The Bath Cycling Club Road Race (Nat B), incorporating the women’s South, South West and Welsh Regional Championships, was won by junior Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films).
Despite a fast opening lap the field was still all together as they approached the climb for the first time where the race really kicked off with the first QOM points up for grabs. With several strong climbers in the race the peloton was completely blown apart as Lucy Lee (DAS-Handsling) took the spoils, chased closely by Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) and the American Katherine Sheridan (Unattached, the latter taking part in her first UK road race.
As the leaders eased up over the top of the climb, the bunch came back together along the flat tailwind section. Over the back part of the course a few attempts to attack were made, but all were quickly neutralised. This sequence of events played on repeat for the next few laps, with each lap taking more victims on the climb and fewer riders getting back on each time.
By the second half of the race, the leaders were starting to play their cards close to their chests on the non-QOM laps, allowing distanced riders to catch back on over the back of the course. With the peloton constantly thinning then growing no breaks could stick despite attempts throughout by multiple riders. By the last lap the lead group was down to 17 riders.
Rounding the final corner, Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) launched an explosive attack into the bottom of the climb, completely stringing the field out. As the road went up the key protagonists in the QOM competition battled it out with Awen Roberts taking the victory from national road race rankings leader Lucy Lee in second and Katherine Sheridan in third. With multiple regional podium places up for grabs further back through the field there were many fierce battles to the line behind.
Awen Roberts of Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films takes the win in the Women’s Race at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race. Image: Dave Dodge
It was a fine win for 18-year-old Roberts, just over a week after finishing an excellent 13th at the junior world road race championships in Glasgow.
“It was a great course which resulted in a hard race,” she reflected after the race.
“The race was aggressive on the hill, especially on the QOM laps and I felt that it was important to stay near the front on the hill just in case there was an attack. Some attacks did go over the top of the hill but everyone was quick to react so nobody got a gap.
“On the last climb of the final lap, attacks began at the bottom of the hill with everyone pushing hard. I had good legs and I made my move on the last corner which was enough to carry me to the line for the win.”
The Bath Cycling Club Road Race (Nat B), incorporating the women’s South, South West and Welsh Regional Championships, was won by junior Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films).
Featured image: Dave Dodge
Report
Despite a fast opening lap the field was still all together as they approached the climb for the first time where the race really kicked off with the first QOM points up for grabs. With several strong climbers in the race the peloton was completely blown apart as Lucy Lee (DAS-Handsling) took the spoils, chased closely by Awen Roberts (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) and the American Katherine Sheridan (Unattached, the latter taking part in her first UK road race.
As the leaders eased up over the top of the climb, the bunch came back together along the flat tailwind section. Over the back part of the course a few attempts to attack were made, but all were quickly neutralised. This sequence of events played on repeat for the next few laps, with each lap taking more victims on the climb and fewer riders getting back on each time.
By the second half of the race, the leaders were starting to play their cards close to their chests on the non-QOM laps, allowing distanced riders to catch back on over the back of the course. With the peloton constantly thinning then growing no breaks could stick despite attempts throughout by multiple riders. By the last lap the lead group was down to 17 riders.
Rounding the final corner, Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) launched an explosive attack into the bottom of the climb, completely stringing the field out. As the road went up the key protagonists in the QOM competition battled it out with Awen Roberts taking the victory from national road race rankings leader Lucy Lee in second and Katherine Sheridan in third. With multiple regional podium places up for grabs further back through the field there were many fierce battles to the line behind.
It was a fine win for 18-year-old Roberts, just over a week after finishing an excellent 13th at the junior world road race championships in Glasgow.
“It was a great course which resulted in a hard race,” she reflected after the race.
“The race was aggressive on the hill, especially on the QOM laps and I felt that it was important to stay near the front on the hill just in case there was an attack. Some attacks did go over the top of the hill but everyone was quick to react so nobody got a gap.
“On the last climb of the final lap, attacks began at the bottom of the hill with everyone pushing hard. I had good legs and I made my move on the last corner which was enough to carry me to the line for the win.”
Results
Regional Winners
Wales Senior
Wales Junior
South
South West
QOM Competition
Full results
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