The Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix will return to the historic Ampleforth Abbey in North Yorkshire Sunday for the penultimate round of the 2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Series.
The race was first held in 2005, featuring the national road championships with Russell Downing and Nicole Cooke emerging as the winners. Run annually since then, except for 2020, the event boasts an illustrious set of past winners including Rob Hayles, Sharon Laws, Ian Stannard, Nicky Juniper, Ollie Wood, Anna Henderson, James Shaw, and Claire Steels. Last year the victors were Millie Couzens (Fenix‐Deceuninck) and Harry Birchill (Saint Piran).
The route
Starting around a 25.7km ‘long circuit’, then switching to a 16.1km ‘short circuit’ to complete the distance, the women's race is set to cover 101.4km, while riders in the open race are set for a testing 161km route.
Both circuits are punctuated by a series of testing climbs and technical country roads, making this race one of the most selective on the calendar, with a final rise up to the Abbey set to decide the winner should it come down to a sprint.
Riders to watch
Lucy Harris (Pro-Noctis 200 Degrees Coffee Hargreaves Contracting) leads the series after a string of consistent performances, and should be well-supported from the likes of Lucy Gadd and Lizi Brooke.
Harris has a slender one point advantage over National Circuit Series winner Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team). The young Scot is in pole position to take over the series lead after a stellar summer. She is well supported by a team including American Kiera Bond and new signing Lauren Dickson, the revelation of the Lancaster GP where she finished second.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK brings a formidable team led by Lancaster GP winner Frankie Hall, who sits third in the series. Supported by Tammy Miller, who was third after joining Hall in the decisive break at Lancaster, as well as the likes of Ruth Shier and Lucy Lee, expect the UCI Continental squad to race aggressively from the front once again.
The Shibden Apex team are led by second year junior Esther Wong. With a fourth place in the Lincoln GP, her standout result this season, she has yet to be outside the top 10 in the three National Road Series rounds she has ridden this year.
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing rider American Katherine Sheridan – seventh last year – and Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) – fifth at the Lancaster GP – are good outside bets for a strong result, while Caitlin Dimbleby (Unattached) started the season with some standout results and is back on form after a strong showing in Lancaster.
Series leader George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) delivered perhaps his finest National A performance in the Lancaster GP, bridging to the winning move with victor Ben Granger, then finishing on the podium. With Ollie Rees and Adam Lewis – second and third in the standings, respectively – absent for this round, he will be hoping to extend his advantage.
Saint Piran have yet to reach the dizzy heights of 2023 and a repeat of the incredible 1-2-3-4-5 from last year looks unlikely. However, the Cornish squad bring a strong team led by Rowan Baker, the East Cleveland GP winner impressing in France in recent weeks. James McKay sits fifth in the series as he looks to build on his podium finishes from the East Cleveland and Lancaster GP’s. They are joined by the likes of last year's winner Harry Birchill and Olympic medallist Ollie Wood, fresh from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) took a superb comeback win the Lincoln GP and will find the hilly nature of this race to his liking, while Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) has been one of the most consistent performers at National B level this season. He currently sits fourth overall in the series, the closest challenger to Kimber on paper.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli raced almost perfectly at Lancaster GP before their hopes fell apart on the final lap. They bring another strong team with the ambition of taking their first National Road Series win. Thomas Armstrong sits sixth in the series, the climber enjoying his best season in the UK, while Tom Martin can never be ruled out.
One of a number of outsiders, Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy) was the surprise package of the Lancaster GP, taking the Climber's Competition on the way to fourth place. Ràs Tailteann winner Dom Jackson (Foran CC) is another rider with the ability to win a race of this calibre.
Timings and coverage
The women’s race begins at 9.15 and finishes at approximately 12.25, while the men’s start is at 14.00 with an estimated finish of 18.25. You can follow the action on the British Cycling social media channels.
