Alderney Baker sprinted to home victory while Thomas Mein powered to a solo masterclass in Round 1 of the Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series in Derby.

Elite women

Alderney Baker (Team Empella) took her first-ever round victory at the Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series. She outsprinted the current national champion, Anna Kay (Proximus-Cyclis-Alphamotorhomes) at the end of a thrilling three-way battle in Derby, proving a popular victor at a race organised by Team Empella.

There was a sense of urgency on the start line at the first round of the Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series, with the riders eager to test their mettle on a fast and relatively dry circuit. That urgency was soon apparent as they set off at high speed, with Alice Colling (Shibden Apex RT) leading the way ahead of the reigning national champion and a trio of Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS riders.

Kay pressed on through the opening lap, cornering fast through the technical woods section. Coming into the hurdles for the first time, she had only Xan Crees (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS) and Colling for company.

Behind, Elena Day (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS) and Baker were working together to try and close the gap, with Baker soon pulling away.

The second lap followed the same pattern as the first, with Kay pushing on alongside Crees in a bid to break free, and her efforts distanced Colling, who slipped back into fifth place on the course. Meanwhile, Baker had been slowly reeling in the leaders, using her knowledge of the course to gain time with a blisteringly fast second lap, and she made contact before the halfway point.

With the new race status quo established, Crees, Kay, and Baker set about building their advantage on the chasers while battling for an advantage on the flowing course.

Crees was the first to attack, carving a line through the switchbacks on the back of the course, only to see Kay accelerate through the steep gradients of the wooded section. For a moment, it looked as though Kay had the better of her breakaway companions, but she could only gain a few meters’ advantage and the trio were back together for the penultimate lap.

It seemed that none of the three riders could separate themselves from the others, but they weren’t content to wait for the sprint. Remounting quickly after a hurdle, Baker launched a stinging attack on the right-hand side, coming from behind and catching the others by surprise. It was left to Kay to drag the Team Empella rider back, bringing herself and Crees back on terms for the final lap.

Crees was next to go, pulling away and gaining a small advantage. However, disaster struck as she pushed to the limit in a bid to escape. Coming round one of the off-camber bends, she overshot the corner and crashed. Baker and Kay flew past, leaving the Team Spectra p/b DAS rider to pick herself back up and curse a missed opportunity.

Coming into the final 500m, Baker jumped early and led into the last corner, powering away from a tiring Kay and holding a slim advantage all the way to the line. As she crossed the finish line, the emotion poured out and she punched the air in celebration ahead of a defeated Kay.

Behind, Crees had remounted and led in her teammate Day, while Colling rolled in for fifth after her early performance. Baker now leads the Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series, having previously won the 2022/23 season overall title.

Elite open

Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS fielded one of their strongest teams to date in a bid to unseat the dominant Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) in the first round of the elite open Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series.

Mein already had three wins to his name this season after a fruitful campaign at the Hope Supercross, but a slight injury in the final round left question marks over his form coming into the National Trophy Series. 

As the whistle blew, the riders thundered off onto the fast circuit, but the ground was still slightly damp from the morning, leaving riders having to make the high-risk choice between speed or stability on every corner.

Dan and Toby Barnes (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS) were the fastest off the line, with Tom Couzens (Montezuma's Race Team) and Mein not far behind. Couzens accelerated hard as they hit the grass for the first time, leading the bunch through the early flat sections. 

In the melee, Dan Barnes made a daring move over the hurdles, deciding to hop the jumps rather than run them, and he pulled past Couzens to lead the race through the first lap while Mein was further down the field.

However, Mein was relentless in his pursuit, riding his own race and cutting a swathe through the field. By the second lap, he pulled alongside Dan Barnes and pushed on.

Behind, Mein’s longtime rival and former teammate, Toby Barnes, was in hot pursuit. The Spectra Racing rider was making his way back through the field after losing ground in the early fight for position, and he was soon back alongside his brother and battling for the podium.

Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS were proving to be the strongest team on the day, with Jenson Young up against the young Alfie Amey (TEKKERZ CC), breaking the elastic to move into fourth place on the course.

Nonetheless, Mein appeared unstoppable. He was lapping considerably faster than the chasers and soon had a lead of over a minute. In spite of the best efforts of the Barnes brothers, there was nothing that could be done against the in-form Mein. Even a slight stumble on the final lap couldn’t slow the Hope Factory Racing rider and he cruised into the final lap with a comfortable lead and enough time to celebrate his third historic win on the Derby course.

Toby Barnes led in Dan just under a minute later, while Young was a further 10 seconds back, capping a strong showing from the Team Spectra p/b DAS riders.

Junior women

Zoe Roche took the win in her first-ever appearance in the junior National Trophy Series after a hard-fought race against Anna Patterson (Ignite) and Zoe Parker (Solihull CC) saw her solo to the win following a final-lap attack.

