British Champion Cameron Mason headed to Middlekerke off the back of strong performances on the Koppenberg and in Essen, but any finish inside the top 10 on a less-favoured tarmac and sand-heavy parcours would be an achievement for the Scotsman.
Mason found himself mid-pack after the start and consolidated throughout the early part of the race. The Seven Racing rider was in the second group of riders, hovering around 10-20 seconds behind the leaders, fighting in a pack of riders that included Felipe Orts (ESP) and Emeil Verstrynge (BEL).
With three laps to go, Mason turned up the pace.
Cameron started the sixth of eight laps in ninth place, 23 seconds behind the leading group – led by Michael Vanthourenhout; an excellent effort would see the Scot join the leaders at the end of the penultimate lap to make a group of six to battle out for continental honours.
The group of six kicked off led by the Belgian trident of Toon Aerts, Thibaut Nys and Joran Wysere, alongside Dutch rider Pim Ronhaar. Mason would bounce between fourth and fifth – keeping in touch in case of errors up front and putting distance into Verstrynge who was just dropping off the back.
Coming off the final corner Aerts and Nys opened up a small gap on the rest – with the Scot unable to come round Wysere and Ronhaar and would take an excellent fifth place in a dramatic European Championships.
Another milestone for the three-time British Champion in what has been his best season to date so far.
Watch the highlights below.
HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series
There’s something about Stately Homes that seem to create the perfect backdrop for cyclocross races.
After the National Trophy at Falkirk’s Callendar Park last month, it was the turn of Gartmore House in Aberfoyle to host Round Four of the Scottish Cyclocross Series.
After a hard-fought battle in the mud throughout the early laps it would be Sam Chisholm (Team HUP) who claimed the senior open victory. His early opponents at the front of the race, Reuben Oakley and Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad RT) would come home for second and third.
Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) would be star of the show in the Female race. The Junior rider would overhaul the entire field after the split start to come across the line first, ahead of Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert) – who was first senior. Fellow Royal Albert rider Beatrix Kiehlmann would come across as second senior, and the third rider over the finish.
It was Emie Smith of Stirling Bike Club who would lap the field to take the Under 16’s victory from Lucy Robb (Pentland Racers) and Mairi Dowens (West Lothian Clarion). In the Under 14’s it would be Isla Reekie (Falkirk Junior BC) who would take the win from Emma Nicholson (Glasgow Riderz) and Eilidh Scally (Johnstone Wheelers)
Josh Stewart (SteppingStanes Youth CC) would best Gregor McNaught (Falkirk Junior BC) and Rhuairdh Fulton (West Lothian Clarion) to take the Under 16 win; with Sam Kingan (Pentland Racers), Leo Walsh (Salt Ayre Cog Set) and Cobey Stewart (SteppingStanes YCC) making the Under 14 podium.
Winter BMX Series
Sticking in the West, Cumbernauld Centurions hosted the first round of their Winter Series on Saturday, with Centurions’ Lewis Cook and Eilidh Watson among the winners.
Check out the full results here.
Monsters of Track
Saturday saw the first Monsters of Track of the season with plenty of racing action and one of the largest fields in the A bunch, but all of you who read this far into the round up are obviously interested in track, right?
Well, there’s still time to get your entries into the Scottish Track Championships on 5-7th December. *hint hint*