 Russell Downing in 2012 edition of Lincoln GP | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | May |
| Region | Lincolnshire |
| Nickname(s) | Lincoln GP |
| Discipline | Road Race |
| Type | One-day |
| Organiser | Dan EllmorepreviouslyIan Emmerson |
| Web site | www |
| History (men) | |
| First edition | 1956 |
| First winner |  Bob Eastwood (GBR) |
| Most wins | Russell Downing (GBR) Paul Curran (GBR)(4 wins) |
| Most recent | Matthew Holmes (GBR) |
| History (women) | |
| First edition | 2015 |
| First winner | Lizzie Deignan (GBR) |
| Most wins | Alice Barnes (GBR)(2 wins) |
| Most recent | Kate Richardson (GBR) |
53°14′04″N0°32′20″W / 53.234389°N 0.538853°W /53.234389; -0.538853
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TheRapha Lincoln Grand Prix (formerly theWitham-Valley Grand Prix) is aroad bicycle race that starts and finishes inLincoln. The 2021 version was 166 km long.[1] The race is characterised by its ascent of Michaelgate, an iconic cobbled climb in the centre ofLincoln with a maximum gradient of 20%.[2] The Lincoln GP has run since the summer of 1956,[3] making it the oldest annual bike in the UK, that still runs today.
In 1955, a group of four youth cyclists fromLincoln, England came together to form aroad cycling club known as theWitham-Valley Road Racing Club. At the time a student engineer, Mike Jones was introduced to the newly formed club. He was a road racer from the Midlands who was working in Lincoln. Mike persuaded the committee ofWitham-Valley RRC to promote a major road race and volunteered his services and time as an organiser,[4] The first edition of theWitham-Valley Grand Prix took place in the summer of 1956. Huddersfield RC produced the race winner, Bob Eastwood who out-sprinted previous winner of theTour of Britain,Tony Hewson, after 90 miles (145km) of racing.[5] The following years,Ron Coe of Willson Cycles, would go onto start a dominant streak.Ron Coe started this in 1957, by out-sprintingDave Bedwell on the line.[6] The two riders would go on to do this a second time the following year.[7]Ron Coe continued his successes in 1959, by completing his trio of wins by beating Harry Reynolds and Bill Bradley.[8] The 1959 edition saw the tragic death of local rider Roy Hart who hit a van, whilst off the back of thepeloton, and starting his last lap. The Roy Hart memorial trophy is still presented to the Grand Prix winner.[9]
John Perks of Falcon Cycles would go onto win the following two editions of the race in 1960[10] and 1961,[11] followed in 1962 by Jim Grieves racing for Helyett Cycles.[12]Albert Hitchin who was very dominant prior to the race[13] took a lone win in 1963[14] and lead a Viking Cycles 1-2-3 beating both of his teammates,Stan Brittain and Bernard Burns. Hitchin went on to retain the trophy for a second year in 1964 with England international riderDerek Harrison coming second.[15] The 1965 edition was nominated as an official selection event for theroad world championships. Arthur Durham won the edition beating Doug Dailey and Roger Claridge.[16]
Velo Club Lincoln took over theWitham-Valley Grand Prix starting in 1966.[17] Abreak away group of 6 riders would form in the 1966 edition of the race. SprinterJohn Clarey lead the group from 60 miles out, holding off a chase group formed ofHugh Porter andLes West. Clarey won the race by 3 bike lengths[18] ahead ofBrian Rourke and Owen Davis who was Lincolnshire champion at the time. In 1967, New ZealanderDes Thompson became the first foreign winner leaving a small break for a solo win.[19] Third in the 1967 race was the present day commentator for the Lincoln GP, Roger Hobby.[20]
Velo Club Lincoln changed the name of theWitham-Valley Grand Prix to the Lincoln Grand Prix in 1968.[17] Doug Dailey went onto win the first race named Lincoln GP, catchingLes West on the run up to the finish, with Graham Owen in 3rd place in a small group ahead of the main pack.[21] Star Trophy ranking had now awarded to the Lincoln GP. For the next 3 years well-known riders dominated the race. In 1969, Clifton CC's all rounder,Pete Smith won by a margin of 1min 51sec.[22] Tom Mullins won the next round of racing in 1970 from a big bunch finish.[23] In both 1969 and 1970, Beeston RC'sIan Hallam finished 3rd on the podium. In 1971, track pursuit rider Dave Allen from Birkenhead North End CC finished first.[24] At the 1972 edition there was a 2-way fight between Britain's leading road racers,Phill Edwards andPhill Bayton. Brayton made a big attack with just 2 miles to go, which Edwards successfully countered and beat his opponent by 3 bike lengths on the finishing line.[25] On a wet day in 1973 Dave Vose beatPeter Watson from Clifton CC and his own team mateJohn Clewarth to take the win for Kirby CC.[26] Archer RC's, Steve Heffernan went on to win the Grand Prix of 1974 where Beeston RC'sIan Hallam came 3rd again.[27] 1975 marked the 20th edition of the Lincoln GP in which Tony Gornall of Clayton Velo out-sprinted the main bunch leading home a select group of just 17 riders.[28] 1976 produced one of the best races yet. The race finished with a sprint between 2 riders after what had been a very fast race with an average above 26mph. Bill Nixon beatJoe Waugh and was 2min 33sec up of future race winner,Steve Lawrence.[29]
