Circuit Race #7 - 9th May
Women’s 2/3/4
Let’s break tradition and start with the final race first. That way, the Open 3/4 riders have time to strap on their under-armour and inflate their pecs to a solid 120psi—ready for the controversy. Fair’s fair, after all; the Women’s 2/3/4 riders watched and waited for their turn in the fading light.
George Cory (British Cycling Commissaire) briefing the riders on the start line.
Connie Fisher (Brighton Tri Club)
“I’m not going to enter an Open 3/4, but a smaller women’s field? I’d be up for that!”
The women's race featured four riders, all representing the Brighton Tri Team. “It's great knowing there aren't dogs running around,” one rider remarked. The team regularly trains on the track on Saturday mornings, but with open gates and public access, they’re used to navigating unpredictable obstacles. This race, however, offered a chance to ride at full intensity in a controlled, safe environment—and they did just that!
Caroline Holme with Jess Appleton on the wheel
Each of the four riders had their sights set on future events, using this race as a warm-up—and they had a plan. From the start, they locked into a tight 4-up TT formation. The lap pace picked up as riders took turns at the front.
Nina Atherton drove the pace at the front, kicking it up a notch, with the smiling Jess tucked in behind.
With 5 laps to go, it was still a tightly knit, 4-up TT in full swing, with Connie at the front riding to the bell.
Then, as the bell sounded, it was everyone for themselves! Connie launched her attack on the home straight, pulling clear to take the win. Caroline powered through to claim second, with Nina close behind.
“I enjoyed that”,
Jess Appleton, still smiling as she rolled over the line to take fourth place.
Top 4:
Connie Fisher, Brighton Tri Club
Caroline Home, Brighton Tri Club
Nina Atherton, Brighton Tri Club
Jess Appleton, Brighton Tri Club
Open 3/4
Right, are we ready for this now? A few last-gasp entries put the organiser to the test, and transponders—either cable-tied or shoved down a sock (with the rubber bands mysteriously absent)—served as a reminder that this is still honest grassroots racing. But we got there, as George Cory stepped up to brief the 34 riders on the start line.
Rather surprisingly, there was no big effort from the whistle. It took a couple of laps to build momentum—but once it kicked off, it was non-stop! Ollie Smith was the first to ignite the attacks.
Jake Ferrell (Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT) followed by Rahul Fortescue Talwar and Alastair Weinberg (Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys) make a break for it.
With a near-full field packed with strong riders, breaking away was always going to be a challenge. But there’s always fun in the attempt—and plenty were eager to join the action.
Finlay Young (VC Londres) launched an attack from the peloton, setting the tone for his team’s tactics. As part of a three-rider squad, he established their approach early on. From that moment forward, every notable attack featured a VC Londres rider.
Archie Wright (Southampton University CC) initiates the chase from the peloton.
VC Londres teammates Hadley Davis and Milo Clarke wait patiently, watching to see how Finlay’s early move unfolds. Unfortunately, Hadley Davis suffered a mechanical after 23 laps, cutting short what had been a strong contribution to the race.
Caitlin Bower (Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT) tucks in behind Ernesto Battinelli (Brighton Mitre CC), settling comfortably within the peloton.
Archie Wright, followed by Richard Moult (Sussex Revolution VC), closes the gap to the leading three—but keeps the attack rolling.
Ollie Smith, noticing the threat of the breakaway, attempts to jump clear to join them.
James Bullen (Strada Wheel RT - Lucentsys) surges from the peloton, making the threat of a breakaway very real..
Mark Day (Brighton Mitre CC) powers through, sweeping up riders as their efforts begin to wane, dragging the front of the peloton with him.
With the peloton came Luca Geddes Gasco (Lee Valley CC) and Milo Clarke. Both jump clear and are now riding at the front of the race.
Small groups start to form. A breakaway seems to be on the verge of happening!
It’s that way. Richard Moult, suggesting team work with, Archie Wright and Luca Stringer (Crawley Wheelers) to get across to the leaders.
They make it—seven riders now forming the leading breakaway. However, with the peloton working hard to close the gap—and the breakaway struggling to work together effectively—they were reeled back in after a few laps. Sometimes the effort is focused on getting into a breakaway, rather than having a plan once there.
The breakaway was reabsorbed into the peloton, with Ollie Smith putting in much of the work. The pace dipped slightly, making further attacks inevitable.
Jake Ferrell needs no second invitation and goes on the offensive again.
Finlay Young, never far from the front, makes another strong move to get away.
Laura Senior (Scott Pioneer DJ) works hard at the front of the peloton, taking turns to close gaps as each attack is swiftly shut down.
Carl-Emmanuel Fulghieri (Dulwich Paragon), Archie Wright and Finlay Young (hidden from sight) start the next wave of attacks.
James Bullen goes again! Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys teammates try to shutdown the peloton.
James gets there. It's now a breakaway of four riders, and they quickly find their rhythm, working well together.
The laps start to tick by and the breakaway is not losing any ground.
Ollie Shotton and Luca Geddes Gasco jump from the peloton realising the danger.
Mark Day and Brighton Mitre CC teammate Daniel Magrizos launch their chase. Do they have enough to bridge the gap, or will their effort bring the peloton back into the equation?
