Stage 2 OVO Women’s Tour

Amy Pieters surged to victory in Stoke-on-Trent at the end of the second stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, pipping British Champion Hannah Barnes to the stage win as Katarzyna Niewiadoma retained the overall lead and the OVO Energy Green Jersey.

The Pole, who put in a dominant display to win Stage One in Northamptonshire on Wednesday, finished in fifth spot to maintain a 1-minute 46-second lead over teammate Marianne Vos, who came home fourth in the Potteries.

Barnes moves up to third overall thanks to the time bonuses and also takes the Adnams Best British Rider Jersey from her sister, Drops rider Alice.

It’s bittersweet. I’m really pleased to be up there in the finish, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be aggressive and get a good placing like that, but I’d have loved to have finished off the team’s good work today with a win.

I love wearing my national champion’s jersey. It’s one that all the fans look for any every time I put it on I’m really proud. But the Adnams Best British Rider jersey is also really special, so it’s not a bad swap for tomorrow’s stage!

Hannah Barnes

Best British Rider Stage 2 - OVO Energy Women's Tour

The 93-rider field had toiled through wind and rain on the roads of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, in a fast paced stage that started and finished in the city centre.

Marta Bastianelli, Anna Trevisi and Alison Jackson all spent time at the head of the race, but the move of the day came when Lucinda Brand went clear on the steep, lower slopes of the opening SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb at Ipstones.

Trixi Worrack and Christine Majerus spent some time chasing, but all in vain as they were caught by a vastly diminished peloton before the final categorised climb of Gun Hill, with Brand holding her lead until the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent as a thirty plus rider group made contact.

It was a really hard day, we lost a bit of time on the GC yesterday so our goal was to go for the stage win,our team was pretty strong today. Christine [Majerus] got in the front at one point and we were almost all there together going into the finish. We spoke about preparing for a sprint so they could save my energy, and the girls helped me really well in the finale.

The climbs were really tough. The first one was long, the second was really steep and stayed steep all the time. We came back over the top of Gun Hill and I knew it was going to be a sprint. I’m really happy that the girls helped me today.

Amy Pieters

Stage 2 Winner of OVO Women's Tour 2017, Boels Dolman

Two further hilly stages in Warwickshire and Derbyshire are ahead of Katarzyna Niewiadoma on Friday and Saturday, before the flat final stage in London on Sunday.

Ten riders remain within two minutes of Niewiadoma including both Barnes sisters and Dani King.

Cervelo Bigla’s Lisa Klein retained the Eisberg Sprints Jersey while Audrey Cordon-Ragot extended her lead in the SKODA Queen of the Mountains classification, with Brand now her nearest challenger, six points adrift.

I don’t want to overreact or get too confident, but this is another day done, everything can happen, as we saw today. It’s so hard to control it when lots of teams are attacking. I know that everybody wants that OVO Energy Green Jersey, so it’s like one team versus all of the others. It’s a big battle.

There were a lot of times that I thought ‘oh my god, goodbye green jersey’. But you can’t lose hope, I tried to stay relax and calm. I knew that, even if Lucinda was going to stay clear upfront, other teams would want to target the stage win. That meant it wouldn’t be up to us to chase all the time; other teams would feel a responsibility to bring it back.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma

Wiggle Points Jersey Leader, WM3 Pro Cycling

Interview – Amy Pieters, Boels Dolmans Stage 2 winner OVO Womens Tour by Cycling Shorts

Amy Pieters of Boels Dolman chats to the assembled media after her stage 2 win on the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.CyclingShorts.cc

 

Highlights of the second stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour are on ITV4 at 23:00 on Thursday 8 June, with a repeat at 10:30 the following morning on the same channel.  The highlights will also be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service.

Stage Three on Friday 9 June takes place in Warwickshire, heading south from Atherstone to finish in Royal Leamington Spa.  The stage gets underway at 10:00 and is due to finish at around 14:15 on the Parade in Leamington, passing through Kenilworth, Warwick and Wellesbourne along the route.

One week after the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride sections of the Northamptonshire route in the Tour Ride, the official sportive of the race on Sunday 18 June.  Riders can take part in 40 or 80-mile routes, starting and finishing at Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire, or tackle a fun, 10-mile Family Ride.

