British Cycling – National Road Race Championships – Women’s

Women's National Road Race Championship — U23 Women’s RR Champion – Laura Trott

Women’s National RR Championship – Nicole Cooke

Northern Rock Cyclone 2011

British Cycling – National Road Race Championships – Women’s

Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography

The 2011 National Road Championships returned to the NE of England this year. The Northern Rock Cyclone’s is a double circuit, consisting of 1 large circuit and 3 small circuits at Stamfordham, Northumberland. This lumpy course has a steep ascend of the Ryals. The Women’s event covering a distance of 64m started at 9.00am heading anticlockwise out of the village and up a left hand climb.

The larger 22 mile circuit is covered firstly and this includes the climb of the Ryals. This climb would provide the splits in the bunch that would shaped the race.

Approaching the bottom part of the Ryals, a four girl group had already gained some time on the peleton and by the top of this main climb Emma Pooley – Garmin Cervelo, Nichole Cooke – MCipollini, Lizzie Armitstead & Sharon Laws (both Garmin Cervelo) had formed the decisive move.

Moving onto the 3 smaller laps, the girls maintained a healthy gap of over two minutes, with two more groups forming behind them. In the second group, Dani King – Horizon Fitness, Laura Trott – Moving Ladies, Lucy Martin – Garmin Cervelo, Helen Wyman – Kona Factory Racing & Catherine Williamson – Konica Minolta chased hard, but where unable to bridge across. Slipping further back, Horizon Fitness’s Joanna Rowsell was part of a 20 girl group that finished over five minutes down.

Former U23 Champion Lizzie Armitstead out sprinted Nicole Cooke, (Ten Times National Champion) to take the Gold Medal, with Sharon Laws collecting the Bronze. Last years Champion Emma Pooley followed in 4^th place.

Laura Trott brought in the second group, to take the U23 Championship title, and out sprinted Garmin Cervelo’s Lucy Martin, who took the Silver Medal. Horizon Fitness’s Dani King was hot on her heels and collected the Bronze Medal in the U23 title.

Senior Result