It was a beautiful day to be in a beautiful part of the country as 21 women racers rode out from Knockburn Loch at the start of the Feew-Side Women’s Road Race, part of the Scottish Cycling National Women’s Road Race Series 2016. As an added bonus it also incorporated the Scottish National Junior Women’s Road Race Championship 2016.

The race would be over 68km and would take in three loops south from Strachan to the AA box on the road to the Cairn O’ Mount, looping back to Strachan and the Feughside Inn. Then there would be one final circuit up Shooter’s Green Hill, onto Potarch and round by Marywell and Finzean before passing back through Strachan for the last time and a new finish on the tri circuit at Knockburn.

Neautralised through Strachan for the first time the bunch was riding steadily but altogether as the came down to the lefthander at the AA box but second time around it was a different story.

Juli Rourke (Edinburgh Road Club) had made a bid to go clear and seeing how strong she was, Steph Mottram (Cliff Pratt Racing), making a rare appearance in Scotland, went after her. Rourke was suffering with pain in her knee and was forced to drop back so it was decision time for Mottram…and she never looked back, quite literally.

Coming past the southern turn for the second time she was out on her own with Rourke not too far behind and the bunch being led through by Natalie Munro (Moray Firth CC). Several riders were struggling to stay in contact with Ingrid Kidd (Angus Bike Chain), Christina MacKenzie (Stirling BC), Emma Borthwick (ERC) and Karolyn Brown (Ythan CC) all lining out and Eleanor Strathdee (ERC) following through.

Mottram was out on her own but a chase group was now forming with Genevieve Whitson (Isorex Cycling Team), Natalie Munro, Helen Wyld (ERC), Sarah Bradford (Team Jadan-Weldtite), Amanda Tweedie (Velocity 44), Kirsty MacPhee (Rock and Road Cycles), Georgia Mansfield (Forres CC) and Jess Millar (Johnstone Wheelers CC) all still in attendance. Kidd and MacKenzie had Lulu Bartlett (The Racers) for company as they tried to limit their losses.

Through for a third time and this was how it stood with Brown and Borthwick dropping further away and Strathdee valiantly continuing on her own some way behind the main race.

Onto the final long loop and the chasers were closing on the lone leader…down to 18 seconds at one point but the more experienced Rourke and Whitson were doing the majority of the work.

“The girls were all taking turns but they weren’t coming through aggressively enough to actually pull the leader back. Racing down south has made me more aggressive but it wasn’t to be today, especially as my knee was hurting so much.”

Julianna Rourke

Eventually Whitson and Rourke turned off their efforts at the front and Mottram was left to solo to the finish. Into the final straight and it was a convincing win in front of the fans and she crossed the line and then had to sit on the grass, totally spent. A minute later Whitson and Munro fought out the final podium places with Rourke and Wyld just a couple of lengths behind. Another super sprint from the strong Isorex rider with Munro just missing out. A good performance from Rourke considering her knee and a standout showing from Wyld who just continues to get better and better.

Next to finish, two minutes later and on her own, was Sarah Bradford and she picked up the Junior Championship title in her final year at that level. The women were coming home in singles with first Amanda Tweedie and then Kirsty MacPhee crossing the line. Another top-notch performance from the V44 rider, considering she was carrying a saliva gland infection, and a super ride for the other MacPhee sister from South Uist.

Another two minutes and MacKenzie had overhauled Emily Middleditch (Deeside Thistle CC) with Ingrid Kidd another 15 seconds back. Then it was silver in the juniors with a fine ride from Georgia Mansfield before Jess Millar rounded out that championship a further 3 minutes later…but she had to sprint for it as Karolyn Brown was almost on her, a great ride for the triathlete riding her first ‘proper’ race. Lulu Bartlett was just one second behind the Ythan rider and then we waited for the final two ERC riders.

Special mention must go to the two 3rd cat juniors who were on their own for most of the race but continued on nonetheless. Top marks to all of the spectators and most of the riders who stayed at the finish until Strathdee came home. More to come from both of these young riders in the future.

A number of the women now head to the Ras with Mottram and Tweedie taking part, the V44 rider teaming up with Scottish/Swedish import Gabriella Nordin at Starley and Mottram in a Cliff Pratt Racing team with Jennifer George. Riding like she did today, we’ll watch for fireworks in Ireland.