Stage 2 Results

Overall Standings

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Interview – Amy Pieters – Stage 2 Winner – OVO Womens Tour

Amy Pieters of Boels Dolman chats to the assembled media after her stage 2 win on the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017.

 

Interview – Amy Pieters, Boels Dolmans Stage 2 winner OVO Womens Tour by Cycling Shorts

Amy Pieters of Boels Dolman chats to the assembled media after her stage 2 win on the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.CyclingShorts.cc

 

 

Image ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Katarzyna Niewadoma wins first stage of OVO Energy Women’s Tour

Katarzyna Niewadoma stormed to victory in the opening stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, taking the win in Daventry, Northamptonshire by 1-minute and 42-seconds over teammate Marianne Vos

The 23-year-old Polish Champion, on her first visit to the UK, put in an impeccable display of riding, breaking away with 47-kilometres remaining, to claim her first ever UCI Women’s WorldTour win of 2017.

When I attacked I wasn’t really thinking. I just chose the moment” said Niewadoma speaking afterwards. “It can be a good opportunity to go away. I expected somebody to join me, unfortunately I was alone and I was thinking ‘Oh no, there’s 50km to go, there’s a lot of wind, there are hills!’ I wasn’t sure if I could gain a lot of seconds but I was really motivated to keep pushing.

A lot of the time I was thinking about the girl who wrote my Breast Cancer Care pink ribbon; somehow I felt a lot of energy from her. I felt that we could do it. It’s so crazy; normally races like this end up in a bunch sprint, and I knew that there are a lot of teams here like Ale Cipollini and Sunweb who want a bunch sprint, so I thought they would chase me hard. When I saw the 15-kilometre to go sign I knew I had to go full and see what happened. I’m so happy that I could win here.

Katarzyna Niewadoma

Winner Stage 1 - OVO Energy Women's Tour, WM3 Pro Cycling

Niewadoma built a three-minute lead at one point, but Boels Dolmans worked hard to reduce the deficit, but such was the WM3 rider’s spirit that she stayed away to celebrate a memorable solo win, gesturing to the pink ribbon in her hair as she crossed the Kettering finish line.

Niewadoma now wears the OVO Energy Green Jersey heading to Stoke-on-Trent for Stage Two and leads by 1-minute and 46-seconds over Vos, with Christine Majerus a further two seconds in arrears before 15-riders sit at 1-minute 52-seconds.

The WM3 Pro Cycling rider also takes the Wiggle Points Jersey following the opening stage, while Wiggle HIGH5 rider Audrey Cordon Ragot claimed maximum points at both SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb to take that jersey after day one.

Lisa Klein of Cervelo Bigla took the Eisberg Sprints jersey on countback, being tied at the top of the standings with Jolien D’hoore.

Alice Barnes, in seventh, was the top Brit, donning the Adnams Best British Rider Jersey in her home county.

I’ve not raced a WorldTour event for about a month now, I’ve done a lot of training for this race and a top 10 would have been a really nice target, so I’m happy with how it went.

The wind wasn’t as much of a factor as I thought it would be. It started off with a tailwind but we were always pretty bunched up. Up the climbs we raced really hard. Niewiadoma went away and we didn’t chase as much as I thought we would. All the big teams were looking at each other. With it being a five-day race over long stages, I don’t think anybody wanted to show their hand too early. She’s a strong rider so she got her gap pretty quickly.

Alice Barnes

 

Interview – Alice Barnes OVO Energy Women’s Tour Stage 1 by Cycling Shorts

Alice Barnes of Drops Cycling chats to the media after riding in to the Best British Rider Jersey on stage 1 of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Kettering. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | CyclingShorts.cc

 

 

Interview – Katarzyna Niewadoma OVO Women’s Tour Stage 1 Winner by Cycling Shorts

Katarzyna Niewadoma talks to the collected media after taking the win on stage 1 of the OVO Women’s Tour in Kettering. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.CyclingShorts.cc

 

Highlights of the opening stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour are on ITV4 at 23:00 on Wednesday 7 June, with a repeat at 09:55 the following morning on the same channel.  The highlights will also be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service.

Stage Two starts and finishes in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, taking in Stone, Stafford, Uttoxeter, Cheadle and Leek, plus two Category One SKODA Queen of the Mountains climbs at Ipstones and Gun Hill.

The race begins in the city centre at 11:00 and is due to finish outside Hanley Town Hall at around 15:00.

