Josie Nelson (Team Coop-Hitec Products) won the sixth edition of the women’s CiCLE Classic on Sunday 19 June, pipping her rivals in a tightly contested sprint in Melton town centre. Meanwhile, fourth place for Alice McWilliam (Bianchi HUNT Morvélo) propelled her into the lead of the National Road Series by a 16-point margin.
Featured photo: SWPix
Report
A week out from the National Road Championships, 2021 under-23 national road race champion Josie Nelson looks in great shape to take the crown once again, after beating a strong field in a reduced bunch finish at the women’s CiCLE Classic.
Dry, mild conditions greeted the 107 starters as they lined up in Melton before the race. The previous day’s rain, however, meant that damp and slippery conditions awaited the riders out on the race’s off-road sectors, adding an extra dimension to the challenge ahead.
The race was an attritional affair, a gradual whittling down process, rather than marked by breakaways. At the first passage of Owston – the ‘gateway’ to the sectors – the race was all together, led by National Road Series lead Becky Storrie (CAMS-Basso).
Jo Tindley and El King drive the bunch. Photo: SWPix
The wearing down process then began in earnest, with Eluned King (Le Col-Wahoo) and Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) particularly active. Indeed, King won two of the three Queen of the Bergs sprints – at Cold Overton and Cuckoo Hill – as she sought to push things on, earning her race’s Queen of the Bergs prize in the process.
Another surge by King on the Somerberg took a group of around 15 riders clear before the fourth passage of Owston, ahead of a chasing group that contained Storrie among others. King’s group pulled out around ten seconds before the race came back together on the run back into Melton.
King was once again at the front as the reduced bunch of around 35 riders hit Melton, winning herself the race’s famous giant pork prize as she crossed the finish line first before beginning the 15-kilometre finishing circuit.
The race stayed together in the frantic closing stages, teeing things up for an incredibly close sprint finish. Seven riders fanned across the front of the bunch as they hurtled along the finishing straight on Sherrard Street, with Nelson timing her sprint perfectly to take the win. Nelson’s victory emulates her sister Emily, who won the race in 2019.
Josie Nelson wins the sprint by the narrowest of margins. Photo: SWPix
First-year senior Maddie Leech (CAMS-Basso) was second, with King completing a strong race in third. One of the stars of the Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series, Emma Jeffers (JRC-INTERFLON Race Team), was the top-placed junior in fifth place. Jeffers was one of three juniors in the top ten; Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) was sixth and Grace Lister (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing) was ninth.
Dame Laura Kenny presents Alice McWilliam with the National Road Series leader’s jersey. Photo: SWPix
Alice McWilliam takes over as the individual National Road Series leader with a fine fourth, backing up her second place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. She has a 16-point lead over Brother UK-Orientation Marketing’s Jessie Carridge, while Round 1 leader Becky Storrie (CAMS-Basso) drops to third place, equal on points with Nelson.
A strong team performance from CAMS-Basso means they now enjoy a 59-point lead over second-placed Bianchi HUNT Morvélo in the team standings. Team Boompods and Brother UK-Orientation Marketing are joint third, 6 points back from Bianchi HUNT Morvélo.
The next round of the National Road Series is the Stockton Grand Prix on 3 July.
