by Anna Magrath | Aug 10, 2014
Rees rides to dream finish at the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100
A desire to raise money for charity drove Ian Rees to be first across the line at the end of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 this morning, completing a journey of recovery for the 43-year-old Bristol-based diabetic who was inspired by watching last year’s event.
Twelve months ago the former pro stood leaning on his crutches beside The Mall watching the first ever Prudential RideLondon sportive and promised himself that he would lead the mass riders under the finish gantry in 2014 to raise money and the profile of diabetes research.
After 86 of the hardest rain-drenched miles he’s ever ridden, Rees achieved his dream with the aid of his Bristol Dymag TID clubmates Paul Merryweather and Matthew Franklin, and believes his Herculean efforts will bring in some much-needed funds for the diabetes charity JDRF.
“I couldn’t do it last year because I broke my leg, but I watched it with people from the charity and told them that I would be first across the line this year to raise their profile,” said Rees, his mud-splattered face breaking into a smile of pure relief.
“Here I am a year on, and I did it. I can’t believe it. That was the hardest ride I’ve had since I was a pro in France in the 1990s.”
Rees, who’s never done a sportive before, set up the Dymag club with Merryweather to raise money for diabetes research two years ago after being forced to abandon his pro cycling career when he was diagnosed with the condition.
“This is what we really wanted to do,” said Merryweather, who followed Rees safely across the line at the head of a 60-strong bunch of early-finishing sportive riders.”“I helped Ian set up the team two years ago so this was all about getting him home first and giving JDRF some profile. So it’s mission accomplished; it’s all quite inspirational.”
The group had a plan to stay near the front of the pack, avoiding as far as possible any problems caused by the adverse weather, and were full of praise for the organisers’ decision to shorten the 100-mile route by 14 miles, cutting out the potentially treacherous climbs up and down Box Hill and Leith Hill.
“We worked so well as a team,” said Rees.
“The rain and the speed we were going at the front made it so hard.”“But it was such a good decision to cut out the hills. I hit a cat’s eye at one point and nearly came off, and there were a few crashes, so I’m really glad they took the hills out because coming down Box Hill or Leith Hill would’ve been deadly.”
“RideLondon have done an absolutely brilliant job. The organisation is as good as a pro race on the continent. I was so impressed, they should do these all over the country. I will do it again next year, definitely.”
Nicola Roberts and Bella Leach were impressed too. The two London friends rode the route together and crossed the line side-by-side, the first women to complete the sportive.
“It was wet but it was great fun,” said Roberts, a member of the Dulwich Paragon club. “It wasn’t too windy so you could still ride. Everyone was just getting on with it really and smiling and chatting.”
“Some of the corners and descents were quite sketchy but people were very considerate, slowing down and talking to each other.”
“I really enjoyed it, it was really good fun to just get out there and stretch the legs,” agreed Leach, a London Phoenix rider. “Nicola and I rode the whole way together so we wanted to cross the line together.”
“I’ve never been up Box Hill or Leith Hill and after today it feels like I’m destined to never ride them!”
Wiggle Honda’s Neil Towns was also among the early finishers, completing his second Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.
“Riding at the front was really exciting,” he said. “I did the event last year. It was slighty damper than last year but still fantastic, still good riding. It’s a lovely bike ride that isn’t too challenging so you can just get out there and ride for the fun of it.”
“There were fewer supporters than last year but the ones who were out gave it some welly. I’ll definitely be back next year.”
“This event’s like the London Marathon for cyclists – if you can get a place you jump at it. A beautiful bike ride; the spirit of the London Olympics carries on.”
Ben Knapp backed up the other riders’ support for the shortened route, relishing a ride started by three world greats of women’s cycling: world and Olympic road race champion Marianne Vos, double Olympic track champion Laura Trott and multiple Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey.
Ian Rees – post race
“It was a bit disappointing to have the route shortened but coming across the top of Newlands was pretty nasty so everyone understood why the organisers did it. It was the right decision,” said the Dulwich Paragon rider.”
“More than a quarter of Dulwich Paragon’s 600 members were riding today so it’s a really great event for everyone.”
“Having Marianne Vos, Sarah Storey and Laura Trott starting the ride was great. We set off feeling really inspired.”
All three women then rode the sportive themselves – Vos delighted to be back on the roads where she won Olympic gold two years ago.
“I’ve never done a ride as big as this; it was really something special,” said the Dutch rider who finished second in yesterday’s Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix.
“Just to ride with all these people and see everyone coming out riding, not caring about the rain was fantastic. It was great fun.”
“It was great to back on the roads of London 2012 and to see more than 20,000 out there too was fabulous. I saw quite a lot of them, I think, and everyone was taking care of themselves and each other.”
by Anna Magrath | Aug 9, 2014
Team Wiggle Honda retained the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix title this evening thanks to Giorgia Bronzini who pipped the world and Olympic road race champion Marianne Vos in a thrilling sprint finish on The Mall in central London at the end of the greatest women’s criterium ever held in the UK.
