Harrogate Nova Goes International: Strong Start in the Basque Mountains
Harrogate Nova Race Team has returned from its first European race of the 2025 season, the Gipuzkoa Klasikoa MJ UCI 2.1, with plenty to be proud of, a few battle scars, and a long list of valuable lessons.
The trip to the Basque Country marked the beginning of five or six planned international races this season, made possible thanks to the incredible support of the Rayner Foundation. Our team, including Nova riders and guests from Prologue RT, raced against some of the top junior talent in Europe, in a mountainous two-day challenge based just outside San Sebastián.
Taking on the Gipuzkoa Klasikoa
Now in its 31st edition, the Gipuzkoa Klasikoa is known for its brutally hilly terrain and elite competition. Former winners include none other than Alejandro Valverde (1997), and this year’s race featured 29 international teams and 170 riders, including just three UK squads: Harrogate Nova, Tofauti Everyone Active, and Fensham Howes.
Nova's lineup included:
Magnus Denwood
Daniel Thompson (Olympic Development Programme)
Dexter Townsend
Mark Ketteringham (guest)
James Beagley (guest)
Edward Fraile-Whysall (guest)
Notably absent due to A-level exams were Liege-Bastogne-Liege Junior winner Harry Hudson and two other Nova riders - proof that our athletes are balancing racing with academic commitments.
Stage 1: Fast Starts and Hard Lessons
Saturday's 98.5km Stage 1 rolled out of Lazkao in blazing 30°C heat. Daniel Thompson got the team off to a flying start, leaping into an early break and securing 3 sprint points, putting him in contention for the green jersey.
The relentless climbs quickly tested the field. Despite suffering a mechanical late on, Daniel showed real grit to get back to the bunch using the race convoy, which was a big learning moment. Meanwhile, Dexter, Mark, and James stayed strong at the front, with Dexter ultimately finishing an impressive 19th overall (6th U19), and James 36th. Mark came in 74th, battling cramp after underestimating hydration needs on such a hot day.
Further back, Ed struggled with the heat, while Magnus, battling a stomach bug from the night before, rode courageously to finish 139th. A huge achievement given the circumstances.
📸 Stage 1 highlights on Instagram
Stage 2: Chaos, Courage, and a Breakaway Ride
Sunday’s 104km Stage 2 in San Sebastián brought cooler temperatures and wetter roads, but also carnage. Punctures, crashes, and mechanicals dominated the early phase, including a heavy crash for Dexter and mechanical issues for James.
But the day belonged to Mark Ketteringham, who made the key breakaway of eight riders. He was distanced on the final climb, but descended fearlessly to claim a career-best 7th place finish at UCI level - a phenomenal achievement.
James once again rode solidly to 34th, and despite his crash, Dexter clawed his way back to the bunch after a bike change to finish just behind. Ed and Daniel were unfortunately caught up in crashes and DNF’d, while Magnus, still unwell, made the difficult call to DNS.
Reflections and Lessons
The weekend was a chance for our riders to learn and grow at the highest level of junior competition. Among the many takeaways:
How to rejoin the race through the convoy safely
Hydration and fuelling amidst the heat
Collecting bottles from the team car
The importance of timing and prep
Why improvising roadside bike drops (sorry DS team!) can lead to disqualification...
Mark summed it up best:
“I’d like to say thank you for this weekend and the opportunity for me to race. The support was amazing and helped a lot - it was a great experience.”
What’s Next for Nova?
After some well-earned rest and recovery, the team turns its attention back to the UK calendar with the CAMS Yorkshire Classic and other Junior National Series races. Our next European challenge will be the Classic Region Sud U19 (2x UCI 1.1) at the end of June.
Further accepted UCI entries include:
UCI 2.1 MJ Tour of Austria
UCI 1.1 MJ GP Plouay
UCI 2.1 MJ GP Philippe Gilbert
Plus a possible place at UCI 2.1 MJ GP Ruebliland (Switzerland)
📸 Check out all the action from the trip:
Stay tuned - the season’s just getting started.