UCI World Cup
Aldridge had work to do away from the line after missing his pedal at the start and being shuffled back down the pack. A blistering place set by rivals at Specialized Factory Racing resulted in a seven-man group going clear consisting of Blevins, Vidaurre, Aldridge, Martin, Andreassen, Azzaro and Boichis.
Vidaurre showed his fearless descending which forced himself clear after 30 minutes of racing with Aldridge and Azzaro. Boichis saw the danger unfolding and attacked the chasing group to draw back up to the leaders.
Crieff’s Aldridge was bidding for his first XCO win and on the penultimate lap attacked to put his rivals under pressure on the climb.
The Cannondale Factory Racing rider continued to power up the punchy switch-back climb to pull out five seconds on his opponents. Vidaurre and Azzaro provided a response to the pressure and pulled back the Scot before taking the last lap bell, while Boichis dropped out of podium contention. Aldridge repeated his move from the previous lap and took the lead from Vidaurre at the top of the lengthy climb and forced the pace into the wooded section.
Aldridge again pulled out a six-second gap on the steep switch-backs as Vidaurre desperately chased and Azzaro was distanced in third 10 seconds behind. Aldridge was able to look back at the bottom of the descent and see the margin he had pulled out on his chasing Specialized Factory Racing opponent.
The British national champion continued to push the pace home on the final section to win by 11 seconds from Vidaurre and Azzaro completed the podium to take a long-awaited maiden UCI World Cup victory in the Olympic event.
Masters Worlds
Roubaix was the venue for the Masters Track World Championships with a number of Scots in action. There was plenty of medal success for the Scottish riders across the eight days of action.
TORQ’s Louise Haston claimed five medals in Northern France in the 45-49 category, winning gold in the team sprint, team pursuit and the scratch race, adding to her two silvers won in the points race and the 500m time trial.
Jude Patterson (Ayr Burners) also claimed six medals in the 55-59 category with bronze medals in the pursuit, scratch race, points race and 500m time trial adding to the rainbow bands won in alongside fellow Scot Gillian Anderson in the team pursuit, riding for Team Ohten Aveas. Anderson and Patterson would also claim bronze in the team sprint.
An aptly named Ecosse Velo team of Christina Mackenzie, Elizabeth Wisdish, Donna Clayton and Alison Winship Mackay would take silver in the 50-54 team pursuit, with Winship Mackay also taking silver in the scratch race and bronze in the points race.
Congratulations to all the Scots that went over to Roubaix.
Cyclocross
Round Two of the HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series took place at Knockburn Loch in Aberdeenshire.