Iztulia
Edinburgh’s Lauren Dickson was in exemplary form in the Basque Country for the three-day Itzulia.
The opening mountainous 121km test in wet conditions saw Dickson’s FDJ-Suez team set a high tempo throughout, whittling the group down to just five riders cresting the final large climb. The pace settled and the leading five would hold off the remnants of the bunch by over 20 seconds, with Dickson finishing fourth on the stage to set up her general classification hopes.
After Saturday’s reduced-bunch sprint, it set up Sunday’s final stage as battle royale in the general classification.
An excellent effort from FDJ-Suez on the final climb saw both the first and second riders in the general classification, Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx) and Riejenna Markus (Lidl-Trek) dropped and 30 seconds behind the front group, which included the Scottish climber and two of her FDJ teammates. On the road Yara Kastelijn (Fenix) was the virtual race leader – with Dickson in second only four seconds behind – a gap that could be overturned in the sprint to the line.
As the front group crested the final summit, with a 10km descent into Donostia awaiting them, Dickson continued to pile the pressure on and tried a final time to break the elastic. A concerted chase behind, aided by a lack of impetuous from the front group allowed Markus and Bredewold to make the catch in the final two kilometres, with the sprint for the final determining the podium positions behind Bredewold.
Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) came around Evita Muzic (FDJ) in the sprint to take the stage win, but on the far left-hand side of the road was the-fast finishing Dickson to take third on the stage and with the four bonus seconds moving herself onto the podium – to take the best result of her career – and become the first Scots woman to podium a WorldTour stage race.
Elsewhere on the road this week, there was a strong showing from Elliot Rowe.
The Aberdeenshire rider was promoted to Visma-Lease A Bike for the Fleche du Sud (2.1) in Luxembourg. Working in support of Matthew Brennan and Matisse Van Kerckhove, the Scot claimed 16th overall, as well as a seventh on a stage. The results came as Visma dominated the race – claiming three stages through Brennan, the queen stage and the overall win through van Kerckhove.
Handsling-Alba were in action at the Tour de Feminin in Czechia. Despite illness affecting the team there was a strong showing in the team time trial, with the team finishing in tenth place – on a full road bike set up.
Herne Hill Velodrome was the venue for the National Sprint Futures round – with the Scottish sprinters heading down the road. Micah Myles (Edinburgh RC) would finish third in the Youth Open field, Lotte Wardrop (Glasgow Track RC) fourth in the juniors and Femke McKenna (Glasgow Riderz) fifth in the Youth female.
Youth Circuit Series
The Trofeo Clarion was the latest round of the Scottish Youth Circuit Series
Henry Sharp (West Lothian Clarion CC) claimed the Under 16 victory from Thomas MacLeod (Falkirk Junior Bike Club), Leo Mullen (Royal Albert CC) rounding off the podium. Sixth in the race but top Under 14 was Alexander Mullen (Falkirk Junior Bike Club), with the Forth Valley club claiming a 1-2 with Henry Lockett in second, while Matthew Moran (Deeside Thistle CC) finished third.
Sarah McCormac (Edinburgh RC) won in the Youth A female race from Erin Knox (Kingdom Velo) and Daisy Gildea. While Eilidh Scally (Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club) won in West Lothian in the under 14 race from Emma Nicholson (Glasgow Riderz) and Boo Williams (Royal Albert CC).
Pic: Andrew Leinster
Gralloch
UCI gravel racing returned to Gatehouses of Fleet, with The Gralloch over the weekend.
Grace Inglis (Team HUP) finished top Scot in the elite fields, finishing in ninth place behind winner Geerike Schruers (Specialized). Winning the 19-34 age category for amateurs, and finishing 11th overall was local rider Rebecca Saunderson (Studio Velo).
Former Giro d’Italia maglia rosa Lukas Postlberger won the men’s elite race, while Cameron Mason, resplendent in his Scottish National Champion’s skinsuit, was at the forefront of the racing action coming home as the top elite Scot in 17th, Louis Moore (Edinburgh Bike Fitting) finished ten places further back.
Sam Chisholm (Team HUP) would be just behind and take the victory in the 19-34 category – finishing 35th overall.
Huge congratulations to all the Masters who qualified for the World Championships in Australia this summer.
Check out the full results here.
Downhill
The IXS European Downhill Cup returned to Fort William’s Nevis Range, with plenty of podium action for the Scots.
Emily Carrick-Anderson continued her great recent form with a third place on Aonach Mor, Megan Horne (Steampunk) followed suit with third place in juniors on the old World Cup track.
2020 World Champion Reece Wilson (Aon Racing) showed his strong recent form with third place at the Fort, seven seconds off the superb Charlie Hatton who claimed the overall victory.