Bookend wins for Abi Smith now signed to [Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank] in a big bunch sprint into Stamfordham, Northumberland for the final round of the HSBC-UK Women’s National Road Series 2021.
Glorious conditions welcomed the 80 or-so riders in this out of Season Curlew Cup. A little wind blowing kept the riders together as they made their way around the first of 2 larger circuits. The Ryals climb is the unique feature in this event and the 9th edition of the race proved a popular spot to watch the race unfold.
Indeed, most of the action happened on the climb to the Prime for the Queen-of-the-Mountain competition with a string of riders breaking free on both occasions. Illi Gardner [CAMS-Basso] took full points on both ascends with Eilidh Shaw [Tofauti Everyone Active], Connie Hayes [AWOL O’Shea], Abi Smith & Natalie Grinczer [CAMS-Basso] wearing the leaders jersey vying for the points to.
The second ascend and a much-reduced peloton saw the climbers breaking free for the longest break of the day up-to around 20 seconds through Matfen before been swallowed up going over the line for the penultimate small circuit against a cross-head-wind.
Around 35 riders held together into the final approach to the village where the road narrows through several twists and turns before sweeping left and over a little brow for a downward sprint to the line.
Charlotte Berry [Pro-Noctis Red Chilli Bikes-Heidi Kjeldsen] and April Tacey [Drops Le-Col supported by Tempur] pushed the winner all the way to the line for second and third places with Monica Greenwood [Macclesfield Wheelers] and Maddie Gammons [Jadan Vive-le-Velo] rounding out the top five places.
“I wanted the break of six to go (second ascend of the Ryals) as I wasn’t comfortable for a sprint. I’m not a renowned sprinter. I wanted that break to go but unfortunately, we got caught.
It was annoying! I thought about going at the last 10kms or so.
So yeh! I went early, just got my head down [riding without a team around her].
Interview with Abi Smith – Curlew Cup Winner 2021
Post race interview with Abi Smith at the Curlew Cup after her winning ride. Questions asked by Larry Hickmott (VeloUK.net). Footage by Chris Maher (CyclingShorts.cc / chrismaher.co.uk)
Results
- Full Race Results
- Queen of the Mountains
- Under 23's Race Winner
- Team Winners and Overall Team Winners
- Overall Winners Podium
1. Abi Smith Team Breeze Finished Elite 100
2. Charlotte Berry Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 85
3. April Tacey DROPS-LE COL SUPPORTED BY TEMP… Finished 1st 75
4. Monica Greenwood Macclesfield Wheelers Finished 2nd 66
5. Madeleine Gammons Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 2nd 58
6. Eilidh Shaw Tofauti Everyone Active Finished 1st 51
7. Corinne Side Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 45
8. Hannah Lancaster Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 39
9. Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 34
10. Francesca Morgans-Slader AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 29
11. Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 1st 25
12. Alice McWilliam Grinta Coaching Finished 2nd 21
13. Sian Botteley Brother U.K – Cycle Team OnFor… Finished 2nd 18
14. Lucy Gadd Storey Racing Finished 1st 15
15. Francesca Hall Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 1st 12
16. Isabel Darvill Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 10
17. Gwenno Hughes Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 8
18. Suzetta Guerrini Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 6
19. Rachel Galler Saint Piran WRT Finished 2nd 4
20. Sophie Enever LVIV CYCLING TEAM (Womens) Finished 2nd 2
21. Miriam Jessett Vredestein Basso Finished 2nd 0
22. Lulu Bartlett Finished 2nd 0
23. Robyn Clay Otley CC Finished 2nd 0
24. Amy Graham Team Boompods Finished 2nd 0
25. Jasmine Jones Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
26. Anya Tamplin HuntBikeWheels Finished 2nd 0
27. Beth Morrow Storey Racing Finished 1st 0
28. Helen Ralston Paceline RT Finished 1st 0
29. Polly Mason Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 2nd 0
30. Beth Maciver Torvelo Racing Finished 3rd 0
31. Illi Gardner CAMS-Basso Finished 1st 0
32. Melissa Greaves Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 0
33. Beth Harley-Jepson Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 2nd 0
34. Erin Avill Storey Racing Finished 2nd 0
35. Kerry Middleton Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 1st 0
36. Katie Scott CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
37. Lucy Ellmore SKODA DSI Cycling Academy Finished 1st 0
38. Olivia Bent AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
39. Becky Storrie CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
40. Charlotte Colclough Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
41. Lauren Watson Team Boompods Finished 2nd 0
42. Daisy Barnes Brother U.K – Cycle Team OnFor… Finished 3rd 0
43. Emma Jeffers JRC-Shutt-Ridley Race Team Finished 1st 0
44. Alice Lethbridge AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
45. Connie Hayes AWOL- O’Shea Finished 1st 0
46. Olivia Bentley Torelli-Assure-Cayman Islands Finished 2nd 0
47. Sophie Lankford Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 1st 0
48. Nicole Coates Torelli-Assure-Cayman Islands Finished 2nd 0
49. Christina Wiejak Saint Piran WRT Finished 2nd 0
50. Phoebe Martin AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
51. Holly MacMahon Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
52. Amy Gornall Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 2nd 0
53. Jo Tindley Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished Elite 0
54. Hannah Bayes AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
55. Matea Deliu Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 0
56. Heather Mayer Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 0
57. Emma Edwards CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
58. Jennifer Powell Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 0
59. Ione Johnson Finished 0
60. Georgia Bullard Natural Greatness – Vib Sports Finished 2nd 0
61. Chloe Vickers Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
62. Dannielle Khan Isorex NoAqua Ladies Cycling T… Finished 2nd 0
63. Flora Knight Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
64. Jen McMahon Sub Rosa Finished 3rd 0
65. Meg Smith Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
66. Morgan Newberry SKODA DSI Cycling Academy Finished 2nd 0
67. Arianne Holland Forth Velo Finished 2nd 0
68. Sophie Earl Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 0
69. Sarah Briggs RFDA Finished 2nd 0
1 Illi Gardner CAMS-Basso
2 Eilidh Shaw Tofauti Everyone Active Finished
3 Connie Hayes AWOL- O’Shea
4 Abi Smith Team Breeze
5 Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso
Abi Smith Team Breeze
Pro-Noctis Red Chilli Bikes-Heidi Kjeldsen
1 Abi Smith U23 Team Breeze
2 April Tacey U23Drops Le-Col supported by Tempur
5 Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso
All images ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk
Chris Maher
Photographer & Writer
Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk
