The opening rounds of the National Disability and Para-cycling Road Series kicked off at the weekend, with riders taking to the start line in Nottingham on Saturday, before tackling the race of truth in Sunday’s time-trial in Loughborough.

Round 1

The first round of the series kicked off on Saturday at Harvey Hadden Cycle Circuit in Nottingham, with riders taking to the circuit for one-hour races.

A wet start caused one slick problematic corner, which saw rider Archie Atkinson (Para-T) take a hit to his knee after his front wheel slid out from underneath him. However, this didn’t hold Atkinson back and he took the top spot in the MC4-5 category, followed by Finlay Webb (Exeter Wheelers) and Thomas Williams (Whitchurch Shropshire CC) taking second and third place respectively. 

Charlie Stanton-Stock (Loughborough Students CC) took the MC1-3 win ahead of Ben Hetherington (HUUB WattShop), while Stanton-Stock’s teammate Amelia Cass was able to secure a victory in the women’s equivalent.

Rebecca Newark (Kendal Cycle Club) was crowned the winner in the WC4-5 category ahead of Cheryl Went (North Essex Velo) and seasoned triathlete Hannah Moore.

Shelley Halsey also took a corner too wide and unfortunately ended up crashing into the fence, but she was quickly helped back on track and her face was beaming on the final lap, crossing the line to take first place in the WT1-2 category.

Mark Valentine was able to take the win in the MCD category, while over in the trike categories, Calum O’Neill secured the win on his standard trike in the M1-2 race and Jonathan Knott won the MR-R category on the recumbent trike.

The handbike categories saw wins for Lynn Hamel (Kendal Cycle Club) in the WH1-5 category, while Ben Whitney (Wincanton Wheelers) was victorious in the men’s equivalent. In the MB tandem, Mason Bradley (Born to Bike Racing Team) took the win.

Round 1 photos available here

Round 2

Sunday’s Round 2 event saw riders tackle a time-trial on an undulating 15.3km course on the Six Hills route in Seagrave, Loughborough.

Atkinson was able to add to his success from the previous day, storming to a time of 42:10, unfazed by his wounds from his crash in the circuit race, while Ben Payne (Maidenhead and District CC) took second in 48:59, and Nicholas Fairfield (City RC – Hull) finished third in 51:20 in the MC4-5 category.

Stanton-Stock also secured another win in the series in the MC1-3 category, finishing two laps of the course in a time of 46:59, while Hetherington again secured second place in 47:56. Mark Valentine also took his second win of the weekend in the MCD category.

Cass added to her round one win with a brilliant time-trial performance to take another victory in the WC1-3 category ahead of Elisabeth Simpson. In the WC4-5 category, Moore bettered her third place from the day before with a win in 52:13, over a minute ahead of Newark.

In the handcycle sports groups categories, Whitney and Hamel were able to secure their second wins of the weekend in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

Round 2 photos available here

Round 1 Results

MC-D

1. Mark Valentine (Poole Wheelers CC)

WC4-5

1. Rebecca Newark (Kendal Cycle Club)
2. Cheryl Went (North Essex Velo)
3. Hannah Moore

MC4-5

1. Archie Atkinson (Para-T)
2. Finlay Webb (Exeter Wheelers)
3. Thomas Williams (Whitchurch Shropshire CC)

WC1-3

1. Amelia Cass (Loughborough Students)
2. Elisabeth Simpson

MC1-3

1. Charlie Stanton Stock (Loughborough Students CC)
2. Ben Hetherington (HUUB WattShop)
3. Jacob Smith

MB

1. Mason Bradley (Born to Bike Racing Team)

MT-R – Recumbent Trike

1. Jonathan Knott
2. Shane Booth (365 Shutt Ridley)

WT1-2 – Standard Trike

1. Shelley Halsey

MT1-2 – Standard Trike

1. Calum O’Neill

WH1-5

1. Lynn Hamel (Kendal Cycle Club)

MH1-5

1. Ben Whitney (Wincanton Wheelers)
2. Steve Marsh

Round 2 Results

MC1-3

1. Charlie Stanton-Stock (Loughborough Students CC)
2. Ben Hetherington (HUUB WattShop)
3. Callum Deboys

MCD

1. Mark Valentine (Poole Wheelers CC)

MC4-5

1. Archie Atkinson (Para-T)
2. Ben Payne (Maidenhead and District CC)
3. Nicholas Fairfield (City RC – Hull)

WC1-3

1. Amelia Cass (Loughborough Students CC)
2. Elisabeth Simpson

WC4-5

1. Hannah Moore
2. Rebecca Newark (Kendal Cycle Club)

WH

1. Lynn Hamel (Kendal Cycle Club)

MH

1. Ben Whitney (Wincanton Wheelers)
2. Callum Russell