The Italian timed her effort to perfection to snatch victory by less than a quarter of a wheel over the Dutchwoman who won Olympic gold on the same street two years ago.
Vos led off the final corner from Horse Guards Parade at the end of 15 laps of the 1.3-mile circuit around St James’s Park, but Bronzini was dragged into contention by her teammates Laura Trott and Peta Mullens, and launched herself to the line alongside the world number one.
Bronzini threw her arms in the air and Vos stretched out her hand in congratulations, but it was so close that at first the announcers weren’t sure who would get the verdict.
When the result was confirmed, Bronzini beamed with delight, relieved that she had made amends for her last appearance in London when her chances of an Olympic medal were ruined by a flat tyre.
“That felt so good,” said Bronzini [a former world champion] who celebrated her 31st birthday last Sunday. “Any time you beat Marianne in a sprint you know you’re going to win.”
Twelve months ago it was Trott who snatched victory for Wiggle Honda, but this time the 22-year-old Londoner played a supporting role, aiding Bronzini’s last-lap bid for the line, an effort the Italian was swift to acknowledge after the race.
“In the middle of the race I asked my teammates to make it hard and put in attacks to take the sting from Vos,” said Bronzini.
“What I did today was because of the support of my team.”“I think we made her tired by attacking as a team. That was our tactic today, and in the end it was a great sprint into a headwind.”
“She was ahead until 100 metres to go when I passed her, but she came back and I had to push hard in the final 50 and lunge for the line.”
“The last time I was here for the Olympics it was not a good day, so this time I wanted to win badly. It is so amazing to win here in such a historic city and in front of these amazing buildings.”
“I really like racing in the sun, and today was a beautiful day.”
Vos had come to London in great form after winning the Women’s Tour of Britain in May and the La Course race for women at the Tour de France last month. Wearing number one on her jersey, the team Rabo Liv rider was the pre-race favourite and looked a certain winner when she kicked off the final bend at the head of a large bunch, but later admitted that she couldn’t respond to Wiggle Honda’s determined teamwork.
“It was a hard race with a lot of breaks,” agreed the much-medalled 27-year-old. “On the last lap I was in the right position but you never know in a bunch sprint and I just couldn’t hold it at the end. I launched my attack early, maybe too early, but I am happy with second.”
“Today Giorgia was faster on the line. I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes so it was always going to be close. At the end she was just very fast.”
“It was so amazing to race here again, especially in such a great race,” she added. “To be part of a criterium with all the world’s top riders was an amazing feeling.”
Behind the two tearaway leaders, Lizzie Armitstead stole third place for Boels Dolmans from Eileen Roe of Starley Primal Pro Cycling as Trott took fifth ahead of her arch rival, Hannah Barnes of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, last year’s runner-up.
Many had predicted Armitstead would be Vos’s closest rival, but the Briton admitted she was happy with third just a week after winning the Comonwealth Games road race gold in Glasgow.
“I had not really prepared for this because I’ve been concentrating on road races,” said the 26-year-old from Yorkshire. “For me it was not about winning today but about having some fun.”
The first day of the world’s greatest festival of cycling came to a fitting end with two criterium races for youth riders, the next generation of cycling champions racing over the same iconic course as the pros.
Ethan Hayter produced an impressive home win in the boys’ race for London, winning a sprint finish ahead of the South region’s Alex Joliffe after what he described as the perfect lead-out from his teammates.
“That was the greatest win of my life,” said the 15-year-old from the VCL club. “I didn’t expect to win because I wasn’t feeling that well but I knew if we worked it out I would have a chance.”
“It was great to race on these streets though. It was so noisy with loads of people all the way round the course.”
Tom Pidcock from Yorkshire was third.
Sophie Capewell from the West Midlands came out on top after a dramatic end to the girls’ race, the 15-year-old edging out Eleanor Dickinson from the North West by centimetres on the line with another North West rider, Henrietta Colborne, third.
“I loved the ride,” said Capewell, a member of the Lichfield City Cycling club. “It was a massive opportunity to come down here and race on The Mall where so many great champions have raced before.”
“It was a tough race with a lot of good girls in it. It was very fast but I felt quite strong at the end. The roar from the crowds was amazing pushing us on and when I saw the finish I just went for it.”
by Chris Maher | Jun 16, 2014
Laura Trott talks to Chris Maher about team tactics at the 2014 CDNW Surf & Turf.
Surf & Turf 2Day Final overall.
