by Anna Magrath | Sep 6, 2015
Elia Viviani of Team Sky wins stage 1 of the Aviva Tour of Britain in a final sprint against Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel. Elia talks to CyclingShorts.cc and the assembled media after the race.
Elia Viviani of Team Sky wins stage 1 of the Aviva Tour of Britain in a final sprint against Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel.
Elia talks to CyclingShorts.cc and the assembled media after the race.
by Chris Maher | Aug 17, 2015
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION:
Great Britain’s Matthew Gibson set the quickest qualifying time in the 4000m Individual Pursuit setting a time of 4.23.212 holding a perfect line around the boards of Derby Arena. His closest competitor Owain Doull will ride in the finals later in the day.
Event 1 Individual Pursuit – Qualifying Men
- Matt Gibson 04.23.212
- Owain Doull 04.25.420
- Germain Burton 04.25.664
- Dion Beukeboom 04.26.345
- Andrew Tennant 04.28.841
- Julien Morice 04.29.653
- Aleksandr Lisouski 04.32.144
- Jan-Willem Van Schip 04.33.110
- Jake Kelly 04.36.610
- Steven Burke 04.36.610
- Fintan Ryan 04.44.052
- Dennis Wauch 04.44.679
- Ivan Kovalev 04.45.562
- Mark Downey 04.46.751
- Roy Pieters 04.51.377
Event 2 Sprint Qualification Time Trial Men
- Lewis Oliva 10.067
- Callum Skinner 10.088
- Quentin Lafague 10.108
- Jason Kenny 10.109
- Francois Pervis 10.188
- Hugo Haak 10.327
- Philip Hindes 10.343
- Christos Volikakis 10.345
- Matthew Crampton 10.419
- Eoin Mullen 10.423
- Zafeiros Volikakis 10.508
- Matt Rotherham 10.530
- Jose Moreno Sanchez10.633
Event 3 Sprint Qualification Time Trial Women
- Katy Marchant 11.163
- Jessica Varnish 11.276
- Dannielle Khan 11.286
- Victoria Williamson 11.333
- Tania Calvo 11.465
- Rebecca James 11.617
- Yesna Rijkhoff 11.644
- Olivia Montauban 11.662
- Sandie Clair 11.744
- Laurine Van Riessen 11.831
- Nicky Degrendele 11.942
- Shanaze Reade 12.043
The first Women’s Omnium event a forty lap Scratch Race, saw the first thirty laps run at a steady pace staying all together. With no one willing to commit early on the pace didn’t lift until around ten laps remaining.
As the race intensified, Ciara Horne attacked off the front of the pack with three laps to go, but faded in the final few hundred meters as the battle for the overall title began to take shape.
The crowd, already whipped up into a frenzy by Horne, we delighted to see Laura Trott cross the line first, with Jolien D’Hoore second and Laurie Berthon third in the bunch sprint.
A good start to Laura Trott’s Omnium campaign, but her biggest rivals were still looming within striking distance. The next event in this session will be the 3000m IP.
Event 4 The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – 10Km Scratch Race Women
- TROTT, Laura GBR
- D’HOORE, Jolien BEL
- BERTHON, Laurie FRA
- JEULAND, Pascale FRA
- KAY, Emily GBR
- WOJTYRA, Malgorzata POL
- OLABERRIA, Leire ESP
- ARCHIBALD, Katie GBR
- NELSON, Emily GBR
- STEEL, Elizabeth NZL
- BOYLAN, Lydia IRL
- HORNE, Ciara GBR
- REYBOULD, Rebecca GBR
- LLOYD, Manon GBR
Event 5 Sprint – First Round Men
Oliva, Skinner, Lafargue, Kenny, Volikakis (C) & Hindes progress through.
Event 6 Sprint – First Round Women
Marchant, Varnish, Khan, Williamson, Calvo & Rijkhoff progress through.
The first Men’s Omnium event a sixty lap Scratch Race couldn’t have been any different to that of the Women’s event. An energetic start with small attacks from the start including Chris Latham whom managed a spell out-front.
