There was an action-packed weekend of racing with the return of the National Track Championships, as well as the conclusion of the UCI Track Champions League. While down in East Anglia Scottish riders were challenging for the rainbow bands at the UCI Masters Cyclocross Worlds in Ipswich.
Scottish National Track Champs
It was great to be at the National Track Championships for the first time since 2019. There was some exciting racing, as Glasgow Track Racing Club and Alba Development Road Team were dominant in many of the events.
A huge thank you to organiser Ben Proctor as well as to the massive team of commissaires, officials and volunteers for making the weekend possible.
UCI Track Champions League
The final two rounds of the UCI Track Champions League took place at the LeeValley Velopark in London this weekend with Mark Stewart and Katie Archibald vying for the Champions League titles.
Friday night saw a fifth and an eighth placed finish for Stewart. While a second place in the Scratch Race and a seventh-place finish in the elimination for Archibald left both Scots in contention for overall honours heading into Saturday’s final round.
An excellent surge in the final metres saw the former Discovery Junior rider claim another victory in the Scratch Race – his second of the series. However, his eighth-place finish in the final race – the elimination meant that Stewart had to settle for third place in overall standings.
Archibald claimed a strong third place in the opening scratch race and needed to win the Elimination race and hope that others could better her rival Jennifer Valente in order to retain the Champions League title.
The Scot did what she needed to do; however, Valente’s second place was enough for the American to claim the title. A great second place in the overall standings of the Champions Leagues for Archibald, after a very difficult season.
Masters Worlds
East Suffolk played host to the UCI Masters Cyclocross World Championships this weekend, and there was some great success for two stalwarts of the Scottish cyclocross scene.
Scottish national champion Gary Macdonald finished bronze place in the 35-39 category, while Veteran champion Davie Lines claimed a silver medal in the 40-44 age category.
The final round of the Scottish Cyclocross Series is on Sunday at Fife college, you can enter it here
