Hayley Preen (Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar) out-sprinted Lucy Ellmore (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) to take a battling victory on the final stage of the Manx Telecom International Stage Race.
In the men’s race, birthday boy Rob Scott put on a repeat of last weekend’s Lancaster GP success to make it back-to-back wins as his WiV SunGod team also won overall with Matt Bostock.
Featured photo: SWpix.com
Report
Women’s race
The tricky weather conditions that hounded had the peloton over the last few days continued during the queen stage of the Manx Telecom International, the riders shrouded in mist and buffeted by winds as they hit the hills.
One rider we spoke to after the race described the conditions at the top of Snaefell mountain as “horrific”, recalling “driving rain, howling wind and thick fog. I could only see a few metres ahead.”
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Stage 4 Women’s Road Race – Sophie Thackray (CAMS-Basso). Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The terrain itself added to the challenge, involving one loop of the iconic Snaefell Mountain TT course, followed by a shorted loop through the Baldwin Valleys which took in the fearsome Injebreck Hill, a brutal 1.8 km of ascent that averages 12.4%, with a maximum gradient of 18.4%.
The early part of the race was marked by a break of three riders, consisting of Jess Finney (CAMS-Basso), Flora Knight (Loughborough Lightning) and Daisy Barnes (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing). The trio was slowly reeled in ahead of the ascent of Snaefell Mountain.
Lee Boon of Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar then tried her luck at the bottom of the climb, carving out a gap of 40 seconds by the time the riders had reached Ramsay. Behind, there were around only 20 riders remaining in the bunch.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Women’s Road Race. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
After Boon was swept up, Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar fired another rider off the front. This time, it was Nicole Coates and she built up a significant lead.
Behind Coates, a crash on the cattle grid on Injebreck Hill blew the chasing field apart. Then, as the leading chasers reached the summit of Injebreck, Coates’ teammate Hayley Preen, Lucy Ellmore (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) and Connie Hayes (AWOL O’Shea) launched clear.
Hayes lost ground on the descent, while Preen and Ellmore caught Coates. Behind, Lancaster Grand Prix winner Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods) and another Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar rider, Annamarie Lipp, joined up with Hayes, all in hot pursuit of the lead three.
The trio stayed clear on the fast descent back to the finish line on the famous TT Grandstand, however, leaving them to sprint it out for the win.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Women’s Road Race – Hayley Preen sprints for the win. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Preen and Ellmore were neck-and-neck as they dashed to the line, but it was Preen who summoned enough energy and speed to take the win. Coates was third, while her teammate Lipp finished fourth to complete an excellent stage for the Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar team.
Overnight race leader Lucy Lee (Team LDN-Brother UK) finished ninth, 47 seconds behind Preen, giving Preen enough of an advantage to take the overall win too.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Women’s Road Race – Lucy Lee, Hayley Preen and Sammie Stuart. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Lee was second in the overall classification, 15 seconds back, while Sammie Stuart (CAMS-Basso) finished third, wrapping up the Bikmo points competition win in the process. Hayes put in a strong final stage ride to finish sixth, enough to move her up to fourth overall and seal the Cycle 360 Leading Under-23 Rider competition.
Sammie Stuart’s results over the weekend were enough for her to take over as the National Road Series lead. Stuart now has 113 points. Lee is second with 96 points, while erstwhile leader Alice McWilliam (Bianchi HUNT Morvélo) slips to third on 95 points.
Men’s race
With the men’s race starting not long after the women’s, the same mix of weather that battered the first running of the final stage also had an impact on the men too.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 24/07/2022 – British Cycling National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Men’s Road Race. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
An early move saw six riders go clear. Of the six, the biggest threat to Matt Bostock’s GC lead was Michael Gill of Saint Piran, over four minutes down on the Manxman.
Behind, WiV SunGod and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling set the tempo, keen to keep the break in check and control the race. The pace was hard enough to catch the break and to begin to shell riders out the back as they ascended Snaefell Mountain. The descent back off the mountain was freezing, with visibility down to ten metres at point. Despite a few attacks, they race stayed together with all eyes on Injebreck Hill.