Results
Race result
Rank
#
Name
Team
Time
1
87
Josie Nelson (U23)
Team Coop-Hitec Products
2:43:52
2
30
Madelaine Leech (U23)
CAMS-Basso
st
3
113
Eluned King
Le Col – Wahoo
st
4
20
Alice McWilliam
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
st
5
45
Emma Jeffers (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
st
6
52
Awen Roberts (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
st
7
120
Anna Kay
Plantur-Pura
st
8
5
Kate Richardson (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
st
9
26
Grace Lister (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
st
10
83
Monica Greenwood
Team Boompods
st
11
23
Jessie Carridge
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
st
12
36
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
st
13
29
Jessica Finney
CAMS-Basso
st
14
65
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
15
107
Zoe Backstedt (JR)
Acrog-Tormans
st
16
34
Danielle Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
st
17
99
Ella Maclean-Howell (JR)
Tofauti Everyone Active
st
18
51
Niamh Murphy (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
st
19
91
Tiffany Keep (U23)
Team LDN – Brother UK
st
20
43
Suzetta Guerrini
Jadan – Vive le Velo
st
21
44
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan – Vive le Velo
st
22
58
Isabel Darvill (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
23
49
Ella Jamieson (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
st
24
1
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
+4
25
35
Becky Storrie
CAMS-Basso
st
26
74
Anna Flynn (U23)
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
st
27
32
Beth Morrow (U23)
CAMS-Basso
st
28
60
Lucy Ellmore (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
29
86
Mary Wilkinson
Team Boompods
st
30
59
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
31
33
Katie Scott (U23)
CAMS-Basso
st
32
104
Nicole Coates
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
st
33
64
Poppy Thompson
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
34
61
Amy Gornall
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
35
84
Ellen McDermott
Team Boompods
+15
36
9
Charlotte Broughton
AWOL OShea
+8:08
37
10
Alice Lethbridge
AWOL OShea
st
38
88
Sian Botteley
Team LDN – Brother UK
+11:18
39
28
Izzy Sharp (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
st
40
70
Gemma Sargent
Saint Piran WRT
st
41
124
Ellie Mackman
The Ark Cycles
st
42
127
Amber Harding
University of Exeter Cycling Club
st
43
95
Maddie Heywood
Team Watto-LDN
st
44
39
Sophie Holmes (U23)
Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling
st
45
25
Hope Inglis (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
1 Lap
46
123
Amy Perryman (U23)
Tekkerz CC
1 Lap
47
76
Madeleine Nutt
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
1 Lap
48
17
Lydia Watts (U23)
AWOL Worx Galliard
1 Lap
49
103
Chloe Bateson (U23)
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
1 Lap
50
97
Polly Milsom
Team Watto-LDN
1 Lap
51
122
Jenny Holl
Tekkerz CC
1 Lap
52
22
Ellen Bennett (U23)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
1 Lap
53
111
Freya Evans (JR)
Cero – Cycle Division Racing Team
1 Lap
54
109
Lowri Richards (JR)
Backstedt Bike Performance RC
1 Lap
55
105
Orla Walsh
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
1 Lap
56
89
Francesca Cutts
Team LDN – Brother UK
1 Lap
57
85
Keri Parton
Team Boompods
1 Lap
58
68
Madeleine Gammons
Saint Piran WRT
1 Lap
2
Arianne Holland
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
3
Beth Maciver (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
4
Erin Murphy (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
6
Emma Smith
Alba Development Road Team
DNF
8
Olivia Bent (U23)
AWOL OShea
DNF
11
Phoebe Martin
AWOL OShea
DNF
13
Maddie Wadsworth (U23)
AWOL OShea
DNF
15
Charlotte Gibson
AWOL Worx Galliard
DNF
18
Alderney Baker (U23)
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
DNF
19
Jasmine Harlow
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
DNF
21
Natasha Reddy
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
DNF
24
Abigail Cooper (U23)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
DNF
27
Holly Ramsey (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
DNF
31
Sophie Lewis (U23)
CAMS-Basso
DNF
38
Laura Cheesman
Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling
DNF
41
Matea Deliu
Jadan – Vive le Velo
DNF
42
Kirstie Drakeford (U23)
Jadan – Vive le Velo
DNF
47
Bethany Bennett (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
DNF
48
Amy Loftus (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
DNF
50
