Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
Chris Lovibond • September 2, 2024
Rowan Baker (Saint Piran) was the clear winner of this classic race, with his team mate James McKay in second place – a resounding success for the Saint Piran team.
Photo: Judith Parry Photography
With a distance of 112 (hilly) miles, this is the longest and probably the toughest National B race in the calendar. even so, it attracted seventy entries; of these only twenty one finished on the same lap as the winner.
The great majority of the field had no experience of racing this distance, so it was surprising that seven brave souls saw fit to start a break on the first lap, these included: James McKay (Saint Piran) who finished 2nd, Josh Housley (Huub BCC), 3rd, David Hird, (Cycling Sheffield) 5th, Nick Tyrie (Foran CT) 10th, and Jordan Giles (Richardsons Trek DAS) 17th. For much of the race, it seemed they would stay clear to the finish, gaining an advantage of over two minutes by mid distance.
However, many miles combined with a stiff (18 – 20 mph) south west wind took their toll and what was left of the peloton (which included Rowan Baker) rejoined the break near the start of the final lap. At the finish, the uphill sprint was almost a formality with the two Saint Piran men clearly stronger than the rest. Housley took third place, two and a half seconds down on the winner.
Rowan Baker came into cycling at the age of nineteen from rowing, a sport in which he competed at national level; he is still only twenty-two and so also took the best young rider prize. However, he is already an experienced roadman having ridden various UCI races in Europe with his team, where distances of 200 plus kilometres (say 125 miles) are quite normal. Described by the team as a ‘rouleur – sprinter’ he seems to have great potential in road racing.
Other notable finishers in the top ten were Ollie Hucks, 4th, who, in the previous three years has finished first and third in this event, and Chris MacNamara, ‘only’ eighth this year compared with recent fifth and third places, but Chris, at forty-nine years of age, is old enough to be father to most of the field.
We must also note the efforts of the organiser and the High Wycombe CC – promoting road races was never easy, but it has become increasingly difficult in recent years. This was Andy Pearce’s third Victor Berlemont and he did seem a little more relaxed for this edition; let’s hope he can manage many more of these events.
A point of interest he mentioned was that, with the closing date approaching, he had only sixty entries, so he tried to tempt a few more by contacting riders from previous years; he found that most of them were racing in France and Belgium. This says a lot about the state of racing in Britain. Note that the Saint Piran team has been taking part in European races and although this does not detract from the achievement of Baker and McKay, perhaps it does show what is needed for success.
The May Flyer Double 100 (also known as the SWRC May Flyer) is a long-standing cycling sportive in the UK. It is organised by the South Western Road Club (SWRC) and has been running for over 25 years. The "Double 100" refers to the event's signature offering of two distinct route options for participants: The Flyer: A 100-kilometre (approx. 62-mile) route that meanders through the North Downs and Surrey Hills. The Flyer Challenge: A 100-mile (approx. 162-kilometre) route that crosses the North Downs into West Sussex and back. Event Details Next Event Date: Sunday, 17th May 2026. Start/Finish Location: Cobham Village Hall, Surrey. Terrain: Scenic but challenging, featuring notable climbs like Staple Lane, Pitch Hill, and Combe Bottom. Entry: Limited to 500 riders, with registration typically available through platforms like SiEntries. Charity: All profits from the event are donated to local charities. https://www.swrc.org.uk/may-flyer/about-the-may-flyer
Is Progress Progress?
Ray Kelly R.I.P. Honoured by British Cycling
