Armistead's Cheshire Classic

Cheshire Classic Road Race

Sunday 29 April 2007, Weaverham, Cheshire

Round 1 National Women's Road Series

Report and Images: Ian McVety

Young GB rider Lizzie Armistead (Global Racing) produced a polished all-round performance to win the 2-stage Cheshire Classic Road Race, the opening round of the 2007 National Women's Road Race Series. The event consisted of two stages, a short, sharp 2.5 km prologue Time Trial and an 80km Road stage through the beautiful Cheshire countryside.

The Time Trial saw Armistead coming out on top, with a time of 4'51", ahead of Carlie Bedingfield (Team Luciano) at 4'54" and Ruthie Manly (Rapha-Condor Road Team) at 4'55".

And so the action turned to the Road stage and , in particular, eleven climbs up the tough Acton Lane. Would anyone be able to break Armistead and blow the race open, or would the Global Racing rider prevail?


Ruthie Manly (Rapha-Condor Road Team), third in the Time Trial

With the late spring sunshine beating down, the conditions were more summer like and the riders soon warmed to their task, especially Team Raph-Condor, which tried valiantly, particularly Michelle Bergstand, to make a race of it, attacking Armistead countless times on the Acton Lane hill. However, every time Armistead had it covered. Melissa O'Reilly (Planet X) also attempted to split things up but the field came together after the short hill every time.

Michelle Bergstand (Rapah-Condor), in black, gave Lizzie Armistead (Global Racing) a hard time

With all the main contenders safely at the front of the group the outcome of the race was not affected when one rider clipped a wing mirror of a stationary vehicle after turning in to Acton Lane on the penultimate lap. Several riders came down, but none were seriously hurt.

Claire Thomas (ERC Bicycleworks) finished the race, despite a number of minor cuts and abrasions

With all the attacks on Lizzie Armistead coming to nothing, interest turned to winning the Road stage and the final climb up Acton Lane looked set to produce a dramatic sprint. However, having been on the defensive for so long, Lizzie Armistead looked relieved to take the initiative and she soared away to take her second stage victory with some comfort, confirming her overall first prize (sponsored by Shiny Bikes.com) in the process and leaving the rest of the bunch to fight it out for the remaining places.


Happy Now! Lizzie Armistead (Global Racing) breathes a sigh of relief as she crosses the finishing line

Results

Stage 1 Time TT
1. Lizzie Armitstead Global Racing 04:51
2. Carlie Bedingfield Team Luciano 04:54
3. Ruthie Manly Rapha-Condor RT 04:55
4. Emma Trott VC Londres 05:01
5. Alice Monger-Godfrey VC Londres 05:03
6. Joanna Rowsell Global Racing Team 05:03
7. Becki Rimmington VC St Raphel 05:05
8. Jane Kilmartin Rapha-Condor RT 05:05
9. Jeanette Caldicott Team Luciano 05:08
10. Michelle Bergstand Rapha-Condor RT 05:08
11. Jessica Allen Pinarello RT 05:09
12. Hannah Bussey Team Luciano 05:12
13. Tracey Fletcher Fat Birds CC 05:13
14. Melissa O'Reilly Planet X 05:15
15. Katie Colclough Fat Birds CC 05:18
16. Fiona Meade Team Ireland 05:19
17. Louise Mahe Cycles Dauphin RT 05:22
18. Cayley Ennett Team Isle Of Man 05:23
19. Jo Tindley Bristol Cycling Squad 05:23
20. Cathy Weiss Agiskoviner 05:25
21. Kimberley Walsh BC Private Member 05:25
22. Adrienne McCarthy Team Ireland 05:28
23. Antonia Burt Twickenham CC 05:28
24. Alix Chester Fat Birds CC 05:29
25. Lizzy Goodband Fat Birds CC 05:31
26. Bryne GS Strada 05:31
27. Sophie Johnson Trek-VW 05:31
28. Gabriella Coates Evans Cycles RT 05:33
29. Lucy Martin ERV Pro Cycling 05:39
30. Hannah Rich Pinarello RT 05:41

 

Stage 2 - 80km

1 Lizzie Armitstead Global Racing 2.18.40
2 Louise Mahe Cycles Dauphin RT at 4s
3 Alice Monger-Godfrey VC Londres at same time
4 Melissa O?Reilly Planet X at same time
5 Lucy Martin ERV Pro Cycling at same time
6 Jessica Allen Pinarello RT at same time
7 Michelle Bergstand Rapha-Condor RT at same time
8 Alix Chester Fat Birds CC at same time
9 Sarah Bryne GS Strada at same time
10 Hannah Bussey Team Luciano at same time
11 Antonia Burt Twickenham CC at same time
12 Emma Trott VC Londres at same time
13 Jane Kilmartin Rapha-Condor RT at same time
14 Katie Colclough Fat Birds CC at same time
15 Lizzy Goodband Fat Birds CC at same time
16 Sophie Johnson Trek-VW at same time
17 Cayley Ennett Team Isle Of Man at same time
=18 Charlotte Colclough Fat Birds CC at same time
=18 Tracey Fletcher Fat Birds CC at same time
=18 Hannah Rich Pinarello RT at same time
=18 Cathy Weiss Agiskoviner at same time
=18 Ruthie Manly  Rapha-Condor RT at same time
=18 Carlie Bedingfield Team Luciano at same time
24 Adrienne McCarthy Team Ireland at same time
25 Jeanette Caldicott Team Luciano at same time

 

Final Overall
1. Lizzie Armitstead Global Racing 2:23:31
2. Carlie Bedingfield Team Luciano 2:23:38
3. Ruthie Manly Rapha-Condor RT 2:23:39
4. Emma Trott VC Londres 2:23:45
5. Alice Monger-Godfrey VC Londres 2:23:47
6. Jane Kilmartin Rapha-Condor RT 2:23:49
7 = Jeanette Caldicott Team Luciano 2:23:52
7 = Michelle Bergstand Rapha-Condor RT 2:23:52
9. Jessica Allen Pinarello RT 2:23:53
10. Hannah Bussey Team Luciano 2:23:56
11. Tracey Fletcher Fat Birds CC 2:23:57
12. Melissa O'Reilly Planet X 2:23:59
13. Katie Colclough Fat Birds CC 2:24:02
14. Louise Mahe Cycles Dauphin RT 2:24:06
15. Cayley Ennett Team Isle Of Man 2:24:07
16. Cathy Weiss Agiskoviner 2:24:09
17 = Adrienne McCarthy Team Ireland 2:24:12
17 = Antonia Burt Twickenham CC 2:24:12
19. Alix Chester Fat Birds CC 2:24:13
20 = Lizzy Goodband Fat Birds CC 2:24:15
20 = Sarah Bryne GS Strada 2:24:15
22. Sophie Johnson Trek-VW 2:24:15
23. Gabriella Coates Evans Cycles RT 2:24:17
24. Fiona Meade Team Ireland 2:24:20
25. Lucy Martin ERV Pro Cycling 2:24:23
26. Jo Tindley Bristol Cycling Squad 2:24:24
27. Hannah Rich Pinarello RT 2:24:25
28. Joanna Rowsell Global Racing Team 2:24:33
29. Kimberley Walsh BC Private Member 2:25:00
30. Becki Rimmington VC St Raphel dnf