It wasn’t long before a six man break got free to take a lap, with Clancy & Cavendish making the move. Seeing the danger, De Ketele and two others joined the front of the race also gaining a lap.
De Ketele and Lisouski manage to gain another lap on the field in the chaos as the race drew to it’s conclusion, with Dibben going for a long solo victory to cross the line first.
Clancy turned up the heat to take the bunch sprint for second placement, but both Brits were down a lap on De Ketele & Lisouski who lead the Men’s Omnium going into round two, the 4000m IP.
Event 7 The Sir Brailsford Omnium – Scratch Race Men
- DE KETELE, Kenny BEL
- LISOUSKI, Aleksandr BLR
- DIBBEN, Jonathan GBR -1
- CLANCY , Ed GBR -1
- STEWART, Mark GBR -1
- ELLORIAGA, Unai ESP -1
- THOMAS, Benjamin FRA -1
- EEFTING, Roy NED -1
- WOOD, Oliver GBR -1
- RODRIGUES, Gideoni BRA -1
- CAVENDISH, Mark GBR -1
- KNEISKY, Morgan FRA -1
- DE PAUW, Moreno BEL -1
- VELDT, Tim NED -1
- KOVALEV, Ivan RUS -1
- RYAN, Fintan IRL -2
- WAUCH, Tobias AUT -2
- DOWNEY, Mark IRL -2
- MATZNER, Stefan AUT -2
- LATHAM, Christopher GBR -2
- MASTALLER, Stefan AUT -2
- DOULL, Owain GBR DNF
Event 8 The Sir Brailsford Omnium – 3000m Individual Pursuit Women
- Jolien D’Hoore 03.36.130
- Laura Trott 03.38.769
- Katie Archibald 03.41.177
- Pascale Jeuland 03.44.607
- Ciara Horne 03.44.628
- Emily Kay 03.45.217
- Leire Olaberria 03.47.647
- Lydia Boyland 03.48.749
- Emily Nelson 03.48.935
- Manon Lloyd 03.49.707
- Laurie Berthon 03.50.325
- Malgorzata Wojtyra 03.51.420
- Elizabeth Steele 03.57.303
- Rebecca Raybould 03.59.550
Event 9 Sprint – Quarter Final Men
Oliva, Skinner, Hindes & Kenny progress through.
Event 10 Sprint – Quarter Final Women
Marchant, Varnish, Rijkhoff & Calvo progress through.
Event 11 The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – 4000m Individual Pursuit Men
- Chris Latham 04.26.073
- Mark Cavendish 04.26.822
- Jon Dibben 04.27.335
- Ed Clancy 04.29.208
- Mark Stewart 04.29.502
- Kenny de Ketele 04.30.886
- Gideoni Rodrigues 04.32.437
- Aleksandr Lisouki 04.34.138
- Unai Elloriaga 04.34.258
- Oli Wood 04.35.182
- Benjamin Thomas 04.35.755
- Tim Veldt 04.35.971
- Morgan Kniesky 04.36.161
- Moreno de Pauw 04.40.976
- Roy Eefing 04.41.085
- Ivan Kovalev 04.41.916
SATURDAY EVENING SESSION:
Doors open at 18:00. Racing from 19:00 to 22:00.
Event 12 Sprint – 5-8th Finals Men
Volikakis, Haak, Lafargue & Pervis
Event 13 Sprint – 5-8th Finals Women
Williamson, Khan, Clair & Montauban.
Event 14 The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Elimination Women
- TROTT, Laura GBR
- D’HOORE, Jolien BEL
- ARCHIBALD, Katie GBR
- JEULAND, Pascale FRA
- KAY, Emily GBR
- NELSON, Emily GBR
- OLABERRIA, Leire ESP
- BERTHON, Laurie FRA
- WOJTYRA, Malgorzata POL
- STEEL, Elizabeth NZL
- BOYLAN, Lydia IRL
- REYBOULD, Rebecca GBR
- LLOYD, Manon GBR
- HORNE, Ciara GBR
Event 15 Sprint – Semi Final (Match A) Men
Lewis Oliva beat Jason Kenny in the semis. Callum Skinner beat Philip Hindes in a three round tie breaker to join Oliva.
