Circuit Race #6 - 25th April 25
Open 3/4 and Women’s 2/3/4
The evening was cool and overcast as riders assembled at the start line. British Cycling Commissaire Phil Jemmison delivered the pre-race briefing to the 30 riders in the Open 3/4 race and the 2 riders in the Women's 2/3/4 race.
Luca Stringer launched the first attack straight from the whistle, with Hadley Davis (VC Londres) on the wheel.
The peloton set a high pace, quickly shutting down early breakaway attempts.
David Fuller (Southborough & District Wheelers) spearheading the peloton.
David, in a customary role, working hard closing gaps, and looking out for opportunities.
Martin Gibbs (Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys) and teammate Alastair Weinberg working together in an attempt to get away.
Luca Springer—on a mission—jumps clear of the peloton for a second time!
Luca was lively during the early part of the race, spending most of his time at—or off—the front. Unfortunately, what looked like a puncture put paid to his efforts later in the race.
Ryan Edwards (Horsham Cycling) commiting to chase the breakaways.
Brindley Taylor and Jordan Buche (Dulwich Paragon) with a counter attack as soon as the breakaway was caught.
Richard Moult (Sussex Revolution) and Joseph Bacon (Rapha Cycling) also jump clear and join the breakaway effort.
Who is with me for the chase?
Hadley Davis, looks to others for help - Christopher Spencer (Paceline RT) and the omnipresent David Fuller respond.
Hannah Graveney (Doltchini Cycle Division), racing in the Women’s 2/3/4, proved a worthy match for the Open 3/4 field, using her experience to hold a strong position at the front of the peloton.
Gemma Lewis (Sussex Revolution VC), also racing in the Women’s 2/3/4, delivered a strong performance in her race debut, holding her own within the peloton.
The breakaway is caught, with much of the work done by Christopher Spencer.
Christopher then launched his own solo break. For several laps, other riders took turns attempting breakaways, with Brindley Taylor and Michael Onions (Wight Tri Club) managing to gain significant gaps—only for their efforts to come to nothing.
Brighton Mitre CC, with seven riders in the field, saw Simon Lilley putting in a strong effort to close down gaps and shut down breakaway attempts. Did Brighton Mitre have a plan?
"I may not get anywhere, but it’s fun trying!" – Sam Cheesman (Crawley Wheelers), a regular at the SCRL track league and a frequent helper, burns some matches.
Richard Moult relaxed at the front of the peloton as the pace dropped once the latest attack had been neutralised.
After biding his time, Kev Witton (Strada Wheels - RT Lucentsys) uses the bank to get clear. Hadley Davis, once again sharp to the move, right on the wheel.
More attacks follow—Richard Moult goes again! The high pace makes it difficult to stay away. Despite numerous attempts, nothing seems to stick, and efforts are short-lived.
With 10 minutes to go, it looked set to be a sprint finish—until David Fuller, no longer in chase mode, jumped off the front.
Gemma Lewis and Hannah Graveney, battling it out in the peloton.
Their race wasn’t entirely about competing against each other but rather about gaining experience and staying competitive in a fast, full field of Open 3/4 riders.
“I’m not sure what type of rider I am," said Alastair Weinberg before the race, after sprinting to four successive top-ten finishes. He proved he was more than just a sprinter, launching a counterattack with five minutes to go.
Michael Onions heading the peloton with 5 laps on the lap board.
All breakaway attempts have been shut down—but at what cost? How do you play your cards now? Brighton Mitre begin to shuffle up the peloton—can they make their numbers count?
Nathan Cozens (Brighton Mitre CC) bursts from the peloton with just over two laps to go, surging ahead as if it were the final lap sprint—it’s all or nothing!
Nathan, with four top-10 finishes in this series—including 2nd and 4th place—posed a serious challenge for any chaser!
The sprinters are at the front of the peloton, poised for the final lap—but there’s no cohesion. Where are the chasers? Can Nathan hold on?
With the peloton closing fast, Nathan digs deep and holds on—utterly spent—to seize a stylish win!
Nathan, a pre-race rider to watch, capitalised on Brighton Mitre’s teamwork and numbers. Their strategy—paired with his monumental effort—allowed him to go one better than his 2nd place in race #4, securing his first circuit win in impressive fashion.
Cesare Masset (Brighton Mitre CC) sprinted to second place, securing his 2nd Cat and rounding off a successful day for Brighton Mitre with a club 1-2 on the podium!
Fast-finishing Richard Moult was edged out for third place, with Hadley Davis finishing just behind in fourth.
Hannah Graveney crossed the line first in the Women’s race, with both her and Gemma Lewis finishing comfortably within the peloton.
