The riders set off in the sun for seven laps of the six hills circuit east of Loughborough.
The first two laps were relatively action-free, but a major move went clear on lap three on the false flat of the back straight of the circuit. The escape comprised five riders, including the DAS-Handsling duo of Katie Scott and Lucy Lee, as well as Francesca Hall (Loughborough Lightning), Suzetta Guerrini (Le Col), and Tamsin Miller (Hutchinson-Brother UK).
On the following lap, a chasing group of five bridged across. As a result, Team Boompods pair Ellen McDermott and Jayati Hine, national road race rankings leader Zoe Langham (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (also Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), and Ione Johnson (Hutchinson-Brother UK) doubled the lead group’s size to ten.
With all the major teams represented, and the break working cohesively, the leaders’ gap over the bunch stretched out to almost five minutes.
The escape reached the finish together, with Lee powering to the sprint win. McDermott was second, with Hall rounding out the podium. Clay was the highest-placed under-23 rider in seventh, while Scott picked up the Queen of the Mountains award.
Lee’s victory was her second National B victory this season, following her stage two at the Peaks 2 Day in March. She now moves up to third in the national road race rankings.
Rankings leader Langham extends her lead at the top thanks to fifth place, with her nearest rival, Miller, second in the rankings, finishing sixth.
The 2023 Owen Blower Memorial road race (Nat B) was won by Lucy Lee (DAS-Handsling) on Sunday 4th June.
Featured image: Gary Hibbert
Report
The riders set off in the sun for seven laps of the six hills circuit east of Loughborough.
The first two laps were relatively action-free, but a major move went clear on lap three on the false flat of the back straight of the circuit. The escape comprised five riders, including the DAS-Handsling duo of Katie Scott and Lucy Lee, as well as Francesca Hall (Loughborough Lightning), Suzetta Guerrini (Le Col), and Tamsin Miller (Hutchinson-Brother UK).
On the following lap, a chasing group of five bridged across. As a result, Team Boompods pair Ellen McDermott and Jayati Hine, national road race rankings leader Zoe Langham (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix winner Robyn Clay (also Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), and Ione Johnson (Hutchinson-Brother UK) doubled the lead group’s size to ten.
With all the major teams represented, and the break working cohesively, the leaders’ gap over the bunch stretched out to almost five minutes.
The escape reached the finish together, with Lee powering to the sprint win. McDermott was second, with Hall rounding out the podium. Clay was the highest-placed under-23 rider in seventh, while Scott picked up the Queen of the Mountains award.
Lee’s victory was her second National B victory this season, following her stage two at the Peaks 2 Day in March. She now moves up to third in the national road race rankings.
Rankings leader Langham extends her lead at the top thanks to fifth place, with her nearest rival, Miller, second in the rankings, finishing sixth.
Results
Full results to follow when available.
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