National Trophy: Derby – Rd 1 (day 2)

Alicia Frank won the Women’s; Thomas Mein won the Men’s and Rory McGuire won the Junior mens races on day 2 of the National Trophy in Derby

National Trophy: Derby – Rd 1 (day 2)

Thomas Mein showed his fighting spirit as he came from behind on the last lap to take victory at the opening round of the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series, while Belgium rider Alicia Frank took the women’s honours. Under-23 rider Mein had crashed out in the slippery conditions earlier in the men’s race before fighting back to the front to beat a host of international riders.

Meanwhile, Belgium young cyclo-cross star Alicia Frank led from the front to clinch the women’s honours but was kept on her toes by her British rivals. A total of 725 riders raced across two days at the popular Derby Moorways Centre for the opening round of the series, organised by Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.com.

Saturday’s hot weather which greeted the youth and veteran riders turned into rain and difficult conditions for the senior men on Sunday afternoon as cyclo-cross season arrived.

MENS RACE
Under-23 rider Mein (Tarteletto-Isorex) staged a dramatic fight-back following a third lap crash to take a popular victory in the men’s event after overcoming a host of international riders. Jarno Bellens (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) led the early pace but he was soon closed down by Creafin-TUV SUD rider Braam Merlier. Once Merlier forced the pace on the front, Mein suffered a heavy fall and had to fight back through the leading pack while fellow British rider Ben Turner (Corendon-Circus) also had problems in the race.

Merlier took care in the treacherous conditions and was joined at the front of the race by Bellens as they opened a lead on six chasers. Merlier stretched the leading quartet and only Mein was able to claw his way back to the Belgium rider on the final lap, the pair then exchanging positions in a pulsating fight. Mein though, cheered on by supporters from the North East, powered out of the corners and overcame his rival.

“It just started getting tougher each lap, said Mein. “I was up the front on the third lap in and crashed coming up the start straight and I lost loads of time and face planted. As I lost the time I had a change of bike and had mud tyres. I thought I better keep going and make up the time that I had lost which I did. It paid off in the end. I knew the start straight was the only place to put the power down so I just went hard on that last lap all the way around up to the top of the woods. I knew if I led it out onto the start straight I would win it so that’s what I did.”

WOMENS RACE
Rising Belgium cyclo-cross star Frank took her first victory on British soil after riding away from her rivals in the Women’s race. The Experza Pro CX forced the pace on the second lap and then gradually increased her lead as her rivals behind couldn’t match her pace. Junior rider Anna Flynn (Edinburgh RC) joined Ffion James (Hope Factory Racing) and Lindy Van Anrooij (Team 185) in the chase behind Frank.

At the head of proceedings Belgium rider Frank continued to build her lead to 15 seconds with two laps to go over the chasing duo. The experience of Van Anrooij eventually told as she gapped Flynn in the wooded section in the battle for second. Meanwhile, James fended off a late charge by last year’s series winner Bethany Crumpton (Tarteletto-Isorex) to finish fourth.

The under-23 places were competed for in the group behind with Sophie Thackray (SCOTT Racing) taking the leader’s jersey while Katie Scott (Garden Shed UK-SCOTT-Verge Sport) took second and Fiona Turnbull (Slingshot) in third. The juniors competition was won by Flynn, followed home by Millie Couzens (PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles) in second and Nelson in third.

“It was really good and I’m really happy with the win, said Frank. “It was my first race in the UK so to win is really great. On the first lap, everything was together but I felt like the pace was too slow and a lot of girls came to the front. I attacked and I wanted to go with a small group, but I was on my own and had a small gap so decided to keep pushing. Fortunately, I could hold it to the finish. It was really hard because the course was really fast and to be riding along was hard to keep the gap.”

JUNIOR MEN
Rory McGuire (Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique) narrowly avoided a starting straight crash before riding away from a leading group to win the Junior Men’s race. A crash on the starting straight when one of the rider’s gears slipped causing several riders to hit the tarcmac, holding up several riders including Calanti-Doltcini’s Belgium favourite Yorben Lauryssen.