As they hit the climb, WiV SunGod upped the pace, Josh Whitehead going full gas. The move immediately begun to fracture the peloton. Dan Gardner (Project 51) was not deterred, however, and launched an attack. Stuart Balfour (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) bridged across to him, along with George Kimber of Spirit BSS.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Men’s Road Race. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
WiV SunGod, still five riders strong and leading a heavily reduced chasing group, brought the attackers back. And then crosswinds hit. WiV SunGod used their numbers to put the lead group into the gutter, a move which whittled the lead group down to just eight riders: the two Scotts – Rob and Jake – Toby Barnes, Rory Townsend and Bostock (all WiV SunGod), along with Kimber, Balfour, and Gardner.
Behind, three of the jettisoned riders – Finn Crockett (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), Adam Mitchell (Cycling Sheffield) and Ben Granger (Zappi Racing) – put in a huge effort, chasing for 30 kilometres, to bridge back across to the leaders.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Men’s Road Race. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
With 6km to go, Rob Scott – celebrating his 24th birthday – put on the same show of brute force that won him last weekend’s Lancaster GP as he broke clear of the bunch.
Crockett, spent from his efforts chasing back on, put in a valiant effort to bring Scott back, but it was all in vain. Scott stayed clear to take yet another win. WiV SunGod used their numerical advantage to perfect effect, packing out the top five places, with Bostock second and Barnes third.
2022 National Road Series. Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man. Stage 4 Men’s Road Race – Rob Scott wins. Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The result sealed a commanding GC win for Matt Bostock, who also won the Bikmo points competition and the best Manx rider competition. Rob Scott finished second overall with Balfour third. Barnes was fourth overall and also won the Canada Life Leading Under-23 Rider competition.
Rob Scott now takes over as leader of the National Road Series. He has a 17-point lead over his teammate Jake Scott. Bostock is third a further 12 points back, while the previous leader, Crockett, slips to fourth.
Results
Women’s race
Stage four
Rank
#
Name
Team
B
Time
1
57
Hayley Preen
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
B:10″
2:40:02
2
35
Lucy Ellmore
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
B:06″
st
3
54
Nicole Coates
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
B:04″
+4
4
55
Annamarie Lipp
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
+21
5
42
Mary Wilkinson
Team Boompods
st
6
59
Connie Hayes
AWOL O’Shea
+23
7
28
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
+47
8
34
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
9
46
Lucy Lee
Team LDN – Brother UK
st
10
39
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
11
71
Robyn Clay
Otley CC
st
12
36
Amy Gornall
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
+50
13
14
Tamsin Miller
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
+1:38
14
23
Emma Matthews
CAMS-Basso
st
15
31
Amber Harding
Loughborough Lightning
+1:43
16
13
Alice McWilliam
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
+1:58
17
60
Alice Lethbridge
AWOL O’Shea
+2:08
18
1
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
+2:10
19
25
Katie Scott
CAMS-Basso
+2:14
20
66
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan – Vive le Velo
+2:21
21
40
Lucy Harris
Team Boompods
st
22
19
Jessie Carridge
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
+2:51
23
56
Caoimhe OBrien
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
+3:41
24
49
Ruth Shier
Team LDN – Brother UK
+5:23
25
52
Claire Cameron
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
+7:39
26
22
Jessica Finney
CAMS-Basso
+7:57
27
45
Tiffany Keep
Team LDN – Brother UK
st
28
67
Emma Jeffers
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
+10:01
29
53
Lee Boon
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
st
30
51
Chloe Bateson
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
st
31
50
Dannielle Watkinson
Team LDN – Brother UK
+10:41
32
30
Francesca Hall
Loughborough Lightning
+14:03
33
37
Millie Skinner
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
st
34
17
Daisy Barnes
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
st
35
41
Sian Marsh
Team Boompods
+15:03
General classification
Rank
#
Name
Team
Time
1
57
Hayley Preen
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
4:58:32
2
46
Lucy Lee
Team LDN – Brother UK
4:58:47
3
28
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
4:59:05
4
59
Connie Hayes
AWOL O’Shea
4:59:08
5
35
Lucy Ellmore
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
4:59:26
6
39
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
4:59:37
7
71
Robyn Clay
Otley CC
4:59:40
8
55
Annamarie Lipp
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
4:59:48
9
34
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
5:00:12
10
31
Amber Harding
Loughborough Lightning
5:00:23
11
54
Nicole Coates
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
5:00:35
12
36
Amy Gornall
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
5:00:37
13
60
Alice Lethbridge
AWOL O’Shea
5:01:00
14
40
Lucy Harris
Team Boompods
5:01:03
15
13
Alice McWilliam
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
5:01:04
16
25
Katie Scott
CAMS-Basso
5:01:14
17
23
Emma Matthews
CAMS-Basso
5:01:22
18
1
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
5:01:52
19
42
Mary Wilkinson
Team Boompods
5:02:34
20
66
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan – Vive le Velo
5:02:46
21
49
Ruth Shier
Team LDN – Brother UK
5:03:52
22
14
Tamsin Miller
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
5:04:00
23
19
Jessie Carridge
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
5:04:04
24
56
Caoimhe OBrien
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
5:05:07
25
52
Claire Cameron
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
5:07:21
26
45
Tiffany Keep
Team LDN – Brother UK
5:07:33
27
67
Emma Jeffers
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
5:09:19
28
53
Lee Boon
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
5:09:32
29
50
Dannielle Watkinson
Team LDN – Brother UK
5:09:41
30
51
Chloe Bateson
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
5:10:28
31
22
Jessica Finney
CAMS-Basso
5:11:56
32
30
Francesca Hall
Loughborough Lightning
5:13:06
33
41
Sian Marsh
Team Boompods
5:14:40
34
17
Daisy Barnes
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
5:16:24
35
37
Millie Skinner
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
5:16:33
Men’s race
Stage four
Rank
#
Name
Team
B
Time
1
66
Robert Scott
WiV Sungod
B:10″
3:17:30
2
64
Matthew Bostock
WiV Sungod
B:06″
+17
3
63
Toby Barnes
WiV Sungod
B:04″
st
4
68
Rory Townsend
WiV Sungod
st
5
67
Jacob Scott
WiV Sungod
+21
6
73
Ben Granger
Zappi Racing Team
st
7
8
Adam Mitchell
Cycling Sheffield
st
8
47
George Kimber
Spirit BSS
st
9
87
Dan Gardner
Project 51
st
10
18
Stuart Balfour
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
st
11
19
Finn Crockett
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
+1:15
12
70
Matthew Teggart
WiV Sungod
+3:23
13
9
George Wood
Cycling Sheffield
+4:03
14
29
Conor McGoldrick
Richardsons Trek DAS
+4:20
15
69
Benjamin Perry
WiV Sungod
st
16
4
Corrin Leeming
Cycling Club Isle of Man
st
17
92
Samuel Clark
trainSharp Elite
st
18
34
Cooper Sayers
Saint Piran
st
19
38
Leon Mazzone
Saint Piran
st
20
11
Jamieson Blain
Embark – Bikestrong
st
21
55
Jacques Coates
Team PB Performance
st
22
80
Tyler Hannay
CC Etupes
st
23
20
Zeb Kyffin
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
st
24
58
Jude Taylor
Team PB Performance
st
25
30
Steven Parsonage
Richardsons Trek DAS
st
26
12
Michael Chadwick
Embark – Bikestrong
+4:41
27
24
Red Walters
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
+5:33
28
43
Farley Barber
Spirit BSS
+5:35
29
25
Harry Tanfield
