Laura Bissell atackes on the climb - photo: David Jack
|
The first race of the Team Series took place on Sunday 22nd April, at Nottingham. The circuit is always popular; rolling, with just one short climb, little traffic and an excellent road surface. Add with the always attentive marshals and you have a recipe for a great race.
The team series is more popular than ever and this first race was fully subscribed, with a number of reserves also hoping to ride in case anyone should drop out.
Almost 60 riders rolled out after the commissaire's car down to the start of the race, which was 10 laps of the 5.3 mile circuit around Kingston on Soar.
The pace was surprisingly steady for the first lap, a bit of a surprise when many had expected a mass charge off the line. The first proper attack came the second time up the hill, when Laura Bissell (GS Strada (Impsport), last year's winner, put the pressure on and opened up a gap. She held her gap on the bunch for a few miles, but with fresh legs and a number of experienced teams in attendance in the chasing group, she never drew away and was swallowed up before the end of the lap.
A crash in the third lap brought the field to a halt to allow for an ambulance to attend and this ended the race early for newcomer Clare Thomas (Edinburgh RC). Victoria Richmond (Twickenham CC (Planet X - SheCycles.com) was also brought down but remounted to finish the race. The race was halted for 30 minutes as a result of the crash and was subsequently shortened by two laps.
So there were 4 laps remaining when the race restarted and with just over 20 miles to go, the pace picked up. Notable attacks came from Jo Tindley (Bristol Cycling Development Squad (Impsport)), the ever aggressive Louise Mahe (Cycle Dauphin (Team QCP)) and Katie Colclough (Fat Birds), but the most dangerous move came from Carrie Bedingfield (Luciano). She also chose the hill as the place to deliver her punch and she opened up a sizeable gap. She was quickly joined by Charlotte Colclough (Fat Birds) and they stayed away for almost a lap. An effective chase was eventually organised by Planet X - SheCycles.com riders Ruth Mordaunt and Janet Birkmyre, assisted by Agisko Viner's, Lauren Davies.
On the final lap almost 50 riders contested a frantic sprint for the line and it was Alice Monger-Godfrey (Glendene (Impsport)) who picked the right wheel and the right line to secure the win and her first road victory.
Alice Monger-Godfrey takes the win - photo: Jeff Baird
|
Team Result:
1. Fat Birds Cycling Club 394 points
2. Team Luciano A 386 points
3. Planet X-SheCycles.com A 307 points
4. Impsport Team A 179 points
5. Welland Valley CC 224 points
6. West Midlands Division 149 points
7. Edinburgh RC 215 points
8. Impsport Team B 176 points
9. Team Luciano B 157 points
9. Agiskoviner 159 points
11. Pinarello RT 152 points
12. Team QCP 130 points
13. Planet X - SheCycles.com B Team 123 points
Individual Result
1. Alice Monger-Godfery Impsport Team A 1hr 57mins 38 secs
2. Charlotte Colclough Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
3. Louise Mahe Team QCP same time
4. Jo Tindley Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
5. Melissa Mather Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
6. Jeanette Caldicott Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
7. Angela Pike Impsport team B same time
8. Pippa Handley Edinburgh RC same time
9. Katie Colclough Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
10. Sarah Byrne West Midlands Division same time
11. Helen Gutteridge Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
12. Kelly Moore West Midlands Division same time
13. Kimberley Walsh Impsport team A at 1 second
14. Anna Watson Impsport team A same time
15. Tracey Fletcher Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
16. Susannah Osborne Planet X-She Cycles.com same time
17. Hannah Rich Pinarello RT same time
18. Tarne Bevan Planet X-She Cycles.com same time
19. Carrie Bedingfield Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
20. Laura Bissell Impsport Team A same time
21. Janet Birkmyre Planet X-She Cycles.com same time
22. Alix Chester Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
23. Jessica Allen Pinarello RT same time
24. Lisa Parsons Welland Valley Whs same time
25. Lizzy Goodband Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
26. Lorna Marlow Welland Valley CC same time
27 Rohan Battison www.agiskoviner same time
28. Linda Hubbard Welland Valley CC same time
29. Jenny Wright Edinburgh RC at 2 seconds
30. Diane Moss Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
31. Jackie Bull Fat Birds Cycling Club same time
32. Hannah Bussey Team Luciano-Kuota-Everest Home Improvements same time
33. Janet Stevenson Edinburgh RC same time
34. Tegan Millington Impsport Team A 1hr 57mins 41 secs
35. Becky Dutton Agiskoviner same time
36. Claire Leonard Planet X-She Cycles.com B same time
37. Karen Breneman Edinburgh RC same time
38. Nikki Wheeler Planet X-She Cycles.com same time
39. Helen Clayton West Midlands Division same time
40. Cathlyn Orchard West Midlands Division same time
41. Cayley Ennett Team QCP 1hr 57mins 42 secs
42. Heather Summers Team Luciano B same time
43. Jill Postlewaite Welland Valley CC same time
44. Ruth Mordaunt Planet X She Cycles.com same time
45. Melissa O'Reilly Planet X She Cycles.com same time
46. June Walker Team Luciano B 1hr 57mins 43secs
47. Victoria Richmond Planet X-She Cycles.com B same time
48. Alexandra Greenfield Pinarello Rt same time
49. Lauren Davies Agiskoviner 1hr 58mins 57secs
50. Cloe Parrington Agiskoviner same time
51. Anna Grundy same time
52. Cheryl Owens Planet X-She Cycles.com B 1hr 58mins 59secs
53. Heidi Mason Planet X She Cycles.com B 2hrs 4mins 11secs
54. Gaye Taylor Impsport Team A same time
55. Sara Frost Welland Valley CC 2hrs 11mins 33secs
Pootle 
