Katie Archibald today (Sunday 25 May) claimed victory in this year’s elite women’s Milk Race whilst Graham Briggs claimed the 1st prize in the elite men’s race.
Riding around the city centre course in Nottingham for team Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International, the second year running that the legendary event has been held in the city, Katie beat two of the stars of the Wiggle Honda team, Laura Trott and Charlotte Becker into second and third place. Meanwhile, in the men’s race Graham Briggs of Rapha Condor JLT was victorious over Raleigh’s Mathew Boulo and Velosure-Giordana’s Matt Cronshaw, who came in second and third respectively.
The women’s top five finishers were as follows:
1. Katie Archibald, Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International
2. Laura Trott, Wiggle Honda
3. Charlotte Becker, Wiggle Honda
4. Elinor Barker, Wiggle Honda
5. Katie Curtis, Starley Primal Pro Cycling
Speaking after her triumphant win, Katie said: “It’s great to win such a prestigious event in front of such amazing crowds. Here’s hoping The Milk Race returns again next year!”
The men’s top five finishers were as follows:
1. Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor JLT
2. Mathew Boulo, Team Raleigh
3. Matt Cronshaw, Velosure-Giordana RT
4. Ed Clancy, Rapha Condor JLT
5. Felix English, Rapha Condor JLT
Following his victory, Graham said: “It’s great to be of an event like The Milk Race. It’s probably the best event in England for the amount of support there is from the crowd and it’s super motivating to hear them shouting your name!”
The Milk Race, which initially ran between 1958 and 1993 until the Milk Marketing Board was disbanded, was resurrected last year by industry bodies The Dairy Council and the Milk Marketing Forum. In 2014, the elite races formed part of a festival of cycling in Nottingham city centre, which included a community ride, a family ride, and a ride for advanced cyclists. Once again, Nottingham’s Old Market Square was transformed into The Milk Race Village, where thousands of spectators took advantage of milk-based products and giveaways from some of the country’s leading dairy companies.
In an elite field containing numerous world, Olympic and British champions, the women’s Milk Race has become a key event in the annual cycling calendar, and offers a first prize of £1,000 – the same value as the men’s event.
Sandy Wilkie, Chairman of The Dairy Council, said: “Last year’s Milk Race was a great occasion but today’s event has surpassed it. It was a fantastic spectacle and a great celebration of cycling and dairy. Our congratulations go to Katie and Graham, and here’s hoping that, if further funding can be secured, The Milk Race can be a permanent fixture in the British sporting calendar for many years to come.”
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