The 2024 British Road Race Championships returned to Saltburn by the Sea on Sunday 23 June and we were back again to see the elite men in action. We arrived in plenty of time to check out the race HQ and soak up the atmosphere, eavesdrop on a bit of the team talk and check out bikes and riders. We would have had more time had Dave not become engrossed in our discussion about the aesthetics of POC helmets and shades and missed the turn off. As a result we missed any chance of seeing the women’s title race, much to our disappointment. Still we made the most of the time we had. Wandering around the race HQ we spot the Trinity Specialized S Works with eye catching bright pink and logo’d up seat-posts.
Trinity seat posts, pretty in pink
I spotted John Stollery, a former rider, down from Dalgety Bay in Scotland, driving one of the Commissaires. A lot of driving today as he, like us was back up the road after the race.
John Stollery
Checking out bikes more bikes and the Factors look cool but I spot a nice aero, cable free S Works ridden by Adam Howell, VC Meudon. A quick chat reveals he travelled up the previous day after work, a five and a half hour journey. With no team-mates or back up, Adam admits to feeling a wee bit worried about what lies ahead. I’m impressed with his determination despite all of this, committed to pinning a number on and give it his best shot. We’ll see if we can spot him during the race.
Adam Howell, VC Meudon
Having failed to locate any of the Ineous riders or vehicles, and with time marching on we head off to find a good vantage point to watch the race. 182 kilometres to be covered over seven laps of a longer, flatter circuit this year. There is still plenty of climbing to be had, 2835m to be precise. Following race route in bright sunshine, we decide to set up camp at the top of a steep kicker that follows a fast narrow, twisting decent shaded by trees. Kiltonthorpe turns out to be very welcoming with several locals stopping to chat, even getting an offer of a cup of tea from one.
The boys settle in for the afternoon
Lap 1
The race is not long in arriving with Connor Swift (Ineos), leading the charge. Behind the bunch is lined out, with the elastic stretching at the back. Already the WorldTour riders are ominously massing at the front, even with Fred Wright missing. The pace is sub-sonic… just, with the noise of the carbon wheels, gears changing and riders breathing, giving us the immersive experience you just don’t get from the telly.
Connor Swift Ineos on a first lap charge
The riders, we reckon, will be lapping at about thirty five minutes so we have plenty of time to start on the picnic. Riders spectating pedal by in both directions. I spot 80’s legend Paul Curran out to watch. The consensus seems to be that we have the right idea with the camp chairs, sausage rolls and beers.
Lap 2
Second time up there’s a group of ten riders with a slim margin of maybe 20 seconds off the front with the pace still full on.
Groupama FDJ riders Sam Watson and Lewis Askey push the pace in the break
We settle in to the rhythm of the race: food, drink, chat to locals and passing cyclists, decide whether to move for a slightly different vantage point and wait for the riders to rocket by.
The chasers on lap 2
Lap 3
There is constant pressure and the race is in pieces, with four groups spread over a minute. Small gaps but not easy to close at this speed. The riders towards the front are on the whole looking composed, those at the back less so.
Lewis Askey, Groupama FDJ
Lewis Askey continues to pile on the power, with Owain Doull EF Education Easypost, Jake Stewart, Israel Premier Tech and eventual winner Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), paying close attention at the front.
Owain Doull and Jake Stewart
Dan Mclay (Arkea B&B Hotels), is also looking composed for a big man on a lumpy course. He clearly has good legs and is having a final tune up for the Tour.
Dan Mclay Arkea B&B Hotels
Further back it’s a different story, with many pulling faces and valiantly trying to hold a wheel. For some the relentless pace of the bunch is too much. There will be many who opt for an early shower today.
Riders lined out and trying to latch back on
Lap 4
There’s a split at the front of the bunch with Team Visma | Lease a Bike development squad rider pressing on.
Visma chase
Behind Connor Swift and Robert Donaldson (Trinity Racing), are on a charge that will see Donaldson in the leading group next lap round.
Connor Swift and Robert Donaldson
The bunch has fragmented with the relentless pace and terrain proving too much for many. Having said that few were throwing in the towel just yet and the pace riders hit the kicker gave many of them the momentum to blast up the rise.
