AJ Bell Women’s Tour – Stage 1 – Race Report & Gallery

Former world champion Marta Bastianelli claimed her first-ever AJ Bell Women’s Tour stage victory in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Monday following a perfectly-timed sprint.

Bastianelli (Alé BTC Ljubljana) managed to pass Chloe Hosking (Trek-Segafredo) and FDJ Nouvelle – Aquitaine Futuroscope’s Clara Copponi in sight of the line to take the win and the race’s first leader’s jersey of 2021.

The 2007 World Champion headed into the final corner on Banbury’s South Bar Street in third position but on the gently rising road to the finish line it was Bastianelli who powered to the line.  Victory was the first for an Italian rider at the AJ Bell Women’s Tour since Stage Two of the inaugural edition in May 2014.

“It’s a very nice win for me.  There are lots of people, lots of babies, for me it is good, because I think of my daughter.

“There was a crash with 1km to go, and luckily I did not crash but I am sorry for those that did.  I started the sprint in third position, and for me it was the maximum because my coach has seen me win sprints from there.

“The sprint was not easy because it is a little bit tougher and uphill, and I think it is not for the sprinters, but for me it is a good race and a good day.”

Marta Bastianelli

Stage 1 Winner, Team Alé BTC Ljubljana

Top Brit was Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM Racing) in sixth while defending champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) finished 40th, 26 seconds down, after working for team-mate Hosking in the sprint.

Bastianelli also takes the Sigma Sports Points jersey while Nina Kessler (Team TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank) holds the Eisberg Sprints jersey and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) takes the ŠKODA Queen of the Mountains.

Highlights of Stage One are on ITV4 at 21:00 on Monday 4 October and available on demand via the ITV Hub.

Stage 1 Results

AJ BELL LEADER'S JERSEY
   1   Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   03:44:31
 
