Beldon plotting route back to the top

Nineteen-year-old took on the pros at the National Champs with an eye on joining them next year

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In the top 10 of the elite men’s road race at the British National Championships last week, one name stood out: Alex Beldon. Not just because he was the youngest rider there, but because he was the only one not riding for a professional team. In fact, he was the only domestic club rider in the top 16.

However, it wasn’t the top 10 that the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck rider was focused on, but the race within a race.

“It wasn’t really the overall result that I was concerned about,” Beldon told CW last week. “It’s a massive bonus, but I was thinking about who was an under-23, and what I needed to do to put myself in the best position to get a result [in that category]. A podium would have meant big exposure. I didn’t realise Joe Blackmore was still under 23, but thankfully he led out Ethan Vernon.

“I was on the limit from three laps to go, but then it calmed down and I could look around and think about what I needed to do.”

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