Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race 2017

by | Jul 22, 2017

Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race

Sponsored by Jadan Press for Elite 1st, 2nd & 3rd Category Riders

Words & Images by Chris Maher for Cycling Shorts

 

Ellen McDermott wins the forth edition of the Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race in Beverley, Part of the East Yorkshire Classic weekend ahead of defending champion Gabby Shaw.

Georgia Bullard (Team Jadan-Weldtite p/b Vive Le Velo) finished a respectable third after breaking free in the closing stages of the race.

Georgia went away, and Gaby chased her down. I was going to hang onto Gaby’s tail. Said Ellen: Then I realised, hang-on – I can get by Gaby here – she’s not going up the cobbles as fast as I think I can – then I caught Georgia.

Twenty-three riders took part in this year’s race, flagged away by Isobelle after a neutral lap on a beautiful evening in Beverley’s Market Street.

 

Amy Gornall (Secret Training CC) took the first sprint prime before McDermott (EDCO Continental) tried her luck off the front of the peloton on lap five.

They were all back together soon after and the race settled into its pace and the second sprint prime approached.

Lighting up the peloton in Pink and Blue, came a move off the front by Louise Scupham (Team Jadan-Weldtite p/b Vive Le Velo). This was enough to take the second prime, also setting the quickest lap time so far at 1.47.735.

Ten laps to go and it was Amy Monkhouse’s (Team Jadan-Weldtite p/b Vive Le Velo) turn to pull the group across the line, but no sign’s of team-mate Louise whom had suffered a mechanical.

 

We’ve also got one of our youth riders, who’s got special dispensation tonight to race with the women, and she is only fifteen. That’s Amy [Monkhouse]. I think she’ll do pretty well if I’m honest. They have all got good bike handling skills which a circuit like this needs.

 

Victoria Hood

Race Organiser

Shaw piled on the pressure once more, this time splitting the group in half with seven riders forming the lead group.

(23 Georgia Bullard, 33 Gaby Shaw, 24 Holly Flannery (Team Jadan-Weldtite p/b Vive Le Velo), 29 Amy Monkhouse, 18 Lily Greenhalgh Team22 WRT, 7 Ellen McDermott and 32 Amy Gornall)

Gornall was back on the front once more keeping the pace high as she had done two nights earlier in the HSBC-UK National Women’s Circuit Race in Sheffield, but they were all back together once more.

Shaw took over the pace for the third sprint prime and only five laps remaining, then Gornall took the lead once more with two laps to go.

The bell rang for the final lap and Sarah King (Bianchi Dama UK) tried a long dash for the line, but it was McDermott whom had the legs for the final sprint for glory, setting the quickest lap on the night with a 1.41.772.

 

When I was coming into the race I didn’t really know what to expect. It’s my first race back since doing the Czech Republic Tour a couple of weeks ago. So I didn’t really know what my legs were like.

It’s rock-hard! But I tried to attack after five-or-six laps – then it settled down.

I though (to myself) I might get away, and I got away on the cobbles, but then I died a death – so – right, that’s not going to work!

I chased down a couple of attacks and tried by best to stay with the group and not get distanced.

 

Ellen McDermott

Winner - Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race 2017, Team EDCO Continental

Talking to Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo’s owner and manager Vix Hood, I asked her about her thoughts about the Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race in Beverley, now in it’s forth year.

 

So originally the East Yorkshire Classic was just men. There had never been a women’s race. 

We went and spoke to them and said how we thought we could develop women’s racing in the area, in Yorkshire particularly if we could put on a women’s race.

We have had to stick with it and each year it has just grown and grown, there’s not an unbelievable amount of licence holders around the area, so we had to be aware and speak to the organisers all the time, and be prepared that there might be lower numbers, but now four years in, it’s what we expect – and we are getting a really strong field. We’ve got a good field tonight.

It’s almost the end of the Road Season, are you planning to ride the track – the Revolution Series? Yes, we are riding the Revs. We have to wait and see what’s happening.

We are a development squad and our original Youth Riders who came through with us – a lot of them now represent GB a lot of the time – which is a testament to what we have done, so that’s great.

But obviously if they are representing GB they might ride for GB in Revs or they might ride for Jadan. We will just have to work out who we will have riding that, but we will be putting a team in the Revs.