1   Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   03:44:31
2   Chloe HOSKING [AUS]   Trek – Segafredo   03:44:35
3   Nina KESSLER [NED]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   03:44:35
4   Clara COPPONI [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:44:37
5   Sarah ROY [AUS]   Team BikeExchange   03:44:38
6   Alison JACKSON [CAN]   Liv Racing   03:44:39
7   Demi VOLLERING [NED]   Team SD Worx   03:44:40
8   Sheyla GUTIERREZ RUIZ [ESP]   Movistar Team   03:44:41
9   Elena CECCHINI [ITA]   Team SD Worx   03:44:41
10   Hannah BARNES [GBR]   Canyon SRAM Racing   03:44:41
11   Sofia BERTIZZOLO [ITA]   Liv Racing   03:44:41
12   Josie NELSON [GBR]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   03:44:41
13   Amy PIETERS [NED]   Team SD Worx   03:44:41
14   Leah KIRCHMANN [CAN]   Team DSM   03:44:41
15   Juliette LABOUS [FRA]   Team DSM   03:44:41
16   Christine MAJERUS [LUX]   Team SD Worx   03:44:41
17   Chantal BLAAK [NED]   Team SD Worx   03:44:41
18   Eugénie DUVAL [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:44:41
19   Elise CHABBEY [SUI]   Canyon SRAM Racing   03:44:41
20   Aude BIANNIC [FRA]   Movistar Team   03:44:41
21   Eugenia BUJAK [SLO]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   03:44:41
22   Soraya PALADIN [ITA]   Liv Racing   03:44:41
23   Ella HARRIS [NZL]   Canyon SRAM Racing   03:44:41
24   Joscelin LOWDEN [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:44:41
25   Pien LIMPENS [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:44:41
26   Natalie GRINCZER [GBR]   CAMS – Basso   03:44:41
27   Evita MUZIC [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:44:41
28   Mischa BREDEWOLD [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:44:41
29   Abi SMITH [GBR]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   03:44:41
30   Sophie WRIGHT [GBR]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   03:44:41
31   Nicole FRAIN [AUS]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   03:44:41
32   Anna SHACKLEY [GBR]   Team SD Worx   03:44:41
33   Ane SANTESTEBAN GONZALEZ [ESP]   Team BikeExchange   03:44:41
34   Lauren STEPHENS [USA]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   03:44:41
35   Victorie GUILMAN [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:44:41
36   Jade WIEL [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:44:41
37   Hayley SIMMONDS [GBR]   CAMS – Basso   03:44:41
38   Lourdes OYARBIDE JIMENEZ [ESP]   Movistar Team   03:44:41
39   Elisa BALSAMO [ITA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   03:44:41
40   Alice BARNES [GBR]   Canyon SRAM Racing   03:44:41
41   Chiara CONSONNI [ITA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   03:44:41
42   Ilaria SANGUINETI [ITA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   03:44:41
43   Jelena ERIC [SRB]   Movistar Team   03:44:41
44   Liane LIPPERT [GER]   Team DSM   03:44:41
45   Ingvild GÅSKJENN [NOR]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   03:44:41
46   Pfeiffer GEORGI [GBR]   Team DSM   03:44:41
47   Jeanne KOREVAAR [NED]   Liv Racing   03:44:41
48   Lucy KENNEDY [AUS]   Team BikeExchange   03:45:07
49   Elizabeth DEIGNAN [GBR]   Trek – Segafredo   03:45:07
50   Maaike BOOGAARD [NED]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   03:45:16
51   Amber VAN DER HULST [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:45:58
52   Femke MARKUS [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:46:00
53   Danielle CHRISTMAS [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:46:00
54   Janneke ENSING [NED]   Team BikeExchange   03:46:05
55   Veronica EWERS [USA]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   03:46:13
56   Connie HAYES [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:46:26
57   April TACEY [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:47:43
58   Kirstie VAN HAAFTEN [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:47:43
59   Margaux VIGIE [FRA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   03:47:43
60   Anna CHRISTIAN [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:47:44
61   Alice LETHBRIDGE [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:47:44
62   Becky STORRIE [GBR]   CAMS – Basso   03:47:44
63   Elena PIRRONE [ITA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   03:47:47
64   Femke GERRITSE [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   03:47:52
65   Audrey CORDON RAGOT [FRA]   Trek – Segafredo   03:47:58
66   Trixi WORRACK [GER]   Trek – Segafredo   03:47:58
67   Mari Hole MOHR [NOR]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   03:47:58
68   Teniel CAMPBELL [TTO]   Team BikeExchange   03:47:58
69   Alicia GONZALEZ BLANCO [ESP]   Movistar Team   03:47:58
70   Gloria RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ [ESP]   Movistar Team   03:47:58
71   Lorena WIEBES [NED]   Team DSM   03:48:28
72   Megan JASTRAB [USA]   Team DSM   03:50:15
73   Maria Apolonia VAN ‘T GELOOF [NED]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:50:19
74   Jessica FINNEY [GBR]   CAMS – Basso   03:56:43
75   Katie SCOTT [GBR]   CAMS – Basso   03:56:43
76   Alice TOWERS [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   03:56:43
77   Phoebe MARTIN [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:56:43
78   Hannah BAYES [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:56:43
79   Francesca MORGANS-SLADER [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:56:46
80   Emma EDWARDS [USA]   CAMS – Basso   03:56:46
81   Caroline ANDERSSON [SWE]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   03:56:46
82   Olivia BENT [GBR]   AWOL O’Shea   03:56:46
83   Jessica ALLEN [AUS]   Team BikeExchange   03:56:49
84   Maelle GROSSETETE [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   03:56:49
85   Evy KUIJPERS [NED]   Liv Racing   03:56:49
86   Pernille Larsen FELDMANN [NOR]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   03:56:52
SIGMA SPORTS POINTS JERSEY
   Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   15pts
 
