REPORT/RESULT: MARCHES 3-DAY

Four fast and furious stages in the Welsh borders ended with overall victory for queen stage winner Piers Mahn of the promoting Halesowen Academy-Mapei – his second 3-day stage race win after his victory at Newry last year

REPORT: MARCHES 3-DAY — Four fast and furious stages in the Welsh borders ended with overall victory for queen stage winner Piers Mahn of the promoting Halesowen Academy-Mapei – his second 3-day stage race win after his victory at Newry last year – after a crash on the final lap of the final stage eliminated overnight race leader Eugene Cross (Schils). This was the fourth edition of the race, founded as the BikeStow 3-day in 2022.

Stage one on the Friday night saw the riders tackle a one-hour criterium at a new venue, Shobdon airfield, with a westerly wind howling down the one kilometre runway. Potholes, a speed bump and a tight corner challenged the riders, with Spencer Corder (Beeston) emerging the winner after a long breakaway with Ben Etherington of 360 Cycling.

First year senior Corder hung on to his race lead with second place in Saturday morning’s 3.4mile time trial, crossing the England-Wales border near Presteigne, where Cross finished 2sec ahead, Mahn at 5sec and 2023 winner Jude Taylor (PB Performance at 12sec).

Saturday afternoon saw the toughest stage of the race, a lumpy circuit based around Presteigne and Kington, with the finish bang on the Welsh border high up on Offa’s Dyke near Knighton. The stage was dominated by a 14-rider break including all the favourites apart from Corder, doomed to a fruitless chase as the gap opened to seven minutes.

The move split about 12 miles from the finish after an attack from Luke Brennan (Lyon Sprint Evolution), with Mahn, Taylor and Cross going ahead on the climb to the finish Cwm Whitton. Taylor attacked late on, but Mahn had enough in reserve to control the move and finish 5sec ahead, with Cross moving into the yellow jersey by 1sec from the Halesowen rider.

Stage four on Sunday moved to the Norton Canon circuit near Hereford, with its sumptuous views of the Wye Valley. A move went from the gun with local strongman Matt Clarke (Bridgnorth), and juniors Mikey Ratcliffe (Halesowen) and Harper Johnson (360). The trio gained 3 minutes at one point, with Cross assisted in the chase by his brother Archie. A touch of wheels on the penultimate descent ended the yellow jersey’s race, while Clarke ran out the stage winner by a handful of seconds.

Marches 3-Day Overall Classification
1. Piers Mahn, Halesowen A & CC
2. Jude Taylor, Team PB Performance
3. Ben Etherington, 360cycling
4. Cai Curtis-Roberts, 360cycling
5. Carl Stubbs, Moonglu SpatzWear
6. Thomas Herbert, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
7. Jacob Hardy, Southampton University Road Cl…
8. Matt Clarke, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
9. Spencer Corder, Beeston Cycling Club
10. Harper Johnson, 360cycling
11. Oscar Hoult, Defined Cycling Team
12. Tristan Pilling, 360cycling
13. Benjamin Horrobin, 360cycling
14. Kyle Jones, Maxge-Ambilamp Team Cycling Ga…
15. Ryan Williams, Cycling Sheffield
16. Fraser Cummings, 360cycling
17. Hugh Aubrey, Beeston Cycling Club
18. Oliver Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
19. Hudson Hendry, BCC Race Team
20. James Lee, Doncaster Whls CC
21. Courtney Ricketts, Ful-On Tri Club
22. Mikey Ratcliffe, Halesowen A & CC
23. Kaleb Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
24. Luke Hall, 360cycling
25. Patrick Fotheringham, ATP Performance
26. Benjamin Arey, Halesowen A & CC
27. Luke Mannings, Halesowen A & CC
28. Isaak Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
29. Daniel Saba, 360cycling
30. Matthew Britton, Avid Sport
31. Olly Timlin, Borealis Race Team
32. Harrison Davies, CC Plancoet
33. Ross Thorley, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
34. Charlie Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
35. Hugh Bird, Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
36. Sebastian Bacon, Wolverhampton Wheelers
37. Alister Cawthorne
38. Alexander Sutton, 360cycling
39. William Stoneham, Army Cycling Union
40. Dominic Ehinlanwo, Ful-On Tri Club

