2025 Maria Thompson Memorial: preview and startlist
The women’s road season ends this Sunday (7 September) with the Maria Thomson Memorial, now a National B and the final round of the British Women’s Team Cup. Both a tribute to a much-loved Kingston Wheeler and a hard-fought season finale, the race goes ahead thanks to the club’s commitment despite modest entries, ensuring the calendar closes with a full national road race.
The women’s domestic racing season concludes this Sunday with the Maria Thompson Memorial, the final national road race of 2025. Hosted by Kingston Wheelers, it carries National B status for the first time and doubles as the closing round of the British Women’s Team Cup. Both a tribute to Maria Thomson – a much-loved clubmate who died in 2017 – and a hard-fought finale, the race goes ahead thanks to Kingston Wheelers’ commitment, despite modest entries, ensuring the season ends with a full national road race.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
The Maria Thompson Memorial is the final national road race on the women’s domestic calendar for 2025, bringing the curtain down on the season with a poignant and fiercely contested battle. Run by Kingston Wheelers, the race doubles as the sixth and concluding round of the British Women’s Team Cup, meaning team honours as well as individual glory are on the line. For the first time, the race carries National B road race status.
The day is also a celebration of Maria Thompson, a much-loved Kingston Wheeler who was a popular racer and clubmate before her sudden passing in 2017. The memorial race has become both a fitting tribute to her memory and a staple of the late-season calendar — one last chance for riders and teams to make their mark before the long winter break.
Credit, too, goes to Kingston Wheelers for committing to run the event despite a relatively modest entry list. At a time when many clubs might have pulled the plug for fear of financial loss, they’ve ensured the women’s domestic season ends with a full national road race worthy of the occasion.
The race begins at 9.00 with an 11.30 finish anticipated.
Image: Mark James
Route
Riders face six laps of a rolling 55-mile (88km) circuit based out of Handcross in Sussex, a route that has a reputation for attrition rather than pure sprinting. With no neutral service and the possibility of riders being pulled if they fall more than 15 minutes back, the race has a hard edge that rewards sharpness and resilience.
Britist Team Cup: what’s at stake?
The Maria Thompson Memorial will settle the 2025 British Women’s Team Cup. On the face of it, Brother UK – On Form look unassailable, leading on 827 points with a 175-point cushion over FTP Racing (652) and a 257-point gap to London Academy RT (570). But the Team Cup’s scoring system means there are still permutations to consider.
A clean sweep of the top four places would deliver 495 points. For FTP to steal the title, they’d need something close to perfection while On Form score fewer than 319. For London Academy, the bar is higher still: their maximum haul would only overhaul On Form if the leaders managed 237 points or fewer – a scenario that would require On Form’s best four riders to finish largely outside the top 10. In other words, it’s mathematically possible but practically improbable.
That said, squad depth on the start line could shape the final podium order:
On Form bring six riders, enough to cover moves but far from the full-strength line-ups they’ve fielded earlier in the season, with several names absent at Rás na mBan.
FTP Racing are more stretched, with just four riders — the bare minimum needed to score four finishers.
London Academy arrive with the largest squad, seven riders, giving them options to flood the moves and maximise their scoring potential.
The likeliest drama lies not in the title — still firmly On Form’s to lose — but in the battle for second place. With FTP and On Form both split between Sussex and Kilkenny, Academy’s deeper line-up could see them overhaul FTP and end the season as runners-up. Behind them, Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT (483) and Loughborough Lightning (417) fight for a top-five finish.
Image: Mark James
How to follow
The British Continental will be on the ground, bringing you live coverage via Instagram and our race ticker, which will go live on the Stats Hub as the race starts.
Riders to watch
Mari Porton has been one of the standout young riders of the season. Third at the Curlew Cup and inside the top ten at the national circuit championships, the Handsling Alba Development rider has combined UCI experience with strong domestic form. A powerful finisher, she is well placed to make an impact on a rolling Handcross circuit.
Mari Porton (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) finishes third at the Curlew Cup. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Libby Smithson lines up for DAS–Hutchinson after impressing with sixth at the Cambridge round of the Rapha Super-League. Smithson has shown she can handle high-level competition and will be one to watch if the race comes down to a sprint.
London Academy’s Lily Martin has already marked herself out as a threat in her first full season of racing. The former rower claimed second at the Banbury Star CC National B earlier this year, and with Academy bringing the largest squad to the finale, she has the team support to aim for another breakthrough ride.
Georgina Oakley comes into the race in strong form, having finished runner-up at the London Academy Grand Prix and consistent in National Series events, including 14th in Cambridge. Representing Loughborough Lightning, she combines experience with a fast finish, making her a genuine contender in any reduced sprint.
Team Boompods’ Katie-Anne Calton has enjoyed some strong wins in 2025, claiming victories at the Royal Navy Cup and the London Velopark Grand Prix. In fine late-season form and with a strong kick, she is another rider to watch if the race reaches the line with a sizeable group intact.
For Brother UK – On Form, Hope Inglis could be a key rider as the team seeks to seal the British Team Cup win. Fourth at the BUCS road race and a regular feature near the front of domestic races, she has the strength to deliver another important result as her team looks to secure the overall title.
Finally, Wolfox CAMS Le Col’s Caitlin Bower has shown both consistency and speed, with fifth at the Duncan Murray Road Race and wins at Goodwood over the summer. Her ability to finish strongly from a small group makes her an asset to Wolfox’s bid for a top-four Cup finish.
The women’s domestic racing season concludes this Sunday with the Maria Thompson Memorial, the final national road race of 2025. Hosted by Kingston Wheelers, it carries National B status for the first time and doubles as the closing round of the British Women’s Team Cup. Both a tribute to Maria Thomson – a much-loved clubmate who died in 2017 – and a hard-fought finale, the race goes ahead thanks to Kingston Wheelers’ commitment, despite modest entries, ensuring the season ends with a full national road race.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Mark James
What is it?
The Maria Thompson Memorial is the final national road race on the women’s domestic calendar for 2025, bringing the curtain down on the season with a poignant and fiercely contested battle. Run by Kingston Wheelers, the race doubles as the sixth and concluding round of the British Women’s Team Cup, meaning team honours as well as individual glory are on the line. For the first time, the race carries National B road race status.
The day is also a celebration of Maria Thompson, a much-loved Kingston Wheeler who was a popular racer and clubmate before her sudden passing in 2017. The memorial race has become both a fitting tribute to her memory and a staple of the late-season calendar — one last chance for riders and teams to make their mark before the long winter break.
Credit, too, goes to Kingston Wheelers for committing to run the event despite a relatively modest entry list. At a time when many clubs might have pulled the plug for fear of financial loss, they’ve ensured the women’s domestic season ends with a full national road race worthy of the occasion.
The race begins at 9.00 with an 11.30 finish anticipated.
Route
Riders face six laps of a rolling 55-mile (88km) circuit based out of Handcross in Sussex, a route that has a reputation for attrition rather than pure sprinting. With no neutral service and the possibility of riders being pulled if they fall more than 15 minutes back, the race has a hard edge that rewards sharpness and resilience.
Britist Team Cup: what’s at stake?
The Maria Thompson Memorial will settle the 2025 British Women’s Team Cup. On the face of it, Brother UK – On Form look unassailable, leading on 827 points with a 175-point cushion over FTP Racing (652) and a 257-point gap to London Academy RT (570). But the Team Cup’s scoring system means there are still permutations to consider.
A clean sweep of the top four places would deliver 495 points. For FTP to steal the title, they’d need something close to perfection while On Form score fewer than 319. For London Academy, the bar is higher still: their maximum haul would only overhaul On Form if the leaders managed 237 points or fewer – a scenario that would require On Form’s best four riders to finish largely outside the top 10. In other words, it’s mathematically possible but practically improbable.
That said, squad depth on the start line could shape the final podium order:
The likeliest drama lies not in the title — still firmly On Form’s to lose — but in the battle for second place. With FTP and On Form both split between Sussex and Kilkenny, Academy’s deeper line-up could see them overhaul FTP and end the season as runners-up. Behind them, Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT (483) and Loughborough Lightning (417) fight for a top-five finish.
How to follow
The British Continental will be on the ground, bringing you live coverage via Instagram and our race ticker, which will go live on the Stats Hub as the race starts.
Riders to watch
Mari Porton has been one of the standout young riders of the season. Third at the Curlew Cup and inside the top ten at the national circuit championships, the Handsling Alba Development rider has combined UCI experience with strong domestic form. A powerful finisher, she is well placed to make an impact on a rolling Handcross circuit.
Libby Smithson lines up for DAS–Hutchinson after impressing with sixth at the Cambridge round of the Rapha Super-League. Smithson has shown she can handle high-level competition and will be one to watch if the race comes down to a sprint.
London Academy’s Lily Martin has already marked herself out as a threat in her first full season of racing. The former rower claimed second at the Banbury Star CC National B earlier this year, and with Academy bringing the largest squad to the finale, she has the team support to aim for another breakthrough ride.
Georgina Oakley comes into the race in strong form, having finished runner-up at the London Academy Grand Prix and consistent in National Series events, including 14th in Cambridge. Representing Loughborough Lightning, she combines experience with a fast finish, making her a genuine contender in any reduced sprint.
Team Boompods’ Katie-Anne Calton has enjoyed some strong wins in 2025, claiming victories at the Royal Navy Cup and the London Velopark Grand Prix. In fine late-season form and with a strong kick, she is another rider to watch if the race reaches the line with a sizeable group intact.
For Brother UK – On Form, Hope Inglis could be a key rider as the team seeks to seal the British Team Cup win. Fourth at the BUCS road race and a regular feature near the front of domestic races, she has the strength to deliver another important result as her team looks to secure the overall title.
Finally, Wolfox CAMS Le Col’s Caitlin Bower has shown both consistency and speed, with fifth at the Duncan Murray Road Race and wins at Goodwood over the summer. Her ability to finish strongly from a small group makes her an asset to Wolfox’s bid for a top-four Cup finish.
Provisional startlist
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