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
st
30
32
Sean Mullen
Richardsons Trek DAS
st
31
28
James Jenkins
Richardsons Trek DAS
st
32
46
Josh Housley
Spirit BSS
st
33
74
Matthew Kingston
Zappi Racing Team
st
34
10
Cameron Biddle
Embark – Bikestrong
st
35
85
Ben Pease
Moonglu Race Team
st
36
84
Matthew Houlberg
Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
st
37
17
Dean Watson
Embark – Bikestrong
st
38
71
Alexander Ball
Zappi Racing Team
+5:41
General classification
Rank
#
Name
Team
Time
1
64
Matthew Bostock
WiV Sungod
5:27:03
2
66
Robert Scott
WiV Sungod
5:27:25
3
18
Stuart Balfour
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
5:27:41
4
63
Toby Barnes
WiV Sungod
5:27:43
5
68
Rory Townsend
WiV Sungod
5:28:04
6
67
Jacob Scott
WiV Sungod
5:28:29
7
73
Ben Granger
Zappi Racing Team
5:29:08
8
8
Adam Mitchell
Cycling Sheffield
5:29:38
9
47
George Kimber
Spirit BSS
5:29:38
10
19
Finn Crockett
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
5:31:05
11
20
Zeb Kyffin
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
5:32:13
12
87
Dan Gardner
Project 51
5:32:43
13
70
Matthew Teggart
WiV Sungod
5:32:47
14
30
Steven Parsonage
Richardsons Trek DAS
5:33:02
15
25
Harry Tanfield
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
5:33:16
16
80
Tyler Hannay
CC Etupes
5:33:51
17
11
Jamieson Blain
Embark – Bikestrong
5:33:55
18
69
Benjamin Perry
WiV Sungod
5:34:16
19
34
Cooper Sayers
Saint Piran
5:34:23
20
28
James Jenkins
Richardsons Trek DAS
5:34:24
21
24
Red Walters
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
5:34:35
22
38
Leon Mazzone
Saint Piran
5:34:38
23
74
Matthew Kingston
Zappi Racing Team
5:34:43
24
43
Farley Barber
Spirit BSS
5:35:00
25
29
Conor McGoldrick
Richardsons Trek DAS
5:35:18
26
9
George Wood
Cycling Sheffield
5:35:58
27
92
Samuel Clark
trainSharp Elite
5:36:15
28
12
Michael Chadwick
Embark – Bikestrong
5:36:55
29
58
Jude Taylor
Team PB Performance
5:37:52
30
55
Jacques Coates
Team PB Performance
5:38:02
31
32
Sean Mullen
Richardsons Trek DAS
5:38:57
32
71
Alexander Ball
Zappi Racing Team
5:39:12
33
17
Dean Watson
Embark – Bikestrong
5:39:51
34
85
Ben Pease
Moonglu Race Team
5:40:00
35
46
Josh Housley
Spirit BSS
5:41:15
36
84
Matthew Houlberg
Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT
5:42:36
37
10
Cameron Biddle
Embark – Bikestrong
5:42:37
38
4
Corrin Leeming
Cycling Club Isle of Man
5:51:27
National Road Series standings
Women’s
Individual
Rank
Name
Team
Points
1
Sammie Stuart
CAMS-Basso
113
2
Lucy Lee
Team LDN – Brother UK
96
3
Alice McWilliam
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
95
4
Jessica Finney
CAMS-Basso
58
5
Emma Jeffers (JR)
JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
58
6
Jessie Carridge
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
54
7
Hayley Preen
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
50
8
Mary Wilkinson
Team Boompods
47
9
Josie Nelson (U23)
Team Coop-Hitec Products
44
10
Lucy Ellmore (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
44
11
Anna Kay
StarCasino Team
42
12
Jo Tindley
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
39
13
Annamarie Lipp (U23)
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
39
14
Monica Greenwood
Team Boompods
38
15
Connie Hayes (U23)
AWOL OShea
36
16
Robyn Clay (U23)
Otley CC
36
17
Lee Boon (U23)
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
35
18
Marine Guerin
Sprinter Nice Metropole
34
19
Beth Morrow (U23)
CAMS-Basso
34
20
Danielle Shrosbree
CAMS-Basso
34
21
Becky Storrie
CAMS-Basso
30
22
Millie Couzens (U23)
Plantur-Pura
28
23
Madelaine Leech
CAMS-Basso
28
24
Alex Morrice (U23)
Team LDN – Brother UK
28
25
Emma Matthews
CAMS-Basso
28
26
Eluned King
Le Col – Wahoo
26
27
Beth Maciver (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
24
28
Frankie Morgans-Slader (U23)
AWOL OShea
24
29
Awen Roberts (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
20
30
Ellen McDermott
Team Boompods
20
31
April Tacey (U23)
Le Col – Wahoo
18
32
Nicole Coates
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
18
33
Bexy Dew