One week after the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride sections of the Northamptonshire route in the Tour Ride, the official sportive of the race on Sunday 18 June.  Riders can take part in 40 or 80-mile routes, starting and finishing at Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire, or tackle a fun, 10-mile Family Ride.  For more details visit www.tourride.co.uk

1 34 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna WM3 POL B:10″ 00″

2 31 VOS Marianne WM3 NED B:06″ 01’42”

3 4 MAJERUS Christine DLT LUX B:04″ ‘ ‘

4 22 BRONZINI Giorgia WHT ITA ‘ ‘

5 75 CROMWELL Tiffany LPR AUS ‘ ‘

6 151 SIGGAARD Christina TVW DEN ‘ ‘

7 81 *BARNES Alice DRP GBR ‘ ‘

8 11 MOOLMAN-PASIO Ashleigh CBT RSA ‘ ‘

9 143 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia LWK ITA ‘ ‘

10 114 FOURNIER Roxane FDJ FRA ‘ ‘

11 104 MOBERG Emilie HPU NOR ‘ ‘

12 161 ARCHIBALD Katie WNT GBR ‘ ‘

13 52 KIRCHMANN Leah SUN CAN ‘ ‘

14 73 BARNES Hannah LPR GBR ‘ ‘

15 13 *LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup CBT DEN ‘ ‘

16 61 HOSKING Chloe ALE AUS ‘ ‘

17 55 VAN DIJK Ellen SUN NED ‘ ‘

18 82 DURRELL Rebecca DRP GBR ‘ ‘

19 46 ROY Sarah ORS AUS 01’49”

20 91 KING Danielle CPC GBR ‘ ‘

21 112 BIANNIC Aude FDJ FRA 01’50”

22 63 ENSING Janneke ALE NED ‘ ‘

23 165 ROE Eileen WNT GBR ‘ ‘

24 53 *MACKAIJ Floortje SUN NED ‘ ‘

25 5 PIETERS Amy DLT NED B:02″ ‘ ‘

26 51 BRAND Lucinda SUN NED ‘ ‘

27 21 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa WHT ITA ‘ ‘

28 101 FRAPPORTI Simona HPU ITA ‘ ‘

29 105 HEINE Vita HPU NOR ‘ ‘

30 111 GILLOW Shara FDJ AUS ‘ ‘

31 155 PENTON Sara TVW SWE ‘ ‘

32 14 *KLEIN Lisa CBT GER B:05″ ‘ ‘

33 113 DUVAL Eugénie FDJ FRA ‘ ‘

34 142 ARZUFFI Alice LWK ITA ‘ ‘

35 133 DE VUYST Sofie LWD BEL ‘ ‘

36 6 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna DLT NED ‘ ‘

37 33 KOSTER Anouska WM3 NED ‘ ‘

38 32 KITCHEN Lauren WM3 AUS ‘ ‘

39 1 DEIGNAN Elizabeth DLT GBR ‘ ‘

40 23 CORDON RAGOT Audrey WHT FRA ‘ ‘

41 24 D’HOORE Jolien WHT BEL B:05″ ‘ ‘

42 106 AALERUD Katrine HPU NOR ‘ ‘

43 72 AMIALIUSIK Alena LPR BLR ‘ ‘

44 123 SANGUINETI Ilaria BPK ITA ‘ ‘

45 36 *KOREVAAR Jeanne WM3 NED ‘ ‘

46 166 GRINCZER Natalie WNT GBR ‘ ‘

47 93 JASINSKA Malgorzata CPC POL ‘ ‘

48 71 BRENNAUER Lisa LPR GER ‘ ‘

49 2 BLAAK Chantal DLT NED ‘ ‘

50 74 CECCHINI Elena LPR ITA ‘ ‘

51 122 JACKSON Alison BPK CAN ‘ ‘

52 64 KASPER Romy ALE GER 01’59”

53 66 TREVISI Anna ALE ITA ‘ ‘

54 94 RATTO Rossella CPC ITA ‘ ‘

55 86 PAYTON Hannah DRP GBR ‘ ‘

56 15 *KOPPENBURG Clara CBT GER ‘ ‘

57 76 WORRACK Trixi LPR GER ‘ ‘

58 35 PLICHTA Anna WM3 POL ‘ ‘

59 12 PERCHTOLD Christina CBT AUT ‘ ‘

60 84 RITTER Martina DRP AUT ‘ ‘

61 83 *PARKINSON Abby-Mae DRP GBR ‘ ‘

62 141 GUDERZO Tatiana LWK ITA ‘ ‘

63 116 YONAMINE Eri FDJ JPN ‘ ‘

64 44 *MANLY Alexandra ORS AUS 02’05”