 

Victoria Hood

Team Manager, Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo

I asked Ellen about Georgia’s brilliant third place and she went on to say that Georgia rode very well, competing against elite riders, she did what she had to do to win the race – but went way too early (in her opinion). She went with half a lap to go!

 

I don’t really know why she stayed away (as she approached the cobbles for the final time). I was on-it.

Georgia went away, and Gaby chased her down. I was going to hang onto Gaby’s tail.

Then I realised, hang-on-a-mo, I can get by Gaby here – she’s not going up the cobbles as fast as I think I can – then I caught Georgia.

Ellen McDermott

Winner - Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race 2017, Team EDCO Continental

It takes a lot to keep the girls out on the road or in the Velodromes around the Country. We caught up with sponsor Ed, from Vive le Velo in nearby North Ferriby.

We’ve dabbled with sponsoring Team Jadan for a couple of years now to see what it’s done for us.

Women’s cycling as a recreational side is on the up, it’s the largest increase in market share. So for Vive le Velo, women’s cycling is important and it was an idea to try and promote it via Team Jadan.  

The sport needs bringing on, is been vastly underdeveloped and left alone for far too long. For us, we thoroughly recommend it. It’s something we will look to continue   with next year and see where we go.

Ed Neilsen

Team Jadan Sponsor, Owner - Viva le Velo

Results

1 Ellen McDermott EDCO Continental 1st 38.43

2 Gabriella Shaw Team WNT 1st 38.43

3 Georgia Bullard Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo 2nd 38.43

4 Amy Gornall Secret Training CC 2nd 38.43

5 Holly Flannery Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo 2nd 38.43

6 Amy Monkhouse Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo Youth A 38.43

7 Lily Greenhalgh Team 22 2nd 38.43

8 Sarah King Bianchi Dama UK 2nd 38.43

9 Nicola Moore Squadra RT 2nd 38.47

10 Rebecca Longthorp Cliff Pratt Racing 2nd 38.51

11 Melissa Greaves All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peace 2nd

12 Sarah Cramoysan Prima Team Racing 2nd 38.55

13 Felicity Gledhill SunSport Velo 2nd 40.08

14 Ava Oxley PH-MAS/Paul Milne/ Oldfield ERT Youth A39.39 +1 Lap

15 Hannah Bayes LIV AWOL 3rd 40.16 +1 Lap

16 Nicola Greenwood Holmfirth Cycling Club 3rd 40.19 +1 Lap

17 Amanda Leach Cliff Pratt Racing 4th 40.28 +1 Lap

18 Jessica O’Brien Sheffield Hallam Cycling Club 4th 38.52 +2 Laps

19 Penny Trinder Cliff Pratt Racing 4th 38.57 +2 Laps

20 Lucy Khan Cliff Pratt Racing 4th +2 Laps

21 Louise Scupham Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo 2nd 39.50 +2 Laps

DNF 9 Hannah Righini-Brand EDCO Continental 2nd

DNF 30 Debra Charlesworth Cliff Pratt Racing 3rd

 

2016 Gabriella Shaw Podium Ambition p/b Club la Santa

2015 Abby-Mae Parkinson Team Giordana Triton

2014 Iona Sewell Team GB Cycles

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

Curlew Cup 2017 Report & Gallery

by | Jun 18, 2017

Curlew Cup 2017

Julie Erskine secured her first HSBC-UK Women’s Road Series victory for Cycle Team OnForm winning the 2017 edition of the Curlew Cup in Northumberland.

Chanel Mason defended her National Women’s Road Series lead as four rider’s contest the final run to the finish line.

Sprinting into view with two-hundred metres remaining, Erskine had got the jump off Payton’s wheel to win the sixth edition of the race that began back in 2012, briefly looking back, before raising her arms in celebration across the line.

 

It’s good to get the win today going into the Nationals – as well – It’s quite a boost.

The Curlew Cup is a hard race, with three times up the Ryal’s – it was always going to be hard – and it was so hot today aswell!

I knew if I could get over the Ryal the first couple of times, then we’ll (Cycle Team OnForm) see what happens. We were trying to follow any moves that went cause Sian (Botteley) was second in the standings.

