16-year-old from Seixas' Decathlon academy beats Britain's best climbers but can't take the national title
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleDecathlon CMA CGM's development system has already produced a 20-year-old Monument winner in Paul Seixas. Now another of its riders has turned heads in Britain. On Sunday, 16-year-old Ezra Bateman set the fastest time of the day at the British National Hill Climb Championships on Porlock Toll Road in Somerset. He went quicker than every elite rider in the field, but still went home without the open title.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bateman, from Scarborough, rides for Decathlon CMA CGM Juniors and turns 17 next week. According to Cyclingnews, he reached the top of the 6.6-kilometre climb in 14:31.9.
Ed Laverack (Assos UK Race Team) was the fastest elite rider in 14:32.1.
Read more below the video!
Why Laverack is champion and Bateman is not
Gran Fondo Daily News explains that Road Time Trials Council rules say a rider can only win the category they entered. Bateman had entered the junior race, so he took the junior crown.
Laverack won his second open title, seven years after his first, and four-time champion Andrew Feather finished 1.2 seconds back in second place.
The senior and junior races were run at the same time but count as separate events, and that this set off a flurry of comments on social media.
Cyclingnews pointed out that some championships handle it differently: at the British Downhill Mountain Bike Championships, the fastest rider of the day wins the overall national title, whether they are a junior or an elite.
Read also
Bateman: 'The two categories are different'
Bateman himself showed no interest in the argument. The British Continental asked whether he should have been given the open title. "To be honest, no, because it's a different category," he said. "Even if I set the fastest time, the two categories are different."
He did admit that beating Laverack meant a lot. "It feels crazy. Honestly, I wasn't expecting it, so I'm not really sure what to say. I did not see that one coming. I was expecting [Laverack] to beat me here. But I'm pretty happy."
On 11 October, Bateman finished second to Laverack at the Snake Pass hill climb. A week later he won the Prospect Hill hill climb in 3 minutes 25.4 seconds, which equalled the course record held by 2021 national champion Tom Bell.
Laverack was full of praise afterwards: "It's incredible, isn't it, what Ezra is doing?" he told The British Continental.
CTT chair: 'These things will happen'
Tim Smith, the new chair of Cycling Time Trials, told Cycling Weekly that the ride was "exceptional" and showed "the exciting young talent coming through our sport". He also congratulated Laverack on a second senior title.
These things will happen, when you have someone who is clearly as extremely talented as he [Bateman] is. I know it was discussed in previous years for the hill climb, when it was thought Harry Hudson might win it. But that didn't happen in the end.- Tim Smith, chair of Cycling Time Trials
In the past, former junior world champion Harry Hudson posted junior times that would have put him on the elite podium.
Bateman is on Decathlon's development pathway, but he has not yet confirmed where he will race in 2027.
Image: Ezra Bateman Instagram
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
IDL-productions
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Track World Championships day 2: A golden day for Team GB, Levreysen goes 2 for 2, and Kopecky eliminates the competition
Rumours, speculation and guesswork: 2027 Tour de France route will be revealed live on October 22 in Paris
Vollering adds the Women’s European Championships road race jersey to her rainbow wardrobe
16-day Grand Tours, AI, VAR, drones and more: The UCI's new document has a potentially major impact from 2029 onwards
Latest Cycling News
Skjelmose angry with developments at Lidl-Trek: 'That doesn’t sit well'
King of Tour de France breakaways Baptiste Veistroffer sets off on mammoth off-season adventure
Tour de France stage winner Dylan Teuns will not return to racing in 2027: 'I was able to fulfil my childhood dreams'
Paul Seixas has one major goal for 2027, and it's not the Tour de France...
Van Aert opens up about 2027 cyclocross plans: 'I'm not eager to start racing yet'
Popular Cycling News
Tom Dumoulin doesn’t agree with Lance Armstrong over the 2027 Tour de France: 'The only way to beat Pogačar'
Skjelmose angry with developments at Lidl-Trek: 'That doesn’t sit well'
Esmée Peperkamp, the anonymous female cyclist who made Picnic PostNL allegations, speaks out publicly
Rasmussen thinks ASO is giving Vingegaard a harsh reality check with 2027 Tour de France: 'No longer Pogacar’s main challenger'
Jonas Vingegaard shows Tadej Pogačar how to cycle safely on a recent training ride
Latest Comments
- The team says it wants answers “as quickly as possible”, but speed shouldn’t come at the expense of a thorough investigation. Since Picnic PostNL commissioned it, will the full report be published? The team’s transparency will matter as much as who leads the inquiry.cyclechamp4530-10-2026
- How can current riders give evidence without their comments being traced back to them? That seems especially important in a case about fear.raceready730-10-2026
- Olfers’ experience with the Rasmussen case is relevant: that inquiry also scrutinised the team’s decisions, not just the rider’s. Let’s hope this one looks closely at management and working conditions too.patriciaw30-10-2026
- An independent investigation is the right step, but it needs to be genuinely independent in practice. With 71 people already speaking to NOS and Thijs Zonneveld, Verinorm has a substantial starting point. I hope people can give evidence confidentially and the findings are made public.breakawaybikerd30-10-2026
- - I’m still figuring out the race categories: would a2 event like Battenkill attract the same teams and TV coverage as a WorldTour race?jennifer1929-10-2026
- - Seeing McNulty, Simmons and Jorgenson race on home roads would be a real boost. Hope this becomes more than just talk.raceready729-10-2026
- - Putt is right that a major race could bring cycling to people who don’t follow the sport yet. But the old Tour of California ran into financial trouble—what would make a revival sustainable this time?pedalpowe2929-10-2026
- - A Tour of California comeback would be brilliant. Pogacar winning the last edition seems a long time ago now!davidm29-10-2026
- Did I read this right: he won stages at the Tour, but also had to do the whole race on his own? How does one rider manage all those wins in a season?raceready728-10-2026
- Five Tour de France stages and the overall win? Pogačar’s level is just ridiculous.cadencekingm28-10-2026
Loading