Pic: Cameron Mason
L’enfer du Linlithgow
The first competitive road event of 2025 was held over the weekend at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit with L’Enfer du Linlithgow.
The event ran a stage race format with a time trial followed by an hour-long criterium.
Angus Toms (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) claimed the win in the Open event from Finn Mason (Hubo Remotive CT) and Alastair McNichol (Dooley’s Cycles). Andrew Levinson (Edinburgh RC) and Izzy Barbour (Edinburgh RC) claimed the Youth victories.
Strathallan CX
The final cyclocross race of the winter went ahead with the Strathallan Castle Superquaich CX in Perthshire.
Richard McDonald (Vanelli-Project GO) claimed the victory in the A race from Jackie Chan (Andrew Allan Architechture) with Morgan Donnelly (CXR) in third. Rebuen Oakley (Rotor RT) claimed the overall series honours.
Lettie McDonald (Vanelli-Project GO) scored the female race victory in Perthshire from Janine Inman (Stirling BC) in second and Nadine Reilly (Trilogy) rounding off the podium. McDonald also clamed the female series title.
Image: Team Picnic-PostNL/Chris Auld
Opening Weekend
Sean Flynn (Picnic-PostNL) was in action at the opening weekend of the classics season, at both Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
Saturday’s Omloop would unfortantely be frustrated when the Scot was caught behind a touch of wheels on one of the climbs at around 50 kilometres to go and had to unclip; and after that they never returned to the main peloton
On Sunday’s KBK, Flynn would play a supporting role and was the fore of the race as the climbs came thick and fast in the middle part of the semi-classic. He followed the attacks that went, but in the end it was clear that things would come down to a bunch sprint. Birthday Boy Flynn kept sprinter Pavel Bittner safe in the hectic finale, before bringing him towards the front of the bunch just outside the flamme rouge, where the Czech rider would finish in the top ten.
Speaking of spring classics, Flynn’s alma mater Edinburgh RC are organising the Pentland Primavera – the Gifford Road Race on Saturday 15th March – entries for that one are still open here.
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Juniors also went ahead on Sunday with Struan Shaw (Tofauti Everyone Active) in action on the road for the first time this season. The young Scot produced an excellent performance to come home 12th.
Former graduates of the junior KBK were in action over the border in France.
Alfie George (SCO-Dijon) claimed an excellent third place at the 127km French elite GP d’Onjon, while Adam Mitchell (Vendeé-U) was in action at the Route Bretonne race in Brittany.
Jamie Sweeney (BCC Race Team) finished a strong eighth in the Junior GP San Vicente Ruta in Spain.