1   Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA]   Ale BTC Ljubljana   15pts
2   Chloe HOSKING [AUS]   Trek – Segafredo   12pts
3   Clara COPPONI [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   9pts
4   Sheyla GUTIERREZ RUIZ [ESP]   Movistar Team   7pts
5   Elena CECCHINI [ITA]   Team SD Worx   6pts
6   Hannah BARNES [GBR]   Canyon SRAM Racing   5pts
7   Sofia BERTIZZOLO [ITA]   Liv Racing   4pts
8   Josie NELSON [GBR]   Team Coop – Hitec Products   3pts
9   Amy PIETERS [NED]   Team SD Worx   2pts
10   Leah KIRCHMANN [CAN]   Team DSM   1pt
SKODA QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY
  1   Demi VOLLERING [NED]   Team SD Worx   7
 
1   Demi VOLLERING [NED]   Team SD Worx   7
2   Janneke ENSING [NED]   Team BikeExchange   6
3   Alison JACKSON [CAN]   Liv Racing   5
4   Elise CHABBEY [SUI]   Canyon SRAM Racing   4
5   Chiara CONSONNI [ITA]   Valcar – Travel & Service   3
6   Joscelin LOWDEN [GBR]   Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR   2
7   Evita MUZIC [FRA]   FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope   2
8   Femke MARKUS [NED]   Parkhotel Valkenburg   2
9   Ane SANTESTEBAN GONZALEZ [ESP]   Team BikeExchange   1
10   Liane LIPPERT [GER]   Team DSM   1
ISBERG SPRINTS JERSEY
  1   Nina KESSLER [NED]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   6pts
 
1   Nina KESSLER [NED]   Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank   6pts
2   Sarah ROY [AUS]   Team BikeExchange   3pts
3   Alison JACKSON [CAN]   Liv Racing   2pts
4   Demi VOLLERING [NED]   Team SD Worx   1pts

Stage 2 Preview

Walsall will welcome the Women’s Tour, the world’s leading international women’s cycle race, for the first time in 2021.

Stage two will start at the Walsall Arboretum, the area’s famous Victorian park, and culminate with a finish on Lichfield Street in the heart of the town and in the shadows of Walsall Town Hall. However, action aplenty is guaranteed on the 10-kilometre clockwise circuit around Hayhead Woods, Barr Beacon nature reserve and Pool Green that will be tackled 10 times.

The circuit will include three intermediate sprints at Barr Common (on laps four, six and eight) as well as offering points towards the ŠKODA Queen of the Mountains competition atop the Barr Beacon climb (1.2km long, maximum gradient of 5.7%) on laps five, seven and nine. A thrilling run in to the line is guaranteed, as the top of the climb on lap 10 comes just 6.5 largely downhill kilometres from the finish. In total the stage measures 103 kilometres (64 miles).

Walsall will become only the third venue – after both Stoke-on-Trent and Chesterfield in 2017 – in history to welcome both the start and finish of a Women’s Tour road stage on the same day.

Stage 2 Timetable

ROUTE DETAILS ESTIMATED TIMETABLE
kms kms
to go
Miles Miles
to go
Feature Instruction Description Base Speed 35 38 42
110% 100% 90%
Duration 02:57 02:41 02:25
0.00 4.20 0.00 2.50

Start Neutralised 

  Arboretum, Walsall 38 11:30 11:30 11:30
0.00 102.2 0.00 63.6

Start Proper 

  A454 Walsall Road 38 11:45 11:45 11:45
0.4 101.8 0.2 63.3 T.Lights Right A4154 Bosty Lane 38 11:45 11:45 11:45
0.8 101.4 0.5 63.1     Green Zone in operation from Race Start 38 11:46 11:46 11:46
1.9 100.3 1.2 62.4

Sprint 

  Laps 4, 6 & 8 38 11:48 11:48 11:47
2.5 99.7 1.6 62.0 R/about 3rd Exit Erdington Road 38 11:49 11:48 11:48
3.2 99.0 2.0 61.6 R/about 2nd Exit Aldridge Road 38 11:50 11:50 11:49
4.4 97.8 2.7 60.8 X.Roads Right Bride Lane 38 11:52 11:51 11:51
4.4 97.8 2.7 60.8 QoM Start   38 11:52 11:51 11:51
5.7 96.5 3.5 60.0

