A women’s National B road race organised by the long-running Harrogate Nova club. The event also incorporates an open Regional A road race.
Route
The race uses the Dacre circuit, a 12.4km course northwest of Harrogate. Despite its North Yorkshire location, it isn’t super lumpy, relatively speaking, involving 280m of elevation per lap. The most challenging section is the stretch at the northern end of the course from Dacre to Dike Lane, a 1.5km stretch that averages 6% and includes ramps up to 12%.
The women’s race takes in six laps of the circuit in total.
Riders to watch
The field is compact but is not lacking in quality, with 12 UCI Continental riders represented.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK have been the team to beat this year in National B events – they took two wins from two last weekend – and it’s likely to be no different here. The team boasts 2023 Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay among their ranks, a rider who already has the Capernwray Road Race on her palmares this year. Sian Botteley and Frankie Hall are among the team’s other strong options.
Frankie Hall (right) at the 2024 Oakenclough road race. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting should offer stiff competition, especially in the form of Zoe Langham, a rider who was a regular in the top spots at National B events last year and has shown promising form lately, with 10th at Capernwray followed by 11th at the East Cleveland Classic.
The Phoenix Collective’s Molly Patch has been in excellent shape this year so far, racking up no less that five top tens in Nat Bs, so expect her to be towards the top of the results sheet again. Abi Plowman is another rider with a strong set of Nat B results this year. The Alba Development Road Team rider was 10th at the recent Oakenclough Road Race and finished 5th overall at the Peaks 2 Day.
This Saturday’s Harrogate Nova Spring Road Race is a brand new women’s National B road race, taking place on rolling North Yorkshire terrain.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Ellen Isherwood
What is it?
A women’s National B road race organised by the long-running Harrogate Nova club. The event also incorporates an open Regional A road race.
Route
The race uses the Dacre circuit, a 12.4km course northwest of Harrogate. Despite its North Yorkshire location, it isn’t super lumpy, relatively speaking, involving 280m of elevation per lap. The most challenging section is the stretch at the northern end of the course from Dacre to Dike Lane, a 1.5km stretch that averages 6% and includes ramps up to 12%.
The women’s race takes in six laps of the circuit in total.
Riders to watch
The field is compact but is not lacking in quality, with 12 UCI Continental riders represented.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK have been the team to beat this year in National B events – they took two wins from two last weekend – and it’s likely to be no different here. The team boasts 2023 Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay among their ranks, a rider who already has the Capernwray Road Race on her palmares this year. Sian Botteley and Frankie Hall are among the team’s other strong options.
Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting should offer stiff competition, especially in the form of Zoe Langham, a rider who was a regular in the top spots at National B events last year and has shown promising form lately, with 10th at Capernwray followed by 11th at the East Cleveland Classic.
The Phoenix Collective’s Molly Patch has been in excellent shape this year so far, racking up no less that five top tens in Nat Bs, so expect her to be towards the top of the results sheet again. Abi Plowman is another rider with a strong set of Nat B results this year. The Alba Development Road Team rider was 10th at the recent Oakenclough Road Race and finished 5th overall at the Peaks 2 Day.
Plowman’s teammate Lulu Bartlett, Rachel Galler of Saint Piran WRT and Isabella Johnson (Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon) are other riders that caught the eye with strong placings last weekend.
Timings
The women’s race begins at 14.00, with the open Regional A race taking place in the morning.
Provisional startlist
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