Women's Team Road Race Series

Melissa Mather - Team Luciano/Everest Home Improvements, won the final round of the Women's Team Race Series held on the Griffydam course, well organised by Nick Horner-Maddocks and the Coolville Wheelers, just getting the better of 17 year old Jessica Allen - Pinarello RT with 16 year old Corrine Hall - Twickenham CC in 3rd place after a real attacking race in very windy conditions.

After a fast start the first action of the race was the tangle of wheels when both Cath Weiss - Agiskoviner ending up on the tarmac with Rachel Lee - Twickenham CC; Rachel Lee also suffered 3 fractured fingers which were plastered and her chin was stitched. Cath later having strapping on her leg but with a busted bike to show for it. On the first hill 9 riders got dropped mainly due to the strong winds; the bunch was being buffeted by the winds with gaps showing between riders. After 12 miles 6 riders got away by just a 100 metres to start with but this was to be the main break of the day with Mather, Allen, Hall, Jeanette Caldecott, Lisa Hollingshead - Team QCP and Jill Postlethwaite - Welland Valley CC being the main instigators.

It was after 20 miles that a serious crash happened with Charlotte Blackman - Planet X/She Cycles laying in the road in obvious pain, later to be diagnosed as a broken collar bone, she also had stitches in her lip and face but was released (strapped up) later in the evening; although most of the road was therefore blocked it was handled well by race officials and the race continued.

The leaders were now down to the main four riders and their lead was well over a minute with a lap to go, suddenly a rider shot out of the bunch determined not to leave it to the sprint; Lisa Hollingshead went just after the start of the final lap and spent the rest of the time gradually getting closer to the break with 'her' lead car urging her on as their headlights got closer and closer.

Into the turn that leads to the final hill and the finish line, Jeanette Caldicott just getting tailed off to leave a terrific sprint that went to the stronger rider - just; 2 Juniors and 2 experienced riders in the first 4. Great racing. Winner Mel Mather said "Just over the hill to start lap with 4 to go, we were just doing through and off and when I looked around we had a good gap - although it was hard in the wind; towards the end Jessica had a couple of goes to get away as did Corrine. It was a really good course".

Team Luciano won the Team Award with on the day and also the overall Team Award for the Series, taking the Trophy home with them plus a personal memento of a Teddy bear for each team member!

results

Winners time 2hrs 33m 25s