The weather washed out domestic road and CX racing, but there was still plenty of cycling action over the past few days!
Charlie Aldridge, Phoebe Gale and Isla Short were among those Scots who travelled to Quebec for the last MTB World Cup round of 2023, while Italy was the venue for the small matter of the UCI Gravel World Championships.
Gravel Worlds
The white roads and farm tracks of Treviso played host to the UCI Gravel World Championships. A number of Scots had qualified via the UCI Gravel World Series event at The Gralloch in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Cameron Mason was representing Scotland in the Men’s Elite race on Sunday, and an excellent ride from the Scot saw him come home in 24th place in a quality field – not bad for a rider that specialises in races of 60-90 minutes in length.
Jane Barr rode to a strong 80th place in the Women’s Elite field against some top opposition.
In the age group events, Louis Moore came home 72nd in the Male 19-34 and David Lines in 35th place in the Male 45-49 category.
While in the Women’s age groups, Torvelo’s Sharon Bird produced an excellent ride to finish 11th in the F45-49. Natalie Munro rode to 17th in the Female 35-39 category, with Elgin CC’s Lorna Breetzke finishing 13th in the F40-44.
UCI MTB World Series
Canada, or more accurately Quebec was the venue for the final round of the 2023 UCI MTB World Series.
Cross Country
Short Track
Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale FR) was on strong form again in the Short Track, with the Perthshire native coming home in eighth in the Short Track, while in the Women’s Elite, Isla Short (Ghost FR) rode to a 24th place finish
Olympic
Saving the best until last, Charlie Aldridge scored his first Elite World Cup top ten, with a seventh-place finish in Mon-Sainte-Anne. An excellent way to round of the season that saw Aldridge claim the U23 World title in Glentress in August.
Isla Short produced another solid ride on Sunday’s Olympic XC with the former Peebles CC rider finishing 31st place.
Downhill
Another top ten for Phoebe Gale (Canyon CLCTV) in Canada, with the Scot ending the season on a high with a tenth-place finish on Sunday, with Mikayla Parton finishing in 15th place.
Pinkbike’s Aimi Kenyon continued her excellent season with a fourth place in the Junior race, she’ll make the step up to Elite in 2024. Keep an eye out during the World Cup rounds next season for Scotland’s latest rising star in Downhill.
National Trophy CX
South Shields was the venue for Round One of the British National Cyclocross Trophy with several Scots heading down the A1 for some CX racing.
In the Elite races, Ishbel Strathdee made a strong start to her campaign coming home in eighth place. While Scottish MTB XC Champion Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) rode to a strong 15th place in the Men’s Elite.
A strong battle for the podium saw Daisy Wilkinson (Scotia Off Road RT) ride to a strong fourth place in the Youth Girls field.
There was double success in the Under 14 ranks, Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle) dominated the girls’ race to win by 48 seconds, while Zach Buchan (Pentland Racers) followed suit in the boys winning by over 40 seconds with Rhuairidh Fulton (West Lothian Clarion) riding to an excellent third place.
Postponed Races
We hope you all stayed safe over the weekend with the Amber warning for rain. Unfortunately, the Drummond Trophy, Roukie CX and Tour of Loons and Quines did not survive the weather. Organisers are looking to rearrange Roukie CX – stay tuned for a new date.
Track League
Friday night saw the much-anticipated return of Track League at the Emirates Arena, with over 70 riders taking the boards of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Round Two is coming up this Friday – make sure to enter here.