At the head of the race, four riders forced an early gap including Simon Wyllie (Halesowen A&CC), McGuire, Dutch rider Twan van der Drift (Westland Wil Vooruit) and Daniel Barnes (Garden Shed UK-SCOTT-Verge Sport). With two laps to go, McGuire made his winning move and pulled out a margin of 12 seconds over Wyllie to take victory. Coran Carrick-Anderson (Peebeles CC) put everything on the line for third resulting in a battle with Barnes but slid out on the final bends allowing Barnes to take third.

“That was pretty savage racing as there isn’t much rest on this course,” said McGuire. It felt pretty good and I felt pretty comfortable in that group of three. I knew Corran (Carrick-Anderson) was coming back and he can hop the hurdles the stuff. So I knew I needed up the pace and try and get away so it worked out pretty well.”

RESULTS

Junior Men

1 Rory McGuire Leslie Bike Shop
2 Simon Wyllie Halesowen A & CC
3 Daniel Barnes Garden Shed UK-SCOTT
4 Lorenzo Masciarelli Callant-Doltcini
5 Corran Carrick-Anderson Peebles CC
6 Yorben Lauryssen Calant-doltcini ct.
7 Alec Gregory 8point8 Group
8 Joseph Blackmore ROTOR Race Team
9 Twan van der Drift Westland Wil Vooruit
10 Ben Chilton Derby Mercury RC
11 Euan Macleod Pedalon.co.uk
12 Jelle Harteel Acrog-Pauwels Sauzen
13 Oliver Stockwell Flamme Rouge CT
14 Joe Kiely Welwyn Wheelers CC
15 William Truelove Abergavenny RC
16 Joseph Pidcock FenshamHowesMAS
17 Matthew Kingston RST/Cycle Division RT
18 Max Bolton Bloodwise QSW
19 Joe Thorp Macclesfield Wheelers
20 Samuel Howes Sleaford Whls CC
21 Flynn Gregory Derby Mercury RC
22 Michael Newall Team Empella Cylco-Cross.com
23 Charlie Johnson Fast Test Racing Team
24 Darren Rafferty Island Wheelers CC
25 Joshua Giddings The MI Racing Academy
26 William Harding Marsh Tracks Racing Trek
27 Ethan Whiteside East Bradford Race Team
28 Sam Freeman Hargroves-Montezuma’s
29 Bryn Richards Bourne Whls CC
30 Benjamin Bright Marsh Tracks Racing Trek
31 Adam Bent Green Jersey RT
32 Sam Bishop Charlotteville CC
33 Daniel Hall Colchester Rovers CC
34 Scott Williams Marsh Tracks Racing Trek
35 Kieran Riley RST/Cycle Division RT
36 Christian Boon Fossa Racing
37 Louis Sutton Welwyn Wheelers CC
38 Ben Houlihan PaulMilnesBradfordOlympic
39 Angus Beggin Bicester Millennium CC
40 David Hird Halesowen A & CC
41 Jack Lear Southborough & District Whls
42 Sam Ryland Cycle-Tec
43 Ben Flanagan Derwentside CC
44 Ciaran Dixon Team Type 1
45 Oliver Baker Wolverhampton Whls
46 Luke Hazell Pangua CC
47 Joel Corbishley Velobants.cc
48 Spencer Davies CC AbergavennyJP Signs
49 Gareth Davies Banjo Cycles/Raceware
50 George Freeman Edinburgh RC
51 Gustav Wang ABC Junior
52 Joshua Backhouse Lincoln Wheelers CC
53 Will Thompson Shibden Cycling Club
54 Dexter Leeming-Sykes PaulMilnesBradfordOlympic
55 Duncan Pritchard Banjo Cycles/Raceware
56 Matthew Day Hargroves-Montezuma’s
57 Henry Johnson Magspeed Racing
58 Sam Nanopoulos Hargroves-Montezuma’s
59 Finlay Preece RST/Cycle Division RT
60 Angus Lawrence St Ives CC
61 George Marshall Cardiff JIF
62 Thomas Charles Halesowen A & CC
63 William Deely Rockingham Forest Whls
64 Somhairle Fisher Omagh Wheelers CC
65 Jacob Jones Solihull CC
66 Ryan Greaves Lichfield City CC
67 Stanley Platts VC Londres
68 Tom Blenkinsop PaulMilnesBradfordOlympic
69 Alex Best Derwentside CC
70 Archie Peet Welwyn Wheelers CC
71 George Gould Welwyn Wheelers CC
72 Thomas Crapper Abergavenny RC
73 Daniel Hepton PaulMilnesBradfordOlympic
James Lloyd Oxonian CC