Matilda McKibben (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
DNF
53
Francesca Hall
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
54
Flora Knight (U23)
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
55
Roisin Lally (U23)
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
56
Emily Tillett
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
57
Chloe Vickers (U23)
Loughborough Lightning
DNF
62
Zoe Langham
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
DNF
63
Millie Skinner
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
DNF
66
Hannah Bayes
Saint Piran WRT
DNF
71
Xan Crees (U23)
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
DNF
73
Samantha Fawcett
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
DNF
75
Amira Mellor
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
DNF
77
Gabriella Shaw
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
DNF
78
Joanne Clarke
StolenGoat Race Team
DNF
79
Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne
StolenGoat Race Team
DNF
90
Lauren Higham (U23)
Team LDN – Brother UK
DNF
93
Louise Davidson
Team Watto-LDN
DNF
94
Rebecca Hair
Team Watto-LDN
DNF
98
Lucy Neatham (U23)
Team Watto-LDN
DNF
100
Elizabeth McKinnon (JR)
Tofauti Everyone Active
DNF
102
Morven Yeoman
Tofauti Everyone Active
DNF
106
Amalie Winther Olsen
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
DNF
108
Lotty Dawson (JR)
Backstedt Bike Performance JRT
DNF
110
Catriona Ross
Bridport CC
DNF
112
Evie White (JR)
Deeside Thistle CC
DNF
115
Kim Baptista (U23)
LVIV CYCLING TEAM (Womens)
DNF
117
Freya Whiteside (JR)
RFDA
DNF
118
Abbie Taylor
Sheffield Dirt Society
DNF
126
Georgina Paul
TORQ Performance
DNF
7
Victoria Smith
Alba Development Road Team
DNS
12
Francesca Morgans-Slader
AWOL OShea
DNS
14
Bethany Barnett (U23)
AWOL Worx Galliard
DNS
16
Libby Smithson (U23)
AWOL Worx Galliard
DNS
37
Megan Anderson
Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling
DNS
40
Polly Burge (U23)
Jadan – Vive le Velo
DNS
46
Holly Bailey (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
DNS
67
Sophie Earl
Saint Piran WRT
DNS
69
Gabriella Homer (U23)
Saint Piran WRT
DNS
72
Rebecca Durrell
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
DNS
80
Miriam Jessett
StolenGoat Race Team
DNS
81
Lauren OBrien
StolenGoat Race Team
DNS
82
Amy Graham
Team Boompods
DNS
92
Charlotte Chaloner
Team Watto-LDN
DNS
96
Jessica Holloway
Team Watto-LDN
DNS
101
Eilidh Shaw (JR)
Tofauti Everyone Active
DNS
114
April Tacey (U23)
Le Col – Wahoo
DNS
116
Kelly Murphy
DNS
119
Emily Purbrick
Sleaford Wheelers Cycling Club
DNS
121
Charlotte Parnham
Storey Racing
DNS
125
Clare Parkin
The Ark Cycles
DNS
Queen of the Bergs – overall
Rank
#
Name
Team
Points
1
113
Eluned King
Le Col – Wahoo
8
2
33
Katie Scott
CAMS-Basso
3
3
36
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
2
4
34
Danielle Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
2
5
83
Monica Greenwood
Team Boompods
2
6
65
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
1
Heart of Owston sprint
Rank
#
Name
Team
Points
1
113
Eluned King
Le Col – Wahoo
3
2
91
Tiffany Keep
Team LDN – Brother UK
2
3
34
Danielle Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
1
Melton Town Special Award
1 113 Eluned King Le Col – Wahoo
National Road Series standings
Individual
Rank
Name
Team
Points
1
Alice McWilliam
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
52
2
Jessie Carridge
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
36
3
Becky Storrie
CAMS-Basso
30
=
Josie Nelson (U23)
Team Coop-Hitec Products
30
5
Madelaine Leech (U23)
CAMS-Basso
28
6
Eluned King
Le Col – Wahoo
26
7
Beth Maciver (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
24
8
Danielle Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
23
9
Beth Morrow (U23)
CAMS-Basso
22
10
Emma Jeffers (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
22
11
Ellen McDermott
Team Boompods
20
12
Awen Roberts (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
20
13
Anna Kay
StarCasino Team
18
14
Emma Matthews
Team Boompods
16
15
Kate Richardson (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
16
16
Lucy Lee
Team LDN – Brother UK
14
17
Grace Lister (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
14
18
Monica Greenwood
Team Boompods
13
19
Marine Guerin
Sprinter Nice Metropole
12
20
Madeleine Gammons
Saint Piran WRT
10
21
Amira Mellor
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
9
22
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
9
23
Jessica Finney
CAMS-Basso
8
24
Dannielle Khan
Solihull CC
8
25
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
7
26