QoM Cat 3 

Finish Laps 5,7 & 9 38 11:54 11:54 11:53
5.7 96.5 3.5 60.0 T.Junction Right B4154 Beacon Lane 38 11:54 11:54 11:53
6.8 95.4 4.2 59.3 Junction Left Little Johnsons Lane 38 11:56 11:55 11:54
7.0 95.2 4.4 59.2 T.Junction Left B4151 Sutton Road 38 11:57 11:56 11:54
8.6 93.6 5.3 58.2 Junction Right Longwood Lane 38 11:59 11:58 11:57
9.7 92.5 6.0 57.5 R/about 2nd Exit A454 Walsall Road 38 12:01 12:00 11:58
10.0 92.2 6.2 57.3     1 x full circuit of 9 38 12:02 12:00 11:59
98.6 3.6 61.3 2.2 Straight Exit Circuit B4151 Sutton Road 38 14:36 14:20 14:05
100.2 2.0 62.3 1.2 R/about 2nd Exit Sutton Road 38 14:39 14:23 14:07
101.1 1.1 62.9 0.7 R/about 2nd Exit Springhill Road Keep Left! 38 14:40 14:24 14:08
101.4 0.8 63.1 0.5 R/about 2nd Exit Ablewell Street 38 14:41 14:25 14:09
101.5 0.7 63.1 0.4 T.Lights Straight Ablewell Street Caution! Against One Way! 38 14:41 14:25 14:09
101.7 0.5 63.2 0.3 T.Lights Straight Bridge Street 38 14:41 14:25 14:09
101.7 0.5 63.2 0.3 T.Lights Straight Bridge Street 38 14:41 14:25 14:09
101.9 0.3 63.4 0.2   Keep Right Lichfield Street 38 14:41 14:25 14:09
102.2 0.0 63.6 0.0

Finish 

  Lichfield Street, Walsall 38 14:42 14:26 14:10

Stage 2 Map

Stage 2 Race Profile

Chris Maher

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AJ Bell Women’s Tour Returns – Official Start List

842 days after Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) won the last edition of the race, the AJ Bell Women’s Tour returns tomorrow (Monday 4 October).

Two days after her historic victory in the first ever women’s Paris Roubaix Deignan heads the start list as the race gets underway in Oxfordshire with a 147.7-kilometre (91.8-mile) stage between Bicester and Banbury.

In total 16 different nationalities are represented on the start line in the 89-rider field.  Britain is the most represented nation with 24 riders in the peloton.

A trio of riders – Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM Racing), Leah Kirchmann (Team DSM), and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) – will be competing in their seventh edition of the AJ Bell Women’s Tour, having started and finished all six editions to date.

The youngest rider in the race is Alice Towers (Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR) at 18 years and 358 days, while Trek-Segafredo rider Trixi Worrack’s in one of the final races of her career at 40 years and 6 days.

This year’s AJ Bell Women’s Tour features its first-ever individual time trial, taking place in Atherstone on stage three (Wednesday 6 October), with the overall champion set to be crowned in Felixstowe on Saturday (9 October).

Double AJ Bell Women’s Tour stage winner Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) said; “VeloViewer has been great to see what the courses will be like this year. The stages look like it will be really fun and interesting racing across the whole week and the terrain really suits our team. 

“VeloViewer has been great to see what the courses will be like this year. The stages look like it will be really fun and interesting racing across the whole week and the terrain really suits our team.

“I like that there’s a ‘short’ time trial this year as well. It’ll really sort out the GC which can open the racing up a bit differently for non-time trial riders.  It’s also been a special year with the Olympics and the first time we’ve had a really popular, strong stage race after the World Championships. I expect to see some great racing though, our peloton is relentless.”

Sarah Roy

Rider, Team BikeExchange

Sofia Bertizzolo comes into the AJ Bell Women’s Tour fresh having missed Paris – Roubaix; “I don’t have a lot of experience in the Women’s Tour. It’s only the second time I’ve ridden it.

