2026 Lancaster Grand Prix: women’s race report and results
Lily Martin attacked away from Morven Yeoman and Lucy Lee on the final climb to win by over a minute; Yeoman retained the series lead, but Martin moved into second overall and reduced the gap to 44 points.
Lily Martin delivered a landmark victory for Loughborough Lightning by attacking away from Morven Yeoman and Lucy Lee on the final climb into Williamson Park to win the Lancaster Grand Prix alone.
Martin finished over a minute ahead of series leader Yeoman, with Lee third after twice losing contact with the leaders and twice fighting her way back.
It was Martin’s first National Road Series victory and one of the biggest results yet for an Elite Development Team, earned against two riders from DAS–Hutchinson, one of the strongest squads in the domestic women’s peloton.
The women’s Lancaster Grand Prix, Round 5 of the eight-round series, returned after a year away and covered six laps and 90 kilometres of the Quernmore circuit. Its short climbs, exposed lanes and uphill return into Williamson Park gradually imposed themselves on a warm afternoon with a strengthening breeze.
For the first half of the race, however, there was little sign of the eventual selection. Grace Lister (Handsling Alba) forced the pace through the feed zone and an early move briefly went clear, but the peloton remained largely intact.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
That changed with four laps remaining. Leech, Yeoman and Ruby Oakes (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing) lifted the pace before six riders escaped: Martin, Yeoman, Lee, Lister, Sannah Zaman (O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes) and Anna Boniface (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing). Eight riders chased at 15 seconds.
Lister and Boniface were dropped before Martin and Yeoman attacked again with three laps to go. Lee regained contact as Zaman fell away, leaving Martin alone against the two DAS–Hutchinson riders at the front.
Lee was distanced on the climbers’ competition ascent with two laps remaining, but clawed her way back for a second time. Martin had no intention of allowing the three-rider contest to reach the finish.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
“Once I was left with the two DAS girls, I thought, right — they’re going to test me hard now,” she said. “So I just tried to sit on everything and not give them an inch, because I know how strong those two are, and I couldn’t let them get away.”
On the final climb, Martin saw her moment. As Yeoman and Lee spoke to one another after the latest attacks, she accelerated. Lee was distanced for good, Yeoman chased alone and Martin’s advantage continued to grow all the way to Williamson Park.
“I know how much racing they’ve done, and what a good head they’ve got on them — and what a sprint they’ve got as well. I couldn’t take it to the line,” Martin said.
“I saw them chatting to each other after all the attacks, and I thought, it’s got to be now. So I just launched and went full gas to the end. Managed to get a gap, and just hung on for dear life, basically.”
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Lancaster had been a target for Martin, whose standout season had already included solo victories at the Banbury Star and the BUCS Road Race Championship.
“I saw the course and I thought, I like that,” she said. “I’ve made a few mistakes in the past — I’ve let a break go and just not been able to get it back. So I thought, today I’m just going to be part of everything, be in the mix.
“Each lap is super attritional, and the heat definitely helped it. But that’s the sort of racing I like — tough, attritional. I think it suits me.”
Martin also won the climbers’ competition, while Handsling Alba took the team classification through Leech, Lister and Arianne Holland.
Noémie Thomson (DAS–Hutchinson), winner of the CiCLE Classic and one of the pre-race favourites, did not start while Tammy Miller, third at Lancaster in 2024, was among the riders who abandoned.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Yeoman remains in control of the National Road Series on 194 points, but Martin’s victory lifted her to second on 150 and reduced the gap to 44 points. Lee is third on 139, with Amy Henchoz (Paralloy RT) fourth on 122.
Three rounds remain, beginning with the South Molton Grand Prix next Sunday. Yeoman still holds the strongest hand, but Lancaster changed the shape of the contest. It also gave Loughborough Lightning a result of wider significance: an Elite Development Team rider outmanoeuvring two of the strongest riders from one of Britain’s leading Continental teams to win at National A level.
Lily Martin delivered a landmark victory for Loughborough Lightning by attacking away from Morven Yeoman and Lucy Lee on the final climb into Williamson Park to win the Lancaster Grand Prix alone.
Martin finished over a minute ahead of series leader Yeoman, with Lee third after twice losing contact with the leaders and twice fighting her way back.
It was Martin’s first National Road Series victory and one of the biggest results yet for an Elite Development Team, earned against two riders from DAS–Hutchinson, one of the strongest squads in the domestic women’s peloton.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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Report
The women’s Lancaster Grand Prix, Round 5 of the eight-round series, returned after a year away and covered six laps and 90 kilometres of the Quernmore circuit. Its short climbs, exposed lanes and uphill return into Williamson Park gradually imposed themselves on a warm afternoon with a strengthening breeze.
For the first half of the race, however, there was little sign of the eventual selection. Grace Lister (Handsling Alba) forced the pace through the feed zone and an early move briefly went clear, but the peloton remained largely intact.
That changed with four laps remaining. Leech, Yeoman and Ruby Oakes (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing) lifted the pace before six riders escaped: Martin, Yeoman, Lee, Lister, Sannah Zaman (O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes) and Anna Boniface (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing). Eight riders chased at 15 seconds.
Lister and Boniface were dropped before Martin and Yeoman attacked again with three laps to go. Lee regained contact as Zaman fell away, leaving Martin alone against the two DAS–Hutchinson riders at the front.
Lee was distanced on the climbers’ competition ascent with two laps remaining, but clawed her way back for a second time. Martin had no intention of allowing the three-rider contest to reach the finish.
“Once I was left with the two DAS girls, I thought, right — they’re going to test me hard now,” she said. “So I just tried to sit on everything and not give them an inch, because I know how strong those two are, and I couldn’t let them get away.”
On the final climb, Martin saw her moment. As Yeoman and Lee spoke to one another after the latest attacks, she accelerated. Lee was distanced for good, Yeoman chased alone and Martin’s advantage continued to grow all the way to Williamson Park.
“I know how much racing they’ve done, and what a good head they’ve got on them — and what a sprint they’ve got as well. I couldn’t take it to the line,” Martin said.
“I saw them chatting to each other after all the attacks, and I thought, it’s got to be now. So I just launched and went full gas to the end. Managed to get a gap, and just hung on for dear life, basically.”
Lancaster had been a target for Martin, whose standout season had already included solo victories at the Banbury Star and the BUCS Road Race Championship.
“I saw the course and I thought, I like that,” she said. “I’ve made a few mistakes in the past — I’ve let a break go and just not been able to get it back. So I thought, today I’m just going to be part of everything, be in the mix.
“Each lap is super attritional, and the heat definitely helped it. But that’s the sort of racing I like — tough, attritional. I think it suits me.”
Martin also won the climbers’ competition, while Handsling Alba took the team classification through Leech, Lister and Arianne Holland.
Noémie Thomson (DAS–Hutchinson), winner of the CiCLE Classic and one of the pre-race favourites, did not start while Tammy Miller, third at Lancaster in 2024, was among the riders who abandoned.
Yeoman remains in control of the National Road Series on 194 points, but Martin’s victory lifted her to second on 150 and reduced the gap to 44 points. Lee is third on 139, with Amy Henchoz (Paralloy RT) fourth on 122.
Three rounds remain, beginning with the South Molton Grand Prix next Sunday. Yeoman still holds the strongest hand, but Lancaster changed the shape of the contest. It also gave Loughborough Lightning a result of wider significance: an Elite Development Team rider outmanoeuvring two of the strongest riders from one of Britain’s leading Continental teams to win at National A level.
Results
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