British Gravel Championships
Sunday afternoon saw the conclusion of the senior races, Grace Inglis (Team HUP) led the Scots charge in the elite female category. The Scottish Mountain Bike Champion made her way on to the podium taking third spot. Scottish Gravel Champion Caroline Livesey (TrainXhale) would finish seventh, with Izzy Filor (Forth Velo) in eighth. Patrick Hughes came home top Scot in the open race, finishing in 12th place.
Ava Luce (Brother UK-OnForm) had a massive weekend, riding well in the Scottish National Road Champs on Saturday (more below), before winning the Junior title in a sprint on Sunday. Ross Eastaugh (Scotia Offroad RT) narrowly missed out on the junior open title but finished in second place.
There was more Scottish success in the age group categories, Studio Velo’s Rebecca Saunderson on many of her home trails taking the 19-34 victory, with Rebecca Trimble (Dundee Thistle) and Katrina Denholm (Forth Vel0) in fourth and fifth after strong rides on the road on Saturday too. Jane Barr (Velo 56.0) claimed second in the Female 45-49 as did John Mackenzie in the open 40-44.
Saturday’s racing saw the Youth titles decided and there was plenty to shout about from the Scots.
Gregor McNaught (Falkirk Junior Bike Club) and Emie Smith (Stirling Bike Club) claimed the Under 16 British titles. McNaught came to the line and won the three up-sprint, with Josh Stewart (Harrogate Nova RT) finishing in third. Smith rode away from the others in the Female race, with Mairi Downs (West Lothian Clarion) finishing in third place.
The Under 14 open saw a Scottish lockout of the podium. Angus Dowens (West Lothian) winning by 30 seconds from Alexander Mullen (Falkirk Junior BC) with Alasdair Ogg (Johnstone Jets) in third place. Eilidh Coutts (Edinburgh RC) and Boo Williams (Clydesdale Colts) claimed silver and bronze in the female event.
Scottish National Road Race Championships
Sam Barbour and Melanie Rowe claimed the Scottish bands in contrasting styles at the Scottish National Road Race Championships in Strathaven.
Read the full report here.
Scottish Downhill Champs
Glenoce’s Red track hosted Scotland’s best downhill riders with Jess Stone and Drew Carters producing excellent rides and avoiding the midgie bites to take the senior Scottish titles.
In the World Cup round in Les Gets, Phoebe Gale (FMD Racing) would finish 12th in the Women’s Elite, with Reece Wilson (Aon Racing) in 21st place. Both will be in action this weekend at Val di Sole for the World Championships, as will Emily Carrick-Anderson who finished 19th on Saturday.
Charlie Aldridge was just outside the top ten in the Cross Country, with the Cannondale rider finishing in 14th place.
Tour of Britain
Lauren Dickson was crowned Queen of the Mountains at the Lloyds Tour of Britain on Sunday after some excellent riding.
The Scot was a constant presence at the forefront of the racing throughout the opening stages and contested each of the Mountains points, but took the jersey on the third stage. A strong general classification push was dashed due to a rather innocuous crash late on Saturday’s fourth stage – with the FDJ United-Suez rider losing time on the leading contenders. More points on Sunday’s final stage into Royal Leamington Spa would secure the Scot her first WorldTour jersey.
All five of the Scots made it to the finish on Sunday, Morven Yeoman (DAS-Hutchinson) was in the leading bunch on both Thursday’s stage two into Blackpool and the final stage on Sunday. Handsling-Alba’s Arabella Blackburn thoroughly impressed on stage one launching a solo attack in her first WorldTour race, and spending a large section of the race off the front of field, only derailed by a nasty wasp sting.
La Vuelta
The final Grand Tour of the season is underway with Oscar Onley and Callum Thornley racing at La Vuelta, which started in Monaco, with a time trial around an elongated Grand Prix circuit. Thornley showed his time trialling prowess massively on the Mediterranean. The Red Bull-BORA hansgrohe rider rode to fourth place, and would wear the polka dot jersey for stage two (although polka dot shorts get a massive thumbs down from everyone in the Scottish Cycling office.)
Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) sits 54 seconds behind race leader Tadej Pogacar after Stage 2. His first foray into preferred territory of high mountains will have to wait after Monday’s third stage was cancelled due to hail. Tuesday sees the race travel to Onley’s adopted home of Andorra – with a high mountain stage sure to set off the fireworks.
Junior Track Worlds
In Belgium, two Scots were in action at the UCI Junior Track World Championships. Sam Martin claimed a World Championship bronze as part of the British team pursuit squad, with Martin also riding well in the individual pursuit to finish 17th in a very strong field. Lotte Wardrop finished fifth the Team Sprint, a strong effort from the Glasgow Track Racing Club rider.
Youth Circuit Series
Zara Main (Deeside Thistle) came off the back of her Scottish National Youth Circuit title to claim the Youth A win at Wyke in the final round of the British Youth Circuit Series, Main was followed by Izzy Barbour (Edinburgh RC) who finished in fourth, with Millie Boothman (Glasgow Riderz) in fifth as part of a six rider move that went up the road. Reuben McLardie (Johnstone Jets) finished sixth in the Youth A open.
Finally elsewhere, Xander Graham would finish 12th overall at the Vuelta Junior a la Ribera del Duero in Spain after a spell in the leaders jersey – the young rider showing his worth against a world-level field.