by Anna Magrath | May 25, 2014
Katie Archibald today (Sunday 25 May) claimed victory in this year’s elite women’s Milk Race whilst Graham Briggs claimed the 1st prize in the elite men’s race.
Riding around the city centre course in Nottingham for team Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International, the second year running that the legendary event has been held in the city, Katie beat two of the stars of the Wiggle Honda team, Laura Trott and Charlotte Becker into second and third place. Meanwhile, in the men’s race Graham Briggs of Rapha Condor JLT was victorious over Raleigh’s Mathew Boulo and Velosure-Giordana’s Matt Cronshaw, who came in second and third respectively.
The women’s top five finishers were as follows:
1. Katie Archibald, Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International
2. Laura Trott, Wiggle Honda
3. Charlotte Becker, Wiggle Honda
4. Elinor Barker, Wiggle Honda
5. Katie Curtis, Starley Primal Pro Cycling
Speaking after her triumphant win, Katie said: “It’s great to win such a prestigious event 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:
1. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor JLT
2. Mathew Boulo, Team Raleigh
3. Matt Cronshaw, Velosure-Giordana RT
4. Ed Clancy, Rapha Condor JLT
5. Felix English, Rapha Condor JLT
Following his victory, Graham said: “It’s great to be of an event like The Milk Race. It’s probably the best event in England for the amount of support there is from the crowd and it’s super motivating to hear them shouting your name!”
The Milk Race, which initially ran between 1958 and 1993 until the Milk Marketing Board was disbanded, was resurrected last year by industry bodies The Dairy Council and the Milk Marketing Forum. In 2014, the elite races formed part of a festival of cycling in Nottingham city centre, which included a community ride, a family ride, and a ride for advanced cyclists. 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 to Katie and Graham, 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.”
by Anna Magrath | May 24, 2014
There was a thrilling finish to Aberystwyth’s round of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series on Friday evening, as Felix English collected his first ever individual win to help Rapha Condor JLT to their third team win of the 2014 Series.
English took at narrow win at the expense of Jon Mould, who had bridged across to English and Mike Northey, reaching them with a lap to go, but then who couldn’t come by English on the drag up to the line.
Behind Northey took third, with Ed Clancy and Tom Scully leading in the remainder of the thirteen riders left on the lead lap in Aberystwyth.
With English’s first and Clancy’s fourth, Graham Briggs made sure of another team win for Rapha Condor JLT with eighth, a narrow victory thanks to Madison Genesis’ third, fifth and ninth, with a spare fourth man also in the top ten.
Going in to Week Three of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series Rapha Condor JLT now enjoy a five point lead over Madison Genesis, cementing an excellent day as Hugh Carthy also took a second place for the squad in the Tour of Japan.
In a race that started in a torrential downpour sweeping in off Cardigan Bay, the field split up early on around Aberystwyth’s technical circuit, with a group of thirteen rider splitting away from the main field.
As the rest of the field splintered the lucky thirteen powered clear until English and Northey made their move at the front at the second Sprint, with English collecting the Costa Express Fastest Lap on the way.
The duo worked up a 10-second lead, and despite repeated attempts by Scully, Yanto Barker and Tobyn Horton to bridge across, the two looked like contesting the individual win alone.
That was without taking into account Sprints leader Mould, who put in a massive effort with just over two laps to go to ride across to English and Northey alone. On home roads the Welshman was then neck and neck with English up Pier Street to the finish line, with the Rapha Condor JLT just prevailing.
Mould’s consolation was keeping the Sprints jersey that he collected at Round One in Stoke-on-Trent, but now the NFTO rider’s lead is down to just one point over Briggs, with Northey and Scully also both showing a keen interest in the competition.
At the top of the standings that matter though it is Rapha Condor JLT leading the way, keeping the red and yellow leader jerseys with a healthy five point advantage over Madison Genesis.
They in turn have an eight point margin over NFTO Pro Cycling who took third on the night in Aberystwyth.
Highlights from Aberystwyth will be shown on ITV4 at 8pm on Monday 26th May, with a repeat at 7am on Tuesday 27th May.
