As everyone hopefully knows by now, the club’s annual road races, sponsored by MoutainChalet.co.uk, take place this coming Sunday, with races for both men and women. The 45-mile event, for both categories, is made up of 3 x 15-mile laps of a tough course, which takes in three ascents of the challenging Edge Hill climb.
The men’s race for Cat 3/4 riders has a full field of 80 and starts at 9am. It’s also the second round of the Oxfordshire Road Race League (ORRL), which Banbury Star are now part of. The club’s team comprises 7 riders, Richard Santhouse, Josh Lovell, Nick Nixon, Danny Marron, Oscar Strange, Peter Drnovsek and Ed Anderson. Second claim club members Tobi Ng (Team PB Performance) and Ryan Allen (Veralum CC) are also entered.
The women’s race for Cat Elite/1/2/3 riders has a field of 70 riders, starts at 1pm and is the second round of British Cycling’s, Women’s Team Cup Road Race. This race always attracts some of the UK’s top young women riders of the future and ones to watch are Ruth Shier and Emily Proud. Club juniors Peggy Simpkins and Poppy Kisley are both entered, making them the first junior members to enter this race for quite sometime. Local rider and club second claim member Lydia Watts is again competing and is part of the Hutchinson-Brother UK Team. They currently lead the team event from Le Col RT and Team Specta Cannondale. Past competitors and winners have gone on to be National and even Olympic medal winners. Whilst this is primarily a team event, the race for the individual win, always makes for some close racing.
Both events also contain a KoM and QoM prize, based on points earned for the three climbs of Edge Hill. Always a good place to watch and cheer on our men in their quest for ORRL points.
Thanks in advance to all the many members who have now volunteered to help run, what is our main event of the year. Let’s hope the weather is kind.