by Chris Maher | May 26, 2015
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Local girl Katie Archibald rode off the front of the bunch, to win round two of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series.
Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International’s Katie Archibald made her move after the first Sprint in Motherwell. Team-mate Gabby Shaw had begun to stretch the peloton out in the early laps of the race.
Race leader by default, Nikki Juniper had won the Sprint Jersey in Round one. So Jessie Walker (RST Racing Team) will wear the Sprint Jersey in Motherwell.
With round one winner Laura Trott (Matrix Fitness) not present, meant Juniper was the next placed highest rider to wear the Leaders Jersey.
Juniper, Walker and Eileen Roe (Wiggle Honda) made the uphill sprint towards the line for the first three places, with Shaw taking fourth place.
Archibald didn’t contest the sprint, and this gave her the advantage of riding off the front for the bunch as they all recovered from that effort.
Gaining twenty to thirty meters along the top flatter part of the course, Archibald, a supreme pursuiter, rode steadily away. Roe & Juniper were unable to match her pace.
Archibald took the next set of Points, with Emily Nelson (Team USN) and Annasley Park (Team Giordana Triton) taking second and third.
As Archibald approached the finish line, the chasing bunch of eighteen girls where almost a lap down.
Riding over the line with ease, the main bunch where left to sprint it out for the remaining positions.
In a big bunch Sprint, Nikki Juniper took second place with Eileen Roe third. Lydia Boylan (Team WNT) took fourth and Katie Curtis (Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, fifth.
Nikki Junipers Reaction: “We were only going to attain the Sprints Jersey”, “and we got the first prime”. “But no one heard the klaxon for the next prime”. “We knew Katie had probably got the next one”. “There was a bit of confusion on the Points Jersey”. “But apparently I’m still in it”.
Nikki Juniper of Team Giordana Triton talks to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc about her current lead in the Matrix Fitness GP Series 2015 after round two in Motherwell.
Results: Motherwell
1: Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 0:39:33.541
2: Nikki Juniper Team Giordana Triton 0:41:02.815
3: Eileen Roe Wiggle Honda
4: Lydia Boylan Team WNT
5: Katie Curtis Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
6: Jessie Walker RST Racing Team
7: Emily Kay Team USN
8: Annasley Park Team Giordana Triton
9: Lucy Martin Matrix Fitness
10: Gabriella Shaw Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
11: Henrietta Colborne Team Jadan
12: Rebecca Nixon Fusion RT Gearclub Bike Science
13: Jennifer George Les Filles
14: Charline Joiner Team WNT
15: Hannah Walker Team WNT
16: Manon Lloyd Team USN
17: Genevieve Whitson WV Avanti
18: Mel Lowther Matrix Fitness
19: Lauren Creamer Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
20: Emily Nelson Team USN
Overall after Round Two
1 Nikki Juniper 37 Team Giordana Triton
2 Katie Archibald 36 Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
3 Lydia Boylan 31 Team WNT
4 Jessie Walker 30 RST Racing Team
5 Annasley Park 24 Team Giordana Triton
6 Laura Trott 20 Matrix Fitness
7 Charline Joiner 19 Team WNT
8 Dani King 19 Wiggle Honda
9 Eileen Roe 18 Wiggle Honda
10 Manon Lloyd 18 Team USN
Team Rankings after Round 2
1 Team Giordana Triton 78
2 Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 72
3 Team WNT 56
4 Matrix Fitness 45
5 Team USN 33
6 Team Jadan 18
7 IKON Mazda 8
Sprint Rankings after Round 2
1 Nikki Juniper 14 Team Giordana Triton
2 Jessie Walker 12 RST Racing Team
3 Katie Archibald 7 Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
4 Elinor Barker 4 Matrix Fitness
4 Emily Nelson 4 Team USN
Next race in the Matrix Fitness GP Series is on June 02nd in Croydon.
by Chris Maher | May 25, 2015
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Trott wins 2015 Milk Race by three thousandths of a second
Laura Trott and Kristian House win The Milk Race
Laura Trott today (Sunday 24 May) claimed victory in this year’s elite women’s Milk Race whilst Kristian Houseclaimed the 1st prize in the elite men’s race.
Riding around the city centre course in Nottingham for team Matrix Fitness, Laura beat last year’s champion Katie Archibald of Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International by three thousandths of a second. In third place was Pearl Izumi’s Katie Curtis. Meanwhile, in the men’s race Kristian House of JLT Condor was victorious over team Wiggins’ Andy Tennant and JLT’s Ed Clancy, who came in second and third respectively.
The women’s top five finishers were as follows:
- Laura Trott, Matrix Fitness
- Katie Archibald, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
- Katie Curtis, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
- Dani King, Wiggle Honda
- Jessie Walker, RST Racing
Speaking after her triumphant win, Laura said: “It’s great to win such a prestigious event especially with an exciting sprint finish. I’m really pleased to return to Nottingham and be in front of such amazing crowds. Here’s hoping The Milk Race returns again next year!”