“I have studied the course and expect a very attacking race. The stage profiles don’t seem too difficult, so the attack might be worth it for those who are aiming for the general classification. The time trial could also be decisive for the general classification. I expect a fast race where everyone is sharp. The latter certainly applies to me. The last few weeks I have not ridden any races. But I’ve had good quality training sessions and I’m fresh and ready to go.”

Sofia Bertizzolo

Will ride the Women's Tour for the 2nd time, Team Liv Racing

About the AJ Bell Women’s Tour

Created by SweetSpot Group in 2014, the AJ Bell Women’s Tour is the UK’s first international stage race for women, bringing the world’s top riders to compete in Great Britain as a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The race, which has been won by the likes of Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Coryn Rivera (2018), attracts an annual roadside audience of 300,000, as well as over three million fans through linear and online platforms. 

Stages

 

Stage One Monday 4 October Bicester to Banbury 147.6km
Stage Two Tuesday 5 October Walsall to Walsall 103km
Stage Three Wednesday 6 October Atherstone individual time trial 16.6km
Stage Four Thursday 7 October Shoeburyness to Southend-on-Sea 117.5km
Stage Five Friday 8 October Colchester to Clacton-on-Sea 95.3km
Stage Six Saturday 9 October Haverhill to Felixstowe 155km

Teams

Trek – Segafredo

1 Lizzie Deignan GBR
2 Audrey Cordon-Ragot FRA
3 Chloe Hosking AUS
4 Elisa Longo Borghini ITA
5
6 Trixi Worrack GER
Canyon SRAM Racing

11
12 Alice Barnes GBR
13 Hannah Barnes GBR
14 Elise Chabbey SUI
15 Ella Harris NZL
16
SD Worx

21 Amy Pieters NED
22 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak NED
23 Elena Cecchini ITA
24 Christine Majerus LUX
25 Anna Shackley GBR
26 Demi Vollering NED
Alé BTC Ljubljana

31 Marta Bastianelli ITA
32 Eugenia Bujak SLO
33 Maaike Boogaard NED
34
35
36 Sophie Wright GBR
Team Coop – Hitec Products

41 Josie Nelson GBR
42 Caroline Andersson SWE
43 Pernille Feldmann NOR
44 Ingvild Gåskjenn NOR
45 Emma Boogaard NED
46 Mari Mohr NOR
AWOL O’Shea

51 Hannah Bayes GBR
52 Olivia Bent GBR
53 Connie Hayes GBR
54 Alice Lethbridge GBR
55 Phoebe Martin GBR
56 Francesca Morgans-Slader GBR
FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope

61 Eugénie Duval FRA
62 Clara Copponi FRA
63 Maëlle Grossetete FRA
64 Victorie Guilman FRA
65 Evita Muzic FRA
66 Jade Wiel FRA
Parkhotel Valkenburg

71 Mischa Bredewold NED
72 Femke Gerritse NED
73 Pien Limpens NED
74 Femke Markus NED
75 Amber van der Hulst NED
76 Kirstie van Haaften NED
CAMS – Basso Bikes

81 Hayley Simmonds GBR
82 Emma Edwards USA
83 Jessica Finney GBR
84 Natalie Grinczer GBR
85 Katie Scott GBR
86 Becky Storrie GBR
Liv Racing

91
92 Sofia Bertizzolo ITA
93 Alison Jackson CAN
94 Jeanne Korevaar NED
95 Evy Kuijpers NED
96 Soraya Paladin ITA
Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank

101 Lauren Stephens USA
102 Tanja Erath GER
103 Veronica Ewers USA
104 Nicole Frain AUS
105 Nina Kessler NED
106 Abi Smith GBR
Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR.

