UCI Road Worlds
The UCI Road and Para Road World Championships kicked off in Zurich on Sunday, with Jenny Holl and Sophie Unwin in action in the Women’s B Time Trial.
Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl delivered a fantastic ride, taking a silver medal to match their Paralympic result in the women’s B tandem time-trial. Starting confidently, at the first time check the duo were in second place, 52.34 seconds behind Irish Paralympic champions Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly.
By the second time check they had brought the gap back down to 36.88 seconds, but a tough and windy final section pushed them out of contention for gold and they finished in second place with a gap of 1:09.70.
We’ll be all over the racing this week in Switzerland which continues tomorrow with Fin Graham in action in the Men’s C3 Time Trial.
Scottish BMX Open
Scotland’s best BMX riders went head-to-head in Clydebank at the Scottish BMX Open on Sunday.
The two Championships were awarded on points – in a similar method once used by the Omnium on the track- 1pt for the winner, 2pts for second etc. – with the rider with the fewest accumulated points over the races winning out.
After the four motos it was Ben Fitzsimmons (Cumbernauld Centurions) who claimed the win in the open Championship from teammates Fraser Watson and Lewis Cook, in a very closely contested affair – with only three points separating the podium places.
The Female Championship saw Tillie McCrum (Cumbernauld Centurions) claim the win from Niamh Whitsey with Fiona Barrie (Western Titans) in third place.
Congratulations to Alexis McCartney, Jack Cameron, Dylan McKenna, Cooper McCrum, Brodie Geddes for their wins in their respective age categories.
A great day of racing at Clydebank, with thanks to Western Titans for organising the Open and to the volunteers and officials for making the days’ racing possible.
HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series
Cyclocross is officially back, as Round one of the HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series went ahead in Dundee. A new course at the City of Discovery’s Camperdown Park, saw a day for file treads at Camperdown, a fast, powerful, punchy course proving a perfect transition back into cross, racers enjoy the very different Dundee conditions, than the snow and ice provided in 2023.
Despite a new season, it was the same man coming on top, with Scottish Champion Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) winning by over two minutes from Sam Chisholm (HUPcc) in second place, while 2021 Scottish Champion Charles Fletcher in third – after a very strong ride in the final lap to hold off the chasers.
Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) proved she was the class act in the Female field – claiming the Junior victory, while also lapping the course quicker than any senior rider – showing she has a promising season to come. Second place Junior, Harriet Hendry (Solas Cycling), would also produce a great ride, second quickest overall, with Abigail Chaplin (Discovery Junior) rounding out the Junior podium.
Lotta Mansfield (Montezema) would lead the Senior race from flag to flag and, with Lettie McDonald (Vanelli-Project Go) taking second and Grace Norman (Team Jadan vive le Velo) third
Junior Oliver Carter (Deeside Thistle) who led the way, taking the win in his first race in that category, from Edward Lindsay (Team Andrew Allan Architecture) and Ross Easthaugh (Scotia Offroad RT).
Our U14 & U16 racers got the day underway, with Scottish champion Gus Lawson (Pentland Racers) taking the win in the U16 Open from Xander Graham (Scott) and Joel Gillian (Squadra Porcini).
Deeside’s Zara Main would take the U16 Female win, a classy ride seeing her home 20 seconds clear of Mairi Dowens (West Lothian Clarion), with Millie Boothman (Glasgow Riderz) in third after a tight battle with Emma Campbell.
In the U14 Female race it was even tighter, Eilidh Scally, Emma Nicholson and Boo Williams finishing in that order, but separated by just five seconds. The U14 Open was another close encounter, Josh Stewart edging out Gregor McNaught by just two seconds, with Sam Kingan rounding out the podium.
UCI Gravel Series
The final Gravel Series event before the World Championships in October, the Graean Cymru, took place in Wales on Sunday, with a number of Scots in action on the 111km route.
Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) was in strong form coming home eighth in the Elite event, with Arrianne Holland (Alba Development RT) in ninth in the Elite Female.