65 124 *SPEROTTO Maria Vittoria BPK ITA 02’06”

66 41 ELVIN Gracie ORS AUS ‘ ‘

67 3 BRAMMEIER Nikki DLT GBR ‘ ‘

68 16 POHL Stephanie CBT GER 02’11”

69 136 RIJKES Sarah LWD AUT 02’14”

70 115 KNETEMANN Roxanne FDJ NED ‘ ‘

71 26 LICHTENBERG Claudia WHT GER 02’21”

72 102 THORSEN Thea HPU NOR 02’23”

73 152 BLOCH Shani TVW ISR ‘ ‘

74 135 REIS Daniela LWD POR ‘ ‘

75 103 BJØRNSRUD Miriam HPU NOR ‘ ‘

76 56 SLIK Rozanne SUN NED ‘ ‘

77 54 STULTIENS Sabrina SUN NED ‘ ‘

78 45 NEYLAN Rachel ORS AUS ‘ ‘

79 42 CROOKS Jenelle ORS AUS ‘ ‘

80 62 BASTIANELLI Marta ALE ITA 02’33”

81 164 MAES Elise WNT LUX ‘ ‘

82 92 GUTIERREZ RUIZ Sheyla CPC ESP 02’36”

83 144 CUCINOTTA Annalisa LWK ITA 03’05”

84 85 SIMPSON Annabel DRP GBR 04’57”

85 134 INGELBRECHT Sarah LWD BEL 08’00”

86 162 BOYLAN Lydia WNT IRL 08’07”

87 126 *PATTARO Francesca BPK ITA 15’50”

88 121 VALSECCHI Silvia BPK ITA 19’15”

89 163 *JONES Hayley WNT GBR 21’10”

90 25 FAHLIN Emilia WHT SWE ‘ ‘

91 65 TUSLAITE Daiva ALE LTU ‘ ‘

92 95 KNOL Willeke CPC NED ‘ ‘

93 145 SPOOR Winanda LWK NED 23’18”

 

Did not finish

43 BAKER Georgia ORS AUS

96 DOEBEL-HICKOK Kristabel CPC USA

125 *RAGUSA Katia BPK ITA

132 *COBB Alice LWD GBR

153 SCHWEIZER Doris TVW SUI

154 PEDERSEN Camilla TVW DEN

 

1 34 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna POL WM3 15

2 31 VOS Marianne NED WM3 12

3 4 MAJERUS Christine LUX DLT 9

4 22 BRONZINI Giorgia ITA WHT 7

5 75 CROMWELL Tiffany AUS LPR 6

6 151 SIGGAARD Christina DEN TVW 5

7 81 BARNES Alice GBR DRP 4

8 11 MOOLMAN-PASIO Ashleigh RSA CBT 3

9 143 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA LWK 2

10 114 FOURNIER Roxane FRA FDJ 1

Haselbech – km 24.8

1 23 CORDON RAGOT Audrey FRA WHT 4

2 34 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna POL WM3 3

3 111 GILLOW Shara AUS FDJ 2

4 6 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna NED DLT 1

 

Rockingham Hill – km 73.9

1 23 CORDON RAGOT Audrey FRA WHT 6

2 96 DOEBEL-HICKOK Kristabel USA CPC 5

3 21 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA WHT 4

4 55 VAN DIJK Ellen NED SUN 3

5 34 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna POL WM3 2

6 5 PIETERS Amy NED DLT 1

1 23 CORDON RAGOT Audrey FRA WHT 10

2 34 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna POL WM3 5

3 21 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA WHT 4

4 55 VAN DIJK Ellen NED SUN 3

5 111 GILLOW Shara AUS FDJ 2

6 5 PIETERS Amy NED DLT 1

7 6 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna NED DLT 1

Desborough – km 55.2

1 14 KLEIN Lisa GER CBT 3

2 24 D’HOORE Jolien BEL WHT 2

3 5 PIETERS Amy NED DLT 1

 

