Matt Bostock produced a perfectly timed ride to win the inaugural City of London Nocturne men's elite race, describing the victory as 'fantastic' on home soil.
A Special Victory in Central London
The Manx cyclist led the entire final lap, holding off Cameron Mason, Thomas Mein and Alec Briggs in a thrilling sprint finish in the men's elite race. The 28-year-old, who was crowned national elimination race champion earlier this year after also winning European team pursuit bronze in February, became the first champion of the new Nocturne.
“It feels amazing. Winning in cycling isn’t that common, so to do it in a race like this, with the crowds and in central London, is fantastic,” Bostock said. “Racing in an event like this is pretty special. It’s been a while since Nocturne was around, so for this new event to be created means a lot. As a rider, I do track, but I primarily race road races, and this sort of town-centre criterium, in the capital, is about as good as it gets.”
Blueprint for Future Events
Bostock hopes the event becomes a regular fixture: “I really hope today’s event is a blueprint for it to become a regular thing. The turnout shows what’s possible, the number of riders in the support races, the kids’ events, and the crowds watching. It highlights what cycling can do and it showcases the sport brilliantly.”
The victory was the finale of an action-packed two days in the City of London, which also saw 20-year-old Nina Lavenu take victory in the women's elite race. The Nocturne hosted a number of other races, including support races, a penny farthing race and a Brompton race, while a charity criterium in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital opened the event on Friday.
Star-Studded Competition
The elite races attracted a host of star names, with Bostock taking on British National Circuit Race champion Mason and his Rapha teammate, Olympic silver medallist Ollie Wood, amongst others.
“Going into the race, we really wanted to win,” Bostock added. “We had a few riders in the move, and once I was in the break, the odds started to come down. That’s when you think, ‘I can actually do this.’ There was a lot of tactics involved, trying to make the race play out in my favour. I think I rode it well.”
Confidence Booster
“It came down to the finish, and I had a decent sprint. From then on, it was about holding position and finishing it off. The last few laps were nerve-wracking. The other guys were forcing the pace at the front, and I had to ride defensively and stay alert. I was nervous and doing a lot of work, so it had to be executed perfectly.”
“A win like this gives you confidence and takes a bit of pressure off. It’s good to get one on the board, and hopefully a few more will come along,” Bostock concluded.