111 Joss Lowden GBR
112 Anna Christian GBR
113 Dani Christmas GBR
114 April Tacey GBR
115 Alice Towers GBR
116 Maria Van’t Geloof NED
Movistar Team

121 Sheyla Gutierrez ESP
122 Aude Biannic FRA
123 Alicia González ESP
124 Jelena Erić SRB
125 Lourdes Oyarbide ESP
126 Gloria Rodríguez ESP
Valcar Travel & Service

131 Elisa Balsamo ITA
132 Chiara Consonni ITA
133 Ilaria Sanguineti ITA
134 Elena Pirrone ITA
135
136 Margaux Vigie FRA
Team BikeExchange

141 Sarah Roy AUS
142 Teniel Campbell TTO
143 Jessica Allen AUS
144 Janneke Ensing NED
145 Ane Santesteban ESP
146 Lucy Kennedy AUS
Team DSM

151 Lorena Wiebes NED
152 Pfeiffer Georgi GBR
153 Megan Jastrab USA
154 Leah Kirchmann CAN
155 Juliette Labous FRA
156 Liane Lippert GER

Beaumont Trophy – HSBC-UK National Road Series Round 3

With legs on fire and good form from winning the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Skoda King of the Mountains & Eisberg Sprint competitions – Jacob Scott [Canyon DHB Sungod] sprints to victory in the final round of the HSBC-UK National Road Series Beaumont Trophy in Stamfordham, Northumberland fending off Alexandar Richardson [Alpecin-Fenix] as the two go clear on the final small circuit.

It was a tail of two-halves. The front half of the race, and the chasing peloton at times around the 182km course.

Four riders broke free in the first couple of kilometres with five more catching on including series leader Jacob Scott [Canyon DHB Sungod], Cameron Jeffers [Ribble Weldtite Pro Cyling], Owain Roberts [Wales Racing Acadamy], Ross Holland, Bradley Symonds [Saint Piran], Joseph Rees [Bikestrong KTM], Julian Roche [Richardson-Trek DAS], Jordan Peacock [Spirt Bontrager BSS Rotor]. 

Toby Jarvis [Team PB Performance] bridged across and a stable breakaway built up a lead gaining up-to three-minutes by the 70km marker.

Owain Roberts claimed the King of the Mountain points ascending the Ryals on the first couple of occasions. 

By the third ascend, the lead had dropped, but the chasing peloton were strung out in a thin line. Matt Gibson [Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling] and Alex Richardson [Alpecin-Fenix] were well placed towards the front of affairs.

One final big circuit saw the original leaders caught, but another counter attack threw eight more riders into the mix including Scott & three team-mates including Robert Scott. This time joined by Richardson, Matthew King [Team PB Performance] & Zeb Kyffin [Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling] and Gibson. 

Scott & Richardson forged ahead on the final small circuit to battle the win with a larger group building for the final podium place sprint. Matt Gibson led the remaining leading group across the line ahead of Ross Lamb [SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling] getting in on the mix. King finished fifth. Team Inspired’s Alfie George brought the bunch over the line and was the best U23 on the day. 

“When you are on good form, you don’t want to throw away the race. I’ve made the most of it in the last few weeks”. [after the Tour of Britain]. 