1 Laura Trott Wiggle Honda 03:00:53
2 Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:00:12
3 Danielle King Wiggle Honda 00:00:23
4 Elinor Barker Wiggle Honda 00:00:31
5 Grace Garner RST Racing Team 00:02:21
6 Lydia Boylan Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa 00:02:27
7 Nicola Juniper Private Member 00:02:28
8 Jo Tindley Matrix Fitness – Vulpine 00:02:29
9 Megan Barker M and D Cycles/Scimitar Sports/ Fusion Sports RT 00:02:29
10 Rebecca Womersley WyndyMilla – Reynolds 00:02:30
11 Emily Nelson Fusion Development Racing Team 00:02:30
12 Elizabeth Malins Fusion RT Gearclub Bike Science 00:02:30
13 Lauren Creamer Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:02:31
14 Abigail Dentus Team De ver 00:02:31
15 Melissa Lowther Matrix Fitness – Vulpine 00:02:31
16 Gabriella Shaw Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:02:32
17 Lucy Shaw Solihull CC 00:02:32
18 Rebecca Rimmington Merlin Cycles 00:02:33
19 Eve Dixon Team 22 00:02:34
20 Jane Barr Velocity 44 Stirling 00:02:34
Stage two 81 Kms or 13 laps of 6.2 Kms.
1 Laura Trott Wiggle Honda 02:07:08
2 Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 02:07:08
3 Danielle King Wiggle Honda 02:07:10
4 Elinor Barker Wiggle Honda 02:07:13
5 Grace Garner RST Racing Team 02:09:08
6 Megan Barker M and D Cycles/Scimitar Sports/ Fusion Sports RT 02:09:08
7 Nicola Juniper Private Member 02:09:08
8 Rebecca Womersley WyndyMilla – Reynolds 02:09:08
9 Abigail Dentus Team De ver 02:09:08
10 Lauren Creamer Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 02:09:08
Stage one 45 min Criterium.
1 Laura Trott Wiggle Honda 00:51:50
2 Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:51:55
3 Grace Garner RST Racing Team 00:51:57
4 Danielle King Wiggle Honda 00:52:00
5 Dame Sarah Storey Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:52:00
6 Elinor Barker Wiggle Honda 00:52:00
7 Lydia Boylan Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa 00:52:00
8 Claire Thomas Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa 00:52:00
9 Nicola Juniper Private Member 00:52:00
10 Jo Tindley Matrix Fitness – Vulpine 00:52:00
Prologue Time Trial 1.6Kms.
1 Laura Trott Wiggle Honda 00:02:05
2 Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:02:07
3 Grace Garner RST Racing Team 00:02:09
4 Danielle King Wiggle Honda 00:02:09
5 Dame Sarah Storey Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 00:02:10
6 Elinor Barker Wiggle Honda 00:02:11
7 Lydia Boylan Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa 00:02:12
8 Claire Thomas Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa 00:02:13
9 Nicola Juniper Private Member 00:02:13
10 Jo Tindley Matrix Fitness – Vulpine 00:02:14
Results by British Cycling
Women’s Road Race Standings TBC
The next round of the Women’s Road Race Series in the Curlew Cup is in Northumberland on Sunday 22nd June.
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.
by Chris Maher | Apr 29, 2014
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk
Heather Bamforth switched her bike for a mic and was reporting on the event, you might spot her carrying out the interviews at the end of the race.
Women’s Results
1 – 13 Katie Archibald Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International 2:30:20
2 – 15 Hayley Jones Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International @ 1:31
3 – 42 Laura Trott Wiggle Honda @ 1:45
4 – 16 Nicola Juniper Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International @ 1:47
5 – 46 Lowri Devey Abergavenny Road Club st
6 – 81 Lydia Gurley Merlin Cycles st
7 – 17 Gabriella Shaw Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International st
8 – 20 Katie Curtis Starley Primal Pro Cycling st
9 – 5 Molly Weaver Epic Cycles – Scott WRT st
10 – 2 Anna Christian Epic Cycles – Scott WRT st
11 – 19 Jane Barr Starley Primal Pro Cycling st
12 – 12 Jessie Walker Matrix Fitness – Vulpine st
13 – 32 Clemence Copie Team Mulebar Girl – Sigma Sport st
14 – 66 Elizabeth Holden RST Racing Team st
