Racing Diary - Remi Le Compte, Castle Combe Good Friday Easter Classic 2026

This year I started my UK racing season on Good Friday at the Castle Combe Easter Classic circuit race which is also incorporated into the British Circuit Southern Series. I started by traveling to Castle Combe on Thursday and prepared for my race with some openers and a quick scout of what the course looked like. It was then an early wake up on Good Friday to make our way to the race and get signed on.

After getting my gear restriction checked and signed on I started to get prepared as there was a small change in weather resulting in it being very wet which was a bit worrying as it was my first road race/circuit race. Shortly after, it was time to race so, I did a small warmup and got prepared to start with the seventeen other riders in my category and twenty on the course.

It was a much slower start than I was used to after some of my experience racing cross country mountain bike in the UK, however that came into my favour after a very disappointing start leaving me at the back of the race going into the first corner.

I then quickly moved myself up into the front three where I positioned myself taking turns for the first lap as we worked to start dropping people from the back of the group. Once we had made it to around lap three the pace started to pick up and people started to make attacks where I was able to get into the breakaway of just under ten riders. Soon after that another two riders made a solo breakaway and no one decided to chase. At around this point in the race I started to notice where my lack of racing experience came in as I ended up pulling most of the turns on the front to try and bring the breakaway back. After these big efforts into a head wind I started to lose energy and when another attack went I wasn't able to follow. This resulted in me being left in a three man group for a sprint finish, where I was able to take second in the sprint and seventh overall.

I was reasonably pleased with my result although there are many improvements to be made.

Remi Le Compte.

Utmost & Ian Brown's Academy Rider.