This weekend will see some of the very best road cyclists in Britain take to the streets of East Cleveland for the first round of the HSBC UK | National Road Series.

The event – the Klondike – is staging its first ever women’s race, whereas the men have competed there twice before.

One of those on the start line this weekend with more vivid memories of the race than most will be Tom Moses, of Madison Genesis, who last year came within a whisker of taking victory before being edged out in a sprint to the line by Tom Pidcock.

“It was a race I wasn’t even supposed to do,” Moses says of the 2018 event. “I was called up last minute because someone was ill. I remember starting the race and not feeling great at all, but as it went on, I just felt better and better.

“I ended up away with Tom and I definitely thought I had the legs on him in the end – I just thought I was stronger and could beat him in a sprint, but I underestimated how much of a kick he had, and ended up in second. I was kicking myself a bit at that one, so I definitely want to get my name on that start list this year!”

This will be the first season in which Moses has lined up in Madison colours, following a five-year stint at JLT Condor.

Among his new team-mates is national champion Connor Swift, who also starred throughout the series last year. Whilst acknowledging the impressive strength in depth at Madison’s disposal, Moses highlights Swift as the one to watch within the ranks.

“It’s hard to get into the Madison team at the moment,” he continues. “You look at the 13, 14 guys we’ve got and you’re thinking ‘how do you get that down to eight people’? Obviously Connor has a point to prove – he’s been unlucky not to step up (to a WorldTour level team) – so you’ve definitely got to be watching out for him.”