After ten gruelling rounds, Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) has been crowned winner of the men’s HSBC UK | National Road Series, with Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes taking the team title.
Here’s how the series was won:
Round 1 – East Cleveland Klondike:
It was a perfect start to the series in the north east for Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes, as Rory Townsend outsprinted Connor Swift and Scott Thwaites to take East Cleveland Klondike victory. Holmes put some early points on the board as well, finishing fifth.
Round 2 – Chestnut Homes Lincoln Grand Prix:
Tom Stewart made it two from two for Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes in Lincoln, judging the final Michaelgate climb to perfection to get the better of Tom Pidcock. This was Stewart’s second victory at the iconic venue, although Holmes’ fourth position was good enough for him to take the series leader’s jersey for the first time.
Round 3 – Lancaster Grand Prix:
The first new event on the calendar – the Lancaster Grand Prix – was won by local boy Ian Bibby (Madison Genesis). Bibby edged out James Shaw and Dan Tulett to claim victory in the inaugural staging of the race, while Holmes was again in the points, finishing 12th.
Round 4 – Circuit of the Mendips:
Townsend won his second round of the series at the revived Circuit of the Mendips – a former favourite on the race calendar. The race was characterised by tough climbs, but it was his strength in the sprint finish which eventually earned Townsend the win, ahead of Thwaites and Bibby. Holmes finished a couple of places further back in fifth.
Round 5 – Tour of the Reservoir:
There was something to cheer again at round 5 for Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes, as Ollie Wood won stage 1 of the Tour of the Reservoir, but his lead was overhauled on stage 2 by stage and eventual winner, James Shaw. Shaw took victory as he outsprinted Holmes in the final stages of the brutal two-day race, with both riders destined to finish in the top three of the overall series standings.
Round 6 – Beaumont Trophy:
Townsend’s fantastic summer continued as he completed a hat-trick of series victories by winning the Beaumont Trophy. Again, the race came down to a sprint finish, and Townsend had enough in the tank to hold off Pete Williams and Damien Clayton in the final stages.
Round 7 – Stockton Grand Prix:
After sprint finishes to the line had dominated the middle part of the series, Ribble Pro Cycling’s John Archibald produced an astonishing ride to take a wonderful solo victory at round 7 in Stockton. The Scot broke away from the peloton and simply never looked back, staying out on his own to claim an impressive win.
Round 8 – South Coast Classic:
A lone attack again won the day at the inaugural South Coast Classic, as Jacob Scott picked up his first win of the series. He launched an attack on the final climb, leaving his rivals behind and allowing him to take the win by a relatively comfortably winning margin back to Rob Scott and Ryan Christensen.
Round 9 – Manx International Stage Race:
A new race on the calendar, the three-day, four-day Manx International was won by Holmes, after he broke clear of the peloton on the final stage, finishing clear in first and adding to the overall lead which he had built. Ed Clancy won two of the four stages, while Ed Laverack and Paul Wright completed the overall podium alongside Holmes.
Round 10 – Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix:
With Holmes already confirmed as series winner, the second and third-placed riders, team-mates Shaw and Scott, took the initiative in the final round of the series. The SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling duo broke away from the leading group and worked well together to establish a big lead, with Shaw just about edging out his team-mate on the final climb for the line.
