HSBC ELITE GP: Entries open for round one at Sheffield
Entries for the first round of the 2018 HSBC UK Elite GP Series at Sheffield on Saturday 14 April 2018 are now open.
Some tweaks have been made to the elite junior format, with a lower entry fee (£3 in advance, £5 on the day) and prize money scrapped, while the elite men competition remains the same as 2017, except for all rounds counting towards final totals instead of “best 3 from 4”. Junior riders are however permitted to enter the senior competition online in advance in 2018.
EDIT: Sheffield have announced they will be supply cash prizes for the elite junior class: £20 1st place, £10 2nd place, £5 3rd place.
The 2017 elite men’s series was won by Josh Brooke, who overcame a poor start in round one at East Park, taking two wins and a second in his final three GPs. Ben Mould was second with Myke Grimes third.
Ipswich’s Pierce Bacon won the elite junior class, over Sheffield duo Ed Morton and Adam Watson.
Entries for round one are now open: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/176308/HSBC-UK-|-Elite-Grand-Prix-Round-1
Entries close on 8 April 2018.
Round 3 at Coventry will also host a pilot for the Elite GP Pairs. The new format will see pairs of riders, not restricted to clubs, able to enter for prize money.
A football-esque “group stage” will see pairs split into 2 or 4 groups (A, B, C, D), where pairs will ride against each other pair in their group on grid 1-3 and 2-4. The top two pairs from each group make their way into either Quarter Finals or Semi Finals, depending on entries, before a one-shot run off in the final, with the highest scoring team taking the inside grids.
The scoring system will be 4, 3, 2, 0 to ensure winners are crowned. Pairs are required to wear matching race tops of any kind.
The full list of rounds of this series are listed below and the competition regulations are available HERE.
HSBC UK Elite GP Series Calendar
| Sat | 14th April | HSBC UK | Elite GP Round 1 (Junior & Senior Matches) | Sheffield | 12:00 |
| Sat | 16th June | HSBC UK | Elite GP Round 2 (Junior & Senior Matches) | Ipswich | 12:00 |
| Sat | 4th Aug | HSBC UK | Elite GP Round 3 (Junior & Senior Matches) + Pairs | Coventry | 12:00 |
| Sat | 8th Sept | HSBC UK | Elite GP Round 4 (Junior & Senior Matches) | Newport | 12:00 |