National Championship Podium for Whitley

It has been a busy few weeks for riders from the top Midlands based cycling team Team MI Racing Townsend Vehicle Hire. The concluding weeks of the domestic cyclocross season have seen both the final race in the National Trophy series and the British National Championships. It was the team’s Wrexham based rider Nick Whitley that was once again fighting it out at the business end of the races. The fifth and final round of the National Trophy series was held in Bradford. Leading into the final race Whitley had already guaranteed himself a minimum of 3rd place in the series overall so was battling to try and take 2nd place. On a flat but technical course, Whitley found himself in a group of three at the front of the race. Despite his best efforts, he crossed the finish line in 3rd place on the day, securing 3rd place in the series overall.

The following week saw the British National Cyclocross championships take place at the Kent Cyclopark. It was again Nick Whitley who was flying the flag for Team MI Racing Townsend Vehicle Hire in the veteran 50-59 category race. Whitley’s preparation for the championships was far from ideal. Testing positive for Covid the day after his final National Trophy race, Whitley was forced to have six days off the bike before lining up on the championship start line in Kent. Ground conditions on the course changed dramatically between the time of the course practice and the actual race start itself. Early morning ice quickly thawed, leaving a very slippery, muddy and technically difficult course. Whitley spent most of the race in 2nd place but as he and the other two leaders started to catch and negotiate the slower backmarkers on the last lap, Whitley was bumped down into 3rd place. The previous weeks illness left him with nothing more to give on the final lap so he settled for securing a brilliant and hard fought 3rd place overall.

Nick Whitley riding to his national championships bronze medal (photo courtesy of Velo UK)

On day two of the championships, it was Mold based rider Layla Bradbrook that was mixing with the best of the best in the women’s championship race. Layla rode to a strong 28th place overall and 14th place in the under 23 age category.

Team MI Racing’s Nick Whitley (right) collects his National Championship bronze medal at the Kent Cyclopark (photographer unknown)

Boxing day saw the 70th running of the Kenilworth Common Cyclocross race. The race organised by Coventry Road Club is the oldest cyclocross race in the country and thus attracts top riders from around the country.  Large numbers of spectators gathered on the common to watch the race. Colin Miller was the team’s best placed rider, finishing in 15th place overall and third in the veteran 40-49 age category. Not far behind was teammate Nick Popham, who, after a break from racing, finished in a strong 18th place overall and second in the veteran 50-59 category. Senior rider Jack O’Neill, riding his first cyclocross race for many years finished in 35th place overall and 14th place in his category. Veteran rider Philip Roach finished in 36th place overall and in third place in his 60+ age category.

Colin Miller and Philip Roach in action on Boxing Day (photos courtesy of Andy Jackson)

Staying local, there was an early finish to the West Midlands Cyclocross League when the 12th and final round in Walsall was cancelled due to a waterlogged course. Despite both missing a couple of rounds each, riders Nick Whitley and Darren Atkins managed to finish in second and third place overall in the league’s veteran 50-59 age category. In the same category, Cannock based rider Nick Popham finished in 29th place after taking a break from racing in the latter rounds. Christian Morgan finished in 39th place after also missing the last few rounds. Coventry rider Andy Jackson finished in 52nd place after his season was cut short due to medical issues. Alan Buxcey finished in 71st place despite only riding less than half the season. Lynsey Whitley finished in an excellent 3rd place in the women’s veteran 45 age category and in 9th place in the League overall. In the Junior league Jefferson Tear-Verweij finished in 9th place overall after missing a number of rounds through illness. In the Senior League Warwick based Tom Bradley just missed out on a top ten finish, finishing in a strong 11th place in only his second season of racing. In the veteran 40-49 category Colin Miller had an excellent season finishing on the podium in 3rd place overall. In the veteran 60-69 age category Mark Garrett was the team’s top placed rider finishing in 6th place while teammate Pete Busby finished in 40th place after riding just four rounds.

Two rounds of the Leicester cyclocross league still remain. In round 5 held on the 5th January, Nick Popham maintained his strong return to racing by finishing in an excellent 2nd place in the veteran 50-59 category race. Coventry based rider and teammate Pete Busby went one better to win the veteran  60+ race.

Pete Busby (left) off to a flying start in round 5 of the Leicester cyclocross league (photographer unknown)

The team’s riders will now begin to focus their attention and training on the upcoming track, road and time trial seasons.

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