Jenny is queen of the campus
Crit crown goes to UK champion
Hundreds of talented cyclists showcased their abilities at the fourth annual Crit on the Campus – with Jenny Holl and Angus Claxton the big winners.
The Crit, which is one of the biggest days of road racing in Scotland, took place at the University of Stirling campus on Sunday with 400 riders spread across ten dramatic events.
Crowds cheered the cyclists around a fast and exciting route and among those they got to watch in action was British champion Holl.
The 18-year-old from Blairdrummond, who is part of British Cycling’s senior academy, was part of the team who won the team pursuit event at the British Track Cycling Championships earlier this year.
Organisers were delighted to have her involved in the 2018 Crit and she showed why she is one of the most promising young cyclists in the country by winning the elite women’s race.
Holl was part of a group of four riders who established an early gap and a late attack ensured that she powered in front of Louise Borthwick, Joanne Thom and Julie Nimmo.
In the elite men’s race Claxton who came out on top in a strong field of 40 riders.
He was also part of a small group who established a lead early on and held the chasing pack at bay.
However, a crash in the finish straight took a couple of breakaway riders out of contention and Claxton, of Wheelbase Castelli MGD, took a fine win with Ryan Fenwick second and Chris Sherrifs third.
Sheriffs himself had made an impressive recovery, having been involved in the crash.
The day started with the youth races and Conan Nicholson and Isla Cameron were successful in the under-8 events while Daniel Cosgrove and Hope Thomson rode to victory in the under-10 events.
In the under-12 races Isla McCutcheon won the girls’ event and in the boys’ race Joseph Cosgrove was successful.
Joseph is the brother of under-10 winner Daniel.
This year’s Crit also hosted round one of the Scottish Cycling National Youth Series for under-14 and under-16 riders.
Finn McHenry and Imani PereiraJames, both of East Kilbride Road Club, won the boys’ and girls’ races in the under14s while in the under-16s Daniel Kain and Evan Young were successful.
Following the youth races there was an event involving Special Olympics riders from the Scotland West section. 11 cyclists took to the course for the 30-minute race, getting in some excellent training for the Pictures by Graeme Penny anniversary games which will take place at the University of Stirling in August.
There were also three additional men’s races on the day, with Rory Webster and Cameron Harris winning the events for fourth category riders and Calum Gray taking victory in the third and fourth category race.
David Lindsay of Stirling Bike Club, who teamed up with the University of Stirling to put on the event, was delighted with how the races went.
He said: “We had a really good day with big crowds, particularly at the start and finish.
“The standard of racing was very high. There were some top riders taking part, including some coming up from down south to take part in the youth races.
“It was also really great to have the Special Olympic riders along, one of whom is actually sixth in the world in their category.”
David thanked the club members who volunteered and all of the riders who took part.
We had a really good day with big crowds at the start and finish