Another packed weekend of racing with Scotland's best cross-country riders in Cornwall while the inaugruation of the new West Lothian Cycle Circuit took place in Linlithgow.
MTB Series – Woody’s
There were several fantastic performances in the far south with Scotland’s best cross-country riders heading to Woody’s Bike Park over the weekend.
The Elite races saw Scottish domination with the top four spots in the men’s race going to Scots, and three of the top four in the female race.
A battle for victory ensued between Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale FR) and Cameron Mason (Trinity Racing) with the two top Scots glued to each other’s wheels throughout the first six of seven laps of the UCI Class 1 event in Cornwall. The final lap was where Aldridge was able to power away from friend and rival, for the Crieff rider to claim the victory by just ten seconds.
A similar battle was undertaken for third between Rory McGuire (Leslie Bike Shop) and Grant Ferguson (Hope FR), with McGuire pulling away in the final laps to give him the third-place finish, with the Rio Olympian Ferguson in fourth.
You can watch the Elite Men's race here:
Isla Short (Ghost FR) returned to the top step of the podium with a fantastic win in the Elite female race. Short’s last XCO win was at Woody’s 12 months ago, so it must be something about the Cornish coast that the Ghost Factory Racing rider loves.
Anna McGorum (Edinburgh University CC) has been on excellent form so far this season and scored another podium with a third-place finish, ahead of Jo Thom (TORQ Performance) in fourth. Grace Inglis (Muckle CC) just pipped Jane Barr (Velocity 44 RT) for sixth. While Kim Baptista (Ayr Roads CC) and Anna Flynn (Spectra-Cannondale) rode to 11th and 12th place finishes respectively.
In the junior ranks, Reuben Oakley (ROTOR RT) rode to a very strong second place in the male race after a couple of weeks’ off the bike with concussion, while in the female equivalent Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert CC) rode to an excellent third place and Christina McGorum (Peebles CC) scored a top ten in eighth place.
The ever-present Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad RT) claimed another top result with a fourth place finish in the Youth race, with Daisy Wilkinson (Scotia Offroad RT) sixth in the girls race. Yet again there were two wins in the Juvenile ranks, with Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle) and Gus Lawson (Pentland Racers) both claiming another victory. Poole wraps up the series with four wins from the first four rounds, while Lawson’s third win from the three rounds he’s entered means he can wrap up the series title in Cannock with a win. Xander Graham (Scott Racing) also produced another strong display to finish fourth.
Short Track
Saturday morning’s Short Track races saw Scottish success with Rory McGuire winning out, with Cameron Mason in third. Corran Carrick-Anderson and Grant Ferguson were just behind to make it four Scots on the podium.
There was also victory for Anna McGorum, who broke the tape in the Female Short-Track, whilst Innes McDonald finished in second place in the Youth’s Short-Track race.
West Lothian Opening
Linlithgow was the venue for the Grand Opening of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit on Saturday, with a full day of activities taking place at the new venue, which was funded by the Cycling Facilities Fund.
After the facility was officially opened by Minister for Sport Maree Todd MSP, an Experience The Worlds event was held, as was a “free ride” of the circuit, before the racing got underway.
Finn Crockett (The Cycling Academy), back from his stage win at the Rás in Ireland, won in the Elite Men’s race in style after riding away from the field, while William Taylor (Moonglu RT) won the sprint for second, with Archie Ellen (The Cycling Academy) in third.
Rachel Hardman (Forth Velo) won the female race, with Katie Scott in second and Isla McCutcheon (JRC-Interflon) in third to cap a great day at a facility that is sure to host many more memorable days in the years to come. Congratulations to the many people who have helped make it happen.
British Youth Circuit Series
Loughbrough was the venue for the latest round of the British Youth Circuit Series.
There were strong rides from Erin Boothman (EKRC) and Arabella Blackburn (Deeside Thistle) to come home in third and fourth in the Youth A girls, while Struan Shaw (Edinburgh RC) and James Sweeney (Edinburgh RC) finishing seventh and eighth in the Youth A Boys. Millie Boothman (EKRC) managed 10th in the Youth B girls. Solid rides all round.
Dick Londragan RR
The roads of Strachan in Aberdeenshire played host to the Dick Londragan RR, organised by Deeside Thistle. Andy Brown (Velocity 44 RT) won in the sprint from Davie Lines (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) with Alastair McNicol (Dooley’s Cycles) in third place.
Cycle Speedway
The latest round of the Scottish League took place in Edinburgh over the weekend, with a record number of girls in racing action!
Find out more via Fife Cycle Speedway’s report here.
BMX
The sun was shining on Clydebank for the latest round of the Scottish BMX Series, you can read about all the action on via Cumbernauld Centurions report here.
Newport
The British National Sprinters League headed to Newport for the Black Line Open, with a strong Scottish contingent heading to Wales.
There were PB’s in the Flying 200 from a number of Scottish riders including Sarah Johnson (Edinburgh RC), Christina Smith and Rob Wallace.
Sylvia Misztal (Glasgow Track RC) claimed third in the female sprint, while Sarah Johnson’s PB was indictive of her strong riding all day as she finished in fourth place, with sister Kirsty just behind in fifth place.
Alpes Isere Tour
On the road, Oscar Onley (Team DSM) was involved in an excellent general classification battle at the UCI 2.2 Alpes Isere Tour in France, with the Kelso rider finishing in second overall, to add another big result to his ever-growing palmares, with fellow Scot Morgan Bown (EC Saint-Étienne) in 16th place overall.
Tour de Loire-Atlanique
Staying in France, Adam Mitchell (Team U-Charente Maratime) produced his best result of the season, claiming the overall victory at the Coupe de France Tour de Loire-Alantique, with the Scot winning from the break on the final stage to claim the overall honours, and continue his excellent season so far.
