British Cycling
National Youth Circuit Race Championships
an East Bradford Cycling Club promotion
Saturday 1st July 2006; Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Larry Hickmott (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk)
Youth A Girls, 35km
This sprint was the cause of much discussion afterwards and a written protest by the Clayton camp but the officials decided that Hannah Mayo, who spent a long time chasing the leaders after a second bike change, had not deviated from her line sufficiently to relegate her and award the title to Clayton. The two were seen later hugging and making up.
Of all the races, this was the one that was the most controversial when in a tight sprint at the end, protests were lodged to try and get the placings reversed. Like all the races, it was a sprint from the start with Helen Clayton starting as she meant to go on by getting away quickly and setting a fast pace.
Her forceful riding saw the leading group quickly start to lose riders and along with the pace set by Greta Junka, Hannah Mayo, and Katie Colclough, the riders left at the front soon numbered only half a dozen or so. There was a problem for Hannah however as she had to stop for a bike change which she did. That wasn't the problem however, as it was the next bike change which she took in a very relaxed manner until realising there was no second lap out and she had to close down a 13 second gap to the leaders.
Whilst Clayton and Colclough continued to drive the lead group, Mayo continued to bury herself and eventually managed to make contact with the leaders. Clayton continued to attack and attack, and attack again but this was a class group of young riders and it was going to be a sprint finish and with Jess Varnish in there, a renowned sprinter, the other girls were not going to have all there own way.
There was however a problem for them looming. In all the races, the officials were taking out lapped riders prior to the finish but for a long time in the race, the leaders had lingered a dozen or so seconds off the back of the chase group which meant that until the group had been lapped, they were free to continue in the race.
Of course, with the pace of the leaders rising for the sprint, they caught the chasers half way round the final lap and despite the chasers having been warned as they came through for the bell not to interfere with the leaders, there was a coming together of the two groups and a crash on the far side of the course which took out Jess Varnish and others.
There was however more controversy as Hannah Mayo, who had attacked on the far side of the circuit, came out of the final bend, and going wide coming out of it, she started her sprint on the right of the narrow road near the barriers. Helen Clayton was the only rider challenging her and attempted to come between Mayo and the barriers but with the barriers narrowing at the line, and Mayo sprinting for all she was worth head down getting closer to the barriers, Clayton's way forward was blocked.
As the two crossed the line, the action continued as parents headed for the officials to lodge protests and it took over an hour to sort out before the two protagonists hugged and made up and the medals were presented. After the presentation I spoke to the three medallists, starting with Helen Clayton who was without a doubt, one of the strongest in the race.
"It was good race, a few of us made it a fast one and people rode to their strengths. I could see everyone had a game plan."
"I wanted a fast race and a small group -- to ride it how it came really. In the sprint, I wanted to be second wheel, and coming out of the last corner, I was on her right and I was just coming through and there wasn't room apparently."
For Hannah Mayo, who was extremely pleased to have won the title, it was a tough race with a long hard chase to remain in contention. "It wasn't how I envisaged the race to go. Obviously it was also hard mentally when I was so far back because I didn't realise I wasn't allowed a second lap out when I changed back to my original bike. It was quite demoralising when I heard the time gap but I wanted to be back with the group a lot."
"When I got back, I was aware of the other girls strengths, and I didn't want it to be a big bunch sprint. I was on the front of the group when we caught the chasers and then attacked up the hill and lead all the way round to the line. I wasn't aware of Helen coming up on me and by that time I was just had tunnel vision on getting to that line as quickly as possible."
In third was Katie Colclough, she explained it was a good race. "I was trying to split it up but everyone seemed to get dragged up to me again but it was good. It was hard race. It helped my confidence a lot as I wanted to get a podium position, that was my aim and I did it."
On the crash, Katie says "I was right behind it and had to go around it and nearly got taken down." Although it delayed her, Katie managed to stay upright and once past it, put her head down and went for the line, holding on to take third.
Helen Clayton is off the mark quickly in a race where she constantly tried to break the group up.
1. Hannah Mayo, Raleigh EVR
2. Helen Clayton, CC Giro
3. Katie Colclough, Sleaford Wheelers
4. Greta Junker, Raleigh EVR
5. Sophie Terry, VC Londres
6. Helen Scott, Halesowen
7. Alexandra Greenfield, Cardiff Ajax
8. Dani King, i-Team
9. Lucy Martin, Raleigh EVR
10. Sara Reynolds, Evans
11. Jessica Booth, Halesowen
12. Tegan Millington, Sportcity Velo
13. Annie Last, Raleigh EVR
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