Scottish Cycling Round-up – 29th January
Cyclocross
The final weekend of cyclocross racing before the World Championships in Czechia saw a double header with Saturday’s X2O Trofee in Hamme followed by the UCI World Cup round in Hoogeheide.
Three Scots travelled to the Netherlands for Sunday’s racing, with Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad RT) making his UCI World Cup debut in the Junior ranks.
A strong showing from the Scottish champion to come home in 37th place, with a second season to come in the Junior ranks next winter the Edinburgh-based rider can take a huge amount of encouragement from his season to date, which has seen him go from strength to strength.
Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-MO Racing) was showing off his British Under-23 National Champions jersey, with an excellent 14th place ride on Sunday.
Despite being only his second race of the season, Carrick-Anderson equalled his best U23 World Cup result to date. He’ll go into Saturday’s U23 race in Tabor with a top 15 finish well within his sights.
It was a mixed weekend for Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds), Saturday’s Flandriencross in Hamme saw another excellent ride with a seventh-place finish, which sees the Scot stay in contention for the overall podium, remaining level on-time with Eli Iserbyt in third place with two rounds to go.
The British Champion paid for his efforts on Sunday, on the quick course in Hoogeheide with Mason unable to progress out of the midfield to come home in 28th place.
All eyes for the Scot will be on the Czech Republic, where he’ll be aiming for a top result at the World Championships come Sunday.
Domestically, it was a brand-new venue for cyclocross racing in Scotland with West Lothian Cycle Circuit hosting Linlithgow Cross, which incorporated the Scottish Student Championships as well.
Utilising the circuit and the land surrounding it, the course set up some brilliantly quick racing, with Alex Ball (Tecnosylva Maglia Bembibre) riding to an excellent victory in the Open race by over two minutes from Richard McDonald in second.
Stirling University’s Ball, also claimed the Scottish Student crown, with Angus Toms (University of Edinburgh) and Craig Paterson (University of Glasgow) taking home the silver and bronze medals.
Anna Flynn (Team Spectra-Cannondale) claimed the female win, and student honours. Flynn, representing the University of Edinburgh in the student race, pulled out nearly a minute’s advantage to Elena McGorum (Peebles CC) who claimed silver for the University of Dundee, while Lotta Mansfield (Montezumas RT) in third for Stirling.
A good first cyclocross outing for the new facility, with a special congratulations to the team at West Lothian Clarion for organising another great event.
If you or your club are planning or considering running an event, then our Events Team are hosting a number of Event Organiser Workshops throughout the coming weeks, find out more here.
Road
It might only be January, but the road season is getting up and running with racing in both Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Sean Flynn (dsm-firmenich PostNL) was in strong form, claiming a top 20 in the Surf Coast Classic, before a solid supportive ride in the Great Ocean Road Race.
However, there was bad luck for teammate Oscar Onley. After fantastic ride at the Tour Down Under last week, the Scot suffered another broken collarbone in Victoria over the weekend – we wish Oscar all the best for his recovery.
Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) was in action in the Geelong Classic on Wednesday, coming home in 16th place, before heading to the Women’s WorldTour version of the Great Ocean Road Race, where the Scot took on the tough 143km route starting and finishing in Geelong – a suburb of Melbourne. Another strong ride from Richardson saw her finish in 27th place, with her track form from the Autumn translating into the road.
Back in Europe, the cycling equivalent of a pre-season friendly was taking place with the Challenge Mallorca – a number of one-day races held back-to-back on the Balearic island – and Calum Johnston (Caja Rural-Seguros) started his season in Spain with four races setting the climber up nicely for the early part of the season.
He will travel with his Basque-based team to the Portuguese Figueria Classic on 10th February.