Round Five of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series heralds a tough week for the nine teams, with Durham’s cobbled climb featuring on Tuesday (27th May) before an equally tough circuit around Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, including the cobbled Victoria Street climb on Thursday (29th May) for Round Six, the first to be held in Scotland’s capital city.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Friday 23 May 2014, Aberystwyth
Round Four Team Result
1) Rapha Condor JLT
2) Madison Genesis
3) NFTO Pro Cycling
4) Team Raleigh
5) Pedal Heaven Colbornes
6) Metaltek Kuota
7) Starley Primal Pro Cycling
8) Node4 Velosure
9) Great Britain
Round Four Individual Result
1) Felix English, IRL, Rapha Condor JLT
2) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
3) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis
4) Ed Clancy, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
5) Tom Scully, NZL, Madison Genesis
6) James Lowsley-Williams, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
7) Yanto Barker, GBR, Team Raleigh
8) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
9) Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis
10) Tom Stewart GBR, Madison Genesis
Round Four Costa Express Fastest Lap: Felix English, IRL, Rapha Condor JLT, 1’31.757
Round Four Sprint Winner: Tom Scully, NZL, Madison Genesis
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Four
1) Rapha Condor JLT, 54pts
2) Madison Genesis, 49pts
3) NFTO Pro Cycling, 41pts
4) Team Raleigh, 35pts
5) Great Britain, 25pts
6) Node4 Velosure, 25pts
7) Metaltek Kuota, 23pts
8) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 19pts
9) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 14pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Four
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 29pts
2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 28pts
3) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis, 22pts
by Anna Magrath | May 22, 2014
Explore the World, One Ride at a Time
Cycling around the world is a feat that many cyclists aspire to, but the time that such challenges require away from work and family make them impossible for most ordinary riders.
Ride25 is changing all that with a new flexible approach which allows riders to complete a round the world trip in 25 stages, completed months apart, one tour at a time. Individuals, groups, charities and companies are all invited to take part in however many stages they like, starting wherever they please, whether that be one stage through continental Europe or all 25 from the UK to Australia.
The concept has been set up by Rob Hamilton and John Readman – friends, cyclists and travel enthusiasts. The idea came after Hamilton organised a UK to Australia ride for the African children’s charity 1morechild. He experienced an incredible response to it, which sparked a curiosity between the pair as to how many more people would want to ride across the world if the challenge was made more accessible and flexible for them – the idea for Ride 25 was born.
“Ride25 is all about ordinary people who love to ride, being able to see the world from their bikes, and not having to put their life on hold to do it,” explained Readman.
All the legs have been carefully planned to accommodate seasoned riders through to new starters taking on their first very first cycling challenge, with support along the way for everyone. Every tour along the way comprises 4 days’ cycling, with each day involving between 70-100 miles in the saddle.
However – Ride25 isn’t just about cycling, it’s about the whole travelling adventure. Hamilton and Readman have handpicked the routes to take in the most interesting
landscapes, sights and experiences across every country that Ride25 travels – it might not always make for the shortest routes from A to B, but they’re certainly the most exciting.
After each day’s sight-seeing in the saddle, there’s a relaxing environment at every base hotel to share the day’s experiences over a few drinks and an evening meal. It’s not a contest or a training camp, so riders can enjoy themselves – so much so that Ride25 even buys every rider’s first drink at the end of each day’s riding.
While all entrants are invited to use Ride25 as a platform to fundraise for charities close to their hearts, unlike many extreme cycling challenges, there’s no obligation to do so in order to take part – it’s all just about having fun.
Ride25 is donating a bike to an African community for every person that takes part in one of the 25 stages, through its corporate charity partner Re-Cycle, and the brand also raises up to £100,000 each year for the African children’s charity 1moreChild.
by Anna Magrath | May 21, 2014
Eileen Roe takes Series lead with victory in Peterborough
Eileen Roe moved into the lead of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series with victory in Round Two at Peterborough, ensuring she will wear the leader’s jersey on home roads in Scotland at Round Three.
Roe now heads a Scottish 1-2 ahead of Charline Joiner as the women’s Series heads to Scotland for the first time, with Edinburgh hosting Round Three on Thursday 29th May.
In the absence of opening round winner and leader Katie Archibald, Roe had pulled on the red and white Matrix Fitness jersey in Peterborough as the leading rider racing, and did the jersey proud, firstly attacking and then ultimately winning the final sprint ahead of Nicola Juniper and Harriet Owen.
