East Cleveland Classic - Race Report

Entering the race weekend all talk was about the parkour of this inaugural race and the second round of the National Road Race Series, on what feels like familiar roads due to the National Championships last year and the host for this year’s champs.

the peloton climb Saltburn Bank for the first time

Whilst Saltburn Bank is the focal point for the race, the picturesque finale to each lap, it’s not the only significant climb and those in the know have been saying that it was unlikely to be the decisive climb in the race. Indeed, the descents into the final climb were likely to be as significant, places were won and lost last year in the battle to get to the bottom of the Bank first.
The inclusion of an intermediate sprint prize 10km beyond the start/finish was sure to keep the pace high and the teams focussed into each lap.

Thankfully Sunday morning dawned bright and dry, with a weather forecast promising bright, dry conditions all day, but with a stiff breeze likely to form a headwind over the finish line.

We named a strong team for the day with a powerful climbing line up and a debut for new signing Lucy Gadd, so expectations were high for a strong team performance.
The strategy was to maintain a strong team presence from the start, keeping things well controlled and in a position to contest the sprint competition on laps two and three before ensuring the strong climbers were still present when the race defining attacks began, likely to be in the later stage of lap three and lap four.

Lucy E climbs above the Saltburn beach, the team’s individual names chalked on the road surface

It’s clear to everyone that the women’s peloton is developing fast, teams are getting stronger and young and talented riders are appearing, resulting in faster, more unpredictable racing. Hence, after a neutralised start, the racing started at a high pace resulting in a large group deterring any early breaks. Predictably Shibden Apex RT, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and ourselves maintained a strong presence at the front and despite the front of the race stretching out through the climbs and descents towards the end of each lap, the leading group came back together leaving Saltburn.
The sprint competitions were contested between the leading group and the same teams dominated, Jo taking sixth place overall.

Despite some splintering of the race, and expectation amongst spectators that Saltburn Bank would break things up further, the major names and teams controlled things and through the penultimate ascent to the finish line the big surprise was Cat Ferguson appearing to slip down the leading group. Closer inspection however revealed she was riding a spare bike and with rips in her jersey, a crash prior to approaching Saltburn had also affected Corinne and Lizi, who had both dropped further back as a consequence.

Amy heads into the start of the Saltburn Bank climb, the pace for positioning was furious

With Amy, Bexy, Jo, Lucy G and Zoe all battling to stay in the leading bunch entering the final lap, expectations were high for a close finish and a strong team result. Looking around the bunch as they came back together after Saltburn however, it became clear that the big teams who announced their intentions at the start of the race were still in control and preparing to contest the final moves.

Zoe crosses the line in 11th place

With occasional attacks controlled by the bunch and quickly brought back a big group came into view as they descended into Saltburn for their final, and decisive ascent of the Bank and initially it could have been anyone’s race but unsurprisingly perhaps, Shibden Apex RT hit the front with Cat Ferguson and Imogen Wolff pulling clear with only Eilidh Shaw of Alba Development Road Team able to match them, eventually splitting the Shibden pair on the podium.

Zoe crossed the line in a brilliant 11th place just 19 secs behind the winner with Bexy in 17th at 28 secs along with Lizi who’d put in a mighty effort to recover from her mechanical issues earlier.
Amy in 23rd (+36 secs), Lucy G 30th (+42 secs), Jo 35th (+1:56) and Corinne 44th (+8:05) rounded out a solid team performance against a strong, competetive peloton.

After the race Rick summarised the team’s overall performance:
”It was a good race for us, we had six of the eight riders in the leading group at one stage, Lizi had to work really hard to get back to the group after being caught behind the crash and unfortunately Corinne couldn’t get back after being delayed in the same incident.
It was a good overall result, with three in the top twenty we’re happy with that.”

and asked what the team can learn from the race?

“There are some strong juniors in these races that we have to watch, but we rode well as a team today, in the group throughout, we need to get our positioning right and take that into the next race in Lincoln”

the effort put in by the team is clear to see

words and photos Adam Winfield - Through the Lens Media