Tom Armstrong wins the Lancaster Grand Prix!
National Road Series Round 4
For Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli there are wins, and then there are wins that mean a little bit more.
On Sunday, Tom Armstrong took his biggest victory on UK roads so far, winning the Lancaster Grand Prix, one of the UK’s premier road races and a round of the National Road Series – the highest level of domestic road racing in Britain. The victory marked Tom’s first ever National Road Series win and came on roads that we know better than most.
Whilst not quite on our doorstep, Lancaster has always felt like a home race for the team. The rolling roads on the edge of the Forest of Bowland are only a short trip from Wheelbase’s Lake District headquarters, and the event attracts plenty of support from friends, family, sponsors and local cycling fans. That made the result even more special.
Tactical teamwork
In hot temperatures the race covered around 150 kilometres of relentlessly challenging terrain and was raced from start to finish at an uncompromising pace. Attacks flew from the gun and the field was quickly whittled down as riders fought to establish themselves in the decisive moves.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli were active throughout. New signing Adam Hartley featured in the early attacks, while Tom Martin was a constant presence at the front as the race began to split apart on the demanding Quernmore circuit.
For Armstrong, it wasn’t quite so straightforward.
The National Road Series leader found himself having to repeatedly chase back moves as the race exploded. Time and again he was forced to bridge across gaps as the strongest riders emerged at the head of the race.
The race was fought out on the tough roads around Lancaster and the Forest of Bowland.
As the laps ticked down, a select group formed at the front as the race headed towards the famous uphill finish in Williamson Park beneath the Ashton Memorial.
Tom Martin had worked tirelessly to aid Armstrong in the final miles; he constantly shut down riders jumping off the front and drove the pace to prevent further attacks. Drilling the pace one last time up the last climb towards Williamson Park Tom Martin swung off and left Tom Armstrong to enter the park well positioned for the sprint. After more than three and a half hours of racing Armstrong opened up his sprint and distanced his rivals to power clear and take a hugely significant solo victory.
The result comes just days after Tom’s win at the Guildford Grand Prix and continues what has been a remarkable season for our defending National Circuit Series champion.
Tom celebrated his first National Road Series victory with the team.
The success was about more than just one rider.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli also claimed the team prize on the day, while Tom Martin’s aggressive racing throughout earned him victory in the Climber’s Competition. Together, the team’s performance reinforced its position at the top of the National Road Series standings.
For us, this was a particularly emotional result.
We have spent years building towards moments like this. From local regional races through to national competition, everyone involved with the team has worked tirelessly to establish Wheelbase CabTech Castelli at the very highest level of British cycling. To see a local rider achieve his first National Road Series victory in what feels like our home race is incredibly rewarding for the whole team and for the team’s title sponsor Wheelbase.
Victories in races of this calibre are never guaranteed and should never be taken for granted. This one will live long in the memory.
Tom Armstrong takes the Lancaster Grand Prix victory and extends his lead in the National Road Series.
All photos by Dan Monaghan
Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Race Results:
- Tom Armstrong 1st
- Tom Martin 7th
- Dexter Leeming-Sykes 9th
- Aaron King 14th
- Adam Hartley 30th