Chanel from Storey went, I just sort of followed that – Georgina (Panchaud – Bianchi) and Hannah (Payton – Drops) came as well and we just opened up a gap.

Julie Erskine

Winner - Curlew Cup 2017, Team OnForm

Conditions couldn’t have been any better for this fifth round in the series, mid-point, as clear skies and a warm ambient temperature greeted the eighty-two riders that had signed-on to the start-line in Stamfordham.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Northumberland National Park, this edition covered one-hundred-and-six kilometres, three laps, as the riders tackled the infamous Ryal’s climb with prize money on offer that included a Queen of the Mountains, Points Sprint over the finish-line and an U23 classification and a first Junior.

 

Interview – Julie Erskine Curlew Cup Winner 2017 by Cycling Shorts

Julie Erskine of Team OnForm chats to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc after her win at the Curlew Cup 2017. Image & Content ©wwwchrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc

 

The race got underway at a gentle pace with splits forming on the first ascends of the Ryal. Around forty riders re-formed the main peloton and the first action came from Storey Racing’s Jennifer George on the back straight with forty-seven kilometres covered. Joined briefly by Keira McVitty and three more trying to bridge, it wasn’t long before they were all back together once more.

The second ascend of the Ryal saw a trio of riders cresting the QoM firstly with Melissa Lowther, Team Breeze leading the way over Beth Crumpton, Storey Racing and Annasley Park, Drops Pro Cycling. Chasing not far behind, Katie Archibald, Team WNT Pro Cycling and Laura Massey, Drops Pro Cycling as the five moved clear and gained around fifteen seconds. Again it wasn’t long before the five were reeled back into the fold of the peloton.

With the final ascend of the Ryal looming, Series leader Chanel Mason, Storey Racing made the decisive move that shaped the final outcome of the race. Joining her, Erskine, Georgina Panchaud, Bianchi Dama UK, and Hannah Payton, Drops Pro Cycling as they amassed a thirty-second lead in the final run in. Panchaud attacks!

Team Breeze’s Emily Nelson tried to bridge across the gap, but ran out of road before sight of the village.

Series leader Chanel Mason settled for fourth place, maintaining her individual series lead behind U23 year old Panchaud’s who rode into third place.

 

Archibald had done enough to secure the Queen of the Mountains and the Points classification bringing in the rest of the bunch in sixth place.

Sophie Thackray was the first Junior across the line in 23rd. for NCC Group Kuota Torelli.

1. Julie Erskine, Team OnForm
2. Hannah Payton, Drops
3. Georgina Panchaud, Bianchi Dama
4. Chanel Mason, Storey Racing
5. Emily Nelson, Team Breeze
6. Katie Archibald, WNT
7. Neah Evans, Storey Racing
8. Laura Massey, Drops
9. Mellisa Lowther, Team Breeze
10. Natalie Grinczer, WNT
11. Genevieve Whitson, Sorex CT
12. Eleanor Dickinson, Breeze
13. Annasley Park, Team Breeze
14. Charmaine Porter, Ford
15. Megan Barker, breeze
16. Abigail van Twisk, Drops
17. Elizabeth Banks, Storey Racing
18. Gabby Shaw, WNT
19. Rose Osbourne, Drops
20. Charlotte Colclough, Bianchi Dama
21. Bethany Hayward, Ford
22. Alice Sharpe, Kuota Torelli
23. Sophie Thackray, Kuota Torelli
24. Jennifer Powell, Ford
25. Jennifer George, Storey
26. Alicia Speake, Onform
27. Fiona Hunter Johnston, Fusion
28. Stephanie Mottram, Kuota Torelli
29. Mellisa Brand, Ford
30. Manon Lloyd, Breeze
31. Alana Prior, Edco Continental
32. Kelly Murphy, Ford
33. Molly Patch, Fusion
34. Molly Weaver, Sunweb
35. Sian Botteley, Onform
36. Amy Gornall, Secret training
37. Jennifer Hudson, Fusion
38. Anna Docherty, Epic
39. Emily Meakin, Lifestyle
40. Kim Baptista, Kuota Torelli
41. Sophie Enever, team 22
42. Gemma Sargent, Onform
43. Lynsey Curran, Dooleys cycles
44. Bethany Crumpton, Storey racing
45. Holly Flannery, Jadan
46. Minca Dew, Storey racing
47. Fiona Turnbull, Speedflex
48. Chloe Weller,
49. Ellen McDermott, Edco Continental
50. Christine Marshall, Vertex
51. Jennifer Batey, Edco Continental
52. Jessica Duffy, Bianchi Dama
53. Elana Spanou, Onform
54. Savannah Morgan, Team 22
55. Lily Greenhalgh Team 22