Event 16 Sprint – Semi Final (Match A) Women
Katy Marchant beat Tania Calvo in the semis. Jessica Varnish beat Yesna Rijkhoff to join Marchant.
Event 17 Individual Pursuit – Finals Men
Matthew Gibson continued his impressive qualifying performance to win the 4000 Individual Pursuit, passing Owain Doull in the closing stages of the race. Germain Burton squeezed a marginal win over Netherland’s Dion Beukeboom for third place.
Event 20 The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Elimination Men
A fast start in the final Omnium Session from the day came to a halt as a collision on the home straight neutralized the race. The race then re-started and it wasn’t long before the pace intensified. Another crash, once again neutralized the race involving the same rider Rodrigues, this time with Jon Dibben.
With Omnium leader De Ketele finding himself out of contention early on, second place man Lisouski went out soon after.
With four Brits left to battle the top slots, Cavendish found himself on the Cote Azure and relegated from the remainder of the race. Ed Clancy went on the win the second round, with Chris Latham second and Benjamin Thomas of France third.
Event 23 Madison Time Trial Men
- Great Britain’s Steven Burke & Owain Doull set the quickest time 0.55.240 in the Revolution Madison Time Trial, getting to close to the sub 55s Revolution record.
- 100% ME 0.56.774
- Austria 0.58.514
- France 0.59.434
- Belarus 1.00.316
- Ireland 1.02.181
- Belgium 1.21.760
Event 29 Revolution Longest Lap Men
- Matthew Gibson
- Morgan Kniesky
- Thomas Benjamin
- Alekandr Lisouki
- Ivan Kovalev
- Roy Eefing
Event 30 Sprint – Final Men
Lewis Oliva beat Callum Skinner to clinch the Sprint Title. Jason Kenny beat Philip Hindes.
Event 31 Sprint – Final Women
Katy Marchant beat Jessica Varnish to take the Sprint Title. Tania Calvo beat Yesna Rijkhoff over three heats.
SUNDAY AFTERNOOON SESSION:
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Time Trial Women
- Trott, Laura
- D’Hoore, Jolien
- Berthon, Laurie
- Boylan, Lydia
- Olaberria, Leire
- Wojtyra, Malgorzata
- Archibald, Katie
- Jeuland, Pascale
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Time Trial Men
- Clancy, Ed
- Latham, Chris
- Eefting, Roy
- Veldt, Tim
- Cavendish, Mark
- Dibben, Jon
- De Pauw, Moreno
- De Ketele, Kenny
- Wood, Oliver
- Kneisky, Morgan
Keirin – First Round Men
Volikakis, Olivia, Crampton, Kenny, Hindes & Haak go through from round one.
Keirin – First Round Women
Khan, Marchant, Calvo, Clair, Van Riessen & Montauban go through from round one.
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Flying Lap Women
- Trott, Laura
- D’Hoore, Jolien
- Berthon, Laurie
- Jeuland, Pascale
- Archibald, Katie
- Wojtyra, Malgorzata
- Boylan, Lydia
- Olaberria, Leire
- Nelson, Emily
- Kay, Emily
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Flying Lap Men
- Clancy, Ed
- Eefting, Roy
- Cavendish, Mark
- Veldt, Tim
- Dibben, Jon
- De Pauw,Moreno
- Latham, Chris
- De Ketele,Kenny
- Thomas, Benjamin
- Elloriaga, Unai
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Points Race Women
- TROTT, Laura GBR
- D’HOORE, Jolien BEL
- JEULAND, Pascale FRA
- ARCHIBALD, Katie GBR
- BERTHON, Laurie FRA
- KAY, Emily GBR
- OLABERRIA, Leire ESP
- BOYLAN, Lydia IRL
- WOJTYRA, Malgorzata POL
- NELSON, Emily GBR
- REYBOULD, Rebecca GBR
- LLOYD, Manon GBR
- STEEL Elizabeth NZL
The Sir Dave Brailsford Omnium – Points Race Men
- Clancy, Ed
- Cavendish, Mark
- Latham, Chris
- Dibben, Jon
- Thomas, Benjamin
- De Ketele,Kenny
- Stewart, Mark
- Elloriaga, Unai
- Veldt, Tim
- Lisouski, Aleksandr
Keirin – Final Men
- Kenny, Jason GBR
- Olivia, Lewis GBR
- Volikakis, Christos GRE
- Crampton, Matt GBR
- Haak, Hugo NED
- Hindes, Philip GBR
Keirin – Final Women
- Marchant, Katy GBR
- Clair, Sandie FRA
- Khan, Dannielle GBR
- Calvo, Tania ESP
- Van Riessen, Laurine NED
- Montauban, Olivia FRA GBR
Madison Men
- Great Britain – Bradley Wiggins / Mark Cavendish
- Belgium – Kenny De Ketele / Moreno De Pauw
- 100%ME – Chris Latham / Mark Stewart
- ODP – Germain Burton / Mathew Gibson
- WattBike – Roy Pieters / Stefan Matzner
- France – Morgan Kneisky / Benjamin Thomas
The next round of Revolution will be Race 53.
