Emilia Fletcher (London Academy) won the inaugural London Academy Easter Road Race at Alconbury on Sunday, soloing clear from lap four and spending the final half of the race alone; an impressive feat in her very first National B road race

The race, promoted by London Academy founder Sarah King in her first season as a race organiser, also served as the opening round of the Junior Women’s National Road Series, with Grace Upshall (Shibden Apex RT) taking junior honours in third overall.

Featured image: That Shot Media

Report

The London Academy Easter Road Race was a new addition to the domestic calendar, created to fill a gap in the Junior Women’s National Road Series programme. Run over eight laps of an 11.2-kilometre circuit north of Huntingdon, with a steadily rising finish onto Stangate Hill, it brought together elite and junior women in a single National B field — 53 starters, around half of them juniors — with the series points decided separately within it. Organised by Sarah King, London Academy’s founder and chair of the British Cycling Road Commission, it was her first race as a promoter.

The opening laps were animated. The wind was a constant factor throughout, particularly on the exposed section of the circuit opposite the finish, where the headwind strung the field out and punished gaps. Riders tried repeatedly to get clear but nothing held — the conditions made it hard to establish an advantage and hard to maintain one.

Ruby Isaac (camsmajaco) set tempo for the bunch as London Academy riders probed without committing. When Emilia Fletcher went on lap four — her third attempt after two earlier moves had been caught — she put in 800 watts going out of a corner and did not look round. “I just presumed people would catch me,” she says afterwards. “I did a bit of triathlon, so I was just like, okay, just do a time trial.”

The gap grew. A chase developed but London Academy riders covered it, controlling the pace and preventing any organised pursuit from forming. Fletcher extended to 30 seconds, then 55, then a minute entering the final lap. She had spent four of the race’s eight laps alone.

Behind, Freya Taylor (Team Jadan) attacked through the line with Ruby Isaac (camsmajaco) immediately responding — the junior series battle playing out even as the overall race honours had been settled up the road.

Fletcher held on solo. Phoebe Roche (FTP–Fulfil The Potential Racing) took second in the sprint from the reduced bunch, with Grace Upshall (Shibden Apex RT) third — and with it the opening round of the Junior Women’s National Road Series.

Fletcher, in only her second road race, admitted the win had surprised her. She had been guided by her team not to attack too early, respected it, was caught twice, then went again. “I did see 800 watts and was like, okay, this is quite bold.”

It was the first edition of the London Academy Easter Road Race, promoted by the team’s own founder. Her rider won it.