News & Features

All is up for grabs as the final round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series takes place on the tough roads near Castle Douglas in Scotland on Sunday.

Organised by Dumfries CC, the rearranged third round will see riders compete over 26.2 miles of undulating terrain with 1,000 feet of climbing along the banks of Loch Ken.

The two main climbs are in New Galloway at approximately half distance and after the Lauriston turn at about mile 21. Gradients stay under 4% and peak around 6% on a few short sections.

The Series is sponsored by Merlin Cycles - https://www.merlincycles.com/

Jessica Rhodes-Jones (AeroCoach) won the last race in the series two weeks earlier at the Team Sheffield event and has her eye on the overall women’s title.

With four events counting for the overall Rhodes-Jones makes the long trip to Scotland looking to add to her three podium finishes so far in the series.

Keri Parton (Pro Vision RC) leads the overall standings going into the final round having ridden four events but is not making the trip to Scotland.

Another rider with a chance of overall honours is Louise Scupham (Liv AWOL) who sits just seven points behind Paton and will be looking to improve on her points total.

However, to seal maximum points both riders will have to beat scratch woman Jennifer George (The Independent Pedaler – Nopinz) who placed fourth in last week’s National 100 Mile Championship.

After finishing third in the fourth round of the series Cameron Richardson (RT 23) will start as scratch man.

The men’s overall looks to be heading to current leader Travis Bramley (Nopinz Motip Race Team) with him and most of his challengers choosing not to make the trip to Scotland.

Tommy Murray (GS Metro) was narrowly denied by just 30 seconds in the VTTA (Lancs & Lakes) 50 last weekend finishing second and will be looking to go one better.

The veterans’ category will also be closely fought for the race and overall series which is still undecided.

Simon Dighton (Beacon Roads CC) leads the overall standings going into the final round after winning the previous round organised by Team Sheffield.

Dighton has ridden four events alongside Mark Sanders (Mid Devon CC) but with just six points separating them all is up for grabs as they hope to increase their points totals.

Sanders and Dighton are also tightly locked in the vets on target competition with just one point separating them after four rounds.

Scratch rider in the veterans’ event is Douglas Watson (GTR - Return To Life) who won the Velo Club Cumbria 25 on his last outing.

The paracycling competition is also going down to the wire with Graeme Church (Team Milton Keynes) and David Murphy (Liverpool Mercury CC) separated by just two points.

Both of the pairing are in action with the overall title up for grabs.

Meanwhile, in the road bike event a solid ride by scratch rider B Xavier Disley (AeroCoach) should be enough to seal him overall victory.

Howard Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) sits 31 points behind Disley going into the final round and is also in action ready to capitalise on any mistakes.

Rebecca Richardson (Team Brother UK) has already secured the women’s road bike series.

Scratch rider Joanna Blackburn (Team Bottrill) could finish a point behind Richardson if she was to win the last round after a second place in round five.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.