Special Thanks to www.facepartnership.com
Official Website www.cyclingrevolution.com
Flickr Photo Gallery Updated Regularly throughout the Winter Season at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/sets/72157623276235092/
by Chris Maher | Jul 26, 2015
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Newly Crowned Women’s Junior National Road Race Champion 2015, Abby-Mae Parkinson Wins The 2nd Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race In Beverley
The second edition of the Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race in Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire saw Team Giordana Triton’s Abby-Mae Parkinson take the win from Team Jadan’s Henrietta Colbourne.
Flagging the race away after a one lap rolling start. Title sponsor and owner Pam Wainman (Jadan Press) got the race underway as the pace increased.
A couple rides after around fifteen minutes of racing broke free as Henrietta made her move to chase them down and Abby-Mae soon joined her.
The new pair of lead riders established a healthy gap soon after in the forty-five minute cobbled circuit through Beverley Town Centre.
Last years winner Iona Sewell now riding for Carnac-Planet X, Flora Gilles, Project 51, second last year, Nicola Soden, Carnac-Planet X, Hayley Edwards, Team Velosport and Louise Scupham, Team Jadan to name a few all attacked out of the bunch, but nothing stuck.
Lapping back markers in the latter stages, Colbourne and Parkinson worked well together, to keep the reformed chasing field at bay, with a lead that had gained over forty seconds.
The remaining riders were left to bunch sprint for the final podium position, with Hayley Edwards, Team Velosport leading them over the line.
CyclingShorts: How are feeling after wining last weeks Women’s Junior National Road Race Championships in Ampleforth?
Abby-Mae Parkinson, before the race start: “I’m still pretty tired from last week.”
CyclingShorts: How did the race go for you?
Henrietta Colbourne: “It was a good hard race, Two riders had got away early-on, and a counter attack brought them back. Abby-Mae then came across to me, so we got a two man break away.” “We established a gap of about twenty-five or thirty seconds. We worked with it, then attacked each other a little bit, then went for the sprint at the end.”
Louise Scupham: “I had a good warm-up session, I’d been here since five and managed to get a ride around the circuit.” Louise is preparing herself for the National Twenty-five, her main focus for the season.
Putting herself through a rigid training regime into the Summer months, she said that her legs didn’t take to the fast start at the beginning of the Jadan Press Women’s Circuit Race. Dropping into the third group, initially. But got better as the race progressed, Louise managed to get on the front of the chasing group several times. More from Louise soon.
