Report: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race

The Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race (24th August) (National B) won by Danylo Rywnyj – report by Chris Lovibond…

Report: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
by Chris Lovibond | Presented by www.trainSharp.co.uk 

Photo: Riwnyj and Andy Pearce at the prize presentation.

On the start line there were seventy brave riders who were prepared to tackle this 185 kilometre (111 miles) marathon – the longest National B race in the calendar. No one could doubt this was going to be a race of attrition.

In past editions of the race on another version of the Woodcote course which included the steep climb of Flint Hill, there have been winning breaks which started early in the day, but on this occasion there was no significant break until the last couple of laps The current version of the course includes the tough Catsbrain Hill which has to be climbed eleven times and, watching from the commissaires car directly behind the bunch, casualties were seen here every lap. Each one losing a few yards, then struggling and failing to get back.

The crosswind was unhelpful on the climb, tending to push the riders into the gutter, but it was mostly beneficial on the main road towards Wallingford where the bunch descended at speeds approaching 50 mph.

The winner was Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT), who had a good strategy for these circumstances: mark any dangerous looking break, but conserve energy until the closing stages. With two laps to go he went for the final prime, leaving the small number of survivors still in the front group and opening a gap which might have seen him finishing alone, since he was confident enough to go on by himself. However, he was baulked by a car reversing out onto the road and this allowed the two chasers, Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) and Charlie Genner (BC Private Member) to get up to him just before Woodcote village. The three then worked together, but as they approached the finish Riwnyj proved to be still the strongest, attacking from the front on the final climb with power rather than tactics. He was the clear winner.

Riwnyj is twenty-six years of age, but only in his third racing season. Until the Covid epidemic he was a footballer, but in lockdown he took to cycling, as a form of non contact exercise, and found a talent he didn’t know he possessed. The 2025 season has been his best so far and he is now considering improving his French with a view to racing on the continent next year. Some one who has excellent English and speaks Ukrainian should not find French too challenging!

Among the top ten finishers were two regulars who should be mentioned: Olly Hucks (TAAP Kalas seventh) a former winner of the event who finishes well up every year, and Chris McNamara (Sigma Sport ninth). Chris’s achievement is notable since, at fifty years of age, he is old enough to be father to most of the rest of the field.

Finally we must remember the hard work of the organiser, Andy Pearce, all the volunteers from the High Wycombe CC and GS Henley, plus the Pedal Club, which not only supported the event financially, but also with helpers, including Doug Collins who resurrected this race and has long been a driving force behind its survival.

The two pictures: VB 1 is Riwnyj about to cross the finish line, and VB 2 is Riwnyj and Andy Pearce at the prize presentation. I realise the finish picture is not great – there is a better pic. taken by a pro photographer, but he wants money for it and I’m not inclined to spend my own cash on this. In any case even the pro effort isn’t all that good – at least, with the prize giving pic we can see what the rider looks like.

Top ten finishers:

1. Danylo Rywnyj (Foran CT)
2. C. Still (Ride Revolution Coaching)
3. C. Genner (BC Private Member)
4. G. Dellar (Primera Team Jobs)
5. O. Snodden (Mandene Racing)
6. M. King (Atom 6 Decca Continental Team)
7. O Hucks (TAAP Kalas)
8. J Housley (Primera Team Jobs)
9. C. McNamara (Sigma Sport)
10. J. McKay (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli)

From the 70 starters there were 29 finishers.

Chris Lovibond | August 2025.

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