Heather Bamforth Archives - CyclingShorts.cc

Ras na mBan Race Report

by Anna Magrath | Sep 11, 2016

Rikke Lønne (Team Crescent D.A.R.E.) has taken overall victory in An Post Rás na mBan 2016 after finishing fourth in the final stage in Kilkenny.

The Dane was part of a seven rider group witch contested the final sprint in front of Kilkenny Castle after 85 km of dry and windy conditions.

The final stage win went to Eileen Roe (Team WNT) for the second successive year as she sprinted in ahead of the Netherlands’ Nina Buijsman (Regioteam Noord-Holland 2) and Norwegian Stine Borgli (Bryne CK).

On a day where the high winds played a major role, the race split into several small groups. The winning move was established on the final Queen of the Mountains hill at Woodstock after 43km where Ida Erngren (Team Crescent D.A.R.E) led Marieke Kerkvliet (WV Breda) over the top.

The points accrued for second were enough to ensure that the Dutch woman would overhaul Lonne to win the Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains classification.

The leaders established their advantage on the descent as Erngren and Kerkvliet were joined by Lonne, Roe, Buijsman, Borgli and Natalie Grinczer (Team WNT).

The leaders quickly established an advantage of over a minute by the time the chase group of 32 could get organised. In that chasing group were the riders placed second and third overall, Lydia Boylan (Team WNT) and Erin Kinnealy (CCN Energy HR Australia), respectively, who battled hard to maintain their position in the general classification.

We were extremely impressed with the Ràs na mBan and the professionalism of the race organisation. This was our first visit with a team and we were overwhelmed by the convivial atmosphere.

Our team performed every day and we are extremely proud of what each rider has achieved. We have all learnt a lot from the experience and we look forward to visiting Ireland to race again soon.

Our thanks to Fred Bamforth and John Hammer for their invaluable assistance with the team all week and to Ian Roberts for the logistical support.

A final thank you to the Fred Whitton Challenge for helping us to give riders a racing chance.

Heather Bamforth

Team Manager & Founder of The Racing Chance Foundation Charity, Team Racing Chance

The leaders’ maximum advantage was 1m15s with 10km to go, a margin which began to shrink on the approached the finish. Crossing the line with arms aloft in front of the large crowd gathered at the finishline outside Kilkenny Castle, Roe took the honours on the day and with it the final victory in the National Dairy Council Points competition.

Buisjman’s second place ensured she retained the WomensCycling.ie Young rider jersey. The chase group narrowed the gap to 53s Which was enough for Boylan to stay second overall while Kerkvliet moved ahead of Kinnealy and into third.

Great experience, well organised and a good development opportunity for our juniors. Shame about the criterium which was cancelled as 3 of our girls worked hard all race to position themselves at the front to make sure they made the select group that was left in the race.

They are such amazing riders and bike handlers that a fast and furious stage like this gave them their best opportunity for a podium finish and it was definitely looking that way with one lap to go. It was unfortunate the stage was made null and void as that group had made up over 2 minutes on the rest of the riders, the decision to not give that was frustrating. I felt that talented girls that had fantastic bike skills missed out on the chance to shine. Stronger riders who are not so good at racing or as skilful were given serious advantage by the stage being nullified.

We would obviously much rather everyone be safe and our thoughts go out to those involved in the crash and we wish them a full and speedy recovery. Our juniors were excited to be part of it and are already planning next year.

Victoria Hood

Team Manager, Team Jadan

Claire McIlwaine (Cycling Ulster) was safely in the main group to secure her first Kilkenny County Council Green jersey for Best Home Based Irish Rider. Boylan took the award as Top Rider with a British Based Team.

There was a strong UK contingent at the Ras this year, Team WNT had the top placed British rider Natalie Grinczer coming in 5th. The North of England was represented by well by Cliff Pratt, The Racing Chance Foundation & Team Jadan, their highest placings respectively were 14th for Jennifer George, 26th Kelly Murphy & 31st Rhona Callander (Under 23 junior).

Top Junior went to Pfeiffer Georgi (Backstedt Cycling) while Marianne Leeuwen (Regio Team Nord Holland 1). The WNT squad won the overall Team award while Cycling Ulster, who secured the top three in the Best Irish Rider classification, comfortably won the top Irish-based team prize.

We thoroughly enjoyed competing in this year’s Rás na mBan.
We decided to enter a team after we had several riders asking us how they could get in, such is the esteem that the event is held in.
Our riders came into the race with a range of experience; Jen George, Grace Garner and Corinne Clark have competed in some of the world’s biggest bike races, whereas, Alicia Speake and Steph Mottram are competitive on the British scene but had not taken part in an event of such stature before.
The girls rode out of their skin on each and every day. Their dedication, teamwork and passion made the race what it was for us. Unfortunately we were hindered slightly by illness and some misfortune but our riders showed resilience and kept pushing right to the end.
Our standout moments were Grace’s amazing 2nd on stage two, Grace leading the Points and Young Rider classifications, Jen and Alicia’s awesome performance on stage 3, Steph’s beast of ride in the time trial and Corinne finishing the race on Sunday after nearly deciding to pull out after stage one.
I would like to thank Alex Reed for his invaluable support.
Thank you to Expedia UK, Hotels.com, the Expedia Affiliate Network and everyone who donated for making it possible for us to have taken part.
And finally thanks to the organisers, volunteers, officials, riders and teams for making our time at the Rás na mBan such an enjoyable one.
We’ll be back next year!