Open 3/4 Top ten:
Nathan Cozens, Brighton Mitre CC
Cesare Masst, Brighton Mitre CC
Richard Moult, Sussex Revolution VC
Hadley Davis, VC Londres
Ernesto Battinelli
Jamie Mackenzie, Dorking Cycling Club
David Fuller, Southborough & District Wheelers
Jordan Buche, Dulwich Paragon
Alastair Weinberg, Strada Wheels RT-Lucentsys
Seamus McAlistair, Brighton Mitre CC
Women’s 2/3/4 Top two:
Hannah Graveney, Doltchini Cycle Division
Gemma Lewis, Sussex Revolution VC
Open E123
12 riders share lighthearted banter at the start of the E123 race—will this be another show of strength from Brighton Mitre, or is it time for another team to shine?
Simon McNamara (Sigma Sport / Cannondale) sets the early pace.
John Tindell (Brighton Mitre CC) and Rory Barrett (Southborough & District Wheelers) attack first.
Teammates Isaac Wright and Joe Hill (Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys), with Marek Shafer (Brighton Mitre CC) between them, make short work of the early effort before launching a counterattack of their own.
Rory Barrett, tries chasing the leaders but with limited success and quickly settles back in the peloton.
The early attack, though caught, looked ominous. Alwyn Frank (Brighton Mitre CC) launched a counterattack, quickly joined by Samuel Benge (TrainSharp), with Jacob Arnell (Southborough & District Wheelers) soon jumping in. Together, they gain a lead of over 15 seconds.
Joe Hill jumps from the peloton, swiftly closing in on the leaders. Meanwhile, teammate Isaac Wright controls the pace in the peloton, working to give Joe the best chance.
Four riders created an early breakaway.
Samuel Benge, Alwyn Frank, Jacob Arnell (Southborough & District Wheelers) and Joe Hill making the catch.
The fractured peloton, led by Simon McNamara and Cosmo Derangi, works hard to close gaps and prevent the lead from slipping away.
The leading breakaway taking turns to extend their lead.
The breakaway start to gain on the back of peloton.
Isaac Wright, aware of the leaders closing in, significantly increases his effort—knowing that teammate Joe will gain a lap, he shifts focus to his own race.
The peloton lapped, Joe Hill, jumps onto the chase group.
Alwyn Frank sits in second place on the circuit. Can Alwyn, Jacob, and Samuel—all a lap up—respond to Joe’s move?
The start-line banter continues.
'Why don't we lap the field?' asked Cosmo Derangi.
'Because I’ve already lapped you—you’re racing for fourth,' Joe Hill replied.
Whether it’s team communication, instinctive race craft, or simply an understanding of each other’s style, teammates Joe Hill and Isaac Wright push through high-intensity laps to help Isaac regain his self-sacrificed lap. No call came from the commissaire, so race on!
Cosmo Derangi, eager to regain a lap, fights hard to stay on the wheels.
Five laps to go and Isaac Wright and Cosmo Derangi, re-gain a lap.
They, along with Alwyn Frank and Jacob Arnell, are now racing for second. Samuel Benge’s elastic snapped in the chase, forcing him to ease back to the peloton. Meanwhile, Joe Hill sits an impressive two laps up.
Isaac Wright goes on the offensive once again—Joe Hill isn’t about to miss out on the fun.
Alwyn Frank, giving it everything!
Alwyn, caught between a rock and a hard place, holds third as first and second inexorably disappear up the track. Meanwhile, those on the same lap are chasing hard—he just needs to hold on for a couple more agonising laps.
Those smiles were undeniably infectious. Joe Hill and Isaac Wright cruise over the line, securing a commanding Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys 1-2 finish.
Alwyn Frank, holds his position and takes a commendable third. Rory Barrett, takes the sprint for 6th, with riders on varying laps finishing behind.
Top 10:
Joe Hill, Strada Wheels - RT Lucentsys
Isaac Wright, Strada Wheels - RT Lucentsys
Alwyn Frank, Brighton Mitre CC
Jacob Arnell, Southborough & District Wheelers
Cosmo Derangi
Rory Barrett, Southborough & District Wheelers
Samuel Benge, TrainSharp
Ben Neale, Team Tor 2000
Simon McNamara, Sigma Sport / Cannondale
John Tindell, Brighton Mitre CC
A fantastic evening of racing! Many thanks to all our volunteers that helped make the event go safely.
Special thanks to Phil Jemmison (British Cycling Commissaire) and Glyn Durrant (Surrey League) for overseeing sign-on, the medical team for all their support, and our dedicated marshals—Sam Cheesman (Crawley Wheelers), and Richard Moult (Sussex Revolution)—alongside many others.
Circuit race #7 - 9th May. Entries open now.
f you've registered but can't make it, please let the organiser know. This will allow other riders the chance to race when the event is full.
Photographs
Photos from this race and others in the series are available for download here:
