2007 National Criterium Champs

Global Domination at Horwich

With the rain of the last few weeks holding off, 37 women took the start line for the National Circuit Champs, held in the town centre of the small village of Horwich. The organisers had a festival of events including elite running races, tricycle races, children's Go-Ride events, marching bands, Morris Dancers as well as a men's supporting race for this championship. And with crowds lining the streets all the way around the course it was obviously a very popular day for all ages.

Last year's champion, Lizzie Armitstead, has recently completed her studies for the time being and is moving into top gear leading up to the European Junior Championships shortly. She came into this race with a great deal of confidence after winning the national series road races at Capernwray and Cheshire, as well as notching up an international win in the Circuit Wallone earlier this month. What was also obvious was the support that British Cycling is giving to her and her Global Racing team-mates with their BC coaches and support crews very much in evidence.

So it was no surprise that Global, with five women in the race, dominated proceedings from the gun. The first small attack came from Hannah Bussey of Team Luciano who had a small dig off the front after lap 2 but with everyone's legs fresh it was quickly nullified.

The next move, on lap 4, was from Joanna Rowsell and she quickly opened up a gap of 100 metres and settling into a familiar time trial style, she continued to pull away from the field, whilst all the time her Global team mates ensured that any chase was nullified.

It was Sarah Bailey (VC St Raphael), who made the first real attempt to bridge to her and Armistead went with her. Unfortunately Bailey was unable to stay with the break and had to drop back to the chase group, leaving Amitstead and Rowsell to worked smoothly to open up what would become an unassailable lead.

Sarah Bailey makes a break

This didn't mean that the bunch were letting them go. On the contrary, big efforts from Sarah Bailey, Tracey Fletcher (Fat Birds), Alice Monger-Godfrey (Glendene) and Louise Mahe (Cycles Dauphin) to pull back some time were evident, but with three riders blocking and slowing the pace down, it became fruitless and mostly frustrating for the chase group.

With 10 laps to go one of the leaders, Jo Rowsell, was in trouble with a rear wheel puncture, and she rode into the pits area for a change of wheels. Rules allow for a single lap out for this type of race (except within the last 5 laps) and she was duly fitted with a spare. As Armitstead came round the next time, she joined back in to continue the race.

Shortly afterwards Alice Monger-Godfrey also came in for a wheel and as per the rules was able to get back in the same position she was prior to the puncture. Almost immediately after this she was seen on the attack with Sarah Bailey. They opened up a lead of 50 to 60 metres and tried to continue the acceleration away from the bunch but the Global girls were having none of it and soon had them back in the fold.

With the final laps ticking away, it was clear that the leaders were going to be close to lapping the field. At the bell, they had time to think about the finish. Neither wanted to lead out, so it was only in the last 200 metres that they really wound the pace up and it was Armitstead who took the sprint by a bike length from team-mate Rowsell to retain her national title, won last year at Curborough.

In the sprint for third it was a mass charge as the 27 riders left in the chase blasted for the line, with a third Global rider, Katie Curtis, taking the sprint from team-mate Nikki Harris and Alex Greenfield crossing the line in fifth to take the award for the best junior rider.

Finish line sprint

Results