Keith McRae

Team Manager, Cliff Pratt Racing

1.	EILEEN ROE	TEAM WNT	GBR		2.08’34”
2.	NINA BUIJSMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	2.08’34”
3.	STINE BORGLI	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		2.08’34”
4.	RIKKE LONNE	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	DEN		2.08’34”
5.	IDA ERNGREN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		2.08’34”
6.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		2.08’34”
7.	MARIEKE KERKVLIET	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		2.08’34”
8.	CECILIA LE BRIS	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	2.09’27”	53″
9.	GRACE GARNER	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR	U23	2.09’27”	53″
10.	LAURA GORTER	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		2.09’27”	53″
11.	LAUREN CREAMER	TEAM TORELLI	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
12.	ERYN NOLAN	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
13.	RHONA CALLANDER	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	2.09’27”	53″
14.	EVA VAN DEN BORN	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	NED		2.09’27”	53″
15.	ROOS HOOGEBOOM	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	NED		2.09’27”	53″
16.	MARJOLEIN BAKKER	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	2.09’27”	53″
17.	ALICIA SPEAKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
18.	KIRSTEN PEETOOM	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED		2.09’27”	53″
19.	MARIANNE VAN LEEUWEN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED	V	2.09’27”	53″
20.	STEPHANIE MOTTRAM	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
21.	ALICE SHARPE	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	2.09’27”	53″
22.	LYDIA BOYLAN	TEAM WNT	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
23.	JENNY HOLDEN	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	2.09’27”	53″
24.	PFEIFFER GEORGI	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	2.09’27”	53″
25.	ELENOR CAMPBELL	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	2.09’27”	53″
26.	JENNY POWELL	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		2.09’27”	53″
27.	JENNIFER GEORGE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
28.	ELIZABETH BANKS	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
29.	ELYNOR BACKSTEDT	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	2.09’27”	53″
30.	TAMSIN VICARY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
31.	MICHELLE GEOGHEGAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
32.	AMALIE LUTRO	TEAM RYTGER	NOR	U23, J	2.09’27”	53″
33.	LYDIA GURLEY	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
34.	REBECCA CARTER	TEAM WNT	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
35.	HEATHER FOLEY	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
36.	ERIN KINNEALY	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		2.09’27”	53″
37.	CLAIRE MCILLWAINE	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
38.	KATHARINE SMYTH	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		2.09’27”	53″
39.	KELLY MURPHY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
40.	REBECCA RIMMINGTON	TEAM WNT	GBR		2.09’27”	53″
41.	CHARLOTTE ALSTON	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR	U23	2.13’18”	4’44”
42.	FEMKE VAN KESSEL	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		2.13’18”	4’44”
43.	MELISSA VAN NECK	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		2.13’18”	4’44”
44.	MAURA CLAFFEY	TC RACING	IRL		2.13’18”	4’44”
45.	EILEEN BURNS	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		2.13’18”	4’44”
46.	ALICJA VERHAGEN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED		2.13’18”	4’44”
47.	JOSEFINE HUITFELDT	TEAM RYTGER	DEN	U23	2.13’18”	4’44”
48.	SARAH BRADFORD	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	2.13’18”	4’44”
49.	ANDREA TERJESEN	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	2.13’18”	4’44”
50.	ALISA HEALY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		2.13’18”	4’44”
51.	FIONA GUIHEN	TC RACING	IRL		2.13’18”	4’44”
52.	SINNEAD OAKES	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	2.13’18”	4’44”
53.	ROISIN THOMAS	TC RACING	IRL		2.13’18”	4’44”
54.	KYLIE WATERREUS	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED	U23, J	2.13’18”	4’44”
55.	KRISTINE KOFMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		2.13’18”	4’44”
56.	CORINNE CLARKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		2.13’18”	4’44”
57.	TONE HATTELAND LIMA	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		2.13’18”	4’44”
58.	AIDEEN KEENAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		2.13’18”	4’44”
59.	JOANNE GROENVELDT	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		2.13’18”	4’44”
60.	MADS SCOTT	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	2.13’18”	4’44”
61.	ANNA WEAVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		2.13’18”	4’44”
62.	CHLOE WELLER	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	GBR		2.13’18”	4’44”
63.	EMMY ANDERSSON	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		2.13’18”	4’44”
64.	FIONA HUNTER-JOHNSON	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		2.13’18”	4’44”
65.	SOPHIE THACKERY	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23, J	2.13’18”	4’44”
66.	BETH MCLUSKEY	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL	V	2.13’18”	4’44”
67.	SHAUNA MCFADDEN	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	IRL	U23, J	2.13’18”	4’44”
68.	FANNY LE HUITOUZE	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA		2.13’18”	4’44”
69.	JENNY HOLL	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	2.13’18”	4’44”
70.	ALEXIS BARNES	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	AUS		2.13’18”	4’44”
71.	HELENE GERARD	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	2.13’18”	4’44”
72.	KAROLINE ROSTE OMDAL	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	2.16’03”	7’29”
73.	ELLEN MCDERMOTT	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR		2.16’03”	7’29”
74.	SARAH BURKE	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR		2.16’03”	7’29”
75.	EVE DIXON	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	2.16’03”	7’29”
76.	AMALIE WINTHER OLSEN	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	DEN	U23	2.16’04”	7’30”
77.	CLEO KORTENHORST	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED	U23	2.16’04”	7’30”
78.	TILINA LEVIN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		2.16’04”	7’30”
79.	ISABEL ELLIS	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	2.16’04”	7’30”
80.	ANGELA SMITH	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS	U23	2.16’04”	7’30”
81.	SARA VERHAEST	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	BEL	U23	2.16’04”	7’30”
82.	MARGRIET KLOPPENBURG	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		2.16’04”	7’30”
83.	JENNIFER BATEY	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		2.16’04”	7’30”
84.	PERNILLA VAN ROZELAAR	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	2.16’26”	7’52”
85.	SARAH DUFFIELD	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		2.18’43”	10’09”
86.	GABRIELLE RIMASSON	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	2.18’43”	10’09”
87.	REBECCA DOBSON	TC RACING	IRL		2.18’43”	10’09”
88.	NESSA ROCHFORD	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	2.18’43”	10’09”
89.	SANNE VAN HELMOND	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		2.18’43”	10’09”
90.	AMY GOOD	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	IRL	U23	2.18’43”	10’09”
91.	SELMA SVARF	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE	U23	2.18’43”	10’09”
92.	EIMEAR HARRISON	TC RACING	IRL	U23, J	2.25’07”	16’33”

1.	RIKKE LONNE	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	DEN		9.06’35”
2.	LYDIA BOYLAN	TEAM WNT	IRL		9.10’43”	4’08”
3.	MARIEKE KERKVLIET	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		9.11’09”	4’34”
4.	NINA BUIJSMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.11’23”	4’48”
5.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.11’39”	5’04”
6.	IDA ERNGREN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		9.11’39”	5’04”
7.	ERIN KINNEALY	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		9.11’51”	5’16”
8.	STINE BORGLI	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		9.12’15”	5’40”
9.	LAURA GORTER	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		9.12’38”	6’03”
10.	EVA VAN DEN BORN	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	NED		9.12’43”	6’08”
11.	PFEIFFER GEORGI	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’49”	6’14”
12.	ELYNOR BACKSTEDT	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’55”	6’20”
13.	CLAIRE MCILLWAINE	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.12’58”	6’23”
14.	JENNIFER GEORGE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.13’00”	6’25”
15.	ALICE SHARPE	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.13’05”	6’30”
16.	JENNY POWELL	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		9.13’06”	6’31”
17.	EILEEN ROE	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.13’12”	6’37”
18.	ELIZABETH BANKS	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		9.13’16”	6’41”
19.	REBECCA RIMMINGTON	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.13’29”	6’54”
20.	CECILIA LE BRIS	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.13’32”	6’57”
21.	JENNY HOLDEN	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.13’38”	7’03”
22.	ROOS HOOGEBOOM	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	NED		9.14’36”	8’01”
23.	KIRSTEN PEETOOM	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED		9.14’49”	8’14”
24.	ELENOR CAMPBELL	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.15’05”	8’30”
25.	STEPHANIE MOTTRAM	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.15’34”	8’59”
26.	KELLY MURPHY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.15’34”	8’59”
27.	KATHARINE SMYTH	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.15’35”	9’00”
28.	REBECCA CARTER	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.15’46”	9’11”
29.	HEATHER FOLEY	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.16’19”	9’44”
30.	GRACE GARNER	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR	U23	9.16’58”	10’23”
31.	RHONA CALLANDER	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.17’23”	10’48”
32.	FIONA HUNTER-JOHNSON	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		9.18’02”	11’27”
33.	MICHELLE GEOGHEGAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		9.18’05”	11’30”
34.	TONE HATTELAND LIMA	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		9.18’25”	11’50”
35.	ROISIN THOMAS	TC RACING	IRL		9.18’39”	12’04”
36.	LYDIA GURLEY	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	IRL		9.19’25”	12’50”
37.	LAUREN CREAMER	TEAM TORELLI	IRL		9.19’26”	12’51”
38.	KRISTINE KOFMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		9.19’49”	13’14”
39.	MELISSA VAN NECK	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		9.19’53”	13’18”
40.	ALICIA SPEAKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.19’58”	13’23”
41.	FIONA GUIHEN	TC RACING	IRL		9.20’15”	13’40”
42.	FANNY LE HUITOUZE	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA		9.20’17”	13’42”
43.	HELENE GERARD	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.20’28”	13’53”
44.	KYLIE WATERREUS	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED	U23, J	9.21’28”	14’53”
45.	AMALIE LUTRO	TEAM RYTGER	NOR	U23, J	9.21’45”	15’10”
46.	MARIANNE VAN LEEUWEN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED	V	9.22’07”	15’32”
47.	ALICJA VERHAGEN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED		9.22’18”	15’43”
48.	ERYN NOLAN	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	IRL		9.22’24”	15’49”
49.	BETH MCLUSKEY	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL	V	9.22’32”	15’57”
50.	TAMSIN VICARY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.23’20”	16’45”
51.	MARGRIET KLOPPENBURG	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		9.24’20”	17’45”
52.	JOANNE GROENVELDT	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		9.24’37”	18’02”
53.	AIDEEN KEENAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		9.24’44”	18’09”
54.	CHARLOTTE ALSTON	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR	U23	9.26’19”	19’44”
55.	GABRIELLE RIMASSON	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.26’25”	19’50”
56.	EILEEN BURNS	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.26’42”	20’07”
57.	ANNA WEAVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		9.26’55”	20’20”
58.	MARJOLEIN BAKKER	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.27’29”	20’54”
59.	SOPHIE THACKERY	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23, J	9.27’57”	21’22”
60.	ALISA HEALY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.28’04”	21’29”
61.	MADS SCOTT	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.28’14”	21’39”
62.	SARAH BRADFORD	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.28’45”	22’10”
63.	CLEO KORTENHORST	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED	U23	9.29’52”	23’17”
64.	EMMY ANDERSSON	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		9.29’56”	23’21”
65.	JENNY HOLL	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.30’06”	23’31”
66.	JOSEFINE HUITFELDT	TEAM RYTGER	DEN	U23	9.30’26”	23’51”
67.	ALEXIS BARNES	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	AUS		9.31’03”	24’28”
68.	ELLEN MCDERMOTT	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR		9.31’03”	24’28”
69.	FEMKE VAN KESSEL	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		9.31’17”	24’42”
70.	CORINNE CLARKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.31’58”	25’23”
71.	SINNEAD OAKES	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	9.32’25”	25’50”
72.	AMALIE WINTHER OLSEN	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	DEN	U23	9.33’01”	26’26”
73.	ANDREA TERJESEN	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	9.33’36”	27’01”
74.	TILINA LEVIN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		9.36’36”	30’01”
75.	MAURA CLAFFEY	TC RACING	IRL		9.38’49”	32’14”
76.	SARAH DUFFIELD	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		9.39’15”	32’40”
77.	ISABEL ELLIS	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.41’54”	35’19”
78.	EVE DIXON	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	9.42’48”	36’13”
79.	KAROLINE ROSTE OMDAL	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	9.44’24”	37’49”
80.	CHLOE WELLER	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	GBR		9.48’18”	41’43”
81.	JENNIFER BATEY	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		9.49’37”	43’02”
82.	PERNILLA VAN ROZELAAR	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.49’56”	43’21”
83.	SARAH BURKE	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR		9.53’18”	46’43”
84.	ANGELA SMITH	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS	U23	9.54’39”	48’04”
85.	SHAUNA MCFADDEN	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	IRL	U23, J	9.56’09”	49’34”
86.	MARGAUX CADOL	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.56’34”	49’59”
87.	NESSA ROCHFORD	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	9.57’19”	50’44”
88.	SOPHIE ENVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR	U23, J	9.57’39”	51’04”
89.	SANNE VAN HELMOND	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		9.57’40”	51’05”
90.	VICTORIA STRILA	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	GBR		9.59’41”	53’06”
91.	EIMEAR HARRISON	TC RACING	IRL	U23, J	10.00’57”	54’22”
92.	MIRELLE VREE	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		10.08’04”	1.01’29”
93.	SARA VERHAEST	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	BEL	U23	10.13’30”	1.06’55”
94.	SELMA SVARF	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE	U23	10.15’33”	1.08’58”
95.	AMY GOOD	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	IRL	U23	10.16’08”	1.09’33”
96.	REBECCA DOBSON	TC RACING	IRL		10.19’44”	1.13’09”
97.	CLAIRE O NEILL	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL	V	10.19’52”	1.13’17”
98.	FRANCESCA CUTTS	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR	U23	10.21’18”	1.14’43”
99.	SOPHIE BLACK	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	10.24’01”	1.17’26”

1.	NINA BUIJSMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.11’23”
2.	PFEIFFER GEORGI	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’49”	1’26”
3.	ELYNOR BACKSTEDT	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’55”	1’32”
4.	ALICE SHARPE	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.13’05”	1’42”
5.	CECILIA LE BRIS	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.13’32”	2’09”
6.	JENNY HOLDEN	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.13’38”	2’15”
7.	ELENOR CAMPBELL	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.15’05”	3’42”
8.	GRACE GARNER	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR	U23	9.16’58”	5’35”
9.	RHONA CALLANDER	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.17’23”	6’00”
10.	HELENE GERARD	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.20’28”	9’05”
11.	KYLIE WATERREUS	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED	U23, J	9.21’28”	10’05”
12.	AMALIE LUTRO	TEAM RYTGER	NOR	U23, J	9.21’45”	10’22”
13.	CHARLOTTE ALSTON	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR	U23	9.26’19”	14’56”
14.	GABRIELLE RIMASSON	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.26’25”	15’02”
15.	MARJOLEIN BAKKER	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.27’29”	16’06”
16.	SOPHIE THACKERY	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23, J	9.27’57”	16’34”
17.	MADS SCOTT	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.28’14”	16’51”
18.	SARAH BRADFORD	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.28’45”	17’22”
19.	CLEO KORTENHORST	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED	U23	9.29’52”	18’29”
20.	JENNY HOLL	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.30’06”	18’43”
21.	JOSEFINE HUITFELDT	TEAM RYTGER	DEN	U23	9.30’26”	19’03”
22.	AMALIE WINTHER OLSEN	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	DEN	U23	9.33’01”	21’38”
23.	ANDREA TERJESEN	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	9.33’36”	22’13”
24.	ISABEL ELLIS	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.41’54”	30’31”
25.	EVE DIXON	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	9.42’48”	31’25”
26.	KAROLINE ROSTE OMDAL	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR	U23	9.44’24”	33’01”
27.	PERNILLA VAN ROZELAAR	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9.49’56”	38’33”
28.	ANGELA SMITH	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS	U23	9.54’39”	43’16”
29.	SHAUNA MCFADDEN	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	IRL	U23, J	9.56’09”	44’46”
30.	MARGAUX CADOL	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	9.56’34”	45’11”
31.	SOPHIE ENVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR	U23, J	9.57’39”	46’16”
32.	EIMEAR HARRISON	TC RACING	IRL	U23, J	10.00’57”	49’34”
33.	SARA VERHAEST	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	BEL	U23	10.13’30”	1.02’07”
34.	SELMA SVARF	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE	U23	10.15’33”	1.04’10”
35.	AMY GOOD	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	IRL	U23	10.16’08”	1.04’45”
36.	FRANCESCA CUTTS	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR	U23	10.21’18”	1.09’55”
37.	SOPHIE BLACK	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	10.24’01”	1.12’38”

1.	TEAM WNT	27.34’11”
2.	FUSION RTFIERLAN	27.40’44”	6’33”
3.	CLIFF PRATT RACING	27.42’32”	8’21”
4.	CYCLING ULSTER	27.44’04”	9’53”
5.	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	27.46’26”	12’15”
6.	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	27.47’04”	12’53”
7.	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	27.47’15”	13’04”
8.	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	27.48’10”	13’59”
9.	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	27.54’17”	20’06”
10.	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	27.56’43”	22’32”
11.	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	27.58’21”	24’10”
12.	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	27.59’20”	25’09”
13.	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	27.59’50”	25’39”
14.	TEAM TORELLI	27.59’59”	25’48”
15.	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	28.03’49”	29’38”
16.	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	28.05’21”	31’10”
17.	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	28.08’47”	34’36”
18.	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	28.09’18”	35’07”
19.	TC RACING	28.11’44”	37’33”
20.	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	29.00’18”	1.26’07”
21.	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	29.13’45”	1.39’34”
22.	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	29.14’11”	1.40’00”

1.	IDA ERNGREN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		12
2.	MARIEKE KERKVLIET	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		10
3.	TONE HATTELAND LIMA	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		8
4.	STINE BORGLI	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		6
5.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		4
General, Générale
1.	MARIEKE KERKVLIET	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		31
2.	IDA ERNGREN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		27
3.	RIKKE LONNE	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	DEN		24
4.	LYDIA BOYLAN	TEAM WNT	IRL		20
5.	ERIN KINNEALY	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		16
6.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		13
7.	LAURA GORTER	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		12
8.	TONE HATTELAND LIMA	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		8
9.	NINA BUIJSMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	7
10.	CECILIA LE BRIS	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	7
11.	STINE BORGLI	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		6
12.	EVA VAN DEN BORN	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	NED		6
13.	ROOS HOOGEBOOM	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	NED		5
14.	EILEEN ROE	TEAM WNT	GBR		4
15.	ALICE SHARPE	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	3
16.	FIONA HUNTER-JOHNSON	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		3

1.	EILEEN ROE	TEAM WNT	GBR		28
2.	RIKKE LONNE	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	DEN		27
3.	EVA VAN DEN BORN	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	NED		17
4.	GRACE GARNER	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR	U23	15
5.	LYDIA BOYLAN	TEAM WNT	IRL		14
6.	CECILIA LE BRIS	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	13
7.	MELISSA VAN NECK	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 1	NED		12
8.	HELENE GERARD	TEAM BREIZH LADIES	FRA	U23	11
9.	IDA ERNGREN	TEAM CRESCENT DARE	SWE		10
10.	NINA BUIJSMAN	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	NED	U23	9
11.	STINE BORGLI	BRYNE CK LADIES ELITE	NOR		9
12.	LAURA GORTER	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		9
13.	ERIN KINNEALY	CCN ENERGY HR AUSTRALIA	AUS		8
14.	KIRSTEN PEETOOM	MAASLANDSTER NICHELIVING CCN	NED		6
15.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		5
16.	JENNIFER GEORGE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		5
17.	JENNY HOLDEN	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	5
18.	MARIEKE KERKVLIET	WV BREDA MANIEU.NL- LADIESTEAM	NED		4
19.	CHARLOTTE ALSTON	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR	U23	3
20.	RHONA CALLANDER	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	2

1.	LYDIA BOYLAN	TEAM WNT	IRL		9.10’43”
2.	NATALIE GRINCZER	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.11’39”	56″
3.	EVA VAN DEN BORN	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	NED		9.12’43”	2’00”
4.	PFEIFFER GEORGI	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’49”	2’06”
5.	ELYNOR BACKSTEDT	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.12’55”	2’12”
6.	JENNIFER GEORGE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.13’00”	2’17”
7.	ALICE SHARPE	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.13’05”	2’22”
8.	JENNY POWELL	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		9.13’06”	2’23”
9.	EILEEN ROE	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.13’12”	2’29”
10.	ELIZABETH BANKS	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		9.13’16”	2’33”
11.	REBECCA RIMMINGTON	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.13’29”	2’46”
12.	JENNY HOLDEN	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.13’38”	2’55”
13.	ELENOR CAMPBELL	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR	U23	9.15’05”	4’22”
14.	STEPHANIE MOTTRAM	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.15’34”	4’51”
15.	KELLY MURPHY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.15’34”	4’51”
16.	REBECCA CARTER	TEAM WNT	GBR		9.15’46”	5’03”
17.	GRACE GARNER	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR	U23	9.16’58”	6’15”
18.	RHONA CALLANDER	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.17’23”	6’40”
19.	FIONA HUNTER-JOHNSON	FUSION RTFIERLAN	GBR		9.18’02”	7’19”
20.	LYDIA GURLEY	REGIOTEAM NOORD-HOLLAND 2	IRL		9.19’25”	8’42”
21.	LAUREN CREAMER	TEAM TORELLI	IRL		9.19’26”	8’43”
22.	ALICIA SPEAKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.19’58”	9’15”
23.	ERYN NOLAN	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	IRL		9.22’24”	11’41”
24.	TAMSIN VICARY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.23’20”	12’37”
25.	MARGRIET KLOPPENBURG	ELITE VELO KALAS SPORTWEAR CRT	DEN		9.24’20”	13’37”
26.	CHARLOTTE ALSTON	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR	U23	9.26’19”	15’36”
27.	ANNA WEAVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		9.26’55”	16’12”
28.	SOPHIE THACKERY	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23, J	9.27’57”	17’14”
29.	ALISA HEALY	RACING CHANCE FOUNDATION	GBR		9.28’04”	17’21”
30.	MADS SCOTT	TEAM TORELLI	GBR	U23	9.28’14”	17’31”
31.	SARAH BRADFORD	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.28’45”	18’02”
32.	JENNY HOLL	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR	U23, J	9.30’06”	19’23”
33.	ALEXIS BARNES	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	AUS		9.31’03”	20’20”
34.	ELLEN MCDERMOTT	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	GBR		9.31’03”	20’20”
35.	CORINNE CLARKE	CLIFF PRATT RACING	GBR		9.31’58”	21’15”
36.	ISABEL ELLIS	BACKSTEDT CYCLING	GBR	U23, J	9.41’54”	31’11”
37.	EVE DIXON	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	9.42’48”	32’05”
38.	CHLOE WELLER	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	GBR		9.48’18”	37’35”
39.	JENNIFER BATEY	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR		9.49’37”	38’54”
40.	SARAH BURKE	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR		9.53’18”	42’35”
41.	SOPHIE ENVER	TEAM VERDEX-PEDALPOWER.COM	GBR	U23, J	9.57’39”	46’56”
42.	VICTORIA STRILA	PMR@TOACHIM HOUSE	GBR		9.59’41”	48’58”
43.	AMY GOOD	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	IRL	U23	10.16’08”	1.05’25”
44.	FRANCESCA CUTTS	GB CYCLES.CO.UK	GBR	U23	10.21’18”	1.10’35”
45.	SOPHIE BLACK	STARLEY RACING	GBR	U23	10.24’01”	1.13’18”

1.	CLAIRE MCILLWAINE	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.12’58”
2.	KATHARINE SMYTH	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.15’35”	2’37”
3.	HEATHER FOLEY	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.16’19”	3’21”
4.	MICHELLE GEOGHEGAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		9.18’05”	5’07”
5.	ROISIN THOMAS	TC RACING	IRL		9.18’39”	5’41”
6.	FIONA GUIHEN	TC RACING	IRL		9.20’15”	7’17”
7.	BETH MCLUSKEY	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL	V	9.22’32”	9’34”
8.	AIDEEN KEENAN	SCOTT ORWELL WHEELERS	IRL		9.24’44”	11’46”
9.	EILEEN BURNS	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL		9.26’42”	13’44”
10.	SINNEAD OAKES	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	9.32’25”	19’27”
11.	MAURA CLAFFEY	TC RACING	IRL		9.38’49”	25’51”
12.	SHAUNA MCFADDEN	TEAM JADEN WELDTITE	IRL	U23, J	9.56’09”	43’11”
13.	NESSA ROCHFORD	DE RONDE VAN CORK	IRL	V	9.57’19”	44’21”
14.	EIMEAR HARRISON	TC RACING	IRL	U23, J	10.00’57”	47’59”
15.	REBECCA DOBSON	TC RACING	IRL		10.19’44”	1.06’46”
16.	CLAIRE O NEILL	CYCLING ULSTER	IRL	V	10.19’52”	1.06’54”

Heather Bamforth Finalist for Ambassador of Women’s Sport Award

by Anna Magrath | Apr 18, 2016

So do you remember just a few weeks ago I brought you the news that our writer Heather Bamforth had been shortlisted for the #BeAGameChanger Women’s Sport Trust – Ambassador of Women’s Sport Award? Well the talented lady has only gone and beaten some formidable talent to the final (Judy Murray being one well know name who has fallen by the wayside). Heather will line up against two very well respected women; Ebony Rainford-Brent (cricketer) and Maureen McGonigle (Scottish Women in Sport advocate) for the final.

But lets not sit back… Heather needs all the support we can muster in the cycling community from both men and women to enable her to lift the trophy to represent all cyclists. So please take two seconds to drop by the Women’s Trust website and cast a well deserved vote in Heather’s direction. We can do this!

If my nagging hasn’t persuaded you here is a bit more about Heather:

Heather Bamforth has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to increase the number of opportunities for women in competitive cycling, and has done so as a volunteer in her spare time.

She joined the Cyclingshorts.cc writing team in 2012 where she actively promotes women’s cycling, and the inaugural North West women’s series in 2013, which featured groundbreaking grassroots road racing for women, this was Heather’s brainchild.

In 2014, along with three others Heather established The Racing Chance Foundation, a registered charity which provides women with a pathway in competitive cycling from novice to elite level.

Racing Chance has already coached over 200 women and inspired similar series across the UK that have resulted in British Cycling seeing an increase in female membership, with female racing licences increasing from 800 in 2012 to over 1,500 in 2015.

Heather spends an enormous amount of time helping to get women cycling by running training rides, with training sessions on closed circuits to help novices build confidence and skills before venturing onto the roads, along with events which are suitable for women who want to try road racing for the first time.

During the day Heather has a full time career, working in Restructuring Services for Mazars LLP, an international accountancy and business advisory firm.

About the Women’s Sports Trust:

Women’s Sports Trust are a charity that identifies and promotes a diverse range of role models, they find ways to shift the funding landscape for women’s sport and increase the percentage and quality of media coverage women receive.

http://www.womenssporttrust.com/ambassador-womens-sport-2016/

While I’ve got your ear cycling feature in the following categories as finalists. Please give them a vote too…

Sporting Role Model – Individual – Helen Wyman

Sponsor Partnership of the Year – Queensway Print/Drops Cycling Team

Inspiring Initative – National Award – Aviva Women’s Tour

Inspiring Initiate Award Local/Grassroots – Abergavenny Road Club

Race Tactics – it’s more than just a lead out

by Heather Bamforth | Apr 17, 2016

The growth of women’s cycling over the last few years has since a big increase in numbers attending events. Whilst this is obviously a positive for our sport, it also means that there are more challenges in races, as many riders (from junior to veteran) have been brought up racing in smaller numbers, where the best sprinter invariably would win. However, times are changing, and with that comes the need to understand race tactics in more depth. Admittedly, this is quite a large topic, so I will keep it relatively brief in the first instance. Here goes…

Bunch sprints don’t work for anybody other than those prepared to sprint

So if you’re not prepared to get your elbows out in the sprint finish, or you don’t fancy sprinting, you need to rethink your options. Which could be any one, or a selection of the following:

attack off the front, on your own
attack off the front, with other riders (not necessarily your own team mates)
slim the numbers in the bunch down by making it hard
use the circuit to your advantage

All seem relatively straightforward, don’t they? But hardly anybody uses these tools to their advantage.

Offence is the best form of defence

Not something you probably hear much within cycling circles – it stems more from American Football, but it is also true in road racing – go on the offensive and you are at an advantage straightaway. This doesn’t mean that you swear and curse at your fellow riders (the beauty of the English language); instead it means that you stay near the front and off the front, so that riders come to you. And guess what? It really is easier, as you don’t have to keep chasing people down, because they come to you. This lesson is especially important when you are riding in a bunch of over 60 – on the continent, races can have up to 200 riders and you can’t ride from the back to the front if 200 riders are stretched out, so you have to be near the front. I always look out for riders who are happy to sit at the back of the bunch, as the chances are that they are biding their time and conserving their energy for the sprint at the end. But if they’re at the back, that means it’s harder to stay on wheels as the less confident riders tend to drift to the back and they run the risk of getting dropped if the pace goes up.

A race is just that, a race

Which means that it shouldn’t be easy. It’s called “competition” so if you are finding that everybody in the bunch is chatting away, chances are you’re going to end up with a mass bunch sprint at the end of the race. If you know your stuff, you will know that once it comes down to a bunch sprint, you are much less likely to be in control of your own destiny and are at the whim of others. So if the bunch is having a chinwag riding along and you need a result, you need to do as much as possible to ensure that the chatting stops, the pace goes up and your competition start to find it a bit harder, because that is how you slim the numbers down and swing the finishing result in your favour.

Know your competition

This is two-fold: you want to know who to avoid (for example, riders you know who struggle with corners, or brake excessively) and you also want to know who probably knows what they’re talking about, who’s up for a race, and who you would want in a breakaway with you. If you’re not sure who that should be, look at the list of riders entered and see who’s good at time trialling, as chances are they will be pretty strong. At the same time, remember that anybody who knows what they’re doing, regardless of what they look like or how old they are, will know which wheel to follow and how to sit in. The rule is, don’t underestimate your competition.

When an attack isn’t an attack

There is a time and a place to attack. You can also attack more than once in a race, but if you’re going to do so, make sure that your early attacks are feints rather than full on attacks. The idea with this is that you are seeing who is up for the race and who isn’t on form. Make sure you attack in different places, but choose the timing. For example, most attacks happen either just after the brow of a hill or a corner when, in actual fact, the attacks which have the most effect tend to be when people least expect it.

Keeping the pace high

I’ve been in races when a discussion has been had pre-race that we would try to keep the pace high to slim the field down. The only problem is that you have that discussion with riders and then they don’t necessarily understand that it just means you do through and off at the front of the race at a fairly high speed; instead when it’s their turn to come through they attack. This tactic doesn’t usually work if you’re trying to keep the pace high. And regardless of what you may think, it’s generally a good idea to keep the pace high because the race is then safer and you don’t end up with people riding into the space underneath your armpit and encroaching on your dance space.

Lead out trains only work from the front

If half of your team is sat near the back of the bunch, it’s not going to work is it? You need rider numbers, speed, nerves of steel and lots of confidence to effect a successful lead out, so if you think your team mates are going to be hanging around the back of the bunch, pick another tactic to win your race.

Use the circuit to pick your moment

Watch your competition as they go through the finish line – if the finish is slightly uphill and people are struggling, knock it into your little ring and roll up and see whether you can ride past people as you go through the finish. When it’s not the final lap, nobody will notice that you’re watching other riders. If the finish isn’t your ideal finish, pick somewhere else to make your move – it may be a tight corner that you’re better than others at riding, or there may be a descent when you can press home your advantage – look at areas as you go around and work out what will work best for you.

Don’t be a sheep – negative racing is literally the WORST

Don’t follow every single attack that goes up the road, unless there is somebody in it who you want to be in a break with (the potential race winner, perhaps?). Also, don’t just mark people because you don’t want them to win. It makes a race really really boring. If you’ve got the ability to chase somebody down why not continue and do a real attack?