Stage 1 – Airfield RR
1. Spencer Corder, Beeston Cycling Club
2. Ben Etherington, 360cycling
3. Eugene Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
4. Harper Johnson, 360cycling
5. Thomas Herbert, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
6. Patrick Fotheringham, ATP Performance
7. Luke Brennan, Lyon Sprint Evolution
8. Benjamin Arey, Halesowen A & CC
9. Carl Stubbs, Moonglu SpatzWear
10. Jacob Hardy, Southampton University Road Cl…
11. Piers Mahn, Halesowen A & CC
12. Ryan Williams, Cycling Sheffield
13. Hudson Hendry, BCC Race Team
14. James Lee, Doncaster Whls CC
15. Isaak Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
16. Matt Clarke, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
17. Kyle Jones, Maxge-Ambilamp Team Cycling Ga…
18. Davey Allanson, 360cycling
19. Hugh Aubrey, Beeston Cycling Club
20. Mikey Ratcliffe, Halesowen A & CC
21. Oliver Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
22. Ian McCaul, Le Col Race Team
23. Tristan Pilling, 360cycling
24. Dieter Droger, Trek Sheffield Fox Valley
25. Jude Taylor, Team PB Performance
26. Cai Curtis-Roberts, 360cycling
27. Benjamin Horrobin, 360cycling
28. Charlie Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
29. Oscar Hoult, Defined Cycling Team
30. Fraser Cummings, 360cycling
31. Courtney Ricketts, Ful-On Tri Club
32. Kaleb Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
33. Paul Anthony Gazey, Lichfield City CC
34. Luke Hall, 360cycling
35. Ross Thorley, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
36. James Claydon, Tactic Sport UK Race Team
37. Hugh Bird, Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
38. Alexander Sutton, 360cycling
39. Daniel Saba, 360cycling
40. Luke Mannings, Halesowen A & CC
41. Jeremy Dunnett, Ful-On Tri Club
42. Nicholas Josh Colburn, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
43. Olly Timlin, Borealis Race Team
44. Nathan Hinks, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
45. Alister Cawthorne
46. William Stoneham, Army Cycling Union
47. Archie Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
48. Matthew Britton, Avid Sport
49. Sebastian Bacon, Wolverhampton Wheelers
50. Herbie Buchholz, CC Plancoet
51. Livingston Duncombe
52. Ethan Haughton, 360cycling
53. Thomas Hassell, 360cycling
54. Oliver Hamon, CC Plancoet
55. Harrison Davies, CC Plancoet
56. Thomas Nisbet, CC Plancoet
57. Joseph Egan, Halesowen A & CC
58. Charlie Lacaille, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
59. Dominic Ehinlanwo, Ful-On Tri Club

Stage 2 – TT
1. Eugene Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
2. Spencer Corder, Beeston Cycling Club
3. Piers Mahn, Halesowen A & CC
4. Jude Taylor, Team PB Performance
5. Thomas Herbert, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
6. Luke Brennan, Lyon Sprint Evolution
7. Matt Clarke, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
8. Carl Stubbs, Moonglu SpatzWear
9. Luke Mannings, Halesowen A & CC
10. Hudson Hendry, BCC Race Team
11. Ian McCaul, Le Col Race Team
12. Archie Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
13. Aidan Wade, Leek Cyclists Club
14. Jacob Hardy, Southampton University Road Cl…
15. Matthew Britton, Avid Sport
16. Kyle Jones, Maxge-Ambilamp Team Cycling Ga…
17. Ben Etherington, 360cycling
18. Isaak Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
19. Tristan Pilling, 360cycling
20. Cai Curtis-Roberts, 360cycling
21. Ryan Williams, Cycling Sheffield
22. Oliver Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
23. Olly Timlin, Borealis Race Team
24. Harper Johnson, 360cycling
25. Benjamin Arey, Halesowen A & CC
26. Alexander Sutton, 360cycling
27. Davey Allanson, 360cycling
28. Hugh Aubrey, Beeston Cycling Club
29. Oscar Hoult, Defined Cycling Team
30. Patrick Fotheringham, ATP Performance
31. Mikey Ratcliffe, Halesowen A & CC
32. Fraser Cummings, 360cycling
33. Kaleb Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
34. James Lee, Doncaster Whls CC
35. Dieter Droger, Trek Sheffield Fox Valley
36. Charlie Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
37. Courtney Ricketts, Ful-On Tri Club
38. Ross Thorley, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
39. Jeremy Dunnett, Ful-On Tri Club
40. Luke Hall, 360cycling
41. Benjamin Horrobin, 360cycling
42. Harrison Davies, CC Plancoet
43. James Claydon, Tactic Sport UK Race Team
44. Hugh Bird, Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
45. Dominic Ehinlanwo, Ful-On Tri Club
46. Paul Anthony Gazey, Lichfield City CC
47. Alister Cawthorne,
48. Daniel Saba, 360cycling
49. Sebastian Bacon, Wolverhampton Wheelers
50. Herbie Buchholz, CC Plancoet
51. William Stoneham, Army Cycling Union
52. Oliver Hamon, CC Plancoet
53. Nathan Hinks, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
54. Thomas Nisbet, CC Plancoet
55. Nicholas Josh, Colburn Manx Viking Wheelers CC
56. Ethan Haughton, 360cycling
57. Thomas Hassell, 360cycling
58. Livingston Duncombe