1: Chanel Mason Storey Racing 84p

2: Hannah Payton Drops Cycling 64

3: Lizzy Banks Storey Racing 58

4: Grace Garner Wiggle High5 56

4: Laura Massey DropsCycling 56

4: Sian Botteley Cycle Team OnForm 56

7: Julie Erskine Cycle Team OnForm 52

8: Katie Archibald Team WNT 50

8: Emily Nelson Team Breeze 50

10: Natalie Grinczer Team WNT 43

1: Drops Pro Cycling 234

2: WNT Pro Cycling 175

2: Cycle Team OnForm 175

4: Storey Racing 127

5: Team Breeze 105

6: Team Ford Ecoboost 93

7: Bianchi Dama UK 56

7: Wiggle High5 56

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

Katarzyna Niewiadoma wins the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017

by | Jun 11, 2017

The OVO Energy Women’s Tour concludes in central London on Sunday 11 June, with a 10-lap circuit race starting and finishing on Regent Street St James.  The 62-kilometre leg gets underway at 15:30 and is preceded by the Pink Ribbon Tour, a 25-kilometre ride for 800-women to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, in aid of Breast Cancer Care, the Official Charity Partner of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour.
Jolien D’hoore sprinted to victory on the streets of London as Katarzyna Niewiadoma held onto the OVO Energy Green Jersey to claim the overall victory in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour as it finished at the heart of the capital.

The Polish National Champion won the opening stage in Northamptonshire, and has held the race lead ever since, finishing ahead of Luxembourg champion Christine Majerus and British Champion Hannah Barnes, who moved up to third overall thanks to bonus seconds on the final day.

I’m super happy. I think that’s the only word that can describe my feelings.

At our first team meeting we said that we wanted to have a good race and that we wanted to fight for a good result. We knew that the first day was good for a bunch sprint; our strong bullet for it was Marianne[Vos]. All of us had opportunities; we could do whatever we wanted if felt we could. In that moment when I attacked I saw a small hill in front of me. I tried, nobody followed – I wanted somebody to join me – but I had no choice but to keep pushing!

Katarzyna Niewadoma

Winner - OVO Energy Women's Tour 2017, WM3 Pro Cycling

In addition to her overall victory Niewiadoma also moved into the lead of the UCI Women’s WorldTour following the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, overtaking erstwhile leader Olympic Champion Anna van der Breggen.

Runner-up Christine Majerus took added the Eisberg Sprints Jersey to the Wiggle Points Jersey, clinching the former after her and three Boels Dolmans team took the race by storm in London, forcing an eight-rider group clear that contested both intermediate Eisberg Sprints, handing Majerus the jersey and Barnes third overall.

That also gave Hannah the Adnams Best British Rider Jersey, at the end of a week long battle with her younger sister Alice, and coming 18-months on from a prolonged injury lay-off with a broken leg.

It’s been a really hard week. Unfortunately we lost Ale [Alena Amialiusik] to a really bad crash on Stage Three so we only had five riders and yesterday’s stage was really hard, but it came back together, which helped us. I knew I pretty much had to win both intermediate sprints and place well in the sprint to finish on the podium today and I managed to do that.

I’ve been working really hard and this was one of the big targets of the year for me. I’m pleased I came into it strongly. The first day I didn’t feel great, it felt like it was going to be a really bad five days. But it helps that I can ride into a stage race and I think my training going into the race has paid off.

Hannah Barnes

Wiiner Best British Rider - OVO Women's Tour 2017

With an eye on the finish, Wiggle HIGH5 worked to bring the group back, reuniting the field with three laps to go and setting up a thrilling finish on Regent Street St James, with D’hoore heading home Barnes and Majerus.

