Tiffany Keep took a commanding victory in the Bath CC Road Race as DAS-Hutchinson continued their impressive run of form as Ruby Oakes and Lizzie Hermolle completed a 1-2-3 for Simon Howes’ squad, Hermolle also winning the National Masters A Championship in the process.
Despite missing local rider Tammy Miller through illness, the three DAS-Hutchinson riders to take the start, South African Keep, first year U23 Ruby Oakes, and veteran Hermolle, wasted little time in letting their intentions be known, attacking in the opening half a lap on the undulating course, albeit to little avail with a tough headwind neutralising their effort.
Their plan came to fruition however as they crested the climb to the finish line of Stowey Hill only 5km later, continuing to press on up the punishing false flat after it, first stringing out, then whittling down the peloton to a group of eight riders – Jenny Powell (Performance Development Team), Jihanna Bonilla-Allard (7 Hills CC) and Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock CT), a Maddie Heywood (Loughborough Lightning) rider and Ella Tandy (Tofuati Everyone Active Majaco) the only riders able to keep pace with the DAS-Hutchinson trio.
Working well together, the group quickly extended their lead before Heywood fell victim to a crash, Tandy the next rider to exit the head of the race, finding an acceleration up the climb to the finish too much with three laps to go.
With six riders left to fight it out for the victory at the start of the final lap, the riders at the head if the race started to look at each other, the numerical advantage DAS-Hutchinson enjoyed leading to all eyes being on them as the final kilometres approached. Keep encouraged the group to keep working, the six riders coming into the bottom of Stowey Hill together.
With the gradients getting progressively steeper towards the line there was little in the way of attacks as the riders began to make their way up the climb, Hermolle setting an infernal pace with her teammates Keep and Oakes well placed in her wheel.
As the gradients continued to grow and the finish line neared, Keep and Oakes made their move for victory, lighting the afterburners as they fired themselves out of Hermolle’s wheel with maximum effort, Keep crossing the line first ahead of Oakes, with Hermolle hanging on for third, taking the Masters national title with it.
“I don’t think we could have asked for too much more,” reflected Keep after the race. “Having a 1-2-3 on the podium in team colours, it’s just awesome.
“I’ve never raced this course before and I really enjoyed it. I think the finishing climb plays to my strength as a punchy rider. I’m really pleased the organisers were able to host this event again after it took a hiatus last year.”
Jennifer Powell’s (Performance Development Team) 5th place earned her the National Masters B title, Gemma Mitchell (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing) was 11th to take the National Masters D win. Mitchell’s teammate Mathilde Pauls was the National Masters C champion, while Helen Taylor-Carter (Beds Road Race Team) was the National Masters E+ victor.
Tiffany Keep took a commanding victory in the Bath CC Road Race as DAS-Hutchinson continued their impressive run of form as Ruby Oakes and Lizzie Hermolle completed a 1-2-3 for Simon Howes’ squad, Hermolle also winning the National Masters A Championship in the process.
Featured Image: Matt de-B Photography
Report
Despite missing local rider Tammy Miller through illness, the three DAS-Hutchinson riders to take the start, South African Keep, first year U23 Ruby Oakes, and veteran Hermolle, wasted little time in letting their intentions be known, attacking in the opening half a lap on the undulating course, albeit to little avail with a tough headwind neutralising their effort.
Their plan came to fruition however as they crested the climb to the finish line of Stowey Hill only 5km later, continuing to press on up the punishing false flat after it, first stringing out, then whittling down the peloton to a group of eight riders – Jenny Powell (Performance Development Team), Jihanna Bonilla-Allard (7 Hills CC) and Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock CT), a Maddie Heywood (Loughborough Lightning) rider and Ella Tandy (Tofuati Everyone Active Majaco) the only riders able to keep pace with the DAS-Hutchinson trio.
Working well together, the group quickly extended their lead before Heywood fell victim to a crash, Tandy the next rider to exit the head of the race, finding an acceleration up the climb to the finish too much with three laps to go.
With six riders left to fight it out for the victory at the start of the final lap, the riders at the head if the race started to look at each other, the numerical advantage DAS-Hutchinson enjoyed leading to all eyes being on them as the final kilometres approached. Keep encouraged the group to keep working, the six riders coming into the bottom of Stowey Hill together.
With the gradients getting progressively steeper towards the line there was little in the way of attacks as the riders began to make their way up the climb, Hermolle setting an infernal pace with her teammates Keep and Oakes well placed in her wheel.
As the gradients continued to grow and the finish line neared, Keep and Oakes made their move for victory, lighting the afterburners as they fired themselves out of Hermolle’s wheel with maximum effort, Keep crossing the line first ahead of Oakes, with Hermolle hanging on for third, taking the Masters national title with it.
“I don’t think we could have asked for too much more,” reflected Keep after the race. “Having a 1-2-3 on the podium in team colours, it’s just awesome.
“I’ve never raced this course before and I really enjoyed it. I think the finishing climb plays to my strength as a punchy rider. I’m really pleased the organisers were able to host this event again after it took a hiatus last year.”
Jennifer Powell’s (Performance Development Team) 5th place earned her the National Masters B title, Gemma Mitchell (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing) was 11th to take the National Masters D win. Mitchell’s teammate Mathilde Pauls was the National Masters C champion, while Helen Taylor-Carter (Beds Road Race Team) was the National Masters E+ victor.
Results
Full results here.
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