Stage 3 Hilly RR
1. Piers Mahn, Halesowen A & CC
2. Jude Taylor, Team PB Performance
3. Eugene Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
4. Luke Brennan, Lyon Sprint Evolution
5. Aidan Wade, Leek Cyclists Club
6. Ben Etherington, 360cycling
7. Cai Curtis-Roberts, 360cycling
8. Carl Stubbs, Moonglu SpatzWear
9. Thomas Herbert, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
10. Archie Cross, Schils – Doltcini Racing Team
11. Jacob Hardy, Southampton University Road Cl…
12. Alexander Sutton, 360cycling
13. Matt Clarke, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
14. Luke Mannings, Halesowen A & CC
15. Spencer Corder, Beeston Cycling Club
16. Benjamin Horrobin, 360cycling
17. Kaleb Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
18. Oscar Hoult, Defined Cycling Team
19. Tristan Pilling, 360cycling
20. Ryan Williams, Cycling Sheffield
21. Fraser Cummings, 360cycling
22. Olly Timlin, Borealis Race Team
23. Harper Johnson, 360cycling
24. Kyle Jones, Maxge-Ambilamp Team Cycling Ga…
25. Ian McCaul, Le Col Race Team
26. Hugh Aubrey, Beeston Cycling Club
27. Matthew Britton, Avid Sport
28. Oliver Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
29. Dominic Ehinlanwo, Ful-On Tri Club
30. Courtney Ricketts, Ful-On Tri Club
31. Harrison Davies, CC Plancoet
32. Jeremy Dunnett, Ful-On Tri Club
33. Davey Allanson, 360cycling
34. Hudson Hendry, BCC Race Team
35. Isaak Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
36. Hugh Bird, Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
37. James Lee, Doncaster Whls CC
38. Dieter Droger, Trek Sheffield Fox Valley
39. Luke Hall, 360cycling
40. Mikey Ratcliffe, Halesowen A & CC
41. Daniel Saba, 360cycling
42. Charlie Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
43. Herbie Buchholz, CC Plancoet
44. Sebastian Bacon, Wolverhampton Wheelers
45. Alister Cawthorne
46. James Claydon, Tactic Sport UK Race Team
47. Thomas Hassell, 360cycling
48. Patrick Fotheringham, ATP Performance
49. Benjamin Arey, Halesowen A & CC
50. Nathan Hinks, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
51. William Stoneham, Army Cycling Union
52. Ross Thorley, Manx Viking Wheelers CC

Stage 4 – RR
1. Matt Clarke, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
2. Harper Johnson, 360cycling
3. Oscar Hoult, Defined Cycling Team
4. Patrick Fotheringham, ATP Performance
5. Ryan Williams, Cycling Sheffield
6. Ben Etherington, 360cycling
7. Hugh Aubrey, Beeston Cycling Club
8. Aidan Wade, Leek Cyclists Club
9. Jacob Hardy, Southampton University Road Cl…
10. Benjamin Arey, Halesowen A & CC
11. Benjamin Horrobin, 360cycling
12. Fraser Cummings, 360cycling
13. Kyle Jones, Maxge-Ambilamp Team Cycling Ga…
14. Courtney Ricketts, Ful-On Tri Club
15. Piers Mahn, Halesowen A & CC
16. Hudson Hendry, BCC Race Team
17. Tristan Pilling, 360cycling
18. Spencer Corder, Beeston Cycling Club
19. Jude Taylor, Team PB Performance
20. Oliver Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
21. Matthew Britton, Avid Sport
22. Harrison Davies, CC Plancoet
23. Cai Curtis-Roberts, 360cycling
24. James Lee ,Doncaster Whls CC
25. Carl Stubbs, Moonglu SpatzWear
26. Thomas Herbert, Bridgnorth Cycling Club
27. Luke Hall, 360cycling
28. Mikey Ratcliffe, Halesowen A & CC
29. Ross Thorley, Manx Viking Wheelers CC
30. Kaleb Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
31. Daniel Saba, 360cycling
32. Luke Mannings, Halesowen A & CC
33. William Stoneham, Army Cycling Union
34. Isaak Herbert, Halesowen A & CC
35. Olly Timlin, Borealis Race Team
36. Sebastian Bacon, Wolverhampton Wheelers
37. Dominic Ehinlanwo, Ful-On Tri Club
38. Alister Cawthorne
39. Charlie Thorpe, Beeston Cycling Club
40. Hugh Bird, Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
41. Alexander Sutton, 360cycling