Double win for Velosure-Giordana in regional championships

James Gullen and James Moss scored a double for Velosure-Giordana RT in the weekend’s round of British Cycling regional road race championships.

Gullen attacked his last remaining rival for the North West title, Jack Pullar (Starley Primal Pro Cycling) near the top of the long descent towards the finish of the Oakenclough circuit, in the Trough of Bowland, to win by 54 seconds with his own team-mate, Matt Cronshaw taking third place a further 1-25 back after launching the race-deciding break.

Moss rode the last five miles on his own to win the North East title after bridging a gap to Callum Greaves (Twenty3c.co.uk), who had attacked with 14 miles to go.

Greaves faded in the closing stages as Dan Smith (TS Racing) came through to take second place ahead of Harry Tanfield (KTM road-and-trail.com).

Evergreen Dean Downing (NFTO) turned back the clock to regain the Yorkshire title he last held in 2008.

Alistair Kay (York Cycleworks RT) held a ten-second lead going into the final lap of a new circuit set around the Towton battlefield, near Selby, but he was hunted down by six chasers before turning into the finishing straight where Downing sprinted to victory ahead of Adam Duggleby (Wheelbase Altura MGD) and Tom Stewart (Madson Genesis).

Evan Oliphant (Tam Raleigh) secured the Scottish title for the sixth time at the main expense of 2012 winner James McCallum (NFTO), getting g away from his rival on the steepest 1 in 5 section of the Suie climb, four miles from the finish, to win by eight seconds.

The race stayed largely together over two laps of a 34-mile circuit, based on the Alford course in Aberdeenshire, before moving on to a smaller 19-mile finishing lap where McCallum went clear with two others.

Oliphant got across with ten miles remaining before going away on the climb and leaving McCallum to take second place in a sprint from Steve Lawley (The Rigmar Racers).

Jane Barr (Velocity 44) took the women’s title ahead of Julie Erskine (Velosport Pasta Montegrappa) in a sprint – both riders flying in to Aberdeen on the morning of the race after competing in Belgium the day before.

The longest of the championship races, the Central title went to Henry Latimer (Catford CC Equipe/Banks) who, second last year, was in the first break of the day that went inside two miles and at the head of affairs throughout the 100 miles.

Latimer and Peter Hitt (VC Meudin) were joined by Ashley Cox (CC Luton) and Richard Wood (Arbis-Colbert Cycles RT) after 80 miles of racing on a tough circuit at Chilton, Buckinghamshire, and when Cox attacked with around two miles to go, Latimer chased him down before the final kilometre and went straight through to emerge a worthy winner.

Andrew Hastings (Richardsons-Trek RT) attacked over the brow of the final climb with 400 metres to go to land the Eastern title at Colchester from breakaway companion Chris Bartlett (Metaltek Kuota RT).

Bristol’s Daniel McKimm (Dream Cycling) won the BUCS elite circuit race title at York Sports Village.

Matt Bottrill wins fourth round of National Time Trial Series

British time trial round-up (May 17-18): News and results from around the UK