A busy weekend of racing saw Alfie George claim victory in France, while a trio of Scots faced off the white roads of Strade Bianche. While at home it was the end of one season and the start of the another.
Spokes Season Starter
The Scottish Road season got underway with Fife Cycle Park and Spokes RT hosting their season starter criterium.
Louis Moore (Vanelli-Project GO) started 2023, the way he finished 2022, with a win. The national Hill Climb champion claimed the win in Category 2/3/4 race from Keir Gaffney (Spokes RT) with Jake Speed (The Cycling Academy) in third.
There are many more road events coming up across the season, you can enter them below.
Strathallan Castle CX
A new event to the Cyclocross Calendar was raced on Sunday with the Strathallan CX event taking place around the grounds of Strathallan Castle near Auchterarder to close the Scottish CX season.
Neil Scott (Deeside Thistle) won out in the Open race, with Richard McDonald (Vanelli-Project GO) in second place with James Fraser-Moodie in third.
In the women’s race, Lauren Johnston (Hervelo) claimed victory by a handful of seconds from Sally Devlin, with Iona Hamilton in third.
Congratulations to everyone involved in organising another great race on the calendar, and we certainly hope to welcome Strathallan back to the calendar in the 2023-24 season.
BUCS Track Champs
Scottish Riders took to the track in Newport to compete for their universities at the British Universities and College Championships.
Fellow report to follow…
Strade Bianche
It was the first monument of the season (depending on who you ask) with the white roads in Tuscany providing us with Strade Bianche.
Anna Shackley (Team SD Worx) debuted in the race last season with a spirited performance. This year the Scot came home in 28th place but more importantly helped set up an excellent 1-2 for her teammates in Siena.
In the men’s race, Oscar Onley made his Classics debut for Team DSM, and rode well but tired late on to finish 41st, with fellow Scot Sean Flynn in 92nd place, respectively. Flynn also finished 38th in Le Samyn in Belgium earlier in the week.
Salamina Epic Race
The Greek MTB Series has been taking place on Salamina Island, with Grant Ferguson and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) in action.
Charlie Aldridge only raced on the Saturday, coming home in 3rd place in the Men’s Elite Class 1 event, which poses well for the World Cup season to come. Ferguson raced three races across the week, improving each time out with the Scot finishing 18th, 22nd and 29th respectively.
Belgian races
Finn Crockett and Stuart Balfour were in action for their new team AT85 Pro Cycling (formerly Wiv-SunGod) at a Belgian double header over the weekend.
Crockett finished in 34th place at GP Jean-Pierre Monseré after a strong showing on Sunday. At the GP Criquiellion Crockett came home in 85th, with Stuart Balfour slightly behind him.
Domestic Results
In France there was a victory (or should that be victoire) for Abernyte’s Alfie George (Vendeé-U) as he won the National Elite Trophée Méderel - Saint-Hilaire-la-Treille on Sunday after escaping from the field. Adam Mitchell finished in seventh, with Morgan Bown in 25th place.
While over in Spain Alex Ball (Maglia Tecnosylva Bembibre) rode to a strong sixth place (third U23) at a round of the Spanish National Series the Trofeo Guerrita.
