Cycling Sheffield’s Alexander Foster wins the Danum Trophy

Cycling Sheffield’s Alexander Foster wins the Danum Trophy

What a weekend! Massive congratulations to Alexander Foster and the lads at Cycling Sheffield for taking the win at the Danum Trophy. Proper Yorkshire racing — full gas from start to finish and decided right on the line.

At Bike Box Alan we’re proud to support the team and even better to see one of our Road Aero Easyfit bike boxes handed over as a prize on the day.

Nothing better than seeing it all come together — top riders, tough racing, and a great result.

The centenary edition of Doncaster Wheelers CC’s South Yorkshire showpiece wasn’t settled until the final meters, following a frantic pursuit that neutralized a late-race breakaway from George Stephen (BCC Race Team) and Oliver Dawson (JAKROO).

Race Report

Under the glow of spring sunshine on a course adorned for the club’s 100th anniversary, the 2026 Danum Trophy lived up to its reputation for attrition. The High Melton and Sprotbrough circuit proved as grueling as ever, requiring all 11¼ laps to determine a victor. With early favorite Deetray Jarrett (Vigo–Rías Baixas) away competing in Spain, the field sensed a power vacuum and attacked from the neutral zone.

The action ignited almost immediately. Five riders broke away in the opening kilometers, eventually swelling to seven as George Stephen (BCC RT), John Bardsley (Atom 6 – ADWD), and James Sawyers (Cycling Sheffield) established an early rhythm. By the midway point, a massive 18-rider lead group had formed, carving out a lead of over three minutes on a thinning peloton. Cycling Sheffield exerted control with Sawyers, Alex Foster, and Denholm Edwards in the mix, while JAKROO Handsling matched them with the trio of Oliver Dawson, Harrison Dainty, and Dylan Belton Owen.

With five laps remaining, Stephen pushed the pace on the Cadeby climb, thinning out the leaders. Two laps later, he and Dawson launched a sustained duo attack, crossing the line with a 28-second cushion as the three-lap board came out. However, the pack wouldn’t let them go. Foster bridged the gap, Stephen briefly faltered before fighting back, and by the final bell, the leaders were once again united.

The climax arrived in the final 600 meters when Dawson launched a desperate flyer. This triggered a series of explosive sprints up the final rise. Foster timed his move perfectly, launching off Dainty’s wheel to seize the lead and hold it to the tape. Lewis Tinsley (BCC RT) secured the final spot on the podium.

Rider Reactions

“It was flat-out from the gun,” Foster remarked to The British Continental. “The splits happened so early it actually caught me off guard. I had to burn quite a few matches just to get into that front selection.”

Reflecting on why the lead group stayed together so late, Foster noted:

“There were still too many fresh legs keeping things cohesive. It wasn’t until the final 15 minutes that you could see the fatigue setting in and gaps appearing, but even then, nothing was sticking. It really came down to who had the kick left in their legs at the very end.”

Regarding the nail-biting finish, he added:

“I saw Harrison [Dainty] make his move and knew I had to latch on. Once I passed him, I was checking through my legs and could still see his wheel right there. It was just a matter of digging in until the line—Harrison definitely had a second wind in him.”

Series Standings

Following his victory and a solid eighth-place finish at the PB Performance Espoirs, Alex Foster now leads the U23 Open National Road Series with 46 points, jumping seven spots. The leaderboard remains tight:

Previous leader Nicholson slid to sixth after missing the weekend’s action. With three rounds remaining, the title race is still very much in play.