The men’s top five finishers were as follows:
- Kristian House, JLT Condor
- Andy Tennant, Wiggins
- Ed Clancy, JLT Condor
- Christopher Lawless, Wiggins
- Sam Lowe, Raleigh GAC
Following his victory, Kristian said: “It’s great to be part of an event like The Milk Race. The atmosphere and amount of support from the crowd make it one of the best events in England to be part of.”
The Milk Race, which initially ran between 1958 and 1993 as the UK’s leading multistage cycling race, was resurrected in 2013 as a city centre event. In 2015, the majority of the event is being funded by The Dairy Council and DairyCo, meaning that all corners of the dairy industry are working together to put on Britain’s leading one-day cycling extravaganza. More than 100,000 people came out to see The Milk Race across the weekend.
This year, the elite races formed part of a festival of cycling in Nottingham city centre, which included a Schools Ride, a Family Ride, a ride for advanced cyclists and a special ride for the British dairy industry.
Once again, Nottingham’s Old Market Square was transformed into The Milk Race Village, where thousands of spectators took advantage of milk-based products and giveaways from some of the country’s leading dairy companies.
In an elite field containing numerous world, Olympic and British champions, the women’s Milk Race has become a key event in the annual cycling calendar, and offers a first prize of £1,000 – the same value as the men’s event.
Sandy Wilkie, Chairman of The Dairy Council, said: “Last year’s Milk Race was a great occasion but today’s event has surpassed it. It was a fantastic spectacle and a great celebration of cycling and dairy. Our congratulations go toLaura and Kristian, and here’s hoping that, if further funding can be secured, The Milk Race can be a permanent fixture in the British sporting calendar for many years to come.”
Gwyn Jones, DairyCo Board Chairman, said: “The Milk Race is an iconic cycling event and represents a fabulous platform to promote to the public the benefits of milk and dairy in the context of sport. Sport requires commitment, enthusiasm and huge energy from competitors which is something dairy farmers know and appreciate as they go about their work in producing nutritious milk and the other dairy products millions of us enjoy every day. We’re delighted to be supporting The Milk Race in Nottingham.”
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “Today was a fantastic day out for residents and visitors. Nottingham is delighted to host such an important cycling event – one of many this summer as we gear up to welcome more world class sporting events. Congratulations to both winners.”
Further information about the 2015 Milk Race can be found at www.themilkrace.com or follow @themilkraceuk on Twitter.
by Chris Maher | May 17, 2015
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Sir Bradley Wiggins, (Team Wiggins) wearing the World Champion’s Time Trial Rainbow Jersey, competes in the Hull, City Road Clubs V718 Open 10 mile Time Trial. Giving the ordinary time trial rider a chance to up their game against riders of their own level and a reigning World Champion!, on a busy main road course.
Bradley set the quickest time of 17:58 in blustery conditions, 13 seconds shy of the course record & 39 seconds short of the National Record, held at 17:20 by Alex Dowsett (Movistar).
Andy Birdsall Bradley Wiggin’s minute man in the V718 TT talks to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc about his race experience. Sir Bradley Wiggins, (Team Wiggins) wearing the World Champion’s Time Trial Rainbow Jersey, competes in the Hull, City Road Clubs V718 Open 10 mile Time Trial.
Bradley’s minute man, Andy Birdsall (Tickhill Velo Club), fended Sir Brad off for 4:20s before he passed him on the outward stretch of the course. Andy did a personal best 10 @24:52.
Andy’s GoPro footage will follow shortly.
Abby Mae Parkinson, Giordana Tritan set the quickest Women’s time of 22:18.
Bradley Wiggins talks to CyclingShorts.cc writer Chris Maher post national record attempt at race HQ in Newport Village Hall. Sir Bradley Wiggins, (Team Wiggins) wearing the World Champion’s Time Trial Rainbow Jersey, competes in the Hull, City Road Clubs V718 Open 10 mile Time Trial.
by Chris Maher | May 17, 2015
Bradley Wiggins talks to CyclingShorts.cc writer Chris Maher post national record attempt at race HQ in Newport Village Hall. Sir Bradley Wiggins, (Team Wiggins) wearing the World Champion’s Time Trial Rainbow Jersey, competes in the Hull, City Road Clubs V718 Open 10 mile Time Trial.
Bradley set the quickest time of 17:58 in blustery conditions, 13 seconds shy of the course record & 39 seconds short of the National Record, held at 17:20 by Alex Dowsett (Movistar).
You can view the full Image gallery by clicking here.
Bradley’s minute man, Andy Birdsall (Tickhill Velo Club), fended Sir Brad off for 4:20s before he passed him on the outward stretch of the course. Andy did a personal best 10 @24:52.
Andy Birdsall Bradley Wiggin’s minute man in the V718 TT talks to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc about his race experience. Sir Bradley Wiggins, (Team Wiggins) wearing the World Champion’s Time Trial Rainbow Jersey, competes in the Hull, City Road Clubs V718 Open 10 mile Time Trial.