Every time it’s a bunch sprint there’s pressure on me. I had to deal with it; I think I can handle the expectation pretty well. We also had Giorgia Bronzini there for us; at the end of the stage she said the team were going for me. It’s great to win.

The hammer went down from the start. We weren’t there in the move as a team so we had to chase it down. The girls did a lot of work, everybody was on their limit. Luckily we closed it down and it was up to me in the sprint.

Jolien D'hoore

Audrey Cordon-Ragot won the SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb while Team Sunweb took the Team Classification, with their rider Lucinda Brand claiming the week’s combativity prize.

Earlier in the day the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had joined Breast Cancer Care ambassador Denise Lewis to wave away the Pink Ribbon Tour, which saw over 800-women riding 25-kilometres to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Care’s pink ribbon.

Interview – Katarzyna Niewiadoma – Winner of the 2017 Women’s Tour by Cycling Shorts

Katarzyna Niewiadoma of WM3 Pro Cycling – winner of the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 chats to the assembled media. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc

Interview – Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the U23 Women’s World Tour Leader by Cycling Shorts

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Cervelo Bigla the UCI U23’s Women’s World Tour Leader chats to the press after the final stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc

Highlights of the final stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in London are on ITV4 at 23:00 on Sunday 11 June, with a repeat the following morning on the same channel.  The highlights will also be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service.

One week after the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride sections of the Northamptonshire route in the Tour Ride, the official sportive of the race on Sunday 18 June.  Riders can take part in 40 or 80-mile routes, starting and finishing at Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire, or tackle a fun, 10-mile Family Ride.  For more details visit www.tourride.co.uk

Stage 5 Results

Final Results OVO Energy Women's Tour 2017

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 WRT, Team Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

JLT Condor take the 2017 Tour Series Title

by | May 29, 2017

Images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.CyclingShorts.cc

JLT Condor and Drops were the winners as the 2017 Tour Series reached a conclusion in Stevenage, rounding out a packed Bank Holiday Monday in the Hertfordshire town that had seen cycling activities taking place around the Old Town circuit for almost 12-hours.

Connor Swift of Madison Genesis repeated his solo win from Bath in the evening’s men’s race, snatching an advantage with a handful of laps remaining to cross the line along and help his squad to the team victory on the night.  That trimmed JLT Condor’s final advantage to just two-points, but more than enough to secure the team their fourth Tour Series title, and make them the first team to defend their title since the inception of the Series in 2009.

It’s been a tough three weeks and really tough week this week but I’ve managed to get an individual win and we’ve taken many team wins and that’s the most important thing in this Series so we’re really happy. We’ve gelled well as a team and bringing the new members in who’ve done really well, it’s been great.

Graham Briggs

a member of the team for all four victories, JLT Condor

It’s been fantastic! I heard a lot about The Tour Series coming into the team and to have finished the Series as overall winners and take a couple of round wins as well was a bonus! I’ve had an amazing time here and I’d definitely recommend the racing to many Australians back home and I’d love to come back and do it in the future.

Brenton Jones

winner of two rounds - Stoke-on-Trent and Motherwell, JLT Condor

Sebastian Mora of Team Raleigh GAC confirmed his grip on the Wiggle Points Jersey, taking the competition that he has led since Round One in Redditch, while Spirit Tifosi Racing won the final round guest team competition, against the winning teams from the South, North and Midlands areas.

 

Interview – Jon Mould – Stevenage Tour Series 2017 – Final Race by Cycling Shorts

Interview with Jon Mould post race at the Stevenage round of the Tour Series 2017 Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc

 

 

Interview – Connor Swift – Stevenage Winner – Tour Series 2017 – Final Race by Cycling Shorts

Interview with Connor Swift of Madison Genesis, winner of the Stevenage round of the 2017 Tour Series. ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc

 

1, Connor Swift, GBR, Madison Genesis, 50-laps, 1:05:30.801
2, Steele Von Hoff, GBR, ONE Pro Cycling, + 9.0893,
Graham Briggs, GBR, JLT Condor, + 9.379
4, Brenton Jones, AUS, JLT Condor, + 11.093
5, Enrique Sanz, ESP, Team Raleigh GAC, + 11.180
6, Marcus Burnett, GBR, Spirit Racing Tifosi, + 11.529
7, Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 11.530
8, Bertie Newey, GBR, Metaltek Kuota, + 12.267
9, James Lowsley-Williams, GBR, BIKE Channel Canyon, + 12.401
10, Alex Paton, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 12.454

