Last week, cyclists from the Wightlink Cycle Race Team celebrated major successes on the mainland. Charis Jones and Oli Nolan secured hard-fought wins in Portsmouth, while Alfie Haydon delivered an impressive performance at the National MTB XC Championships in West Yorkshire.
On Wednesday, June 4th, Charis and Oli raced at the Mountbatten circuit in Portsmouth during Round 4 of the Portsmouth North End Summer Series.
In the Women’s 3/4 category, Charis Jones aimed to improve on her recent second-place finish. She launched several attacks throughout the race, but the group stayed together until 1.5 laps remained. At that point, Charis made a bold move.
Showing great endurance, she surged ahead, creating what race organisers called “the longest lead out ever.” She held off the chasing riders to claim a well-earned victory.
Charis then competed in the Open 3/4 race, where she worked strategically to support teammate Oli Nolan. When Oli made a late breakaway, Charis took the lead of the main group, slowing the pace to help secure Oli’s chance for victory.
Earlier in the Open 3/4 race, Oli launched a perfectly timed attack. He formed a breakaway group that gained a lap on the rest of the field. Later, he broke clear again and powered to a solo finish to take the win. After this effort, Oli also raced in the E123 event. Despite fatigue, he stayed active in attacks and finished 10th in the bunch sprint.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, June 8th, Alfie Haydon competed in Round 4 of the National MTB XC Championships at Tong in West Yorkshire. The course was technically demanding, featuring rocks, drops, and steep climbs. Alfie started strongly, gaining several positions early in the race.
On lap two, torrential rain turned the track into a mud bath. Alfie adapted well to the slippery conditions and continued moving up the field. A crash on the final lap challenged him, but he fought back to finish 15th. His performance stood out among a field of elite junior riders.