Tarling keeping a watchful eye on proceedings
We spot Adam Howell pushing hard but rather caught between a rock and a hard place. With a big group just ahead and another a few seconds behind is he pushing forward or coming back? He looks like he still has something in the tank and isn’t giving up.
Adam Howell caught between a rock and a hard place
LAP 5
The race is really starting to disintegrate with small groups everywhere.
Max Walker leading on lap 5
Max Walker (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) heads the race with Lewis Askey on his wheel. This elite group of five comprising Max, Ethan Hayter, Askey, Robert Donaldson (Trinity Racing), Jake Stewart (Israel Premier Tech).
The break are pressing on
Noticeably Connor Swift is on another charge and he’s clearly determined to give it his all and maybe match his cousin, with two elite titles. There is carnage behind with everyone trying to hold wheels, get organised and get back up or closer to the front.
Connor Swift, Joshua Tarling and Tom Martin, Wheelbase are chasing hard
The convoy eventually come through and there was a near miss for a Trinity Racing S Works bike that decided to part company from the roof rack of the team car. Fortunately none of the convoy hit it as it lay on the narrow road and the mechanic was quick to retrieve it.
Trinity racing mechanic retrieves the fallen mount
Lap 6
The penultimate lap. What was five is now three at the front, with Robert Donaldson and Jake Stewart gone from the head of affairs. Askey is pilling on yet more pressure whilst Max Walker tucks in and Ethan Hayter sits a few bike lengths off, seemingly untroubled.
Askey, Walker and Ethan Hayter
The next three chasers, Connor Swift (Ineos), Robert Donaldson (Trinity Racing), and Joseph Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech), working hard to close that gap, which we reckon is the best part of a minute.
Blackmore, Donaldson and Connor Swift
Next Jake Stewart appears alone and seems to have blown. Fiftieth place on the day confirms that.
Jake Stewart, Israel Premier Tech
Lap 7
Last lap and the front three have Askey to the fore with Hayter checking out Max Walker, the Astana Development rider, to see if he can gauge how he’s feeling as they pass us.
The leading trio
Are they all saving themselves, willing to take their chances on the final climb to the finish in Saltburn? Yes and no, with Hayter and Askey landing blows that saw Ethan prevail and Max Walker detached on the final ascent to Saltburn.
Next up Connor Swift, a minute down and without Blackmore or Donaldson, still pushing for a spot on the podium and another medal, but he’ll have to settle for fourth today.
Doull, Donaldson and Tarling
Owain Doull and Donaldson have been joined by Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), who must have bridged across. These three will fight it out for fifth, sixth and seventh, with Doull getting the better of Donaldson and Tarling in that order.
Joseph Blackmore Israel Premier Tech is next to appear, alone and looking determined to try and get a top ten finish, which he would achieve with a fine eighth on the day.
Dan Mclay Arkea B&B Hotels and Matt Walls Groupama, FDJ
Dan Mclay Arkea and Matt Walls Groupama FDJ are next through and they too will hold off any chasers to round out the top ten with Walls getting ninth and Mclay tenth.
As for Adam Howell? We saw him on a couple of occasions and whilst the hammer did eventually fall he continued to press on. A long way to come for a kicking, but anyone willing to put themselves up against World Tour opposition and soldier on has what it takes to improve and maybe sometime we’ll be reporting on Adam getting a result at the British.
Another savage British Championship race with a worthy winner. We reckoned that the slight change in course saw perhaps a better race than last year, with more riders lasting deeper into it. Whatever, we had a great day and hopefully next year we’ll be back.
Up until last year, Ed Hood would go to the British national championships and send in his ‘PEZ Roadside’ report, since his stroke that hasn’t been possible. We all miss Ed’s take on racing, bikes and everything else. A big thank you to the gang for making the long journey and Callum for the words and pictures.
“I’m never happier than when I’m writing.”
~ Ed Hood, as spoken to Martin Williamson from the passenger seat, driving along a stage route at the Tour de France.
Dear Readers – Our beloved colleague and friend Ed Hood suffered a serious stroke in February. We don’t expect Ed will make it back into our bunch, so we’ve started a GoFundMe page to help Ed with his future. Read the full post here – and please consider donating.
** Click this link to donate to the GoFundMe page to help Ed **
We’ll be posting a selection of Ed’s work from the past 16 years, because great story-telling never gets old.
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