Victory was Roe’s second in the Series, having won the Colchester event in heavy rain in 2012, but this time victory means she takes control of the Series, with a 11-point lead over Joiner.
Freshly back from a long-term injury lay-off, Joiner took sixth, helping her Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team to a second successive team win, and to extend their series lead.
Second placed Juniper, sixth placed Joiner and Lauren Creamer in eighth secured the points for the team of Dame Sarah Storey, with a fourth black and purple rider, Gabriella Shaw, also in the top ten.
Third on the night was Harriet Owen, on the circuit where she took victory in 2012 the last time the Series visited, while fourth place was Italian Jasmine Diotti, in only her second outing in the Matrix Fitness GP Series.
Roe took the Sprint win on the night, while Louise Mahe took over the Sprints Jersey with the overall lead for Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport, and Nicola Juniper the evening’s combativity prize, after several aggressive moves in the first half of the race.
In addition to the Scottish 1-2 at the top of the standings, riders from north of the border have won both of the opening two rounds, and will be hoping to make it three from three as the women’s Series heads to Scotland for the first time next week.
Edinburgh’s tough Grassmarket circuit, featuring the cobbled climb of Victoria Street, hosts men and women’s events on the afternoon and evening of Thursday 29th May.
Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series
Tuesday 20 May 2014
Round Two, Peterborough
Race Result
1) Eileen Roe, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling
2) Nicola Juniper, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
3) Harriet Owen, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine
4) Jasmine Diotti, ITA, Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa
5) Hannah Walker, GBR, Epic Cycles – Scott WRT
6) Charline Joiner, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
7) Clemence Copie, GBR, Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport
8) Lauren Creamer, IRL, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
9) Sigrid Jochems, NED, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine
10) Gabriella Shaw, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
Round Two Sprint Winner: Louise Mahe, Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport
Round Two Team Winner: Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
Overall Individual Standings, post-Round Two
1) Eileen Roe, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 39pts
2) Charline Joiner, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, 28pts
3) Hannah Walker, GBR, Epic Cycles – Scott WRT, 24pts
4) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport, 23pts
5) Harriet Owen, GBR, Matrix Fitness – Vulpine, 21pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Two
1) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport, 12pts
2) Katie Archibald, GBR, Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International, 10pts
3) Katie Curtis, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 7pts
4) Eileen Roe, GBR, Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 6pts
5) Clemence Copie, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl Sigma Sport, 5pts
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Two
1) Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, 98pts
2) Matrix Fitness – Vulpine, 79pts
3) Starley Primal Pro Cycling 56pts
4) Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport, 49pts
5) Epic Cycles Scott WRT, 42pts
6) Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa, 36pts
7) RST Racing Team, 5pts
8) WyndyMilla Reynolds, 4pts
by Anna Magrath | May 21, 2014
Stylish win for Matthew Gibson in Peterborough as Rapha Condor JLT remain on top
Great Britain’s Matthew Gibson took a stylish win with a last lap attack in Peterborough, but it was the riders of Rapha Condor JLT who took the team win to extend their Series lead.
Gibson attacked at the bell from a four-rider breakaway group to win alone in Peterborough city centre, with Adam Blythe coming in second, ahead of Graham Briggs and Mike Northey.
With Felix English and Ed Clancy leading in the bunch for fifth and sixth, Rapha Condor JLT took their second win of the 2014 Series to move into a three point lead at the top of the standings.
Madison Genesis, who placed four in the top ten, took a close second to remain in runners up spot in The Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
English’s last lap dash to the line also gave him the evening’s Costa Express Fastest Lap, just surpassing Gibson’s final lap, which had looked set to give him the Costa Express trophy.
Gibson, Blythe, Briggs and Northey had gone clear midway through the hour long race on The Pearl Izumi Tour Series and worked well together, building and maintaining a lead of over 30-seconds on the peloton.
Then with the bell ringing to herald the last lap Gibson jumped clear and instantly built an unbridgeable margin, which held all the way around the 1.1-kilometre lap.
Behind the celebrating Great Britain rider Adam Blythe crossed the line alone for his best Pearl Izumi Tour Series individual result to date, with Briggs and Northey crossing the line by themselves.
Kiwi Champion Northey actually took third on the road, but was relegated behind Briggs by commissaires after the two clashed in the final corner.
Behind clear the clear 1-2, NFTO took third to keep them in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series title hunt, while Great Britain could only come sixth, despite taking the individual win.
NFTO also kept hold of the Sprints jersey thanks to Jon Mould, who earned enough points to keep him six points clear of Briggs, with Northey winning the evening’s sprint prize in Peterborough.
Highlights of Round Three from Peterborough are shown on ITV4 at 8pm on Wednesday 21st May, with a repeat at 9.55am on Thursday 22nd May.
Round Four sees the Series make its annual trip to Wales for the Aberystwyth round on Friday 23rd May to open the weekend’s Aber Cycle Festival, which includes a downhill mountain bike race and the Welsh Wild West sportive.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Tuesday 20 May 2014, Peterborough
Round Three Team Result
1) Rapha Condor JLT
2) Madison Genesis
3) NFTO Pro Cycling
4) Team Raleigh
5) Starley Primal Pro Cycling
6) Great Britain
7) Metaltek Kuota
8) Pedal Heaven Colbornes
9) Node4 Velosure
Round Three Individual Result
1) Matthew Gibson, GBR, Great Britain
2) Adam Blythe, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
3) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
4) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis
5) Felix English, IRL, Rapha Condor JLT
6) Ed Clancy, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT
7) Tobyn Horton, GBR, Madison Genesis
8) Tom Scully, NZL, Madison Genesis
9) Tom Stewart, GBR, Madison Genesis
10) Yanto Barker, GBR, Team Raleigh
Round Three Costa Express Fastest Lap: Felix English, IRL Costa Express, 1’17.884
Round Three Sprint Winner: Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Three
1) Rapha Condor JLT, 42pts
2) Madison Genesis, 39pts
3) NFTO Pro Cycling, 33pts
4) Team Raleigh, 28pts
5) Great Britain, 23pts
6) Node4 Velosure, 21pts
7) Metaltek Kuota, 18pts
8) Starley Primal, 15pts
9) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 9pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Three
1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 25pts
2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 19pts
3) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis, 14pts
by Anna Magrath | May 20, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
LAURA TROTT AND DANI KING LATEST BIG NAMES TO ENTER
This Sunday the legendary Milk Race returns to Nottingham City Centre with exciting new elite cyclists now added to the line up.
The elite field, which includes Dame Sarah Storey, World and European cycling champion Katie Archibald and Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy, has been joined by Olympic champions Laura Trott and Dani King, who will compete in the Elite Women’s Race.
Trott, who was also part of the ‘make mine Milk’ celebrity based advertising campaign, will lead a strong line-up from Wiggle Honda, alongside 2013 Milk Race Elite Women’s champion, Dani King.
Speaking about her Milk Race debut, Laura said: “I’m excited to be taking part in The Milk Race this year. It creates one of the best crowds on the domestic circuit and who doesn’t love riding in front of big crowds? Women’s road racing in the UK is on a high at the moment and I’m looking forward to putting on a great show with Wiggle Honda and hopefully leading out one of our girls for a win!”
On returning to The Milk Race this year, Dani said: “I’m delighted to be back riding The Milk Race to defend the title I won last year. I can’t wait to get stuck into such a great race.”
The event’s return to Nottingham has been made possible by The Dairy Council and Nottingham City Council who are hosting a day of family activities in Old Market Square on the Saturday before the Milk Race.
As well as the elite races, the Milk Race event will provide a host of entertainment including live music, stunt shows and public rides, starting at 9:30am in Nottingham’s Old Market Square.
A full timetable of the day is as follows:
09.00 The Milk Race Village Opens
09.00 Registration open for Public Rides
10.15 Public Rides: Advanced, Community and Family ride
12.45 Elite Women’s warm up
13.15 The Milk Race – Elite women’s race
14.30 Presentations – Elite Women’s race
15.30 Elite men’s warm up
16.00 The Milk Race – Elite men’s race
17.30 Presentations – Elite Men’s Race
Families and individuals can still register for the public rides via the website athttp://www.themilkrace.com/register-now.
Further information about the 2014 Milk Race can be found at www.themilkrace.com.
The men’s top five finishers were as follows:
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