Tulett Leads Home Great Britain One-Two At Hadleigh Park International

Dan Tulett made history as he led home a sensational Great Britain Cycling Team one-two in the UCI MTB Junior Series at the Haleigh Park International on Sunday. Tulett became the first British male to win a UCI MTB Junior Series race as he powered to victory on home turf. Cameron Orr followed Tulett over the line in the junior men’s race in Essex on an excellent day for British Cycling’s Junior Academy as all four riders finished in the top-ten, with Calum Fernie fifth and Sean Flynn 10th.

Junior Men’s Podium. Credit: Huw Williams

Steep descents on steep head angles. Credit: Huw Williams

“It’s the biggest win of my career,” Tulett, 17, said. “I didn’t even finish this race a year ago so this means everything to me. I attacked at the last feed station where it’s all uphill, then once you’re into the arena in the lead it’s all over, I knew I had it.”

Tulett taking an emotional win. Credit: Huw Williams

Tullett with BC Coach Simon Watts. Credit: Huw Williams

Last takes thrilling win

British champion Annie Last took a thrilling win in a sprint finish in the elite women’s event. Riding for OMX Pro Team, Last came out on top in a two-rider sprint with Barbara Benko.

Last fights Benko for the win. Credit: Huw Williams

Great Britain Cycling Team Senior Academy rider Ella Conolly was 13th, while Abergavenny’s Ffion James took eighth and Last’s teammate Isla Short ninth.

Last: back on form. Credit: Huw Williams

“There was enough wind today to make this a really tactical race so it was great to get the experience of riding at the front and stopping chases,” Last said. “I was happy to go into a sprint finish or lead it out as there were only two of us. I haven’t raced for four weeks. I had a good winter of training, then did the Cape Epic which I’d never done before, after a bit of recovery from that I feel like I’m in a good place ahead of the world cup in two weeks.”

Junior women’s race

In the junior women’s race, European champion Sophie Wright was fourth with Emily Wadsworth also in the top-ten with a sixth-place finish. Laura Stigger took the win.

Sophie Wright. Credit: Huw Williams

Dry conditions, despite the clouds. Credit: Huw Williams

11th for Clacherty

Great Britain Cycling Team Senior Academy rider Frazer Clacherty was 11th in the elite men’s race – the second highest under-23. British champion Grant Ferguson was fifth as Maxime Marotte took the victory.

It’s a course designed for spectators as well as riders. Credit: Huw Williams

Swoop down through the tunnel. Credit: Huw Williams

Such success among the junior men surely casts further doubt on the wisdom of UK Sport’s refusal to provide funding for male XC riders – with junior riders getting results like these, it looks like the funding criteria may well be short sighted. Let’s hope that British Cycling manages to find a way to fund these riders through the new MTB pathway currently being devised. It’s thanks to British Cycling and partner HSBC that these riders – and other men on the GB team – are still able to follow their full time training plan. And if Last continues to turn out results like these, could we see her lining up on the start line in Tokyo?

Maxime Marotte takes the win. Credit: Huw Williams

Elite men’s race tackling a climb. Credit: Huw Williams

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.