Women's Mendip Hills Road Race

 

Sunday, May 14, 2006; National B
Reynolds/ Michelin Womens Road Race Series

 

Promoting club Bristol Cycling Development Squad had decided to switch the race to the Olveston circuit near Bristol due to roadworks on the Mendip Hills course used in 2005. Although not as tough as the Mendips, the main feature of the new course, Old Down hill (to be climbed 8 times during the 80 kilometre race), proved to be the launch pad for several attacks.

After just 20 kilometres, a small group of riders piled on the pressure, and after the second climb had a lead of 15 seconds. But with the escapees in their sights, the bunch chased hard and soon pulled them back.

With Team Luciano, VC Londres and Agisko Viner sharing much of the work at the front, the field was gradually whittled down, and it was on the fourth climb of Old Down that the critical move was made. A group of five riders riders, Jo Rowsell and Lara Wann (VC Londres), Caroline Kloiber (Team Rapha-Condor), Jenny Derham (Twickenham CC/Evans) and Melissa Mather (Team Luciano) attacked hard and by the summit had opened up a gap of 20 seconds. Lara had difficulty holding on, and soon found herself all alone, but well ahead of the main bunch.

With the gap back to the bunch rapidly increasing, Lara put in a very gutsy performance and chased hard, and at the next ascent of Old Down she had rejoined the leading group. On the penultimate climb of Old Down Caroline Koilber attacked once again and split the leading group, with only Jo Rowsell and Jenny Derham able to stay with her. This group remained together for the last lap and on the climb to the finish line it was still neck and neck, until Caroline launched one final attack to finish by just two bike lengths ahead of her rivals.

The results from this race mean that Jo Rowsell, still a Junior rider, now leads the National Road Race Series, with Lara Wann moving up to 2nd place overall and Louise Mahe in 3rd place. You can see Dave O'Nyon's photographs by clicking the Gallery 1 button at the top of the page.

 

 

 

 

RESULT

1. Caroline Kloiber, Team Rapha - Condor 2hr 22min 59 sec
2. Jo Rowsell, VC Londres @ 1 sec
3. Jenny Derham, Twickenham CC/Evans
4. Melissa Mather, Team Luciano @ 31 sec
5. Lara Wann, VC Londres @ 45 sec
6. Louise Mahe, Sutton CC/De Ver Cycles @ 2min 18 sec
7. Sophie Ruderman, Agisko Viner 
8. Antonia Burt, Twickenham CC 
9. Lisa Parsons, Somerset Road Club 
10. Hannah Bussey, VC Meudon 
11. Cecilia Gladh, Kenilworth Wheelers
12. Amy Smith, BC Private 
13. Sara Burling, CC Giro 
14. Angela Pike, Wolverhampton Wheelers
15. Carrie Bedingfield, AgiskoViner 
16. Paula Mosley, Climb On Bikes 
17. Heather Summers, Team Luciano 
18. Natasha Scrivens, Stratford CC 
19. Sophie Johnson, Raleigh ERV 
20. Rosemary Remedios, Raleigh ERV @ 2min 20 sec
21. Helen Gutteridge, Team Luciano
22. Jeanette Tebbutt, Team Luciano
23. Claire Hall, CC Giro 
24. Kirsten McClelland-Brooks, CC Giro @ 2min 30 sec
25. Nikki Wheeler, Velocity/The Exercise Deck @ 2min 58 sec
26. Jackie Bull, Tri-Velo @ 1 lap
27. Marilyn Jones, Tri Velo @ 1 lap
28. Jo Tindley, VC Londres @ 1 lap
29. Abi Greenaway, Charge Bikes @ 1 lap
30. Emma Trott, VC Londres @ 1 lap

Other awards:
Top placed Junior  Jo Rowsell
Top placed 3rd Category rider  Caroline Kliober
Top placed 4th Category rider  - Lisa Parsons
Top team (3 riders) VC Londres.

58 entries. 40 starters. 10 DNF.