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Elite Men/Under 23
1 Thomas Mein Tarteletto – Isorex MU23
2 Braam Merlier Creafin-T?V S?D MS
3 Jarno Bellens Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal MU23
4 Yentl Bekaert Telenet Fidea Lions MU23
5 Witse Meeussen Callant-Doltcini MU23
6 Anton Ferdinande Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal MU23
7 Ian Field Neon-Velo Cycling Team MS
8 Toby Barnes RST/Cycle Division RT MU23
9 Len Dejonghe Group HensContainers Maes MU23
10 Ben Turner Corendon-Circus MU23
11 Callum Macleod Canyon dhb p/b Bloor MU23
12 Victor Vandebosch Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal MU23
13 Matthew Taylor Prologue Racing Team MU23
14 Jenson Young Garden Shed UKSCOTT MU23
15 Luke Verburg Callant-Doltcini CT MU23
16 Cameron Mason Endura – Pedal Power MU23
17 Steven James Hope Factory Racing MS
18 Lewis Craven WheelbaseCabTechCastelli MV40
19 Gosse van der Meer Bombtrack Bicycles MS
20 Tom Martin WheelbaseCabTechCastelli MU23
21 David Conroy Cycling Ireland MS
22 James Madgwick Bloodwise QSW MS
23 George Thompson Rose Race Team MS
24 Yorben Van Tichelt Neon-Velo Cycling Team MS
25 Jake Womersley Shibden Cycling Club MS
26 Michael Butler GLP RT MS
27 Jonathan Dennis Kibosh MS
28 Nicholas Craig SCOTT Racing MV40
29 Giles Drake WheelbaseCabTechCastelli MS
30 James Hyde V?loElite RC MS
31 Kris Lapere Annequin Cycling Team MV40
32 Finn Mansfield RST/Cycle Division RT MU23
33 Joe Coukham Shibden Cycling Club MU23
34 Sam Smith Magspeed Racing MU23
35 Leon Mazzone Spirit Tifosi Racing Team MS
36 David Earth Steve Poole Plant Hire MS
37 Neil Phillips TEKKERZ CC MS
38 Barney Clacy Hargroves-Montezuma’s MU23
39 James Swadling 8point8 Group MU23
40 Sean Nolan Navan Road Club MU23
41 Max Gibbons Orbea Racing Team MU23
42 Jake Jackson Ellmore Factory Racing MU23
43 Jack Parrish Forest Side Riders MU23
44 Tom Couzens Zappi Racing Team MU23
45 Craig Gow Team Andrew Allan MU23
46 Tristan Davies Mid Devon CC MU23
47 Timothy Elsmore-Martin Fossa Racing MU23
48 Kishan Bakrania Panagua CC MU23
49 Roddy Weir Muckle Cycle Club MS
50 Chris Metcalfe Derby Mercury RC MS
51 Pete Matthews Leicestershire Road Club MS
52 Scott Chalmers Magspeed Racing MS
53 Robert Burns Islabikes MS
54 Samuel Morris LoughboroughStudents CC MU23
55 Arno Van Den Broeck VDB Cycling Team MU23
56 Tom Mazzone Spirit Tifosi Racing Team MS
57 James Edmond Unattached MS
58 Thomas Nightingale Orbea Racing Team MU23
59 Harry McGarvie Ayr Burners Cycling MU23
60 Bruce Dalton Unattached MS
61 Cai Davies Finchley Racing Team MU23
62 Stefan Partridge Bolsover & District CC MS
63 Nick Blight Magspeed Racing MS
64 Sebastian Bacon Wolverhampton Whls MU23
65 Gareth Whittall Unattached MS
66 Joshua Jones ZeroBC MS
67 David Beachill Geared Up & CN Cycles RT MS
68 Clarke James Abergavenny Road Club MU23
69 Benjamin Shucksmith Ellmore Factory Racing MS
70 Paul Elcock ZeroBC MV40
71 Fletcher Adams Hargroves-Montezuma’s MU23
72 Liam Cahill Reflex Racing MS
73 Scot Easter Magspeed Racing MS
74 Robert Watson Paceline Cycles North MS
75 Alexander Harper The MI Racing Academy MU23
76 Andrew Naylor Fossa Racing MS
77 Michael Burke Welland Valley CC MS
78 John Spanner Ilkeston Cycle Club MS
79 Erin Baker WORX Factory Racing MU23
80 Matthew Lebelinski Ilkeston Cycle Club MS

