A review on all the races the bury clarion bursary funding, helped me attend. Without which these races would have been much harder to attend.

Marches 3-Day

First stage race of the season going into the race with decent form and aiming to race well as a newly made junior team 360 set up.

Stage 1 – a 1hour crit race around an airfield. A goal to be competitive in the sprint as either part of a lead out or a solo sprinter depending on how the race turned out as it would probably be the one of the strongest stages out of all of them for me over the weekend. However, this turned into survival of the fittest tyres and a get round mission to pick the best lines through the gravel and rocks. Unexpected as it was on an airfield but the correct decision as so many people crashing or puncturing out of the race. Managed to be competitive in the sprint in the main group and not lose any time on gc.

Stage 2 – Short 7min TT, limited to road bikes only for everyone. My effort placed me just after the strong cat 2 riders, a good ride in my opinion.

Stage 3 – 100k road race, 4 laps of a punchy open road circuit before heading towards a finishing climb of around 5mile. Raced just as planned not underestimating the final climb and making my attack with the race leader around 10km before the base of the final climb. Paced the climb at a power I knew I could hold but then it started to fade. Probably a mix of under fuelling and over heating meant I finished mid bunch knowing it could’ve been much higher.

Stage 3- Another 100k road race with short steep climbs every lap. Unlucky to puncture out of this one on what was probably the smoothest roads of the whole race. But thankful for the opportunity to race because of the bury clarion bursary funding. Adding to race experience and improving decision making in a race environment.

NATIONAL TT CHAMPIONSHIPS

First chance to test myself against the best juniors in the country in a TT, the discipline I enjoy the most. A windy course recce the evening before proved it would be a difficult one to pace, not just because of the wind but also because of the false flat gradients throughout the 2 lap course. Far off my best effort, and will have to back next year to change the result. However, still a great experience to do as a first year junior.

NATIONAL ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

A rainy afternoon but no wind unlike the tt the day before. Going in with a team of 4 with 360 all believing we could affect the race and give Alex the best chance of a good result. Started to follow moves in the middle of the race when the big teams started to go eventually Alex got himself into the race winning break so all I had to do was wait and disrupt a chase. Tried my luck in the final 5k to get away from the main group hoping someone would come with me. Ended up solo off the front behind the break only to be caught 500m before the line. Still glad to be able to give it a go and finish well for the nationals this year.

CTT NATIONAL 25

A mainly flat rolling course suited me well but knew it would be difficult to get a result with top names on the start sheet. Paced it perfectly doing best power for a tt that distance and 3rd in age (17). Starting to feel the benefits of so many tts, and hoping for much higher results next year.

JUNIOR TOUR OF WALES

Perfect build up towards a main goal of the season until, 1week prior unfortunate events made me take a full week off that should’ve been longer. So the goal of the race was to enjoy the experience of such a major race in the calendar and prepare for what this race will be like next year. Started the first stage as a get round job and managed to not lose anytime to the main group in a 80k rolling stage. That’s about as good as it got as a poor tt and DNF in stage 3 the following day ended the race. However, absolutely to be expected after the week off before. Hoping to be back at this race next year with a much different outcome.

2026 Season Goals:

Ride a sub 19min 10mile TT

Top 3 an open TT event

Top 10 a BC national event

Consistently place high in all races, especially in the junior National Series races

Race bigger high profile races across Europe

As mentioned, these races would never be possible without the support of the bury clarion bursary funding which helps young racers like me attend these races much easier with the financial funding.