Continental Challenges, Nat A Podium and Equipment News
Boucles de l'Artois & Mur de Huy – Continuing Our European Campaign
We raced on with back‑to‑back UCI races in France and Belgium. Boucles de l’Artois (Thélus → Fruges, 190 km) on 4 April 2026 began calmly until a big crash at 40 km upended the race. Most of the peloton – and our own squad – was caught up in the melee and the restart turned into a selective war of attrition with relentless pace. Rowan Baker rallied to 27th, while Will Truelove and Tom Heal battled on to cross the line.
JAKROO Handsling Rider motivation on the Mur de Huy
Two days later, the first edition of the U23 Mur de Huy Classic covered 150 km around Huy and included the famous Mur that has proven decisive at the Fléche Wallone. The steep finish delivered a real elimination race. Guest rider Alex Murphy and Harrison Dainty came home in the mid‑thirties. These UCI tests gave our riders & guests yet more top-level experience and sharpened our race craft for the British calendar.
East Cleveland Classic – First National A of the Season
Back on home soil, the East Cleveland Classic opened the British Cycling National Road Series on 12 April 2026. Alex Franks joined the long breakaway and sprinted up Saltburn Bank to third. Rowan Baker looked set for a top ten until a mechanical at the base of Saltburn Bank forced him to shoulder his bike and run up the climb – a moment you can relive on our social channels. DS Phil Maddocks and mechanic Oscar Vera from Roubaix London kept him in the race, and he crossed the line 20th ahead of a reduced peloton. Tom Heal, Conor White, Oliver Dawson, Harrison Dainty and Will Truelove all finished the race (only 39 riders out of the starting 120 did), boding well for clashes to come.
Tom Heal riding up Saltburn Bank at the 2026 East Cleveland Classic. Photography: Amelia Clough
Rankings update
It’s still very early in the season, but worth noting that the East Cleveland result catapulted Alex Franks to 2nd in the British Continental individual standings, with JAKROO Handsling Racing sitting 3rd in the overall team competition.
Alex Franks 3rd at the 2026 East Cleveland Classic. Photography: Amelia Clough
Equipment & Raffle Update
Crash damage in France has further stretched our equipment stock. Fresh Handsling A1R0evoS frames are on the way and we will unveil more kit soon. In the meantime, our raffle remains the best way to support the team – every ticket helps replenish bikes, wheels and spares and gives you the chance to win a variety of prizes. We couldn’t do this without our partners JAKROO, Handsling, Alta Via, OTE, Ekoï, Roubaix London and Myatts of Mockbeggar.
Thanks for following our journey – stay tuned for more racing and behind‑the‑scenes stories.
