Race insights – in 2015, Erick Rowsell was 8th overall so we asked him for an insight into what it is like to ride for GC in the Tour of Yorkshire
![]() |
Riding for GC: Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis)
“It is a difficult race to ride GC for especially being over four days” Erick explained at the start of Klondike GP. “There are potentially two or even three days that could be GC days.”
Erick Rowsell getting in some hard miles before the Tour of Yorkshire by being out front of the Klondike GP all day on Sunday
“When you go into a race like that riding for GC, every single day you can’t sit back at all. We saw that a few years ago when both myself and Rich (Handley) were up there on GC and Rich lost time on a sprint stage when a few gaps appeared so every day you are fighting not to lose time. So you have to prepare well for it so we’ve had a good recce of it so we know the stages where the difficult climbs are.”
“Doing that helps massively when you have an idea of the parcour and you can see where you think the race is going to be made. You have to be careful the way you ride and select the days you think are going to be GC days but at the same time not be stupid and give away any time on the days that are not GC days. Like the one that finishes in Scarborough, it’s exposed and if the wind blows we could have splits on that.”
“That’s what makes riding for GC and it is stressful. During a stage, you can get an idea of how it’s going to go like if the break has just gone and everyone stops, then you can afford to cruise round for a little bit but if you’re serious about riding for GC, then you need to be quite aware of what is happening and also have your teammates around you to get you out of trouble if need be.”
… continued after advert
“Having a team behind you helps massively especially in a race like the Tour of Yorkshire with the climbs it has where as a GC rider, you have to have the legs to go with the moves but most of the race is done getting into the bottom of the climbs. Especially into that hill top finish on stage 2, it’s going to be like a bunch sprint lead out at the bottom of that climb so to have a team around you to deliver you at the bottom of the climbs at the right time is one of the key things. You can have the best legs in the world, but if you start it in 100th wheel, you’re not going to be there at the finish.”
Asked if you have to be very aware of riders letting wheels go even in a race packed with WorldTour pros, Erick replied “massively. More so in that type of race where a world tour rider has done their job. Where as in Britain, some guys will carry on after doing their job because they want a top 10 or top 20, the world tour riders doesn’t care if he finishes last once he has done the lead out so people will sit up and that is how gaps form. So you have to be aware not to give away stupid time.”
Good luck to Erick and Madison Genesis in the Tour de Yorkshire
Cycle Division’s New Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- HC Result: Elevate RT Hill Climb
- Result: Welsh Road Race Championships 2024
- Result: Will Houghton Circuit Race (Hillingdon)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- TT Result: Barnesbury CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Rutland CC 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VC Glasgow South 22m TT
- BMCR Result: E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale (Darley Moor)
- Crit Result: Melton Olympic CC Summer Crit 4
- Youth Result: The ‘Back to School’ Youth Races
- HC Result: Dursley Road Club Hill Climb
- TT Report: VTTA 100 Mile Championship
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- RR Result: Nick Clayton Memorial RR
- RR Result: Jef Schils Memorial Road Race (Nat B)
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: YBC & No Nonsense Circuit races
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship (Women)
- RTTC 10 mile Time Trial Championships (Youth/Junior)
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- REPORT: Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
- RR Result: Junior Tour of Wales
- BMCR RESULT: Dulwich Paragon Road Race
- BMCR Result: Dinosaurs at the Palace
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Crit Result: Mountbatten Summer Circuit Series #10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #25
- RR Result: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
- Youth Results: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 19
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Girls)
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Boys)
- Crit Result: 360 Cycling Open Circuit Race
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TT Result: Sussex CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Coalville Wheelers 19.8m TT
- Crit Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 9
- Youth Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 4
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships