Race Report – NDCXL Round 5 – Bingham Leisure Centre

Velo Club Nottingham hosted Round 5 of the SRAM NDCXL this weekend at Bingham Leisure Centre. The course made the most of the banks and off-camber elements of the Leisure Centre grounds, and despite the ground not being quite as wet as many had expected or predicted, by the later races of the day technical skill did prove a slight advantage.

The Senior Men’s race developed quickly into a breakaway group of four, including Round 4 winner Jonathan Harper (Mansfield Road Club), Andrew Naylor (Fossa), Pedal Power’s Paul Cox and Loughborough Students David Montgomery. The group traded places for most of the race, but ultimately pulled apart when Montgomery made a strong move on the last lap to which the other riders couldn’t respond, a move which ultimately gained him the win. Despite being distanced from the top three towards the end, Naylor kept his nerve and took third through some strong technical riding. Cox claimed second position.

In the Women’s race, first season Junior Charlotte Broughton (Team Corley Cycles) showed she had the ability to take the race to the seniors, but her early lead was ended when she retired with asthma issues. Empella’s Kate George rode into the top spot by a clear margin, with Nutcracker Racing’s Sarah Lomas and Madeline Smith (Bolsover & District CC) behind her. Lomas and Smith were also first Female Junior and Vet respectively

George said afterwards “I loved the twisty, turning nature of the course, and was really pleased to take the win”

The Junior Men’s victory was taken by Matlock CC’s Arthur Green. William Gascoigne (Specialized Notts) and Ollie Peckover (Sherwood Pines) completed the podium positions.

The Veteran Men’s race was won decisively by Zepnat’s Dan Alexander, taking the victory over Naked Bikes’ Chris Rathbone and Mike Simpson (GS Henley). Zepnat took victory in the V50 race as well, with a resurgent 3 Peaks hero Tim Gould, who beat Graham Clark (Ellmore Factory Racing) and Pedalsport’s Mick Davies into second and third positions.

In the Youth races, Sherwood Pines Cycles claimed both the U14 and U16 boys wins through Jake Norton and Cameron Ore. Elena Smith (Fossa Racing) and Madeleine Gammons (Bourne Wheelers) took U14 and U16 girls.
Derby Mercury’s Ben Chilton and Matlock CC’s Libby Smith rode to boys and girls wins respectively in the U12 race.