Windy opening race for PPYCC riders at The Hoggenberg

It’s been 5 months since the last major youth circuit race and Saturday saw the first big race of the 2020 season at Redbridge “The Hoggenberg” with PPYCC riders racing in windy conditions against strong fields of riders.

Alfie Bunyan was racing in the u14s where the field split very quickly into small groups in the strong wind . Alfie battled on in the tough conditions, sometimes solo for 45 minutes. Great effort for this early in the year.

In the u16 boys Dylan Hicks, Josh Golliker and Luke Goodwill lined up in a field of almost national event standard for an hour of racing. The race was fast from the start with many riders being dropped in the opening laps. In the windy conditions it was impossible to get back to the lead group. Josh led a few attacks, Luke battled to maintain position in the group and Dylan was always keeping a watch. After 45 mins and 15 laps of tough racing with 3 laps to go the front group split following an attack over the hill. Luke was in the 2nd group and Dylan and Josh in the front group. On the final lap there were two riders off the front but in the closing metres Dylan sprinted across the gap to take the win from Calum Moir by just 0.007 sec . It doesn’t get closer than this !!

Well done to all our PPYCC riders.

Next events in the circuit racing calendar are Hillingdon Spring series and there’s a second race at Redbridge 29th February. Also for u14/u16 riders the SCRL are running a Sunday morning race series at Preston Park. These events are all open for entry on British Cycling website.

A reminder that the Youth Omnium track races are also now open for entry with events in the South being held at Portsmouth, Bournemouth , Herne Hill, Reading. The first omnium will be at Lee Valley 23 March for u12s, u14s, U16s. The other omniums have u10 events as well.