A bow has been tied round Verulam Reallymoving's participation in the Central Cyclo-cross League with plenty of glad tidings to deliver.
The league was one of the St Albans-based cycle race team's main goals for 2023 and they delivered in spades, with the younger riders leading the charge.
New signing Jake Avis was the clear overall winner in the U8 boys category, taking maximum points in seven of the nine-round series, while George Rice in his first year as an U12 finished fifth in the overall standings.
Emma Knox started her season with dominant wins in the first three rounds of the U14 girls but then suffered an injury which meant she missed several races.
However, she was back before the end of the season and still performed strongly enough to finish third overall.
And to cap it off she then went and won round 10 of the Wessex Cyclo-cross League.
It was in the U16 boys category though that Verulam Reallymoving really dominated.
Alarik Knox won the series, followed by Samuel Stacey in third and Benjamin Cousins sixth.
The adults showed there was still life in their legs too though, regularly making trips to the podium.
Liz McKie won the V50 women’s category for the season, Paul Caton took top honours among the V60 men, having also won the Eastern Region version as well, and Rachel Dunn was second in the V40 women.
Success also came to former VRM star and Verulam Cycling Club junior, Matt Watson, as he won the league's men series, riding for new team Ride Revolution Coaching.
The final round of the league was hosted by Verulam Cycling Club at Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted and proved to be a hugely popular event especially for those supporting the host club’s own racing team.
Jake Avis took the win in the U8 boys, George Rice was fourth in the U12s while Samuel Stacey was second, Alarik Knox third and Benjamin Cousins sixth in the U16s.
For the girls Emma Knox was first in the U14 girls, and a whole minute ahead of the first U16 girl.
Rachel Dunn was fourth in the V40 women, Liz McKie was second V50 and Alan Gunner was second in V40 men's group.
Verulam Reallymoving also have been leading contenders in cyclo-cross races across the UK, with Samuel Stacey, Alarik Knox and Emma Knox all currently in British Cycling’s top-10 national rankings.
The team have said farewell to Mark McGrady this month as he relocates to Northern Ireland.
However, he finished his time in Verulam Reallymoving colours in style by taking fifth in the Ulster Championships.
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