Oundle – km 97

1 24 D’HOORE Jolien BEL WHT 3

2 14 KLEIN Lisa GER CBT 2

3 5 PIETERS Amy NED DLT 1

1 14 KLEIN Lisa GER CBT 5

2 24 D’HOORE Jolien BEL WHT 5

3 5 PIETERS Amy NED DLT 2

1 Wm3 Pro Cycling Team 11h38’29” 00″

34 / 31 / 33

2 Team Sunweb 11h40’11” 01’42”

52 / 55 / 53

3 Cervelo – Bigla Pro Cycling Team 11h40’11” ‘ ‘

11 / 13 / 14

4 Canyon Sram Racing 11h40’11” ‘ ‘

75 / 73 / 72

5 Fdj Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 11h40’19” 01’50”

114 / 112 / 111

6 Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 11h40’19” ‘ ‘

4 / 5 / 6

7 Hitec Products 11h40’19” ‘ ‘

104 / 101 / 105

8 Wiggle High5 11h40’19” ‘ ‘

22 / 21 / 23

9 Team Wnt Pro Cycling 11h40’19” ‘ ‘

161 / 165 / 166

10 Drops 11h40’20” 01’51”

81 / 82 / 86

11 Ale Cipollini 11h40’28” 01’59”

61 / 63 / 64

12 Lensworld – Kuota 11h40’28” ‘ ‘

143 / 142 / 141

13 Cylance Pro Cycling 11h40’35” 02’06”

91 / 93 / 94

14 Bepink Cogeas 11h40’43” 02’14”

123 / 122 / 124

15 Team Veloconcept Women 11h40’52” 02’23”

151 / 155 / 152

16 Orica Scott 11h40’57” 02’28”

46 / 44 / 41

17 Lares – Waowdeals Women Cycling Team 11h41’24” 02’55”

1 81 BARNES Alice DRP GBR 00″

2 161 ARCHIBALD Katie WNT GBR ‘ ‘

3 73 BARNES Hannah LPR GBR ‘ ‘

4 82 DURRELL Rebecca DRP GBR ‘ ‘

5 91 KING Danielle CPC GBR 07″

6 165 ROE Eileen WNT GBR 08″

7 1 DEIGNAN Elizabeth DLT GBR ‘ ‘

8 166 GRINCZER Natalie WNT GBR ‘ ‘

9 86 PAYTON Hannah DRP GBR 17″

10 83 PARKINSON Abby-Mae DRP GBR ‘ ‘

11 3 BRAMMEIER Nikki DLT GBR 24″

12 85 SIMPSON Annabel DRP GBR 03’15”

13 163 JONES Hayley WNT GBR 19’28”

 

Abandon

132 COBB Alice LWD GBR

 

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Interview – Katarzyna Niewadoma OVO Women’s Tour Stage 1 Winner

Katarzyna Niewadoma talks to the collected media after taking the win on stage 1 of the OVO Women’s Tour in Kettering.

 

Interview – Katarzyna Niewadoma OVO Women’s Tour Stage 1 Winner by Cycling Shorts

Katarzyna Niewadoma talks to the collected media after taking the win on stage 1 of the OVO Women’s Tour in Kettering. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.CyclingShorts.cc

 

Image ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Interview – Alice Barnes Stage 1 – OVO Women’s Tour

Alice Barnes of Drops Cycling chats to the media after riding in to the Best British Rider Jersey on stage 1 of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Kettering.

 

Interview – Alice Barnes OVO Energy Women’s Tour Stage 1 by Cycling Shorts

Alice Barnes of Drops Cycling chats to the media after riding in to the Best British Rider Jersey on stage 1 of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Kettering. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | CyclingShorts.cc

 

Image ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Drops take Matrix Fitness GP Title 2017

Matrix Fitness Grand Prix 2017

Team Time Trial

The thirteen team Matrix Fitness Grand Prix concluded in Stevenage this year. Round 8 saw a first for the women’s series event, a team time trial around the one kilometre circuit of the Old Town.

Going into this final round, Drops were 50 points ahead of WNT and Breeze, both on 581 points and the day was divided into two events. The Team Time Trial on the afternoon followed by the final race in the series on the evening.

Two laps of a flat course for each team in reverse order set after Motherwell saw Team RGB Building Supplies setting a time of 2:55.696 and Team Jadan Weldtite p/b Vive le Velo 2:53.963 taken on the third rider across the line.