Connor Swift, GBR, Madison Genesis, 1:11.974

1, JLT Condor, 101pts
2, Madison Genesis, 99pts
3, BIKE Channel Canyon, 83pts
4, ONE Pro Cycling, 82pts
5, Team Raleigh GAC, 72pts
6, Metaltek Kuota, 55pts
7, Morvelo Basso, 47pts

1, Sebastian Mora, ESP, Team Raleigh GAC, 84pts
2, James Lowsley-Williams, GBR, BIKE Channel Canyon, 54pts
3, Brenton Jones, AUS, JLT Condor, 50pts

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 WRT, Team Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Drops take Matrix Fitness GP Title 2017

by | May 29, 2017

Images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | CyclingShorts.cc

Matrix Fitness Grand Prix 2017

Team Time Trial

The thirteen team Matrix Fitness Grand Prix concluded in Stevenage this year. Round 8 saw a first for the women’s series event, a team time trial around the one kilometre circuit of the Old Town.

Going into this final round, Drops were 50 points ahead of WNT and Breeze, both on 581 points and the day was divided into two events. The Team Time Trial on the afternoon followed by the final race in the series on the evening.

Two laps of a flat course for each team in reverse order set after Motherwell saw Team RGB Building Supplies setting a time of 2:55.696 and Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo 2:53.963 taken on the third rider across the line.

Team WNT took the overall glory 2.653 seconds ahead of Team Breeze who comprised of mainly track pursuit riders Manon Lloyd, Elinor Barker and Eleanor Dickinson. Olympic Champion Archibald steamed ahead of the WNT train around the two laps whilst Storey Racing came in third. This put WNT back in second overall just one point ahead of Breeze before the final race later in the day.

 

It was down to the final race of the series to decide the overall victory but a 1-2 for Drops confirmed the 2017 winners and a first individual win for Durrell, Lucy Shaw was second.

Drops with their first Matrix Fitness GP Title led the competition from start to finish. Team Breeze regained second place with Team WNT finishing third overall.

Rebecca Durrell was the clear leader in the individual competition whilst Ejay Harris secured the Eisberg Sprinters Jersey going clear for the first sprint of the night.

Several attacks off the front of the race from Breeze, WNT, Sunsport Velo and OnForm’s Anna Henderson came to nothing as the pace was fast throughout the race and it was left to a thirty rider bunch sprint to decide the out-come all coming back together with three laps remaining, positioning into the final corner being crucial.

Anna Henderson attacked once more on the bell lap with team-mates Sian Botteley, Amy Hill and Alicia Speake close by. Mel Lowther for Team Breeze jumped on the back wheel along the back straight with Elinor Barker third and Charlotte Broughton forth.

The sprint started on the penultimate corner with Drops Lucy Shaw taking the lead. Archibald second goes wide as Rebecca Durrell’s speed puts them side-by-side. Durrell digs deeps, it’s a 1-2 for Drops as both arms punch the air with joy.

All-in-all the Matrix Fitness GP provided good competition throughout the eight rounds with more team taking the start than ever before.

I’m really, really chuffed. The pressure was always going to be on for the team in the last round, even if it’s just from within ourselves.

I knew I’d already won the Individual overall before the start of tonight’s race but I’d deliberately not said anything about that as that would have been even more pressure. So now we’re just all relieved!

Rebecca Durrell

Stage Winner, Drops Cycling

Series Wrap-Up 

2017 saw the introduction for a team based event, similar to the already established Tour Series awarding the main prize to the best team performance through the series, as well as an individual race winner per event and an overall winner at the finish in Stevenage.

The competition also rewarded the Brother fast lap trophy each round and the Eisberg leaders sprint jersey to add dimension to the race to the highest points rider overall.

Starting off in early May in Redditch in the Midlands the series then moved South to Wembley Park before heading West to Bath and then across the border to Scotland, for the penultimate round in Motherwell and back down to Stevenage for the final.