Isabel Darvill (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
7
27
Lucy Ellmore (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
6
28
Zoe Backstedt (JR)
Acrog-Tormans
6
29
Robyn Clay (U23)
Otley CC
5
30
Tamsin Miller
Bianchi Hunt Morvelo
4
31
Ella Maclean-Howell (JR)
Tofauti Everyone Active
4
32
Olivia Bentley
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
3
33
Niamh Murphy (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
3
34
Tiffany Keep (U23)
Team LDN – Brother UK
2
35
Lucy Harris
Team Boompods
2
36
Suzetta Guerrini
Jadan – Vive le Velo
1
Team
Rank
Team
Points
1
CAMS-Basso
115
2
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
56
3
Team Boompods
50
3
Brother UK-Orientation marketing
50
5
Alba Development Road Team
40
6
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
23
7
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
22
8
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
Josie Nelson (Team Coop-Hitec Products) won the sixth edition of the women’s CiCLE Classic on Sunday 19 June, pipping her rivals in a tightly contested sprint in Melton town centre. Meanwhile, fourth place for Alice McWilliam (Bianchi HUNT Morvélo) propelled her into the lead of the National Road Series by a 16-point margin.
Featured photo: SWPix
Report
A week out from the National Road Championships, 2021 under-23 national road race champion Josie Nelson looks in great shape to take the crown once again, after beating a strong field in a reduced bunch finish at the women’s CiCLE Classic.
Dry, mild conditions greeted the 107 starters as they lined up in Melton before the race. The previous day’s rain, however, meant that damp and slippery conditions awaited the riders out on the race’s off-road sectors, adding an extra dimension to the challenge ahead.
The race was an attritional affair, a gradual whittling down process, rather than marked by breakaways. At the first passage of Owston – the ‘gateway’ to the sectors – the race was all together, led by National Road Series lead Becky Storrie (CAMS-Basso).
The wearing down process then began in earnest, with Eluned King (Le Col-Wahoo) and Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) particularly active. Indeed, King won two of the three Queen of the Bergs sprints – at Cold Overton and Cuckoo Hill – as she sought to push things on, earning her race’s Queen of the Bergs prize in the process.
Another surge by King on the Somerberg took a group of around 15 riders clear before the fourth passage of Owston, ahead of a chasing group that contained Storrie among others. King’s group pulled out around ten seconds before the race came back together on the run back into Melton.
King was once again at the front as the reduced bunch of around 35 riders hit Melton, winning herself the race’s famous giant pork prize as she crossed the finish line first before beginning the 15-kilometre finishing circuit.
The race stayed together in the frantic closing stages, teeing things up for an incredibly close sprint finish. Seven riders fanned across the front of the bunch as they hurtled along the finishing straight on Sherrard Street, with Nelson timing her sprint perfectly to take the win. Nelson’s victory emulates her sister Emily, who won the race in 2019.
First-year senior Maddie Leech (CAMS-Basso) was second, with King completing a strong race in third. One of the stars of the Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series, Emma Jeffers (JRC-INTERFLON Race Team), was the top-placed junior in fifth place. Jeffers was one of three juniors in the top ten; Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) was sixth and Grace Lister (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing) was ninth.
Alice McWilliam takes over as the individual National Road Series leader with a fine fourth, backing up her second place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. She has a 16-point lead over Brother UK-Orientation Marketing’s Jessie Carridge, while Round 1 leader Becky Storrie (CAMS-Basso) drops to third place, equal on points with Nelson.
A strong team performance from CAMS-Basso means they now enjoy a 59-point lead over second-placed Bianchi HUNT Morvélo in the team standings. Team Boompods and Brother UK-Orientation Marketing are joint third, 6 points back from Bianchi HUNT Morvélo.
The next round of the National Road Series is the Stockton Grand Prix on 3 July.
Results
Race result
Queen of the Bergs – overall
Heart of Owston sprint
Melton Town Special Award
National Road Series standings
Individual
Team
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