The British Cycling Women’s Road Series travels to London for round three, the Hillingdon Grand Prix on 31 May and challengers Charline Joiner and Nicola Juniper will look to capitalise on the absence of series leader Dani King.
King leads the series by just one point after winning the two-day Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir in early April. But the Wiggle Honda rider missed the second round,the Cheshire Classic, due to continental duties with her team, meaning that Hillingdon will be the chance for those targeting the series to take control.
Form guide
Team WNT’s Charline Joiner is closest to stealing King’s crown, on 57 points to King’s 58, thanks to consistent finishing in the first two rounds.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Joiner was third on stage one of the opening round in Northumberland and finished the race sixth on general classification after placing 10th on the second stage.
Seventh place in April at the Cheshire Classic has 27-year-old Joiner as favourite to take the mantle of series leader with the halfway point in the eight-round series fast approaching.
Stern competition will come from 2014 series champion Nicola Juniper. The 33-year-old from Brentwood was a model of consistency last year and is proving to be equally resolute in 2015.
Juniper was third overall at round one and 11th in Cheshire leaves her third overall on 50 points.
In contrast to rounds one and two, the start list for Hillingdon lacks the big line-ups from powerhouse teams like Wiggle Honda and Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, who have dominated the podiums so far, making for an open and unpredictable race on the famous London closed-circuit.
Tour of the Reservoir stage two winner Joanna Rowsell and Cheshire Classic victor Dame Sarah Storey are both absent along with Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International teammates Ciara Horne and Katie Archibald.
Absent too is Matrix Fitness’ Laura Trott, runner-up in Cheshire along with 2013 Hillingdon winner Emily Kay of Team USN.
Other former winners include King and former junior world champion Lucy Garner. Wiggle Honda’s Amy Roberts (absent for 2015) won in 2014 ahead of Harriet Owen and youngster Abigail Dentus, the latter a good wildcard bet for a podium position this year.
The venue
Hillingdon’s one-mile closed circuit is a stark contrast to the tough, hilly road courses encountered so far this season. Fast, flowing and non-technical, the circuit will pose challenges of its own, with wind speed and direction likely to play their part.
With 80 kilometres of riding over 50 laps, the winner will require circuit racing savvy and road race endurance in equal measure, making the event an intriguing watch for spectators and a headache for pundits.
How to follow the race
A report, results, images and reaction will appear on the British Cycling website
