Kortrijk
Not for the first time this season, Cameron Mason was a key component in an absolute thriller. The Urban Cross in the West Flanders town is always one of the most exciting races of the calendar and Saturday would not disappoint.
The Seven Racing man started excellently pulling out a gap over key rivals including Ryan Kamp and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin) on the opening lap. A group of eight or so would come together in the mid part of the race, held on a drier than usual course that cuts through the neighbourhood of Kortrijk.
Tactics would be on display, akin to that of a Napoleonic era naval battle along the banks of the River Leie – with Pauwels Sauces-Bingoal attacking and trying to force others to chase. With three laps to go – Vandeputte, Kamp and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels) alongside Mason had forced their way a few seconds clear of the rest.
It would be the Scot that would make a move for the win with around 15 minutes of racing to go – trying to force a snap in the elastic – but to no avail on the fast course. Vanthourenhout would fall out of contention after a touch of wheels on the penultimate lap – leaving Kamp, Mason, Vandeputte and a number of others who were trying to stay within a a few bike lengths to contest the win.
Vandeputte would make his move into the running sector on the final lap, with Mason just about able to follow a second behind but no closer. It would be another second place for Mason – his third of the season so far.
Mason looked to pay for his efforts come Sunday’s World Cup round in Namur. After a solid start the Scot suffered through the midpart of the race and abandoned, which is probably a wise decision to rest, with the kersteperoide kicking off with four races in four days next weekend starting with the World Cup in Antwerp on Saturday.
Grenchen
Katie Archibald claimed two victories on Saturday as one of nine Scottish riders who made the trip to Switzerland at the UCI Class 1 event at the Tissot Velodrome.
The Glaswegian scored the first victory of the day in the elimination race, with the Scot besting quality riders including Anna Morris, Clara Consoni and Lea Lin Teutenberg to take the victory. The second would come in the madison – where Archibald is the world champion.
A super performance with teammate Anna Morris, saw the duo win the final seven of (a total eight) sprints. Winning by over 22 points to the next team. Also in the Great Britain colours there would be a third place for her fellow Team Scotland teammate Lauren Bell in the keirin competition.
Riding under the Scotland flag in Switzerland would be six further sprinters.
Pete Mitchell would claim second in the keirin, with Niall Monks in ninth. Mitchell was only a wheels length away from a second trip to the podium in the sprint competition coming home in fourth.
There would be strong showing in qualifying from Anthony Young and Luthias Arthur – both just outside the magic 10 second marker.
Ellie Stone’s fifth place finish in the sprint event was another commendable performance, with the four riders ahead of her all on World-class programmes with France, Great Britain and the World Cycling Centre.
The Aviemore rider backed up her ride with tenth in the keirin. Maddy Silcock showed her progression with another solid 11.3 in sprint qualifying, and only narrowly missing out to Ukrainian rider Oleksandra Lovhinuik in the early rounds.