The 1977 edition was just as good a race with a breakaway group formed early in containing all the race favourites; however, it had a slightly chaotic finish. A junior race that was happening at the same time as the main Lincoln GP had just received their bell for the last lap, at which point, the race leaders came through the finish line approximately 30 seconds later. It was apparent to the organisers that the leaders of the men's race and remains of the break away would catch the juniors, so after a re-think the organisers added a 1 mile extension, leaving some of the seniors, including Dave Cumming, confused and temporarily losing contact with the race.[30] Dave Cumming managed to out sprintSteve Lawrence and the remaining group to take the win.[31]Ian Hallam placed 3rd yet again.[31] At this pointSteve Lawrence, who was riding for VC Olympia Sport at the time, had finished in both places other than first, on the podium.[32] In 1978 he finally took the win, after working hard to chase down Scottish rider Robert Miller was 30 seconds ahead entering the last lap. Miller dropped to 5th by the time the line came around again, after being caught by Lawrence and a number of other riders.[33]
Lincoln Grand Prix gained International Status for racing in 1999.[17]
The 2015 Edition was held as the British national championships[34] and was also the first year of the women's Lincoln GP.
The Lincoln GP announced in early 2020 that it was facing financial challenges after losing one of its key sponsors, Chestnut Homes, who blamedBrexit for the decrease the housing market.[35] The search for a new title sponsor received a further a blow recently when British Cycling announced they would no longer fund a TV highlights shows for its National Road Series, of which the Lincoln Grand Prix is a part. After a plea by the race organiser, and as social media campaign, it was announced in late February 2020 that the race would take place in 2020 and 2021, thanks to the financial backing of sportswear brand,Rapha.[36] Rapha stated that they aimed to create a more sustainable sponsorship model to support the race in the future by selling Lincoln GP branded Caps andmerchandise[37] The 2020 Edition of the race was later cancelled due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.[38]
In 2021, partly thanks toCOVID-19, that years race was held as the national championships[39] and with the financial security brought byRapha, the one-day race was expanded to a series of 4 individual races, that took place between 14 October 2021 - 17 October 2021.[40] Day 1 and 2 sawEthan Hayter win both theNational Time Trial Championship,[41] as well as theNational Criterium Championship.[42] Day 3 saw an amateur Hill Climb Competition, and Day 4 was the Lincoln GP that incorporated theNational Road race Championship.Ineos Grenadiers team mates, Ethan Hayter andBen Swift worked together to break up the race, ultimately leading to Swift been crowned National Champion after an attack on the final lap.[43]
The 2022 Lincoln Grand Prix was scheduled for Sunday 8 May and will make up part of the National Road Series.[44]
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| Rider | Times Won | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Curran | 4 | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991 |
| Russell Downing | 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012 | |
| Ron Coe | 3 | 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| Paul Curran | 1987, 1988, 1991 | |
| John Perks | 2 | 1960, 1961 |
| Albert Hitchen | 1963, 1964 | |
| John Tanner | 1997, 2001 | |
| Chris Newton | 2000, 2010 | |
| Peter Kennaugh | 2013, 2015[N 2] | |
| Tom Stewart | 2016, 2019 | |
| Alexandar Richardson | 2018, 2023 |
| Year | Country | Rider | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015[N 2] | Great Britain | Lizzie Deignan | SD Worx | |
| 2016 | Great Britain | Alice Barnes | Drops | |
| 2017 | Great Britain | Alice Barnes | Drops | |
| 2018 | Great Britain | Rebecca Durrell | Storey Racing | |
| 2019 | Great Britain | Rebecca Durrell | CAMS–Basso Bikes | |
| 2020 | No race due toCOVID-19 pandemic[48] | |||
| 2021[N 2] | Great Britain | Pfeiffer Georgi | Team DSM | |
| 2022 | Great Britain | Becky Storrie | CAMS–Basso | |
| 2023 | Great Britain | Robyn Clay | Pro-Noctis–Heidi Kjeldsen–200 Degrees Coffee | |
| 2024 | Great Britain | Kate Richardson | Lifeplus Wahoo | |
| Rider | Times Won | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Barnes | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Rebecca Durrell | 2018, 2019 |
