Decision time awaits for Harrison Wood

Harrison Wood faces an anxious wait to see whether he has secured an extended contract with WorldTour cycling team Cofidis.

The 23-year-old Torquay rider flies to the Far East this week to ride in the season-ending Japan Cup on Sunday (Sept 20).

His future with French squad Cofidis may well be decided by then, after he boosted his chances of a third year at WorldTour level with a series of strong performances in Italy last week.

In a gruelling schedule of one-day races, Wood’s best effort was probably his 20th place, only seven seconds down on winner Neilson Powless(EF Education) in the Grand Piemonte.

He was also 49th in the Coppa Bernochi, where he sacrificed his chances of a higher finish working for teammate Alex Zingle, was one of only 53 finishers in the Giro dell’Emilia and 53rd in Saturday’s ‘monument’ classic Tour of Lombardy.

Emilia and Lombardy were both won in sensational solo style by Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

During 2024 Wood rode well, in support roles, in major races in Spain, France, Poland, Norway and the Giro d’Italia (66th/22nd Youth), where he became the first Mid-Devon CC member to ride one of cycling’s Grand Tours since Jeremy Hunt in 2012.

“I’d love to stay with Cofidis and have another crack at WorldTour level next year,” he said, “especially as I believe I’m getting stronger all the time, as well as more experienced.

“I felt tired coming out of Lombardia, but so is everyone else, and I’m trying to make the most of a few days rest before a big effort in Japan next weekend.

“I’ve never been to Japan before, so I’m really looking forward to it, and I think the (hilly) course there should suit me.”

The South West Cyclo-Cross League held the third of nine rounds at Coxleigh Barton in North Devon on Sunday, where MDCC’s James Allen followed up his Round Two victory with another win in the Under-14 category.

Other MDCC results included: U12 – 3 Freddie Simcock, 13 Jacob Coles, 14 Arnold Dollar-Smirnov, 16 Henry Hatton; U16 – 3 Matt Holmes, 4 Meryn Kitching, 5 Ben Picton; Vet40 – 4 Emily Simcock; Vet50 – 3 Nicky Quant, 3 James Bovey.

Round Four is at Wadebridge Showground this Sunday.