Another busy weekend of racing action saw Scots in action in the Swiss Alps at the UCI MB World Cup in Lenzerheide, while the young team were fighting their Welsh and English counterparts at the British Youth Circuit Champs in North Yorkshire.

Lenzerheide

Cross Country

Charlie Aldridge continued his exceptional recent form that saw him crowned European Short Tack Champion with a brilliant third place in the U23 Men’s race at the latest round of the UCI World Cup at Lenzerheide.

Cameron Mason again produced an excellent charge through the field to come from 48^th on the grid to finish in 21^st place, whilst Rory McGuire also rode well to come home in 36^th position.

In the Women’s Elite, Aldridge’s Team Scotland teammate Isla Short rode to a solid 30^th place finish in Switzerland as she continues her return from illness, a positive outcome to build on. It was also great to see Peebles CC rider Elena McGorum make her World Cup debut, coming home in 49^th place in the U23 Women.

Downhill

In the Downhill World Cup round, also taking place at Lenzerheide, a number of Scots were in action with Phoebe Gale (Canyon Collective FMD) heading the strong Scottish contingent, which included four junior women, which is extremely exciting for the future.

Gale was the quickest in qualifying but was narrowly pipped in the final, another strong ride seeing her finish in second place. Aimi Kenyon (Black Isle MTB/Pinkbike) rode to a fantastic fifth place, her best UCI World Cup result outside Scotland, whilst fellow Black Isle MTB rider Beth McCully finished in 17^th place, with Nina-Yves Cameron (West Highland Wheelers) making her World Cup debut and finishing just one place further back in 18^th place.

In the Elite Women’s Louise Ferguson was the sole Scot in the final, finishing in 14^th place, while Mikayla Parton narrowly missed out on the final, finishing 16^th in the qualifier.

The Junior Men’s saw Douglas Goodwill (555 RAAW Gravity Racing) finish in 14^th place, with William Broadie scoring another top 20 finish. Jamie Edmondson (Rockshox-Trek) was the Top Scot in the Men’s Elite finishing in 56^th position.

We look forward to seeing the best Scottish riders in both disciplines back on home trails later this month with both British XC and DH Championships coming to Kiroughtree and Glencoe respectively on the 23^rd and 24^th July.

British Youth Circuit Championships

Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle) was crowned the Youth A British Circuit Champion in Scarborough. The Scot was in a four rider move that escaped with 30 minutes left of the race and claimed a stunning victory in the final sprint to the line. There was also attacking riding by Struan Shaw (Edinburgh RC) who was in an early move and then rode very well to claim 17^th in what was a race that was frantic from the early stages.

Arabella Blackburn (Deeside Thistle) won the Youth B title in North Yorkshire in 2021, but making the step up to Youth A level this year may have been a struggle, but not for this young Scot who was in the fight for the podium up until the final 2km, coming home in a great fifth place.

The Deeside duo of Melanie Rowe and Hope Thomson were also flying the North East’s flag in the Youth B girls. Rowe spent much of the race solo, and it paid dividends as it was a silver medal for the Scot, while Hope Thomson finished in a great fifth place.

Meanwhile in the Youth B Boys, Elliot Speedie (Edinburgh RC) was the top Scot finishing in 14^th place.

Proper Northern Series

Oakenclough was the venue for the final round of Cold Dark North’s Proper Northern Race Series. The National B series has seen much success for Scots and that continued with Logan Maclean (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) finishing in a strong fifth place, with Ribble-Weldtitie and Team Scotland man Finn Crockett two places further back in seventh.

In the women’s race Beth Harley-Jepson (Jadan Vive-le-Velo) claimed a strong eighth place finish with Zwift supremo Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy) finishing in 11^th place.

These riders are in strong form and many of them will be looking to continue it on the roads of Aberfoyle as the National Road Race Championships take place on the 30^th and 31^st July. Entries for that one close this week and can be found by clicking here.

Scots Abroad

Spokes Racing Team were flying the saltire at the UCI 2.1 St. Martinusprijs Juniors in Flanders. The team showed some great riding especially on the final stage where Conal Davidson gained a decent advantage in a two man break mid-way through the stage. Finishing the first 60 km loop and a smaller crit loop around the town of Kontich before eventually being brought back by the bunch before the final laps. In the end a strong final lap from Cormac McConville scored him a top 20 along with some UCI points.

Finally, in France, Morgan Bown (St Etienne Loire) finished in a strong 17^th place in the overall at the National Elite Tour de Cóte d’Or.