If you’re there for the photographs, you really need to be off the front

Why do you think professional riders launch random solo attacks 200km from the finish? Not because they’re mental (necessarily) but because it gives your team/sponsor(s) exposure. So if you’re in a sponsored team, do your sponsors a favour and attempt some attacks, because sponsors want exposure of the positive kind. Thanking you in advance!

Enjoy yourself

Funnily enough, if you want to be there, you will probably surprise yourself. Don’t pressurise yourself into getting a result, just enjoy it for what it is – a bike race.

Check out Heathers previous guides:

Womens Cycling Planning Ahead

Click below to read:
Part One – Where Do I Start?
Part Two – What Do I Enter?
Part Three – What training should I do?
Part Four – Practice! Practice! Practice!
Part Five – Are You Ready To Race?
Part Six – Race Day
Part Seven – Circuit Racing

#BeAGameChanger Awards – Nominate Now!

by Anna Magrath | Feb 12, 2016

CyclingShorts.cc has championed women’s cycling at grass roots level and those involved in the sport who offer cyclists the opportunity to race and move to the next level for many years, whether that be gaining the confidence to ride a sportive or race as a professional. This year we are proud to be sponsors and the media partner for Team22 WRT and we continue to sponsor the unique work by the Racing Chance Foundation. Browsing the internet the other night I was pleased to see nominations are now open for the Women’s Sport Trust Awards also known as #BeAGameChanger Awards. The awards have been set up to recognise those individuals and organisations doing the most to progress women’s sport.

The Women’s Sport Trust #BeAGameChanger awards 2016 are supported by Microsoft and they showcase the irresistible nature of women’s sport and inspire others to take action (full details of the awards and categories at the bottom of this article).

With this in mind I’m going to take this opportunity to champion our very own Heather Bamforth who is often overlooked and regularly copied by those with higher profiles in the sport.

Heather reporting from the Cheshire Classic.

Heather has been a longstanding member of the CyclingShorts.cc writing team; covering international races like the Tour de France but also taking the majority of her time to write about and report on grass roots cycling and development – take a look at her extremely popular Women’s Guide to Racing which has been used by many a newcomer to the sport.

For those that don’t know already… since returning to the sport of cycling in 2011, Heather has been working behind the scenes to increase the number of opportunities for women in competitive cycling. In 2013, the inaugural North West Women’s Series was promoted by Heather, which featured groundbreaking road racing for women.

In 2014, along with three others, she established The Racing Chance Foundation, a registered charity which helps to provide women with a pathway in competitive cycling from novice to elite level.

In 2014 & 2015, Racing Chance coached over 200 women, and following Heather’s lead, other women around the country set up similar series to that in the North West. As a result of Heather’s original initiative and the subsequent additional series, British Cycling have seen an increase in female membership with a racing licence increasing from 800 in 2012 to over 1500.

Heather’s vision has enabled the sport of road racing in cycling to become more than just a dream for women. Without her there would be far fewer women racing, especially at the important grass roots level.

So, as many of you already know who have benefitted from Heather’s input/support she is going to cringe at this praise, but I think we all owe it to her to give her the props she’s due. Heather earns nothing from cycling, she has a totally unrelated full on full time career, but I can assure you every spare minute of the day and night she’s thinking of the next thing she can do to raise women’s cycling higher. I can attest to this with the many hours the two of us spend chatting through her plans… and trust me she has big plans in the pipeline!

Ladies, Heather has your back so lets return the favour give her the pat on the back she deserves and get her crowned as an Ambassador of Women’s Sport.

Let’s try and do this!!!

Nominations for the awards are now open across nine categories. Follow this link to nominate the athlete, team, organisation or individual who has made a positive contribution to women’s sport.
The categories are:

Ambassador of Women’s Sport

Journalist of the Year

Media Initiative of the Year

Inspiring Initiative – Local/Grassroots

Inspiring Initiative – National

National Governing Body of the Year

Sponsor Partnership of the Year

Sporting Role Model/s

Imagery of the Year

Closing date 21st February 2016 – so get your skates on!

To nominate someone click here: http://tammyparlour31119268.polldaddy.com/s/beagamechanger-nomination-form-2016?p=1

Racing Chance Foundation – Plan B

by Anna Magrath | Jan 24, 2016

A great new blog post on keeping your options open by our very own Heather Bamforth for The Racing Chance Foundation, excellent advice I felt we had to share it with CyclingShorts.cc readers.

http://racingchancefoundation.com/having-a-plan-b/

Interview – Heather Bamforth founder of The Racing Chance Foundation

by Anna Magrath | Oct 19, 2015

Our talented sub editor Heather Bamforth; founder of the cycling charity Racing Chance Foundation has been interviewed by the Leading Ladies Company about living with epilepsy, cycling and inspiring women to achieve all their goals, gain confidence and new skills benefitting their work/life through her foundation.

Heather is an insolvency practitioner by day, and by night (and generally all her free time) a cyclist, mentor, cycling journalist and cycling charity trustee which has earned her a place in the BikeBiz top 100 ‘most influential women in cycling‘ list. Extremely impressive considering she isn’t even employed in the cycling sector!

Heather Bamforth founder of the Racing Chance Foundation

Heather shares her inspiring story of living with epilepsy and making the decision that this would not effect what she wanted to achieve in life. Heather is a huge supporter of women in cycling and has created The Racing Life Foundation to encourage and develop women in cycling.