Flo Wiggins confirmed her meteoric rise by soloing to her first National B victory on Sunday 2 August as London Academy dominated the Duncan Murray Wines Road Race in Northamptonshire, placing five riders in the top-12 to put them back in the British Women’s Team Cup mix ahead of its finale later this month.
Bright skies and a gentle breeze greeted the 39 starters who lined up to do battle on the exposed lanes that once played host to some of the most important moments in the British Civil War.
There would be no such drama in the early stages today, however, as Sarah King’s squad made their intentions clear. Setting a high tempo on the front of the peloton in the early laps, their nine riders were alert to any attacks, chasing down multiple efforts from the FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing contingent as they proved the most eager to reduce the front-of-the-field influence of the team clad in their distinctive orange and yellow jerseys.
It took until the end of the third lap for the deadlock to break. 27-year-old Wiggins, making her first foray into bike racing this season, unleashed an attack on one of the drags leading into the climb to the finish line. Her peloton-clearing effort was too much for the competition, with only Lucy Havard (Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon) able to stay on her wheel, whilst a rider from Brother UK-On Form proved unable to hold the pace as the line approached.
The pair worked well together to extend their advantage, aided by the tactical nous of the London Academy team as Hope Inglis used her experience to play disruptor to any potential moves from the peloton. Meanwhile at the head of the race, Wiggins’ relentless tempo began to tell on Taylor as she slipped back into the clutches of the peloton, leaving the London Academy free to manage her own energy reserves on her way to a remarkable solo win.
Raising her arms in celebration as she crossed the line, it wasn’t long before she found team manager King for an emotional debrief on her emphatic glory. Behind, the peloton was bracing itself for a sprint up the deceptively long drag to see who could be best of the rest. That proved to be Team Empella’s Alderney Baker, who is shaping up well for the Cyclocross season as he pipped London Academy’s Georgia Huddlestone for the runner-up position.
“I was very pleased to win today!” Wiggins told The British Continental after the race, dedicating the win to King and her teammates.
“I’m new to road racing and it’s taken me a while to feel a bit more confident, and to learn to race. Sarah [King] and the London Academy team have been amazing support, I would have never got into [racing] otherwise.”
Flo Wiggins confirmed her meteoric rise by soloing to her first National B victory on Sunday 2 August as London Academy dominated the Duncan Murray Wines Road Race in Northamptonshire, placing five riders in the top-12 to put them back in the British Women’s Team Cup mix ahead of its finale later this month.
Featured Image: Matt de-B Photography
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Report
Bright skies and a gentle breeze greeted the 39 starters who lined up to do battle on the exposed lanes that once played host to some of the most important moments in the British Civil War.
There would be no such drama in the early stages today, however, as Sarah King’s squad made their intentions clear. Setting a high tempo on the front of the peloton in the early laps, their nine riders were alert to any attacks, chasing down multiple efforts from the FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing contingent as they proved the most eager to reduce the front-of-the-field influence of the team clad in their distinctive orange and yellow jerseys.
It took until the end of the third lap for the deadlock to break. 27-year-old Wiggins, making her first foray into bike racing this season, unleashed an attack on one of the drags leading into the climb to the finish line. Her peloton-clearing effort was too much for the competition, with only Lucy Havard (Jadan Vive le Velo p/b Glasdon) able to stay on her wheel, whilst a rider from Brother UK-On Form proved unable to hold the pace as the line approached.
The pair worked well together to extend their advantage, aided by the tactical nous of the London Academy team as Hope Inglis used her experience to play disruptor to any potential moves from the peloton. Meanwhile at the head of the race, Wiggins’ relentless tempo began to tell on Taylor as she slipped back into the clutches of the peloton, leaving the London Academy free to manage her own energy reserves on her way to a remarkable solo win.
Raising her arms in celebration as she crossed the line, it wasn’t long before she found team manager King for an emotional debrief on her emphatic glory. Behind, the peloton was bracing itself for a sprint up the deceptively long drag to see who could be best of the rest. That proved to be Team Empella’s Alderney Baker, who is shaping up well for the Cyclocross season as he pipped London Academy’s Georgia Huddlestone for the runner-up position.
“I was very pleased to win today!” Wiggins told The British Continental after the race, dedicating the win to King and her teammates.
“I’m new to road racing and it’s taken me a while to feel a bit more confident, and to learn to race. Sarah [King] and the London Academy team have been amazing support, I would have never got into [racing] otherwise.”
Results
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