History was made as Scottish riders produced a series of sensational results over the weekend at races across Europe, as Mark Stewart and Kate Richardson produced two fantastic victories abroad.
While domestically, the Scottish Open BMX took place in Clydebank and the Masters were in Newport for their Track Championships.
Scots Abroad
Turul Romaniei
Mark Stewart (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) won the overall general classification at the Tour of Romania, his first-ever win at UCI professional level.
The Dundonian was involved in the key move on Stage 4 – the Queen stage which saw the ascent of the famous Transfagarasan climb – which peaks at over 2000m above sea level. Stewart was in the early seven-man break on the day, which he remained as the last surviving member of, before being joined by two riders that attacked from the peloton on the climb.
The trio held on to a minute’s advantage over the 55km flat run in to the finish – with Stewart being pipped in the sprint after dragging the group along, but it was enough for the former Discovery Junior CC rider to take the leaders’ jersey - a fair reward for 207km in the breakaway.
Stewart was able to hold on to the jersey on the final stage in Bucharest, after a general classification neutralisation, to become the first-ever Scottish-developed male rider to claim a win at UCI 2.1 level.
Stewart dedicated the victory to friend Rab Wardell, stating on social media after the race:
“I was close to not racing this week; I wanted to fly back to Scotland to attend Rab’s funeral but then Kyle Gordon told me Rab would want me to race. So race I did. That was for you Rab!”
Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
Anna Shackley (Team SD Worx) produced her best result on the Women’s WorldTour as the 21-year-old finished in seventh place at the five-day Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta.
Strong showings on the two mountainous days - including a top ten place on Stage 2 – built upon the strong opening team time trial, which launched the Milngavie rider into the fight for general classification position.
Consistency was key, as the Scot was able to maintain position despite losing a small amount of time on the cobbled finish of Stage 4, before finishing safely in Madrid to complete her best result on the road – and Scotland’s first ever top 10 in the Women's WorldTour.
Had an Under-23 classification been in operation, like there is at most UCI races, Shackley would have claimed that jersey by over three and a half minutes. This bodes well for the Scot as her next race will be the Under 23 Road Race at the UCI World Championships in Wollongong.
Rás na mBan
Eight Scots took to the start in Kilkenny for the Rás na mBan, the race that was won by a Scot for the first time in 2021 when the aforementioned Shackley claimed the Magenta Jersey.
Kate Richardson (Alba Development RT) came straight off the back of winning the Scottish Circuit Race Championships and continued in the same style – claiming victory in every single classification that she was eligible in, to make it consecutive Scottish victories in Ireland.
In what was an early birthday present for the Alba Development RT rider, Richardson won the general classification by the tightest of margins.
A brace of second place finishes in the opening two stages, must have been cause for frustration, but Richardson finally claimed the victory on the hilltop finish of Stage 3 to move within five seconds of the leader Lieke van Zeelst (Greenmount Cycling Academy).
The short individual time trial round Kilkenny Castle on Stage 5 was the stage that made the difference, as Richardson claimed victory on stage and by a margin of 5.13 seconds over van Zeelst, to take the leaders jersey by the slimmest of margins heading into the final kermesse stage, where the Scot finished in ninth place to retain the lead and claim victory at the Rás na mBan.
A winning margin of officially zero seconds on the timing sheets – but by virtue of the 0.13 seconds advantage in the time trial – was enough to claim overall honours over van Zeelst with Becky Storrie (Cams-Basso) in third.
By virtue of general classification, the now 20-year-old Alba Development rider claimed the Young Riders Jersey. The consistency of a top ten finish in every single stage, with only one of those being outwith the top four meant that the Points Classification victory also went the way of Scot, while the Queen of the Hills competition was won by a single point by Richardson over Dani Shrosbree (CAMS-Basso).
There was a great ride by junior Morven Yeoman (Tofauti Everyone Active) to finish seventh overall, and second in the young rider classification to Richardson. Scottish Road Race champion Beth Harley-Jepson (Jadan Vive-le-Velo) came home in 22nd position. Beth Morrow (CAMS-Basso) had been in a strong general classification position as well, but lost time after a crash on the final day to finish in 34th place.
Tour of Britain
The AJ Bell Tour of Britain was cut short on Thursday as a result of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, however there were some great performances from the Scots in action.