Jacob Scott

Winner, Canyon DHB Sungod

Results

1. Jacob Scott Canyon DHB Sungod Finished Elite 100

2. Alexandar Richardson Alpecin-Fenix Finished Elite 85

3. Matthew Gibson Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling Finished Elite 75

4. Ross Lamb SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling Finished 1st 66

5. Matthew King Team PB Performance Finished Elite 58

6. Maximilian Stedman Canyon DHB Sungod Finished Elite 51

7. Robert Scott Canyon DHB Sungod Finished Elite 45

8. Zeb Kyffin Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling Finished Elite 39

9. Tom Mazzone Saint Piran Finished 1st 34

10. Alfred George Team Inspired Finished Elite 29

11. Gruffudd Lewis Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling Finished 1st 25

12. Joe Hill UpShift Nutrition Race Team Finished 1st 21

13. Isaac Mundy Richardsons Trek DAS Finished Elite 18

14. Aaron Freeman Richardsons Trek DAS Finished 2nd 15

15. Joshua Price Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor Finished 2nd 12

16. Sebastian Garry Nopinz Motip Race Team Finished 1st 10

17. Matti Dobbins RT23 Finished 1st 8

18. Finn Crockett Wheelbase CabTech Castelli Finished Elite 6

19. William Bjergfelt SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling Finished Elite 4

20. Isaac Peatfield Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 1st 2

21. William Perrett Spellman – Dublin Port Track T… Finished 1st 0

22. James Jobber Kuwait Pro Cycling Team Finished 1st 0

23. Joe Holt Wales Racing Academy Finished 1st 0

24. Euan Macleod Canyon DHB Sungod Finished 2nd 0

25. David Hird Halesowen A & CC Academy Finished 1st 0

26. Cameron Mason TRINITY Road Racing Finished 3rd 0

27. Jamieson Blain BIKESTRONG-KTM Finished 1st 0

28. Joseph Bennett Netllar Telecom-Alé Finished 2nd 0

29. George Wood Cycling Sheffield Finished 1st 0

30. Michael Chadwick Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy Finished 1st 0

31. Peter Cocker Richardsons Trek DAS Finished Elite 0

32. Cameron Jeffers Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling Finished 1st 0

33. Matthew Houlberg Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT Finished 2nd 0

34. Samuel Painter TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Finished 1st 0

35. Conor McGoldrick Primera-TeamJobs Finished Elite 0

36. Jacques Coates Team PB Performance Finished 2nd 0

37. Owain Roberts Wales Racing Academy Finished 1st 0

38. Cameron Orr Team Inspired Finished Elite 0

39. Daniel McDermott Finished Elite 0

40. Matt Clarke Wheelbase CabTech Castelli Finished 2nd 0

41. Frazier Carr Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor Finished 1st 0

42. George Kimber Spirit Bontrager BSS Rotor Finished 1st 0

43. Dean Watson Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy Finished 1st 0

44. Joseph Rees BIKESTRONG-KTM Finished 1st 0

45. Miles Burton ysixfiles Finished 2nd 0

46. Julian Roche Creuse Oxygène Gueret Finished 2nd 0

47. Oscar Hutchings Team Tor 2000 Kalas Finished Elite 0

48. Toby Jarvis Team PB Performance Finished 1st 0

49. Oliver Maxwell Saint Piran Finished 1st 0

50. William Scott Richardsons Trek DAS Finished Elite 0

51. Samuel Clark TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling Finished 1st 0

52. Adam Mitchell Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 1st 0

53. Christopher Latham SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling Finished 1st 0

54. Jack Freeman Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT Finished Elite 0

55. Damien Clayton Canyon DHB Sungod Finished Elite 0

56. George Peden Team PB Performance Finished 1st 0

57. Ross Holland Saint Piran Finished 1st 0

58. Leon Mazzone Saint Piran Finished 1st 0

59. Bradley Symonds Saint Piran Finished 1st 0

60. Steve Lampier Saint Piran Finished Elite 0

61. Steven Parsonage Richardsons Trek DAS Finished 1st 0

62. Logan Maclean Wheelbase CabTech Castelli Finished 1st 0

1 Jacob Scott Canyon DHB Sungod

2 Maximilian Stedman Canyon DHB Sungod

3 Finn Crockett Wheelbase CabTech Castelli

Finn Crockett Wheelbase CabTech Castelli

Canyon DHB Sungod

Chris Maher

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

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Curlew Cup 2021 – HSBC-UK Women’s National Road Series Round 3

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]. 

Abi Smith

Winner Curlew Cup 2021, Team Breeze

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

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

Chris Maher

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

Interview – Abi Smith – Winner 2021 Curlew Cup

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)

Post race interview with Abi Smith at the Curlew Cup after her winning ride.

 

Questions asked by Larry Hickmott (VeloUK.net).

Footage and images by Chris Maher (CyclingShorts.cc / chrismaher.co.uk)

AJ Bell Tour of Britain – Yves Lampaert Takes Edinburgh Stage Win

SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2021

YVES LAMPAERT TAKES EDINBURGH STAGE WIN IN AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN

Belgian rider Yves Lampaert took Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s first victory of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain in Edinburgh on Saturday at the end of a stage dominated by a six-man breakaway group.