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
17
34
Amber Harding
Loughborough Lightning
17
35
Kate Richardson (U23)
Alba Development Road Team
16
36
Grace Lister (JR)
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
16
37
Alice Lethbridge
AWOL OShea
12
38
Lucy Harris
Team Boompods
11
39
Madeleine Gammons
Saint Piran WRT
10
40
Amy Gornall
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
10
41
Tamsin Miller
Bianchi Hunt Morvelo
10
42
Amira Mellor
Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus
9
43
Beth Harley-Jepson
Jadan – Vive le Velo
9
44
Dannielle Khan
Solihull CC
8
45
Niamh Murphy (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
8
46
Isabel Darvill (U23)
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
7
47
Izzy Sharp
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
7
48
Zoe Langham
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – RedchilliBikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
7
49
Zoe Backstedt (JR)
Acrog-Tormans
6
50
Katarzyna Madej
Onyx RT
6
51
Katie Scott (U23)
CAMS-Basso
5
52
Maddie Wadsworth (U23)
AWOL Oshea
4
53
Ella Maclean-Howell
Tofauti Everyone Active
4
54
Ella Jamieson (JR)
Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
3
55
Olivia Bentley
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
3
56
Sophie Enever
Alba Development Road Team
3
57
Tiffany Keep (U23)
Team LDN – Brother UK
2
58
Rachael Wales
ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
2
59
Gemma Sargent
Saint Piran WRT
1
60
Kinga Ingram (U23)
Storey Racing
1
61
Suzetta Guerrini
Jadan – Vive le Velo
1
Team
Rank
Team
Points
1
CAMS-Basso
258
2
Team Boompods
123
3
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar
107
4
Team LDN – Brother UK
96
5
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
92
6
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen
Hayley Preen (Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar) out-sprinted Lucy Ellmore (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) to take a battling victory on the final stage of the Manx Telecom International Stage Race.
In the men’s race, birthday boy Rob Scott put on a repeat of last weekend’s Lancaster GP success to make it back-to-back wins as his WiV SunGod team also won overall with Matt Bostock.
Featured photo: SWpix.com
Report
Women’s race
The tricky weather conditions that hounded had the peloton over the last few days continued during the queen stage of the Manx Telecom International, the riders shrouded in mist and buffeted by winds as they hit the hills.
One rider we spoke to after the race described the conditions at the top of Snaefell mountain as “horrific”, recalling “driving rain, howling wind and thick fog. I could only see a few metres ahead.”
The terrain itself added to the challenge, involving one loop of the iconic Snaefell Mountain TT course, followed by a shorted loop through the Baldwin Valleys which took in the fearsome Injebreck Hill, a brutal 1.8 km of ascent that averages 12.4%, with a maximum gradient of 18.4%.
The early part of the race was marked by a break of three riders, consisting of Jess Finney (CAMS-Basso), Flora Knight (Loughborough Lightning) and Daisy Barnes (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing). The trio was slowly reeled in ahead of the ascent of Snaefell Mountain.
Lee Boon of Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar then tried her luck at the bottom of the climb, carving out a gap of 40 seconds by the time the riders had reached Ramsay. Behind, there were around only 20 riders remaining in the bunch.
After Boon was swept up, Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar fired another rider off the front. This time, it was Nicole Coates and she built up a significant lead.
Behind Coates, a crash on the cattle grid on Injebreck Hill blew the chasing field apart. Then, as the leading chasers reached the summit of Injebreck, Coates’ teammate Hayley Preen, Lucy Ellmore (Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes by Heidi Kjeldsen) and Connie Hayes (AWOL O’Shea) launched clear.