As reported last week, Oscar Onley (Team DSM) finished eighth on Stage 1 to Glenshee, before battling hard on home roads to maintain his general classification position.
The Kelso native continued his fine form as the race entered England with Stage 4 showing that he can battle with the World’s best. A brilliant move from Onley saw him escape the peloton with Tom Pidcock (Ineos) and Dylan Teuns (Israel PremierTech) no less, but was caught and countered in the final kilometres.
Onley would have been one of the favourites to move up on general classification in the closing stages, especially the final stage on the Isle of Wight, but the Scot had to settle for 24th place on the general classification and a lot of plaudits from the pro peloton on his inaugural outing for Team DSM this season.
Calum Johnston was active in the race as well, and on his return to Scotland rode in support of a very aggressive Caja-Rural outfit. Finn Crockett (Ribble-Weldtite) unfortunately had to abandon at the end of Stage 2 after a crash - we wish him well in his recovery.
GP de la Somme
Alfie George (Vendée-U) produced his best result on the road to date with a second place at the UCI 1.2 GP de la Somme in northern France.
Despite suffering from two punctures during the one-day classic, the French-based rider was able to come back and claim his first UCI podium at senior level. Morgan Bown (Amplu-Tartu2024) came home in 43rd position.
Tour of Southern Bohemia
Sean Flynn (Tudor Pro Cycling) finished fourth at the UCI 2.2 race the Okolo Jiznich Cech.
A second-place finish on Stage 2 saw the Scot rise up the general classification and enter the young rider’s jersey. While a fourth place on the final stage in Bohemia saw the Scot lose the jersey by virtue of time bonuses, he did maintain his general classification position as other riders lost time.
Another top result at UCI level to build on his performances at the Tour de Bretagne and Istrian Trophy early in the season.
A historic week
In what’s been a week of some fantastic success for Scottish riders on the road, Scottish Cycling Performance Coach for Road and Track Endurance, Evan Oliphant, said:
“It’s been a phenomenal few days on the road for Scottish riders across Europe with Mark Stewart taking his first professional victory with the overall win in Romania, Kate Richardson winning every jersey in the Rás na mBan in Ireland, Anna Shackley claiming a fantastic 7th overall at La Vuelta, Sean Flynn’s top result in Czechia and Alfie George getting on the podium in the Somme. I would like to congratulate the riders on their brilliant success, and hopefully they can continue their form and build on this success in the future.”
MTB Inter-Regionals
There was more Scottish success on the knobbly tyres as Scotland were the winners at the British Cycling MTB XC Inter Regional Championships – more on that to follow.
BMX Scottish Open
Clydebank and Western Titans played host to the Scottish Open BMX, with support from Cumbernauld Centurions.
Cameron Reid (Moore-Large) claimed the victory in the Male category with Leon Parker-Livesey (ProStart BMX) in second place, while Ben Fitzsimmons (Centurions O’Neal RT) in third.
Alexis McCartney (Western Titans) claimed the victory in the Female Category, beating Tillie McCrum (BMX Widow Photo) who was second, from Eilidh Watson (Cumbernauld Centurions) in third.
A huge thanks to the clubs mentioned and Scottish Regional BMX for being able to put on such a well organised event. Full results can be found here.
10TT by TEN CC
Oldmeldrum, just north of Aberdeen, played host to the annual 10-mile Time Trial organised by Team Ecosse Northboats of Inverurie, which also incorporates the North East TT championship.
Lee Rosie (Spokes RT) claimed the victory, with a time of 20:46, from Chris Petrie with a 21:30 and Rosie’s former university mate Calum Gibb (Deeside Thistle) in third with a 22:02.
Full results can be found here.
Masters Track Championships
Congratulations to Scottish Institute for Sport Strength and Conditioning coach Ryan Lateward (SES Racing) on claiming not one but four jerseys at the Masters Championships in Newport.
Elsewhere, Andy Bruce (Vanelli-Project GO) claimed another stripey jersey with Gold in the Points Race, to add to three other medals won.
Kathleen McCormac (Glasgow Track RC) won out in the Women’s H 500m TT, Alison Winship also claimed Gold in the Women’s F 2000m Individual Pursuit.
Images courtesy of Turul Romaniei, Rás na mBan, ASO, SWPix
