“I feel great, it was a really grippy course, a great day out and I’m so happy to have won!” Then it was a wait of several minutes before the rest of the riders hit the finish to seal a fantastic weekend of championship racing hosted by Glasgow Nightingale Cycling Club.ĭobbins, resplendent in his new National Champions jersey, said after the race: The riders were coming in now separated by nothing more than seconds, down to Alex Ball in 22 nd spot. The bunch had been closing and were led home 30 seconds later by Gregor McArthur, once again showing he can race uphill. At the line, it was a win by a bike length with Joe Shillabeer just two seconds back in third and Louis Moore right on his wheel to take fourth. Shillabeer led it out, while Logan Maclean came round him with 50 metres to go, Matti came off his wheel and slowly pulled alongside and then edged ahead, the two teammates fighting it out between them. The decisive move went with 40km to go when Dobbins and Ciaran McSherry (The Cycling Academy) managed to get away from the much-reduced bunch of around 30 riders.įrom that much reduced peloton Louis Moore (Vanelli- Project Go), Alex Ball (Zappi Racing Team), Joe Shillabeer (05/03) joined the front on the final ascent of the “mini-braes” climb and Logan Maclean (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) bridged across on the final climb of the Braes and made it six at the front.Īfter some strong riding from the Wheelbase duo, Alex Ball and fast-finisher Ciaran McSherry were dropped and the four remaining riders worked well, going through and off towards the final roundabout turn and the almost one-kilometer climb to the finish line.

He would be away on his own for a lap in what looked like a strong move but the Wheelbase guys were just biding their time, Callum Thornley bossing the front of the bunch.

The descent and the rolling roads along the top of Loch Venachar would see the two main groups come back together but the others wouldn’t see the head of the race again, steadily losing time as the race unwound.Īfter some early attack from Andy Brown (Velocity 44 RT), the first real move of the race came from Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) with a solo attack as the race came round the smaller ‘Braes’ loop. Gregor McArthur (The Cycling Academy) would show his climbing credentials by figuring in every prime to take that particular in-race prize. One big bunch, followed by one smaller bunch and then an even smaller group at the tail end. Rolling away from the start it didn’t take the bunch long to hit the slopes and this resulted in the main group splitting into three. The early ascent of Dukes Pass above Aberfoyle always produces surprises and this running of the National Road Race Championships, which was held in conjunction with the Sam Robinson Memorial Road Race, would prove to be no different. The 120km route setting off from Balfron High School and finishing in Killearn saw the the inclusion several climbs. Matti Dobbins took advantage of an impressive show of strength from his Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team to sprint his way to the Scottish National Road Race Championship title in Killearn.

Andy and yet it moves