THE TOUR OF THE ABBERLEYS 3-DAY STAGE RACE

News& Result on a flagship BMCR event — the Tour of the Abberleys where the category winners included Richard Butler, Craig Battersby, Roy Chamberlain, Georgina Paul and more

REPORT/RESULT/PHOTOS: THE TOUR OF THE ABBERLEYS 3-DAY STAGE RACE – A flagship BMCR event — The race was started under the LVRC in 1998 by cyclist and well-known Midlands comedian Chris Singleton. The first edition of the race was called the Black Country Wheelers 3 Day, but for the second edition the name Tour of the Abberleys was adopted.

Winners from 2025 Edition on May 3/4

As it quickly became established as the longest, and one of the toughest, events on the LVRC calendar, Chris drew on additional support from LVRC Region 6, while Bush Healthcare and Fabricolour were early sponsors. In about 2002 sponsors Real Cost Cars and Reliant Windows provided the huge trophies which are still presented to the winners in each race.

For a year or two when the Milk Race had finished and the BCF was in crisis it was the longest stage race in the UK. Riders from the early days may remember a youngster by the name of Dan Martin wandering around the HQ and riding round the circuit while his dad raced. In 2002 a team from Holland entered and it briefly became an international race.

Ramin Minovi took over the organisation in 2004 with Colin Willets and Colin Dooley, then Stuart Hall in 2008, before the current organiser Mike Amery took it on in 2011. In 2006 a Prologue time trial was added to make it a 4-stage race, and in 2015 a King of the Mountains competition. All the road stages use hilly circuits, with the final stage often incorporating some of the toughest local climbs. Since 2018 the road stages have been supported by motorbike marshals. It now attracts Masters riders from all over the country, with entries heavily over-subscribed.

There are 4 competitions: the over-40s race, the over-50s race, the over-60s race, and since 2024 the women’s race. It is normally run on the first bank holiday week-end in May. This year’s race upheld the tradition of fast, aggressive 40+ Veterans racing.

THE OVERALL RESULTS

A/B
1. Richard Butler, Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk B
2. Matthew Hughes, Reflex Nopinz B
3. Gavin Howell, Ride Revolution RT A
4. Richard Cartland, Hunt Bike Wheels B
5. Nick Morgan, Holohan Coaching Race Team B
6. Steven Williams, L2L RT A
7. Graham Waller, Team bottrill A
8. Jamie Murray, Peterborough Cycling Club B
9. Darren Farr, CC Luton B
10. Jack Wilson, Ludlow Brewery RT A
11. Matthew Morris, GANNET CC A
12. Chris Spencer, Velo 6 Racing A
13. Bevan Humphreys, VC Melyd A
14. Chris Pook, Holohan Coaching Race Team A

C/D
1. Craig Battersby, Tactic UK RT C
2. Mark Smith, Crawley Wheelers Race Team C
3. karl Smith, Bott Cycle Team D
4. Tony Greenhalgh, BMCR C
5. Paul Westwood, Brereford Wheelers C
6. Adrian Lawson, BMCR C
7. stuart jameson, Solihull CC C
8. Stephen Feeney, Tactic UK RT C
9. Paul Dring, Team Echelon C
10. Gareth McGuinness, Clwb beicio egni eryri D
11. Richard Allcock ,Worcester St John’s CC C
12. Rowan Horner, VC St Raphael C
13. Mark Greenwood, Lungs 2 Legs C
14. ANDREW TURNER, ELEMENT CYCLING TEAM D
15. Duncan Park, North Lancs Road Club D
16. david tate, Destination Bike RT C
17. Stacey Morgan, Ludlow Brewery RT C
18. Gert Gammelin, Border City Wheelers D
19. paul green, Areologic RT D
20. Steve Noel, Paradigm Cycles D
21. Kieron Lewis, CC Luton D
22. Ray Bell, Liverpool Braveheart C
23. Jonathan Donald, London Dynamo D
24. Adrian Bird, Worcester St John’s CC C
25. Duncan Orme, Kent Valley Road Club C
26. Angelo Derosa, Graham Weigh RT C
27. Richard Moore, Cliff Pratt Racing D
28. Garry Greenaway, Vanelli-Project GO D
29. Hamish MacLean, Musselburgh Roads CC D
30. Simon Brooks, VC St Raphael D
31. Andrew Prince, Aerologic RT C

E/F/G/H
1. Roy Chamberlain, Corley Cycles RC E
2. Rob O’ CONNOR, Born to Bike RT F
3. john watson, Hitchin Nomads CC E
4. Simon Dighton, Beacon RCC E
5. sean kilroy, ELSR E
6. Georgina Paul, TORQ Performance F
7. John Davidson, REIFEN RACING E
8. Paul Mann, Solihull CC E
9. Michael Bell, New Brighton CC E
10. Martin Fisher, BMCR F
11. Leon field, Dynamic Rides CC E 8
12. John Galway, Scarborough Coast CC G
13. Victoria Webb, B,orn to Bike RT F 4
14. Neil Dean, Cliff Pratt Racing F
15. Dave McMullen, Cotswold Veldrijden G
16. Roland Elsdon, BMCR F
17. Toks Adesanya, BMCR E
18. Robert Cranstone, GS Vecchi F
19. Dion Tomas, BMCR E
20. Trevor Bradbury, Python RT F
21. Deano Sibthorpe, Team Echelon E
22. Helen Taylor-Carter, Beds Roads CC F
23. Tony Carter, BMCR G
24. Phil Evans, Ruthin Cycling Club F
25. Kevin Stuart, Leeds Mercury CC E
26. Richard McKellar, BMCR G
27. J Paul Bird, Schils – Doltcini RT F
28. Linda Dewhurst, Ride Revolution RT H
29. Vince Ellis, Schils – Doltcini RT F
30. Mark Wiffen, Brooks Cycles – Cronshaw coaching E