Sam Carrotte completed a hill-climb and criterium double, taking the hill-climb title in Stirling before winning the criterium crown in a finish decided by chip timing and video evidence at Linlithgow.
Dundee’s Carrotte won the hill-climb title at the Logie Kirk Climb in 4min 19sec. He also prevailed in a rain-affected 75-minute criterium at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit, where chip timing and video evidence placed him three thousandths of a second ahead of Aaron King.
The results gave Carrotte titles in markedly different events. Carrotte set the quickest reported time at the Logie Kirk Climb, while the criterium was decided by a final sprint after repeated attacks in wet conditions.
Carrotte takes third hill-climb crown in Stirling
Scottish Cycling reported that sunny conditions greeted riders at the Logie Kirk Climb, a contrast to the wet Wallace Monument event at which Carrotte had also won in 2023. The report said Carrotte and Ben Millar were the final two riders to start, with Millar setting off one minute after Carrotte.
Sam Barbour, the Scottish road-race champion, had set an early benchmark and later took silver in the student championship. Cameron Ritchie of Edinburgh RC subsequently moved into the leading position before Carrotte and Millar made their runs.
Carrotte recorded 4min 19sec, according to Scottish Cycling, and Millar finished one second slower. The margin earned Carrotte his third hill-climb title. Barbour’s performance also brought student-championship silver, while Gregor Calvert won that title and William Dykes took bronze.
The Stirling race was hosted with Scottish Student Sport and the University of Stirling, Scottish Cycling said, with around 150 riders taking part across the championship categories. Carrotte won the Senior Open category.
Chip timing decides wet Linlithgow criterium
Carrotte raced at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit, where Scottish Cycling said the 75-minute championship race began in pouring rain. Logan Maclean of One Life set a demanding early tempo, and the front of the field had been reduced to eight riders after roughly 10 minutes.
Barbour and James McCallum made attacks during the early stages, although Scottish Cycling said none established a decisive advantage. King later tried a move near the midpoint, only for Ross Birrell to bring it back. Further attacks and counter-attacks, particularly involving Maclean and Barbour, gradually reduced the lead group.
McCallum, Elijah Kwon and Alastair McNicol dropped away, leaving five contenders. Carrotte also lost the wheels of the leading group but recovered to rejoin the front four, a response that kept him in contention as Maclean’s late effort was neutralised.
Scottish Cycling said Maclean’s high opening pace had ensured the early group was quickly reduced, while the later attacks added to the fatigue in the wet conditions. Kwon, who rode for Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT, and McNicol of dooley’s cycles were among those unable to remain with the front group before the finish was decided.
King began the final sprint on the inside after the last bend, with Carrotte responding on the outside. Scottish Cycling reported that the winner could not be identified by sight at the finish, but chip timing backed by video evidence gave Carrotte victory by 0.003sec. King received silver, while Barbour narrowly beat Birrell for bronze.
The double underlined Carrotte’s ability in contrasting championship tests: first by setting the quickest time on the Logie Kirk climb, then by regaining the decisive group and winning a tightly judged bunch sprint in Linlithgow.
Junior medals at the same criterium
Scottish Cycling also reported a close junior race at the West Lothian circuit. Arran Drackford of Falkirk Junior BC and Colin Johnston of Spokes RT – Oscar Onley Dev. stayed together throughout the 75-minute event before contesting their own sprint.
Drackford finished ahead of Johnston to take gold, while West Lothian Clarion’s Duncan Hind earned bronze. Those medals were decided in the junior race rather than in Carrotte’s senior finish.