferguson (Shibden Hope Apex) finished the 10.7-mile lumpy time-trial in a blistering 26:23.3 minutes, almost one minute clear ahead of second place Ella Jamieson (Liv Cycling Club-Halo films) in poor weather conditions.
Jamieson clocked 27:21.1 to take the silver by about half a second from Izzy Sharp (Brother UK- Orientation Marketing), who secured a time of 27:21.7 for the bronze.
Jacob Bush (MAS Design-Fensham Howes) secured the men’s victory in a MAS-Design-Fensham Howes podium clean sweep after fierce competition from the 2022 silver medallist and teammate Ben Wiggins.
Bush was able to upgrade his bronze from last year’s event to the national stripes after smashing the 24-minute course record in a winning time of 23:09.5.
Wiggins finished three seconds behind, clocking 23:12.8, while fellow teammate Matthew Brennan took third in a time of 23:26.4.
Road Race
The men completed seven laps of the time-trial course to make up the 74.9 mile road race, while the women completed five laps to make 53.5 miles, finishing on a climb up Birdy Brow, averaging 9% with sections of 19%.
The men’s race set off at a blistering pace with four riders making a break on the first lap that increased to five by lap two, but the group never got more than 15 seconds on the peloton and were reeled back in.
A group of three, including favourites Sebastian Grindley (MAS Design-Fensham Howes), Zach Machin (BCC Race Team), and Finn Mason (The Cycling Academy). The group extended their lead each lap as the peloton remained unactive, with the trio gaining a two-minute gap.
The three riders came to the final climb together, but Machin was dropped from the group and with the peloton chasing hard and gaining time, he just missed out on the podium places.
Grindley and Mason battled up the climb for the national title, with Mason sprinting to the win by a slight margin. Tomos Pattison (Tofauti Everyone Active) claimed third after passing Machin.
The women’s race saw the peloton splinter on the first lap as Isabel Mayes (Shibden Hope Apex) led the attack.
Shibden Hope Apex continued to dominate with riders attacking frequently off the front while Tofauti Everyone Active and Liv Cycling Halo Films counter-attacked to bring the bunch back together.
Lucy Glover (Shibden Hope Apex) attacked on the final lap to get away solo, before Amelia Cebak (Toufati Everyone Welcome) bridged over.
As the pair turned onto the final climb, Cebak took her chance and attacked to take the win up Birdy Brow as Glover took the silver.
The previous day’s winner and road race favourite Cat Ferguson (Shibden Hope Apex) had to settled for third on the day.
Podiums
Women's Time-Trial Podium
- Cat Ferguson (Shibden Hope Apex)
- Ella Jamiesson (Liv Cycling - Halo Films)
- Izzy Sharp (Brother UK - Orientation Marketing)
Men's Time-Trial Podium
- Jacob Bush (MAS Design - Fensham Howes)
- Ben Wiggins (MAS Design - Fensham Howes)
- Mathew Brennan (MAS Design - Fensham Howes)
Men's Road Race Podium
- Finn Mason (The Cycling Academy)
- Sebastian Grindley (MAS Deign - Fensham Howes)
- Tomos Pattison (Tofauti Everyone Active)
Women's Road Race Podium
- Amelia Cebak (Tofauti Everyone Active)
- Lucy Glover (Shibden Hope Apex)
- Cat Ferguson (Shibden Hope Apex)