15 – 26 Natalie Grinczer Fusion Racing Team st
16 – 56 Lydia Boylan Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa st
17 – 83 Rebecca Womersley WyndyMilla – Reynolds st
18 – 10 Penny Rowson Matrix Fitness – Vulpine st
19 – 67 Eve Dixon Team 22 st
20 – 3 Alexie Shaw Epic Cycles – Scott WRT st
21 – 44 Tamina Oliver Endura Lady Force – WV Zeeuws Vlaanderen st
22 – 36 Tamiko Butler WyndyMilla – Reynolds st
23 – 78 Alice Cobb Squadra Donne st
24 – 11 Jo Tindley Matrix Fitness – Vulpine st
25 – 73 Alice Barnes T-Mo Racing st
26 – 58 Jennifer Hudson VC St Raphael st
27 – 60 Vanessa Whitfield VC St Raphael st
28 – 54 Helen Ralston Les Filles Racing Team st
29 – 45 Lucy Chittenden East St Cycles / WyndyMilla-Reynolds st
30 – 28 Mathilde Pauls Fusion Racing Team st
31 – 24 Jennifer Taylor Starley Primal Pro Cycling st
32 – 25 George Schwiening Fusion Racing Team st
33 – 33 Natalie Creswick Team Mulebar Girl – Sigma Sport st
34 – 14 Lauren Creamer Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International st
35 – 1 Karla Boddy Epic Cycles – Scott WRT @ 2:01
36 – 47 Joanne Blakeley GB Cycles.co.uk st
37 – 72 Maryka Sennema Kingston Whls CC st
38 – 43 Emma Trott Boels Dolmans @ 2:12
39 – 18 Dame Sarah Storey Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International st
40 – 8 Corrine Hall Matrix Fitness – Vulpine @ 2:34
41 – 34 Louise Mahe Team Mulebar Girl – Sigma Sport OTL
42 – 7 Louise Borthwick Matrix Fitness – Vulpine OTL
43 – 48 Iona Sewell GB Cycles.co.uk OTL
44 – 6 Hannah Walker Epic Cycles – Scott WRT OTL
45 – 4 Emily Kay Epic Cycles – Scott WRT OTL
46 – 80 Gina Riley Chester RC OTL
47 – 71 Elanor Cadzow Bonito Squadra Corse OTL
48 – 65 Annasley Park RST Racing Team OTL
49 – 30 Amy Hill Fusion Racing Team OTL
50 – 86 Victoria Grimmer Paramount CRT OTL
51 – 52 Nikki Engelbach Les Filles Racing Team OTL
52 – 79 Ruth Taylor Manchester Whlrs Club OTL
53 – 35 Adel Tyson-Bloor Team Mulebar Girl – Sigma Sport OTL
54 – 27 Elizabeth Malins Fusion Racing Team OTL
55 – 64 Lauren O’Brien RST Racing Team OTL
56 – 57 Hayley Simmonds Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa OTL
57 – 53 Nicole Oh Les Filles Racing Team OTL
58 – 59 Eleanor Jones VC St Raphael OTL
59 – 38 Cassie McGoldrick WyndyMilla – Reynolds OTL
DNF – 74 Flora Gillies Speg – Project 51 DNF
DNF – 62 Lucy Harper Bike Pure-LeMond-Aspire Velotech DNF
DNF – 61 Sophie Black Bike Pure-LeMond-Aspire Velotech DNF
DNF – 82 Frances White Team Jadan DNF
DNF – 75 Anda-Jay Burgess Rock And Road Cycles DNF
DNF – 49 Nicola Soden GB Cycles.co.uk DNF
DNF – 76 Rachel Przybylski WyndyMilla DNF
DNF – 63 Paige Milward Bike Pure-LeMond-Aspire Velotech DNF
DNF – 39 Keira McVitty WyndyMilla – Reynolds DNF
DNF – 31 Emily Barnes Team Mulebar Girl – Sigma Sport DNF
DNF – 29 Gillian Taylor Fusion Racing Team DNF
DNF – 37 Mary Costello WyndyMilla – Reynolds DNF
DNF – 21 Lyndsey Glazier Starley Primal Pro Cycling DNF
DNF – 69 Lauren Brown Team Jadan DNF
DQ – 40 Hannah Payton WyndyMilla – Reynolds DQ
DNS – 9 Harriet Owen Matrix Fitness – Vulpine DNS
DNS – 22 Anneliese Heard Starley Primal Pro Cycling DNS
DNS – 23 Eileen Roe Starley Primal Pro Cycling DNS
DNS – 41 Joanna Rowsell Wiggle Honda DNS
DNS – 50 Brit Tate GB Cycles.co.uk DNS
DNS – 51 Delia Beddis Les Filles Racing Team DNS
DNS – 55 Bryony Board Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa DNS
DNS – 68 Jennifer Edwards Team 22 DNS
DNS – 70 Kayleigh Brogan Team Thomsons Cycles DNS
DNS – 77 Laura Wasley Isle Of Man Cycling Association DNS
Highest 2nd Cat: Nicola Juniper (Pearl Izumi)
Intermediate Sprint: Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi)
La Bataille Prize (Most aggressive rider): Hayley Jones (Pearl Izumi)
Team: Pearl Izumi-Sports Tours International.
“This is what we really wanted to do,” said Merryweather, who followed Rees safely across the line at the head of a 60-strong bunch of early-finishing sportive riders.”
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