Hayes lost ground on the descent, while Preen and Ellmore caught Coates. Behind, Lancaster Grand Prix winner Mary Wilkinson (Team Boompods) and another Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar rider, Annamarie Lipp, joined up with Hayes, all in hot pursuit of the lead three.
The trio stayed clear on the fast descent back to the finish line on the famous TT Grandstand, however, leaving them to sprint it out for the win.
Preen and Ellmore were neck-and-neck as they dashed to the line, but it was Preen who summoned enough energy and speed to take the win. Coates was third, while her teammate Lipp finished fourth to complete an excellent stage for the Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar team.
Overnight race leader Lucy Lee (Team LDN-Brother UK) finished ninth, 47 seconds behind Preen, giving Preen enough of an advantage to take the overall win too.
Lee was second in the overall classification, 15 seconds back, while Sammie Stuart (CAMS-Basso) finished third, wrapping up the Bikmo points competition win in the process. Hayes put in a strong final stage ride to finish sixth, enough to move her up to fourth overall and seal the Cycle 360 Leading Under-23 Rider competition.
Sammie Stuart’s results over the weekend were enough for her to take over as the National Road Series lead. Stuart now has 113 points. Lee is second with 96 points, while erstwhile leader Alice McWilliam (Bianchi HUNT Morvélo) slips to third on 95 points.
Men’s race
With the men’s race starting not long after the women’s, the same mix of weather that battered the first running of the final stage also had an impact on the men too.
An early move saw six riders go clear. Of the six, the biggest threat to Matt Bostock’s GC lead was Michael Gill of Saint Piran, over four minutes down on the Manxman.
Behind, WiV SunGod and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling set the tempo, keen to keep the break in check and control the race. The pace was hard enough to catch the break and to begin to shell riders out the back as they ascended Snaefell Mountain. The descent back off the mountain was freezing, with visibility down to ten metres at point. Despite a few attacks, they race stayed together with all eyes on Injebreck Hill.
As they hit the climb, WiV SunGod upped the pace, Josh Whitehead going full gas. The move immediately begun to fracture the peloton. Dan Gardner (Project 51) was not deterred, however, and launched an attack. Stuart Balfour (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) bridged across to him, along with George Kimber of Spirit BSS.
WiV SunGod, still five riders strong and leading a heavily reduced chasing group, brought the attackers back. And then crosswinds hit. WiV SunGod used their numbers to put the lead group into the gutter, a move which whittled the lead group down to just eight riders: the two Scotts – Rob and Jake – Toby Barnes, Rory Townsend and Bostock (all WiV SunGod), along with Kimber, Balfour, and Gardner.
Behind, three of the jettisoned riders – Finn Crockett (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), Adam Mitchell (Cycling Sheffield) and Ben Granger (Zappi Racing) – put in a huge effort, chasing for 30 kilometres, to bridge back across to the leaders.
With 6km to go, Rob Scott – celebrating his 24th birthday – put on the same show of brute force that won him last weekend’s Lancaster GP as he broke clear of the bunch.
Crockett, spent from his efforts chasing back on, put in a valiant effort to bring Scott back, but it was all in vain. Scott stayed clear to take yet another win. WiV SunGod used their numerical advantage to perfect effect, packing out the top five places, with Bostock second and Barnes third.
The result sealed a commanding GC win for Matt Bostock, who also won the Bikmo points competition and the best Manx rider competition. Rob Scott finished second overall with Balfour third. Barnes was fourth overall and also won the Canada Life Leading Under-23 Rider competition.
Rob Scott now takes over as leader of the National Road Series. He has a 17-point lead over his teammate Jake Scott. Bostock is third a further 12 points back, while the previous leader, Crockett, slips to fourth.
Results
Women’s race
Stage four
General classification
Men’s race
Stage four
General classification
National Road Series standings
Women’s
Individual
Team
Men’s
Individual
Team
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.