Team WNT took the overall glory 2.653 seconds ahead of Team Breeze who comprised of mainly track pursuit riders Manon Lloyd, Elinor Barker and Eleanor Dickinson. Olympic Champion Archibald steamed ahead of the WNT train around the two laps whilst Storey Racing came in third. This put WNT back in second overall just one point ahead of Breeze before the final race later in the day.

 

It was down to the final race of the series to decide the overall victory but a 1-2 for Drops confirmed the 2017 winners and a first individual win for Durrell, Lucy Shaw was second.

Drops with their first Matrix Fitness GP Title led the competition from start to finish. Team Breeze regained second place with Team WNT finishing third overall.

Rebecca Durrell was the clear leader in the individual competition whilst Ejay Harris secured the Eisberg Sprinters Jersey going clear for the first sprint of the night.

Several attacks off the front of the race from Breeze, WNT, Sunsport Velo and OnForm’s Anna Henderson came to nothing as the pace was fast throughout the race and it was left to a thirty rider bunch sprint to decide the out-come all coming back together with three laps remaining, positioning into the final corner being crucial.

Anna Henderson attacked once more on the bell lap with team-mates Sian Botteley, Amy Hill and Alicia Speake close by. Mel Lowther for Team Breeze jumped on the back wheel along the back straight with Elinor Barker third and Charlotte Broughton forth.

The sprint started on the penultimate corner with Drops Lucy Shaw taking the lead. Archibald second goes wide as Rebecca Durrell’s speed puts them side-by-side. Durrell digs deeps, it’s a 1-2 for Drops as both arms punch the air with joy.

All-in-all the Matrix Fitness GP provided good competition throughout the eight rounds with more team taking the start than ever before.

I’m really, really chuffed. The pressure was always going to be on for the team in the last round, even if it’s just from within ourselves.

I knew I’d already won the Individual overall before the start of tonight’s race but I’d deliberately not said anything about that as that would have been even more pressure. So now we’re just all relieved!

Rebecca Durrell

Stage Winner, Drops Cycling

Series Wrap-Up 

2017 saw the introduction for a team based event, similar to the already established Tour Series awarding the main prize to the best team performance through the series, as well as an individual race winner per event and an overall winner at the finish in Stevenage.

The competition also rewarded the Brother fast lap trophy each round and the Eisberg leaders sprint jersey to add dimension to the race to the highest points rider overall.

Starting off in early May in Redditch in the Midlands the series then moved South to Wembley Park before heading West to Bath and then across the border to Scotland, for the penultimate round in Motherwell and back down to Stevenage for the final.

Alice Barnes, Drops Pro Cycling won round one in Redditch soloing ahead of Katie Archibald, Team WNT and Elinor Barker for Team Breeze. Rebecca Durrell finished fourth and Lucy Shaw’s seventh for Drops, they were the first to pull on the red Matrix Fitness leader’s jerseys moving forward into round two in Stoke ahead by a solitary point over Team WNT with 95 points and Team Breeze third with 88 points.

Katie Archibald wearing the Eisberg Sprint Jersey by default won round two in Stoke with Alice Barnes not in attendance. Four riders broke free including National Criterium Champion and team-mate Eileen Roe along with Manon Lloyd for Team Breeze and Rebecca Durrell for Drops.

Roe softened up the other riders before Archibald finished the job off for WNT.

Annie Simpson was the best of the rest over a minute behind for Drops as they retain the lead again by one point over WNT.

Archibald now holds the Eisberg Sprint Jersey for round three.

With no time to rest the series moved a short distance away to Northwich and a new circuit for the battle to re-commence.

This time a different winner emerged and a different team stood on the podium in the form of Team Breeze. Emily Nelson took her first victory with team-mate Eleanor Dickinson a close second and collecting the best team prize on the night.

Matrix Fitness GrandPrix 2017, Round 7 Motherwell - Eileen Roe

Barnes was back for Drops but no Archibald for WNT so Dickinson became the new Eisberg Sprint leader moving their team into second place overall after three events. Drops lead with 284 points, Breeze 277 points and WNT 268 points.

Durrell’s seventh place finish moved her one point ahead of Nelson in the individual classification with Lydia Boylan for WNT third.

Wembley Park provided the back-drop for round four in the series and a fourth different winner in as many rounds. A brilliant solo victory for Jess Roberts, Liv Epic Coaching her second to-date winning last years final round in Portsmouth.

