After the return of women’s national road racing last weekend, National B road racing continues for the women’s domestic peloton this Sunday with the Banbury Star Women’s Road Race. Read on for our mini-preview of the race and to take a peek at the provisional start list.
What is it?
A National B race put on annually by the Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club. The race forms part of the British Women’s Team Cup, a series designed to bolster the domestic racing scene for women. The series features most of the top elite women’s teams in the UK. As a result of Covid-related race cancellations, this race will be the first ‘in real life’ round of the Cup in 2021 (four virtual rounds have already been run).
Unsurprisingly, the field is strong, although with neither UCI Continental nor GB riders participating, it’s arguably not as fearsome as last weekend’s Halesowen A&CC women’s race field. Nonetheless, expect the race to be hotly contested, with teams looking to further their standings in the Women’s Team Cup and riders keen to make up for lost race time.
As with all races at the moment, Covid-19 restrictions apply, meaning the field is capped at 60 riders. A Cat 3/4 men’s event is also being held alongside the women’s race.
The route
The race features three anti-clockwise 15-mile laps of a testing course to the north-west of Banbury, Oxfordshire. The main obstacle is the short, sharp climb of Edge Hill. At just over a kilometre long with an average gradient of 9.6% and a maximum gradient of 13%, it will provide a stiff test on each lap.
The route also features some fast descents and ends with a short but energy-sapping rise up to the finish line.
After the return of women’s national road racing last weekend, National B road racing continues for the women’s domestic peloton this Sunday with the Banbury Star Women’s Road Race. Read on for our mini-preview of the race and to take a peek at the provisional start list.
What is it?
A National B race put on annually by the Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club. The race forms part of the British Women’s Team Cup, a series designed to bolster the domestic racing scene for women. The series features most of the top elite women’s teams in the UK. As a result of Covid-related race cancellations, this race will be the first ‘in real life’ round of the Cup in 2021 (four virtual rounds have already been run).
Unsurprisingly, the field is strong, although with neither UCI Continental nor GB riders participating, it’s arguably not as fearsome as last weekend’s Halesowen A&CC women’s race field. Nonetheless, expect the race to be hotly contested, with teams looking to further their standings in the Women’s Team Cup and riders keen to make up for lost race time.
As with all races at the moment, Covid-19 restrictions apply, meaning the field is capped at 60 riders. A Cat 3/4 men’s event is also being held alongside the women’s race.
The route
The race features three anti-clockwise 15-mile laps of a testing course to the north-west of Banbury, Oxfordshire. The main obstacle is the short, sharp climb of Edge Hill. At just over a kilometre long with an average gradient of 9.6% and a maximum gradient of 13%, it will provide a stiff test on each lap.
The route also features some fast descents and ends with a short but energy-sapping rise up to the finish line.
Timings
Date: Sunday, 23 May 2021
Start: 13.30
Provisional start list
Featured photo: Bob MacGregor
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