Alice Barnes, Drops Pro Cycling won round one in Redditch soloing ahead of Katie Archibald, Team WNT and Elinor Barker for Team Breeze. Rebecca Durrell finished fourth and Lucy Shaw’s seventh for Drops, they were the first to pull on the red Matrix Fitness leader’s jerseys moving forward into round two in Stoke ahead by a solitary point over Team WNT with 95 points and Team Breeze third with 88 points.

Katie Archibald wearing the Eisberg Sprint Jersey by default won round two in Stoke with Alice Barnes not in attendance. Four riders broke free including National Criterium Champion and team-mate Eileen Roe along with Manon Lloyd for Team Breeze and Rebecca Durrell for Drops.

Roe softened up the other riders before Archibald finished the job off for WNT.

Annie Simpson was the best of the rest over a minute behind for Drops as they retain the lead again by one point over WNT.

Archibald now holds the Eisberg Sprint Jersey for round three.

With no time to rest the series moved a short distance away to Northwich and a new circuit for the battle to re-commence.

This time a different winner emerged and a different team stood on the podium in the form of Team Breeze. Emily Nelson took her first victory with team-mate Eleanor Dickinson a close second and collecting the best team prize on the night.

Matrix Fitness GrandPrix 2017, Round 7 Motherwell - Eileen Roe

Barnes was back for Drops but no Archibald for WNT so Dickinson became the new Eisberg Sprint leader moving their team into second place overall after three events. Drops lead with 284 points, Breeze 277 points and WNT 268 points.

Durrell’s seventh place finish moved her one point ahead of Nelson in the individual classification with Lydia Boylan for WNT third.

Wembley Park provided the back-drop for round four in the series and a fourth different winner in as many rounds. A brilliant solo victory for Jess Roberts, Liv Epic Coaching her second to-date winning last years final round in Portsmouth.

Leaving the bunch behind to fight for the team competition, Roberts distanced herself with two laps remaining as Durrell won the bunch sprint ahead of Nelson, Barnes and Boylan.

Drops extend their lead by 9 points and Durrell extends her individual lead by 2 points. Eleanor Dickinson retains the Eisberg Sprint Jersey.

Round 5 returned to the rain drenched streets of Croydon where a fifth consecutive new race winner emerged with Ejay Harris for Storey Racing giving them there first ever victory.

Storey Racing had the upper hand around this slippery circuit as they finished 1-2 with Neah Evans in the four rider group that broke free from the main bunch. Annasley Park crossed the line third for Drops with Boyan fourth for WNT.

Harris catapulted herself into second position behind Dickinson in the Eisberg Sprint competition whilst Drops remain the leaders of the Matrix Fitness leaders jerseys 27 points ahead of Breeze, then WNT, then Storey Racing.

Round six moved across the Country to Bath were rain soaked the riders once more, showering the bunch sprint and sixth consecutive different race winner.

This time in was National Criterium Champion Eileen Roe for WNT returning to duty in the Tour Series putting her into the record books and a historic fifth individual win in a bunch sprint once more.

Storey Racing duo Harris and Evans took second and third very closely behind Roe and Anna Henderson secured OnForm’s highest finish to-date.

Ejay Harris won both Eisberg Sprints moving into the lead jersey for the penultimate round 9 points ahead. Durrell remains individual leader and her Drops team now have 51 points advantage ahead of Breeze.

The penultimate round of the Matrix Fitness GP crossed the Boarder for a fourth visit to Motherwell and a square course with a punchy drag up-to the finish line.

Again it was a four ride break that got free including last year’s winner in Motherwell Eileen Roe along with Annasley Park, Drops, Manon Lloyd, Breeze and Lizzy Banks for Sunsport Velo.

The race had been softened again by Scotland’s Roe and Archibald both previous winners but eventually settled with a large group thirty seconds back.

It was Roe that took the victory and back-to-back wins, her sixth to-date breaking free for a solo effort on the final half lap to the applause of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Roe had asked for assistance from team-mate Archibald at the back-end of the race and dewily made her way across the gap to the leading quartet.

I’m just so chuffed with our result tonight,

We said at the start of this year’s Matrix Series that we were determined to win and that’s exactly what we’ve done.  Becky really deserved her win tonight, she’s worked so, so hard over the winter.  She’s had highs and lows and tonight is certainly a high for Becky and a high for the team.

