The 2016 Motorpoint Spring Cup Series is set for a spectacular finale at the Lincoln Grand Prix where the individual and team champions will be crowned after five thrilling rounds.
The British Cycling Women’s Road Series - led by Nicola Juniper - reaches its third round in Lincolnshire, part of a superb double header of racing on Sunday 15 May.
Jonny McEvoy leads the Motorpoint Spring Cup Series individual standings while his NFTO team have commanded the team competition from the first race, the Chorley Grand Prix.
But with a number of permutations, neither is guaranteed victory and the fight for honours will go to the finish line.
About the series
Motorpoint Spring Cup Series
The Motorpoint Spring Cup Series is a five-round series running from March through to May.
Action began with the Chorley Grand Prix followed by the Manx International Grand Prix before a trip north for the Tour of the Reservoir.
Last Sunday’s Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix was the penultimate round.
Riders race for the Motorpoint Spring Cup Series winner’s jersey while there is also the battle for the team classification.
British Cycling Women’s Road Series
The Lincoln Grand Prix is round three of eight in the British Cycling Women’s Road Series which runs from April to July, and follows the inaugural Manx International GP Feminin and the Tour of the Reservoir.
After the series visits Lincoln, the North Bucks Festival of Cycling Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 29 May at Newton Longville before the Essex Giro 2-Day, Curlew Cup and Otley Grand Prix in June.
The series culminates on Sunday 10 July with the Ryedale Grand Prix in Ampleforth, Yorkshire.
Riders are awarded points for their finishing position in each race, with the rider amassing the highest points total winning the coveted title of British Cycling Women’s Road Series champion.
The courses
Motorpoint Spring Cup Series
Starting at 12.30pm, the gruelling 103-mile race consists of 13 laps of a testing circuit that includes the famous Michaelgate climb that proved so decisive at the 2015 British Cycling National Road Championships.
The steep cobbled climb gives way to the finish line at Castle Square - where the race also starts - with Lincoln Cathedral providing the stunning backdrop.
Women’s Road Series
Starting at 9am, the women’s race will complete eight laps of the circuit, starting and finishing at Castle Square and totalling 63 miles.
Heading out to Burton and descending down Burton Hill, riders then turn on to the A57 to head back to the centre of Lincoln via Long Leys Road and Yarborough Road to complete one lap.
What happened last year
Last year Lincoln hosted the 2015 British Cycling National Road Championships, won by Peter Kennaugh and Lizzie Armitstead, with the Michaelgate climb proving pivotal in both races.
Ones to watch
Motorpoint Spring Cup Series
NFTO’s Jonathan McEvoy holds a slender advantage heading into the series finale on 87 points but with 30 points available to the winner it is possible for any of the current top seven to be crowned champion and take the Motorpoint Spring Cup Series winner’s jersey.
Intriguingly, McEvoy’s teammate Ian Bibby, winner at the Manx International Grand Prix and Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix, is one of those who can surpass him.
Team Raleigh’s Adria Moreno Sala, like McEvoy, has been consistently strong without winning a race in the series. Having yet to lead the series, the Spaniard could climb to the summit of the standings at the most crucial moment having amassed 80 points so far.
James Gullen completes the top three, a reflection of a superb season for Pedal Heaven to date and is just eight points behind McEvoy on 79.
NFTO have won three of the four rounds so far - only being denied at the Tour of the Reservoir - and their dominance is reflected in the team standings as they lead the pack on 204 points. Pedal Heaven and Madison Genesis are in hot pursuit but it is all or nothing on Sunday.
Women’s Road Series
Nicola Juniper’s pursuit of a third successive title stepped up with overall victory at the Tour of the Reservoir to give the Team Ford Ecoboost rider a 27-point cushion over junior Eleanor Dickinson, of Drops Cycling Development Team.
Both are set to start as is Drops Cycling’s Alice Barnes, who has happy memories of Lincoln.
The 20-year-old delivered a fantastic performance to take second at the 2015 British Cycling National Road Championships and is in fine form having won stage two of the Tour of the Reservoir.
Casp Racing’s Kimberley Ashton returns to the British Cycling Women’s Road Series having missed the Tour of the Reservoir after her victory at round one, the Manx International Grand Prix.
The race also incorporates the 2016 British Cycling National Junior Women’s Road Championships.
How to follow the racing
- Follow the action from the Motorpoint Spring Cup Series and British Cycling Women's Road Series on our live blog from 8.45am on Sunday for race updates, images and social media.
- Follow @BritishCycling on Twitter for updates from both events throughout the racing.
- Video highlights, report, results, images and reaction will appear on the British Cycling website.
- Highlights of the Motorpoint Spring Cup Series will be shown on Eurosport.
