Round two of the 2018 HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series continues this Sunday at the Women’s CiCLE Classic.
Melton Mowbray hosts the start and finish of the third annual Women’s CiCLE Classic.
About the series
The seven-round HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series began at the Lincoln GP on 13 May and will finish at the Ryedale Grand Prix in August.
After this weekend’s second round at the CiCLE Classic, racing heads north to the two-day Tour of the Reservoir.
July sees the popular Otley Grand Prix on Wednesday 4 July before the Stockton Grand Prix and the first-ever running of the Barnsley Town Centre Races before the series concludes in Ryedale.
As in 2017, prize money for the HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series will be equal to the men’s HSBC UK | Spring Cup Series and HSBC UK | Grand Prix Series.
As well as individual honours for riders, teams also aim to come out on top in the team standings.
The course
Riders face a gruelling 105km course in the East Midlands at the CiCLE Classic – with the race both starting and finishing in Melton Mowbray.
The technical course features cobbled sections, gravelled paths and is one of the most exciting women’s races of the season, with the section in Owston seeing riders heading through farmlands.
What happened last year
In the second annual running of the Women’s CiCLE Classic, it was then Team WNT and Great Britain Cycling Team rider Katie Archibald who took the sprint win from a small breakaway group.
Archibald along with Nikki Juniper, chased down the lone leader on the road Laura Massey with 30km to go. Massey and Juniper finished in second and third respectively.
A dominant display on the day, Archibald also claimed the ‘Queen of Bergs’ competition after a thrilling race in Melton Mowbray.
Ones to watch
Storey Racing Cycling Team rider Rebecca Durrell will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after her stunning performance on the cobbles of Lincoln in round one of the HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series.
Second-placed Anna Henderson and third-placed Nikki Juniper in the overall standings after round one will provide stiff competition for Durrell as they also return in round two, looking to gain vital points.
Last year’s winner Katie Archibald will not be racing on Sunday, leaving her title in Melton Mowbray up for grabs.
Great British Cycling Team riders Emily Nelson and Neah Evans will play a big part in Sunday’s race as they line up for Storey Racing, with the game plan of helping Durrell maintain her overall lead.
Team Breeze, currently leading the overall team standings won’t be fielding a team on Sunday leaving it to second and third placed, Storey Racing and Trek-Drops to battle for the top spot.
How to follow
- Follow the action from the HSBC UK | National Women’s Road Series on our live blog from 1.45pm on Sunday for race updates, images and social media.
- Follow @BritishCycling on Twitter for updates from both events throughout the racing.
- Video highlights, reports, results, images and reaction will appear on the British Cycling website.