Five laps to go. Breakaway riders Carl-Emmanual Fulghieri, James Bullen, Archie Wright, and Finlay Young are still working together but they’re tiring and the peloton is closing fast.
Finley Young, one last effort before the peloton close.
The peloton, led by Stephen Byrne (NBHD X PW), is strung out—flat out at full speed. Milo Clarke clings on, poised to strike the moment his teammate is reeled in.
The breakaway fractures!
James Bullen, sensing the peloton closing in, goes all-in with three laps to go.
Within a lap, the elastic snaps for James, and the breakaway splinters, running on empty. Luca Geddes Gasco, currently the fastest rider on track, closing.
The final lap. The pace is relentless, with Stephen Byrne, Milo Clarke, and Rahul Fortescue Talwar driving the charge. Luca re-joins them for a moment of recovery. Several riders launch attacks on the home straight, but the speed is too high to sustain. The early breakaway riders are picked off one by one—but some are holding out until the end.
It goes to the riders in the peloton! Amid some controversy, Stephen Byrne takes the sprint victory, with Rahul Fortescue securing second, Luca Geddes Vasco claiming third, and Carl-Emmanuel Fulghieri finishing fourth—the first of the breakaway riders.
Richard Moult takes the sprint for fifth with the remaining top ten close behind.
Top 10:
Stephen Byrne, NHBD X PW
Rahul Fortescue Talwar
Luca Geddes Gasco, Lee Valley CC
Carl-Emmanual Fulghieri, Dulwich Paragon
Richard Moult, Sussex Revolution VC
Alastair Weinberg, Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys
Daniel Magrizos
Ollie Smith
Jake Ferrell, Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT
James Walker, Neighbourhood
So, what was the controversy? A claim of deviation from the line in the closing sprint, some overly aggressive riding during the race, and reports of unsporting behaviour—all brought to the attention of the judges and commissaires.
A note on officiating: all officials stationed inside the circuit by the finish are fully qualified. They observe keenly, but they can’t catch everything, so a big thank you to the riders who reported concerns.
After review, the commissaire found no visible evidence to warrant disqualification or demotion. However, as an organiser and race fan, let’s keep the riding safe and the vibe positive—ensuring that nothing overshadows what was, at its core, a fantastic race to watch.
Open E123
George Cory briefs the eight riders on the start line, with Mark Day (Brighton Mitre CC) and Archie Wright (Southampton University CC) doubling up from the 3/4s.
As is the pattern with the E123, the race starts hard and fast. Marek Schafer (Brighton Mitre CC) and Cosmo Derangi light it up with blistering opening laps.
Chase? Not sure I want to, not sure I can!
Cesare Masset and John Tindell, both Brighton Mitre CC, not really entertaining the chase with teammate Marek racing away. The early pace proves too much for the riders doubling up—no place to hide, no energy in the legs—whittling the field down to six.
Marek Schafer and Cosmo Derangi working well together, sharing the turns at the front.
Jacob James (Wolfox x CAMS Le Col) and Robert Lovett (Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys), outnumbered in teammates, work to limit the time gap to the leaders.
Cosmo Derangi starts taking longer, harder turns, ramping up the pressure on his breakaway companion.
Cosmo goes solo!
With half a lap lead, the pressure proves too much—Marek Schafer drops off, safely rides off the track, and withdraws! Was it a mechanical? No, more of a ‘leg-anical’—and not feeling too well. It took a few laps before Marek could gasp out a sentence, but we got the message! The race whittles down to five.
With Marek pulling out, John Tindell (Brighton Mitre CC) launches a serious chase. The group of four riders now begin working together.
Teamwork and numerical advantage help close the gap on Cosmo.
Cosmo is caught, and the group of five ease up for a few laps.
Then, John Tindell makes a break for it sprinting from the group.
Robert Lovett (Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys) isn’t letting John slip away easily—he ramps up the pace of the chase.
Not long left in the race—John Tindell hangs on with a dozen or so seconds' gap to the chasers, but they’re closing in.
Jacob James is giving it everything in the chase, with the gap closing each lap. Cosmo, meanwhile, remains composed and ready.
In the closing laps, John Tindell is caught, and as is often the case, no prisoners are taken—he’s ruthlessly spat out the back as the others surge toward the win.
The final-lap sprint sees Cesare Masset attack first, but Cosmo Derangi times his finish perfectly, sprinting past to take a comfortable win. Jacob James claims third.
Top 5:
Cosmo Derangi
Cesare Masset, Brighton Mitre CC
Jacob James, Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT
John Tindell, Brighton Mitre CC
Robert Lovett, Strada Wheels RT - Lucentsys
Another excellent evening of racing!
Many thanks to all our volunteers that helped make the event go safely.
Special thanks to George Cory (British Cycling Commissaire) and Glyn Durrant (Surrey League) for overseeing sign-on, the medical team for all their support, and our dedicated marshals—Rachel Geddes, Will (representing VC Londres), Jamie Mackenzie (Dorking Cycling Club), Ryan Edwards (Horsham Cycling Club), and Richard Moult (Sussex Revolution)—alongside many others.
Circuit race #8 - 23rd May. Entries open now (Note, the Open 3/4 race is full at the time of publication).
If you've entered but, due to misfortune, can't make it, please inform the organiser so your place can be reallocated.
Photographs
Photos from this race and others in the series are available for download here:
