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.

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.

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 23^rd. for NCC Group Kuota Torelli.