Leaving the bunch behind to fight for the team competition, Roberts distanced herself with two laps remaining as Durrell won the bunch sprint ahead of Nelson, Barnes and Boylan.

Drops extend their lead by 9 points and Durrell extends her individual lead by 2 points. Eleanor Dickinson retains the Eisberg Sprint Jersey.

Round 5 returned to the rain drenched streets of Croydon where a fifth consecutive new race winner emerged with Ejay Harris for Storey Racing giving them there first ever victory.

Storey Racing had the upper hand around this slippery circuit as they finished 1-2 with Neah Evans in the four rider group that broke free from the main bunch. Annasley Park crossed the line third for Drops with Boyan fourth for WNT.

Harris catapulted herself into second position behind Dickinson in the Eisberg Sprint competition whilst Drops remain the leaders of the Matrix Fitness leaders jerseys 27 points ahead of Breeze, then WNT, then Storey Racing.

Round six moved across the Country to Bath were rain soaked the riders once more, showering the bunch sprint and sixth consecutive different race winner.

This time in was National Criterium Champion Eileen Roe for WNT returning to duty in the Tour Series putting her into the record books and a historic fifth individual win in a bunch sprint once more.

Storey Racing duo Harris and Evans took second and third very closely behind Roe and Anna Henderson secured OnForm’s highest finish to-date.

Ejay Harris won both Eisberg Sprints moving into the lead jersey for the penultimate round 9 points ahead. Durrell remains individual leader and her Drops team now have 51 points advantage ahead of Breeze.

The penultimate round of the Matrix Fitness GP crossed the Boarder for a fourth visit to Motherwell and a square course with a punchy drag up-to the finish line.

Again it was a four ride break that got free including last year’s winner in Motherwell Eileen Roe along with Annasley Park, Drops, Manon Lloyd, Breeze and Lizzy Banks for Sunsport Velo.

The race had been softened again by Scotland’s Roe and Archibald both previous winners but eventually settled with a large group thirty seconds back.

It was Roe that took the victory and back-to-back wins, her sixth to-date breaking free for a solo effort on the final half lap to the applause of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Roe had asked for assistance from team-mate Archibald at the back-end of the race and dewily made her way across the gap to the leading quartet.

I’m just so chuffed with our result tonight,

We said at the start of this year’s Matrix Series that we were determined to win and that’s exactly what we’ve done.  Becky really deserved her win tonight, she’s worked so, so hard over the winter.  She’s had highs and lows and tonight is certainly a high for Becky and a high for the team.

Tom Varney

Stevenage after final race, Team Manager - Drops Cycling

Seeing the danger, Durrell followed, then Melissa Lowther and the three ebbed their way closer to the leaders.

The seven came together for the final lap before Roe made her move approaching the final corner.

Durrell edged Archibald out sprinting for second by a tyres width before Boylan’s bunch sprint for eight place gave WNT the team victory on the night moving them back into second in the team competition.

Drops remained leaders 50 points ahead of WNT and Breeze.

Ejay Harris remained the Eisberg sprint leader and Durrell the individual leader.

1, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 32-laps, 44:44.323
2, Lucy Shaw, GBR, Drops, + 0.088
3, Katie Archibald, GBR, Team WNT, + 0.195
4, Elinor Barker, GBR, Team Breeze, + 0.460
5, Charlotte Broughton, GBR, Team Ford EcoBoost, + 0.574
6, Ellie Dickinson, GBR, Team Breeze, + 0.715
7, Gaby Shaw, GBR, Team WNT, + 1.373
8, Anna Henderson, GBR, Team On Form, + 1.544
9, Ejay Harris, GBR, Storey Racing, + 1.644
10, Amy Hill, GBR, Team On Form, + 1.591

Rebecca Durrell, 1:15.238

1, Drops, 719pts
2, Team Breeze, 666pts
3, Team WNT, 659pts
4, Storey Racing, 494pts
5, Team On Form, 439pts

1, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 254pts
2, Annasley Park, GBR, Drops, 205pts
3, Manon Lloyd, GBR, Team Breeze, 199pts

1, Elizabeth Jane Harris, GBR, Storey Racing, 41pts
2, Rebecca Durrell, GBR, Drops, 22pts
3, Ellie Dickinson, GBR, Team Breeze, 21pts

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

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