Lampaert outsprinted Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team) and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s Matt Gibson in the world-famous Holyrood Park after the trio broke away on the outskirts of the Scottish capital.

INEOS Grenadiers rider Ethan Hayter finished safely within the peloton to retain his overall lead and move to within a day of becoming the first British winner of the national tour in five years.  Hayter has also sealed the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey with an insurmountable lead going into the final stage, providing he finishes the race.

It was a good day all round because we kept the jersey and have one day left to go. Having a strong team is probably more important than being a strong rider at the end of the day like today – Richie [Porte] and Owain [Doull] have ridden on the front for the past two days, which is pretty impressive,

It’s probably going to kick off tomorrow, it always does on the last day of a stage race. I’ll do my best to beat Wout if it does come to a sprint.

Ethan Hayter

Tour of Britain Race Leader, INEOS Grenadiers

Lampaert, Jorgenson and Gibson had been part of a six-rider group that broke away early on the stage from Hawick, along with Lampaert’s Deceuninck – Quick-Step teammate Davide Ballerini, Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo Visma), and TRINITY Racing’s Christopher Blevins.

The sextet built a lead of nearly 10 minutes and were allowed their head coming into Edinburgh as INEOS Grenadiers controlled the gap to ensure the race didn’t come back together and that Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) couldn’t collect any time bonuses to threaten Hayter’s lead.

Blevins was the first to be distanced with 20 kilometres to go on an unclassified climb out of Ford before Lampaert attacked with 8.5 kilometres to go splitting the group.  Jorgenson reacted first to get onto the former Belgian champion’s wheel with Gibson putting in a concerted effort to then get across to the pair reaching them with five kilometres remaining.

It was quite nervy. There were three of us in the lead, so it’s always difficult to finish it off. But I took the wheel of Gibson – I heard on the radio that he was quite fast. I did quite a long sprint; I started at 250 [metres] to go and I held it to the line.

I’m really happy. I’ve worked to a make a lot of team victories but today I could finish it off for myself. That’s a huge relief. Every victory has a special place in my heart, and it’s not that I win every week, so I’m really happy.

Yves Lampaert

Stage 7 Winner, Deceuninck – Quick-Step

The trio then worked well to distance Eenkhoorn and Ballerini but coming into Holyrood Park it was the Ribble Weldtite rider on the front with his two World Tour rivals using their experience to force Gibson to lead out the sprint to the line.

Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) retains both the ŠKODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints jerseys and will win both providing he finishes Sunday’s stage.

The AJ Bell Tour of Britain concludes with Stage Eight from Stonehaven to Aberdeen over 173 kilometres (107.6 miles) including the famous ŠKODA King of the Mountains climb of Cairn o’Mount early in the stage plus intermediate Eisberg Sprints, with their time bonuses, at Finzean, Aboyne, and Ballater.

In addition to hosting the final stage of the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will host the opening stage of the 2022 Tour with Scotland’s continuing support of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Tour of Britain signalling the country’s commitment to hosting world-class racing ahead of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds in the country.

Results

STAGE 7 RESULTS

AJ BELL LEADER'S JERSEY

SPORTSBREAKS.COM POINTS JERSEY

SKODA KING OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY

EISBERG SPRINTS JERSEY

TEAM CLASSIFICATION

Tour of Britain - Round 8 Preview

The Aberdeenshire coastal town of Stonehaven will play host to the stage start, with the route also featuring a much-anticipated ascent of the famed Cairn o’Mount climb in the opening kilometres.

This year’s overall winner will be crowned on Aberdeen’s picturesque Esplanade after a scenic and challenging route. Building on the success of the Tour Series, which has taken place in Aberdeen City since 2017, the UK’s biggest and longest-running international cycle race is also planned to host the following year’s Grand Départ in the region.

Chris Maher

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

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