Tom Varney

Stevenage after final race, Team Manager - Drops Cycling

Seeing the danger, Durrell followed, then Melissa Lowther and the three ebbed their way closer to the leaders.

The seven came together for the final lap before Roe made her move approaching the final corner.

Durrell edged Archibald out sprinting for second by a tyres width before Boylan’s bunch sprint for eight place gave WNT the team victory on the night moving them back into second in the team competition.

Drops remained leaders 50 points ahead of WNT and Breeze.

Ejay Harris remained the Eisberg sprint leader and Durrell the individual leader.

1, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 32-laps, 44:44.323
2, Lucy Shaw, GBR, Drops, + 0.088
3, Katie Archibald, GBR, Team WNT, + 0.195
4, Elinor Barker, GBR, Team Breeze, + 0.460
5, Charlotte Broughton, GBR, Team Ford EcoBoost, + 0.574
6, Ellie Dickinson, GBR, Team Breeze, + 0.715
7, Gaby Shaw, GBR, Team WNT, + 1.373
8, Anna Henderson, GBR, Team On Form, + 1.544
9, Ejay Harris, GBR, Storey Racing, + 1.644
10, Amy Hill, GBR, Team On Form, + 1.591

Rebecca Durrell, 1:15.238

1, Drops, 719pts
2, Team Breeze, 666pts
3, Team WNT, 659pts
4, Storey Racing, 494pts
5, Team On Form, 439pts

1, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 254pts
2, Annasley Park, GBR, Drops, 205pts
3, Manon Lloyd, GBR, Team Breeze, 199pts

1, Elizabeth Jane Harris, GBR, Storey Racing, 41pts
2, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 22pts
3, Ellie Dickinson, GBR, Team Breeze, 21pts

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

Madison Genesis move into Tour Series lead at Northwich

by | May 12, 2017

Images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | CyclingShorts.cc

A dominant performance by Madison Genesis on a slick Northwich circuit returned them to the lead of The Tour Series for the first time since they were crowned champions at the end of the 2015 Series.

The Milton Keynes based team had all five riders in the top nine to take their second win in two nights, following victory in Stoke-on-Trent, putting them level on points with JLT Condor and into the lead on countback – the first time in over a year that a team other than JLT Condor have had their name at the top of the standings of the team based Series.

Despite the dominance of their performance though, it was former Movistar Team rider Enrique Sanz who took the individual race win, his first in the Series and the first for Team Raleigh since 2014.  Sanz continued his strong start to his Tour Series career, having taken third and second from the opening events before winning the first ever Northwich race.

With rain sweeping in shortly before the start of the men’s race the circuit was soaked resulting in adverse conditions and a number of spills that split the field, in particular affecting leaders JLT Condor and challengers BIKE Channel Canyon, who both lost riders to the tricky conditions.

Sanz’s teammate Sebastian Mora held onto the Wiggle Points Jersey despite failing to finish as the result of a crash while Sanz also won the Brother Fastest Lap trophy, once again taken on the final lap of the race.

1, Enrique Sanz, ESP, Team Raleigh GAC, 1:10.977
2, Johnny McEvoy, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 0.198
3, Ed Clancy, GBR, JLT Condor, + 0.830
4, Jake Stewart, GBR, Great Britain + 2.677
5, Matt Cronshaw, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 2.905
6, George Harper, GBR, ONE Pro Cycling, + 3.042
7, Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 6.414
8, Alex Paton, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 8.305
9, Gruff Lewis, GBR, Madison Genesis, + 9.008
10, Harry Tanfield, GBR, BIKE Channel Canyon, + 9.236

Enrique Sanz, ESP, Team Raleigh GAC, 1:53.192

1, Madison Genesis, 36pts
2, JLT Condor, 36pts
3, BIKE Channel Canyon, 30pts
4, Team Raleigh GAC, 29pts
5, ONE Pro Cycling, 28pts
6, Metaltek Kuota, 21pts
7, Morvelo Basso, 16pts

1, Sebastian Mora, ESP, Team Raleigh GAC, 29pts
2, Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis, 16pts
3, Johnny McEvoy, GBR, Madison Genesis, 13pts

Spirit Tifosi Racing

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.

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