Barbour sprints to Scottish Road Race title as Rowe wins with epic solo effort

It was a perfect day for bike racing – not too hot, not too cold, only a breath of wind – with the Drumclog circuit giving everyone a chance to get involved in the race.

The Open race was off first, and the race was on from the get go, veteran Davie Lines (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) wasting no time getting up the road alongside Craig Paterson (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) and Hamish Strachan (TAAP Kalas).

With fast roads and long straights, and next to no climbing, the race was soon back together, the large peloton passing through two laps as a group, before lap three saw the decisive move of the race go up the road, the hill on the back side of the circuit proving the perfect launchpad.

It would be a group of nine that would quickly build an advantage of 30 seconds, and with the peloton seemingly happy to let it go, the leaders would work well together to take the gap out to over 90 seconds on the fifth of seven tours, the total race distance 137km.

With two laps to go, the peloton finally woke up to the fact the race was slipping away, with attacks starting to fly, particularly on the small rises on the circuit. In the end a chase trio of Sam Carrotte (EBF), Aaron King (Wheelbase) and Hamish Maclaren (Immunodeficiency UK) made rapid work of cutting the leaders’ advantage, but onto the final lap of the race those at the head of affairs wanted to keep it that way.

Joe Shilabeer attacked his breakaway companions, with only Barbour and his teammate James Sawyers able to follow. Over the main hill for the final time and Liam Scott Dougles (EBF) and Ben Millar (No Pinz) were giving a valiant chase, and would swell the front of the race back to five.

Coming into the final kilometre the King group were getting close, but the Perthshire rider couldn’t quite get on terms before the line, having to settle for sixth. In the dash for the line, Barbour would prevail, letting out a mighty roar as he crossed the line. Sawyers was second home, but not Scottish eligible, so silver in the Championship would go to Liam Scott Douglas, with Shilabeer taking bronze.

Speaking afterwards in his new Scottish stripes, Barbour said:

“I can’t believe it! Coming into this race I did not think I’d be the one winning it – it’s going to be a crazy year now in the Champs jersey! I drifted off the front, and we got a big gap and we then worked so well in the breakaway. I had a good sprint at the end, and thankfully cramped up after the finish line and not before!

“This is a huge step up – I’ve worked really hard the last few months, and this is easily my best result – I’m really, really happy with it.”

The sun came out for the Female race in the afternoon, with 17 year old Melanie Rowe many people’s favourites. The rising star set about whittling the group down on the first of four laps, and by the top of the climb only Lydia Louw (Solas Cycling) and Eleanor Dixon (The Heras Project) could live with her. That trio would grow an advantage of three minutes, before Rowe attacked again and went solo.

It became a battle of one vs two, which initially swung in Rowe’s favour as she extended her lead to 1 minute 23 seconds. However, on the final circuit the Aberdeenshire rider began to pay for her efforts, and the two chasers started to close the gap. Over the final climb and they had the youngster in their sights, but could never quite get back on level terms, Rowe showing her class to stay away and win solo.

Louw, who is still new to cycling after a switch from triathlon, came home for silver, whilst bronze would come from the main bunch, with Dixon not eligible. It came down to a bike throw, with Heather Shanks (Argyll CC) winning by a tyres width from Rebecca Trimble (Dundee Thistle).

Rowe doubled up and pulled on the Scottish jersey as junior winner too, with silver and bronze in that race going to Ava Luce (Brother UK – On Form) and Jessica Bufton (Solas), both again coming from that bunch sprint.

Speaking post-race, Rowe said:

“I’m really pleased with it – I’m happy with my ride and happy I managed to hang on at the end. I had a tough winter, and I wasn’t sure where my form would be this summer, but I’m really happy with the progression I’ve made this year and the results is something I’m really pleased with.”