The pace was fast from the start, with Parker leading the way and pulling the trio of riders clear who would battle for the win.

Roche was most active in trying to break the deadlock, applying pressure to the lead group and attempting to move clear on the climbs through the woods, but she was unable to make her move stick and Parker led Patterson back up to Roche’s wheel on the flats. Instead, the three leaders seemed to call a truce and they set about working together.

By the final lap, the trio had built up a 40-second lead on the rest of the field, before Roche attacked. 

The Ribble-Verge Sport rider gained a small advantage and did not hold back, putting in one of the fastest laps of the race and pulling her lead out to five seconds. Patterson and Parker tried to bring her back once again, but the elastic snapped for the final time and Roche crossed the line with enough time to raise both arms and savour the moment.

Behind, Patterson edged out Parker in a close sprint for second. Roche now leads the junior Lloyds Bank National Trophy Series on her first attempt.

Junior open

In the junior open race, Oscar Amey (TRINITY Racing) was unstoppable as he powered to a solo victory ahead of Milo Wills (VC Londres) and Jamie Stewart (Shibden Cycling Club).

Amey, the current national champion, came into the race as the favourite, having won the Derby round last year and three victories at the Hope Supercross under his belt already this season. 

Stewart and Wills had pushed Amey close in those opening races, but this would be a demonstration from the start. Amey was fastest off the line, leading into the bridges with only Wills able to hold his wheel. As he reached the hurdles, he opted to stay on the bike and rode them, powering up the short climb straight after, whereas Wills lost his balance and had to dismount. Amey was away and he never looked back.

Behind, Stewart clawed his way back to Wills and the duo proved almost inseparable in their pursuit of Amey, but the TEKKERZ CC rider was flying. As the gap grew, so did Amey’s penchant for flare, and he took the opportunity over each bridge to launch his bike into the air and tailwhip for the spectators. 

Amey’s fun didn’t slow him down, and he came into the finishing straight with a healthy lead of almost 45 seconds, winning after a dominant display of power. Stewart managed to pull away from Wills in the finale, proving the stronger of the two chasers.

Photo gallery

Podiums

A full list of podium placings is below:

Elite women

1. Alderney Baker (Team Empella)
2. Anna Kay (Proximus-Cyclis-Alphamotorhomes)
3. Xan Crees (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS)

Elite open

1. Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing)
2. Toby Barnes (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS)
3. Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Racing p/b DAS)

Under-23 open

1. Alfie Amey (TEKKERZ CC)
2. Ben Chilton (Derby Mercury)
3. Oliver Halliday

Under-23 women

1. Elena Day (Spectra Racing p/b DAS)
2. Alice Colling (Shibden Apex RT)
3. Esther Wong (Shibden Cycling Club)

Women junior

1. Zoe Roche (Ribble - Verge Sport)
2. Anna Patterson (Ignite)
3. Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)

Open junior

1. Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC)
2. Jamie Stewart (Shibden Cycling Club)
3. Milo Wills (VC Londres)

Open U16

1. Daniel Davies (Maindy Flyers CC)
2. Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club)
3. Freddie Winkley (Shibden Apex RT)

Open U14

1. Josh Stewart (SteppingStanes Youth CC)
2. Isaac Vickery (ROTOR Race Team)
3. Adam Short (Cotswold Veldrijden)

Women’s U16

1. Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO)
2. Heidi Roscoe (CTW Racing)
3. Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle CC)

Women’s U14

1. Lauren Fox (Mid Devon CC)
2. Harriet Butcher (Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club)
3. Isla Jebb (Hope Tech Factory Racing)

Women’s Veterans 40-49

1. Ceris Styler (ROTOR Race Team)
2. Kate Eedy (Team Empella)
3. Jennifer Andrews (Cycle Club Ashwell)

Women’s Veterans 50-59

1. Vickie Wilkinson (Cheltenham & CountyCC)
2. Miriam Whitehurst (Reflex Racing)
3. Zoe Codd (Grity Race Team)

Women’s Veterans 60+

1. Tracey Fletcher (Magspeed Racing)
2. Carolyn Speirs (Grity Race Team)
3. Carol Miller (Abergavenny Road Club)

Open Veterans 40-49

1. Adrian Lansley (Pedalon.co.uk)
2. Lewis Craven (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
3. Paul Oldham (Hope Tech Factory Racing)

Open Veterans 50-59

1. Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Pioneer DJ)
2. Ian Taylor (Shibden Cycling Club)
3. Nicholas Whitley (Team Enable MI Racing)

Open Veterans 60+

1. Grant Johnson
2. John Elwell (www.Zepnat.com RT - Lazer)
3. Michael Davies (Pedal Power Loughborough)