Race Results 24 July 2015
- Abby-Mae Parkinson Team Giordana-Triton
- Henrietta Colbourne Team Jadan
- Hayley Edwards Team Velosport
- Nicola Moore Squadra RT
- Lauren O’Brien Team Giordana-Triton
- Ellen McDermott Team Watt Cycles
- Sophie Thackray Paul Milnes – Bradford Olympic RC
- Elizabeth Denby Paul Milnes – Bradford Olympic RC
- Sarah King Morvelo
- Sinead Burke PH-MAS VCUK Women’s Cycling Team
- Lorna Ferguson Glasgow Green CC
- Nicola Soden Carnac-Planet X
- Iona Sewell Carnac-Planet X
- Luise Scupham Team Jadan
- Stephan Morton
- Gabriella Duckworth Lune RCC (Minus 2 Laps)
- Claire Rutherford Team Wheelguru (Minus 2 Laps)
Results by British Cycling
Official Website for the East Yorkshire Classic
by Heather Bamforth | Jul 19, 2015
Now that the Women’s National Road Series is over for another year, many people will be thinking about what team they want to be riding for next season, so given that the better teams tend to be sorted by August, I thought it would be helpful to give those of you who might not have gone through the process before some guidance.
Where do I start?
Firstly, a good starting point is to think about what you actually want to achieve next season and whether you have all the “tools” available to you to be able to do so. For example, it might be something relatively simple like a need to improve on your base fitness over winter to help you be more competitive in the higher level races, or it might be something more difficult, like a lack of time and/or money.
Many people (male and female) make the mistake of applying a scatter gun approach to racing at the start of the season (a large factor being a plethora of races, on the most part circuit races, at the beginning of the season, which peter out later in the year), which doesn’t necessarily help with your fitness or your bank balance!
BC National Road Race Championships 2015 – Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
So, what do you need to think about?
Time you have available
If you are at school, college, work or have kids, you will have other commitments other than riding your bike. That also means that you are likely to have a finite number of holidays available too – so think about what you intend to do in those holidays, and how many you are prepared to spend at bike races (everybody needs a break from work otherwise you get burn out).
You also need to think about how many hours a week you can dedicate to riding a bike – if you have a training plan that involves 20 hours a week on the bike, is it reasonable to think that you can achieve that? Or is 6 hours a week more likely? You can still achieve results on the latter, you just have to make sure that you are doing quality training.
Matrix Fitness GP 2015 | Motherwell – Round 2 – Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Cost of racing
Every time you race, you pay an entry fee. If you are keen to do more road races than anything else, these tend to be more expensive due to the nature of the infrastructure required for the race to go ahead. If you are likely to be tight on cash (which most people are), and you have to cover the costs of your own entry fee, decide in advance which races you intend to target (the cost of races disappears once the event has happened but if you earmark £30 for each National Series event, and £20 – £25 for every other event, you won’t be far off), how much you will need to spend to get there (including travelling, accommodation and food) and make those events your “target events”, you will go some way to making sure you budget for them accordingly.
Once you’ve earmarked how much it is going to cost you to get to the most important events in your calendar, then work backwards based on how much cash you think you are going to have available and look at local events first, then further afield. Remember, you don’t have to enter all women’s races if there isn’t one available. You can enter men’s events, but you have to be pretty quick because they fill up rather fast.
Women’s Tour De Yorkshire 2015 – ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Your Location
If you live in a region where there isn’t much racing available for women, you have two choices: you either do something about it (by persuading organisers of men’s events to host a women’s race at the same time) or you have to travel. Most people have to travel at some point because races tend to be in the middle of nowhere. If you don’t have access to a car, the likelihood is that you will struggle to get to races unless you team up with someone else to get there or you get there using public transport, which might involve a stay over. If you’re not overly keen on those two options, you will need to look at the racing on offer in your locality and amend your season’s objectives accordingly.
Cheshire Classic 2015 – BC Women’s Road Series Rnd2 – Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Do you need to be on a team?
The short answer is “no”. However, some riders prefer to be on a team, so it’s each to their own. But, having said that, if you do want to be on a sponsored team, and you are considering applying to teams, make sure that you are honest with yourself about what you can give. Being on a team is a privileged position to be in, especially those where it includes the provision of clothing and equipment. You need to ensure that you can do justice to yourself and your potential sponsors before applying. You also need to think about the commitment level (see above) as if you’re limited on the number of holidays that you have, only you will know whether riding every Tour Series or driving the length of the country for National Series races is the best use of your time.
Notwithstanding the above, Tanya Griffiths wrote an article for us last year about applying for a team place, which you can access here.
Alexandra Women’s Tour Of The Reservoir 2015 – Image ©www.ChrisMaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Perspective is important
Ultimately, the majority of racing cyclists in this country participate because it’s their hobby. That means it’s supposed to be fun and enjoyable (although it is hard work too). Focus on what you want to achieve, make sure your objectives or goals are SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) and just enjoy riding your bike.
If you do decide to go ahead with applying to sponsored teams next season, we wish you the very best of luck and hope that everything works out for you.
Check out Heathers previous guides:
Race Tactics – It’s More Than Just A Lead Out
Click below to read:
Part One – Where Do I Start?
Part Two – What Do I Enter?
Part Three – What training should I do?
Part Four – Practice! Practice! Practice!
Part Five – Are You Ready To Race?
Part Six – Race Day
Part Seven – Circuit Racing
by Chris Maher | Jul 9, 2015
All images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Bunch Sprint Along The Riverside in Stockton-On-Tees Gives Victory For ONE Pro Cycling’s Chris Opie.
After three and a half hours and ten circuits out of town, the peloton returned for the final six Riverside laps and the conclusion of the fifth Stockton-On-Tees Festival of Cycling Grand Prix.
The race burst into life with one final lap, around four miles remaining, as the long time two man breakaway of NFTO’s Ian Bibby and ONE Pro Cycling’s George Aitkins looked like it would possibly stay away, slowly began to fade.
There was plenty of attacking out on the main course, many of the top riders breaking free, but never got much further than around thirty seconds.
At one point thirteen riders gained some momentum, and all the big teams were represented.
Approaching the final few main laps, Madison Genesis formed on front of the peloton, and the chase got underway.
Heading back into town, it still looked like the two leaders would stay away, having around thirty seconds advantage.
With half the Riverside circuits complete, No-one team had took-up the challenge of finally closing the gap.
An arrowhead formed on the front of the peloton, with JLT Condor leading them along. The gap had been reduced to fifteen seconds.
Team Raleigh GAC’s Evan Oliphant made a bid for a long one with two laps left, but JLT Condor’s Richard Handley marked the move. News came that the leading pair Atkins and Bibby had been caught around the backside of the course.
As the riders returned onto the Riverside Road for the bell lap, the teams once again formed into lead-out trains, battling for position, with George Atkins of ONE Pro Cycling in the front position.
The pace increased significantly, shelling all but the strongest riders.
It wasn’t long before the leaders where back in sight crossing the river for the final push.
Opie took the honors, with NFTO’s Jonny McEvoy taking second. Team Raleigh GAC’s Sam Lowe took third.
Team Raleigh GAC’s Steve Lampier started the race in the leaders red jersey and has extended his lead to one-hundred and twenty-eight points with Team Wiggin’s Andrew Tennant second at seventy-nine points. Third overall a point behind is ONE Pro Cycling’s Yanto Barker.
Raleigh GAC lead the Team Points Standing by a narrow margin from ONE Pro Cycling. NFTO are in third position.
Top Ten Results
1 Chris Opie One Pro Cycling
2 Jonathan McEvoy NFTO
3 Sam Lowe Raleigh GAC
4 Evan Oliphant Raleigh GAC
5 Graham Briggs JLT Condor
6 David McGowan Pedal Heaven RT
7 James Lowsley-Williams NFTO
8 Steve Lampier Raleigh GAC
9 William Bjergfelt SportGrub KUOTA Cycling Team
10 Ian Wilkinson Raleigh GAC
Elite Road Series 2015
Spring Cup
- Chorley GP 04 April 2015
- Tour of the Reservoir Two Day 11-12 April 2015
- Cycle Wiltshire 10 May 2015
Grand Prix Series
- Stafford Kermesse 04 July 2015
- Stockton Festival of Cycling 12 July 2015
- Ryedale GP 19 July 2015
- Grand Prix of Wales 09 August 2015
- Leicester Castle Classic Kermesse 16 August 2015
Full Results can be found on British Cycling Website
Stockton-On-Tees has put a successful bid in for the 2016 National Road Race Championships. Further details will be released in the near future.
My photos are regularly updated on https://www.flickr.com/photos/23913935@N07/
by Chris Maher | Jun 29, 2015
Peter Kennaugh and Lizzie Armitstead took the road race titles at today’s British Cycling National Road Championships in Lincolnshire.
Peter Kennaugh took his second successive British men’s road title in a remarkable race while Lizzie Armitstead delivered a stunning solo effort to win the women’s title.
Team Sky’s Kennaugh finally distanced a courageous Mark Cavendish on the ninth and final climb of Michaelgate in Lincoln. Ian Stannard completed the podium behind Cavendish.
After crosswinds saw the peloton ripped apart in the early stages, Kennaugh and Team Sky colleague Stannard escaped leaving Mark Cavendish, Luke Rowe, Scott Thwaites and Adam Blythe in pursuit.
Thwaites and Blythe dropped back before Luke Rowe decided to work with Cavendish to shut down the gap on his Team Sky associates with only three laps remaining.
They cut down the 40-second gap on the duo and bridged on Michaelgate – the eighth of nine ascents of the cobbles.
On the final 13-kilometre lap Stannard burst free but was caught before Kennaugh and Cavendish accelerated away leaving Rowe and 2012 champion Stannard to contest bronze.
It was fittingly left for the final climb of Michaelgate for the title to be decided and although Cavendish kept with Kennaugh the 26-year-old eventually pulled away to become the first British male to win back-to-back road titles since Roger Hammond in 2003 and 2004.
Team Wiggins’ Owain Doull impressed to finish seventh and with it take the under-23 men’s championship.
“The atmosphere is incredible and something I’ll never forget,” Kennaugh said.
“Obviously last year it meant everything – it was the first time – I’d been on the podium about four times before that so I really enjoyed this last year.
“I’m over the moon just to stay in white with my white bike and my white accessories!
“It means a lot to me and it gives you that extra motivation with that added pressure of carrying the jersey in the pro peloton – you can’t just get away with sitting at the back and stuff. You’re easily spotted.
“It’s good for the motivation – it’s good for the morale going forward for the rest of the year.”
Armitstead won her third British road title – after victories in 2011 and 2013 – with a solo attack on the penultimate climb of the famous Michaelgate. Alice Barnes, just 19 years of age, was second with Laura Trott third.
No rider was able to match Armitstead’s effort on the fourth of five times up the cobbled climb and the Boels Dolmans Cycling Team rider completed the last lap alone before crossing the finish line to the backdrop of Lincoln Cathedral.
“It means I get to be proud of being British in all the races that I do,” Armitstead said of being able to wear the British champion’s jersey.
“It means a lot – it means new kit for a start! I go to the Giro on Friday so it will be a quick turnaround for them.
“I had some good people around me before the start who told me to believe in myself and I listened.
“It was a difficult race. The longer the race went on the better I started to feel.”
Team Betch NL Superior-Brentjens rider Alice Barnes took a superb second, in her first elite road championships, to win the under-23 women’s champion title with defending champion Laura Trott, of Matrix Fitness, third.
While Armitstead savoured the win, behind her the race for silver and bronze came down to the final corners as Alice Barnes showed her huge potential in holding off the challenge of defending champion Laura Trott.
Full results from the women’s race can be found here and from the men’s race here.
Highlights of the championships will be broadcast on ITV4 at 6pm on Monday 29 June.
Women’s Top Ten
1 Lizzie Armitstead 02.51.14
2 Alice Barnes U23 @1.52
3 Laura Trott
4 Molly Weaver U23
5 Nikki Harris @2.01
6 Katie Archibald U23
7 Hannah Barnes U23
8 Lucy Coldwell
9 Sharon Laws
10 Hayley Simmonds
Men Top Ten
1 Peter Kennaugh 04.27.33
2 Mark Cavendish MBE @0.05
3 Ian Stannard @0.39
4 Luke Rowe
5 Scott Thwaites @3.00
6 Adam Blythe
7 Owain Doull U23 @6.29
8 Yanto Barker
9 Steve Lampier
10 Jonathon Mould
15 Sam Lowe U23 @8.26
18 Matt Gibson U23 @8.45
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