Lucy Glover raced with maturity beyond her years to win the Witham Hall GP, waiting to unleash her powerful sprint in a bunch gallop finishing atop Barber’s Hill on the Lincolnshire border.
“I was trying to not get too flustered about the breaks going, just trying to keep a cool head, making sure I could keep my power for the sprint,” the second year junior told The British Continental after crossing the line to take her first National B Road Race win.
The race got under way in gorgeous summer like conditions on the edge of Rutland, a far cry from those experienced just a stone’s throw away a week ago in Oakham for the ill fated Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic. With temperatures nearing 20 degrees Celsius, the race departed Witham Hall Prep School for 5.5 laps of a grippy circuit, the action taking some time to warm up as a strong tempo set by the bunch dictated the first half of the 96km race.
Tuva Mauland (Brother UK-On Form) was one of the riders to attempt a move early on, making a short lived attack with four laps remaining. A lap later four riders made their move off the front as they neared the finishing line, Savannah Morgan (London Academy), Rebecca Clowes (Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon), and Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) firing off the front in pursuit of another attacker, the injection of pace as the peloton reacted proving too much for some riders.
With the status quo quickly re-established, the peloton controlled proceedings until a breakaway finally emerged midway through the penultimate lap – Maddie Heywood (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) instigating the move, along with home rider Sian Botteley (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), Alderney Baker (Team Empella) and Morgan once again. Holding a slender advantage coming up to the line for the bell signalling one lap remaining, Melissa Denman (StolenGoat Race Team) attempted to join them, the race very much on with most of the field still in contention.
With the race set for a grandstand finish, the final lap was the frantic affair it promised. The peloton and attackers were locked in a titanic tussle on the rolling roads, as frequent attacks came and went over the first half of the lap, the peloton in one piece as they climbed to Witham-on-the-Hill with 7km still to race. It was a nervy time for Glover and the other sprinters, their cause aided by the Brother UK – On Form team, who threw their weight into leading out Amelia Staunton, the junior proving that decision right with a fine second place.
However, it was Glover, who last year became the youngest ever winner of a round of the National Circuit Series, who emerged from the peloton at the top of the hill victorious, further evidence of her ferocious finishing kick.
With only one teammate, first year junior Evie Smith, Glover explained that she tackled the sprint on her own. “We were both making sure there was no breakaways. We just said let’s get to the sprint and go as hard as we can. In the races, [at Shibden-Apex], the teamwork is just amazing.
“I thought a breakaway might stick, when it came back together I was quite lucky, with everyone pulling it back for a sprint.”
Glover heads to the Lincoln GP next week, now a potential winner with the style of the race and the short climb of Michaelgate suiting her. “It should be good,” she added, with the team looking to defend Cat Ferguson’s National Road Series lead.
Junior Lucy Glover unleashed a storming sprint to win the 2024 Witham Hall Grand Prix.
Featured image: Galerie Cycling
Report
Lucy Glover raced with maturity beyond her years to win the Witham Hall GP, waiting to unleash her powerful sprint in a bunch gallop finishing atop Barber’s Hill on the Lincolnshire border.
“I was trying to not get too flustered about the breaks going, just trying to keep a cool head, making sure I could keep my power for the sprint,” the second year junior told The British Continental after crossing the line to take her first National B Road Race win.
The race got under way in gorgeous summer like conditions on the edge of Rutland, a far cry from those experienced just a stone’s throw away a week ago in Oakham for the ill fated Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic. With temperatures nearing 20 degrees Celsius, the race departed Witham Hall Prep School for 5.5 laps of a grippy circuit, the action taking some time to warm up as a strong tempo set by the bunch dictated the first half of the 96km race.
Tuva Mauland (Brother UK-On Form) was one of the riders to attempt a move early on, making a short lived attack with four laps remaining. A lap later four riders made their move off the front as they neared the finishing line, Savannah Morgan (London Academy), Rebecca Clowes (Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon), and Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) firing off the front in pursuit of another attacker, the injection of pace as the peloton reacted proving too much for some riders.
With the status quo quickly re-established, the peloton controlled proceedings until a breakaway finally emerged midway through the penultimate lap – Maddie Heywood (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) instigating the move, along with home rider Sian Botteley (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), Alderney Baker (Team Empella) and Morgan once again. Holding a slender advantage coming up to the line for the bell signalling one lap remaining, Melissa Denman (StolenGoat Race Team) attempted to join them, the race very much on with most of the field still in contention.
With the race set for a grandstand finish, the final lap was the frantic affair it promised. The peloton and attackers were locked in a titanic tussle on the rolling roads, as frequent attacks came and went over the first half of the lap, the peloton in one piece as they climbed to Witham-on-the-Hill with 7km still to race. It was a nervy time for Glover and the other sprinters, their cause aided by the Brother UK – On Form team, who threw their weight into leading out Amelia Staunton, the junior proving that decision right with a fine second place.
However, it was Glover, who last year became the youngest ever winner of a round of the National Circuit Series, who emerged from the peloton at the top of the hill victorious, further evidence of her ferocious finishing kick.
With only one teammate, first year junior Evie Smith, Glover explained that she tackled the sprint on her own. “We were both making sure there was no breakaways. We just said let’s get to the sprint and go as hard as we can. In the races, [at Shibden-Apex], the teamwork is just amazing.
“I thought a breakaway might stick, when it came back together I was quite lucky, with everyone pulling it back for a sprint.”
Glover heads to the Lincoln GP next week, now a potential winner with the style of the race and the short climb of Michaelgate suiting her. “It should be good,” she added, with the team looking to defend Cat Ferguson’s National Road Series lead.
Results
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