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WOMEN

1 Alicia Franck Experza Pro CX FS
2 Lindy Van Anrooij Team 185 FS
3 Anna Flynn Edinburgh RC FJ
4 Ffion James Hope Factory Racing FS
5 Bethany Crumpton Tarteletto – Isorex FS
6 Sophie Thackray SCOTT Racing FU23
7 Katie Scott Garden Shed UK-SCOTT FU23
8 Millie Couzens PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles FJ
9 Fiona Turnbull Slingshot FU23
10 Josie Nelson RST/Cycle Division RT FJ
11 Axelle Bellaert Proximus-Alphamotorhomes FS
12 Maddie Wadsworth Cycle Team OnForm FJ
13 Amira Mellor Albion Cycling Co FS
14 Alderney Baker Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FU23
15 Abbie Manley Hargroves-Montezuma’s FU23
16 Rebecca Preece Hope Factory Racing FS
17 Lotta Mansfield RST/Cycle Division RT FJ
18 Xan Crees Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FU23
19 Amy Perryman Hargroves-Montezuma’s FU23
20 Lauren Higham Team LDN FU23
21 Kate Eedy Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FV40
22 Ruby Miller Hope Factory Racing FS
23 Melissa Baker Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FU23
24 Emily Ashwood Liv Awol FU23
25 Ellen Bennett Welwyn Wheelers CC FJ
26 Poppy Cooke PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles FU23
27 Joanne Clay TORQ Performance FS
28 Amy Cantelo Hargroves-Montezuma’s FJ
29 Adeline Moreau Good Vibes Only FS
30 Elizabeth Hughes Team LDN FS
31 Harley Pell Hargroves-Montezuma’s FJ
32 Roisin Lally Cycling Performance Squad FJ
33 Gemma Melton XRT – Elmy Cycles FS
34 Amelie Prior Banjo Cycles/Raceware FJ
35 Poppy Pattinson Hargroves-Montezuma’s FJ
36 Charlotte-Louise McGreevy Liv Awol FJ
37 Amelie Wayte RST/Cycle Division RT FJ
38 Carly Ibbitson Fareham Wheelers CC FS
39 Chloe Hinchliffe PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles FJ
40 Darcey Harkness Cycling Ulster FJ
41 Jessica Cobbe ROTOR Race Team FU23
42 Bethany Barnett Liv Awol FJ
43 Hannah Bayes Liv Awol FU23
44 Nicole Clarke Birkenhead North End CC FU23
45 Lydia Brookes Les Filles Racing Team FS
46 Caoimhe May Scott Orwell Wheelers FJ
47 Ellie Dilks Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FJ
48 Natalie Jenks VeloVitesse FS
49 Lucy Buckley Cycle Derby CC FJ
50 Erin Avill RFDA FJ
51 Laura Cunningham Ronde Works Racing FS
52 Ella Lawrence Hargroves-Montezuma’s FJ
53 Emma Collier Stan’s No Tubes UK FS
54 Olivia Fawcett Team Boompods FU23
55 Kate Taylor The Racing Chance Foundation FJ
56 Marie Lynn TeamJadanWeldtiteViveleVelo FU23
57 Emily Conn Banjo Cycles/Raceware FJ
58 Isla Mason Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com FJ
59 Sian Botteley Cycle Team OnForm FS
60 Lily Young PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles FJ
61 Molli Keenor Team Milton Keynes FJ
62 Rachel Connerney KTM UK Factory MTB Team FS
63 Annabel Ramsay Leicester Forest CC FJ