Curlew Cup 2021 | HSBC-UK Women’s National Road Series Round 3
Bookend wins for Abi Smith now signed to [Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank] in a big bunch sprint into Stamfordham, Northumberland for the final round of the HSBC-UK Women’s National Road Series 2021.
Words & Images by Chris Maher
Glorious conditions welcomed the 80 or-so riders in this out of Season Curlew Cup. A little wind blowing kept the riders together as they made their way around the first of 2 larger circuits. The Ryals climb is the unique feature in this event and the 9th edition of the race proved a popular spot to watch the race unfold.
Indeed, most of the action happened on the climb to the Prime for the Queen-of-the-Mountain competition with a string of riders breaking free on both occasions. Illi Gardner [CAMS-Basso] took full points on both ascends with Eilidh Shaw [Tofauti Everyone Active], Connie Hayes [AWOL O’Shea], Abi Smith & Natalie Grinczer [CAMS-Basso] wearing the leaders jersey vying for the points to.
The second ascend and a much-reduced peloton saw the climbers breaking free for the longest break of the day up-to around 20 seconds through Matfen before been swallowed up going over the line for the penultimate small circuit against a cross-head-wind.
Around 35 riders held together into the final approach to the village where the road narrows through several twists and turns before sweeping left and over a little brow for a downward sprint to the line.
Talking after the race Abi said “I wanted the break of six to go (second ascend of the Ryals) as I wasn’t comfortable for a sprint. I’m not a renowned sprinter. I wanted that break to go but unfortunately, we got caught.
It was annoying! I thought about going at the last 10kms or so.
So yeh! I went early, just got my head down“ riding without a team around her.
Full Race Results
- Abi Smith Team Breeze Finished Elite 100
- Charlotte Berry Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 85
- April Tacey DROPS-LE COL SUPPORTED BY TEMP… Finished 1st 75
- Monica Greenwood Macclesfield Wheelers Finished 2nd 66
- Madeleine Gammons Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 2nd 58
- Eilidh Shaw Tofauti Everyone Active Finished 1st 51
- Corinne Side Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 45
- Hannah Lancaster Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 39
- Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 34
- Francesca Morgans-Slader AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 29
- Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 1st 25
- Alice McWilliam Grinta Coaching Finished 2nd 21
- Sian Botteley Brother U.K – Cycle Team OnFor… Finished 2nd 18
- Lucy Gadd Storey Racing Finished 1st 15
- Francesca Hall Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 1st 12
- Isabel Darvill Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 10
- Gwenno Hughes Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 8
- Suzetta Guerrini Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 6
- Rachel Galler Saint Piran WRT Finished 2nd 4
- Sophie Enever LVIV CYCLING TEAM (Womens) Finished 2nd 2
- Miriam Jessett Vredestein Basso Finished 2nd 0
- Lulu Bartlett Finished 2nd 0
- Robyn Clay Otley CC Finished 2nd 0
- Amy Graham Team Boompods Finished 2nd 0
- Jasmine Jones Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
- Anya Tamplin HuntBikeWheels Finished 2nd 0
- Beth Morrow Storey Racing Finished 1st 0
- Helen Ralston Paceline RT Finished 1st 0
- Polly Mason Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 2nd 0
- Beth Maciver Torvelo Racing Finished 3rd 0
- Illi Gardner CAMS-Basso Finished 1st 0
- Melissa Greaves Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 0
- Beth Harley-Jepson Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 2nd 0
- Erin Avill Storey Racing Finished 2nd 0
- Kerry Middleton Team LDN – Brother UK Finished 1st 0
- Katie Scott CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
- Lucy Ellmore SKODA DSI Cycling Academy Finished 1st 0
- Olivia Bent AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
- Becky Storrie CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
- Charlotte Colclough Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
- Lauren Watson Team Boompods Finished 2nd 0
- Daisy Barnes Brother U.K – Cycle Team OnFor… Finished 3rd 0
- Emma Jeffers JRC-Shutt-Ridley Race Team Finished 1st 0
- Alice Lethbridge AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
- Connie Hayes AWOL- O’Shea Finished 1st 0
- Olivia Bentley Torelli-Assure-Cayman Islands Finished 2nd 0
- Sophie Lankford Jadan – Vive le Velo Finished 1st 0
- Nicole Coates Torelli-Assure-Cayman Islands Finished 2nd 0
- Christina Wiejak Saint Piran WRT Finished 2nd 0
- Phoebe Martin AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
- Holly MacMahon Bianchi Dama Finished 2nd 0
- Amy Gornall Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 2nd 0
- Jo Tindley Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished Elite 0
- Hannah Bayes AWOL- O’Shea Finished 2nd 0
- Matea Deliu Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 0
- Heather Mayer Team Watto-LDN Finished 2nd 0
- Emma Edwards CAMS-Basso Finished 2nd 0
- Jennifer Powell Pro-Noctis – Redchilli Bikes -… Finished 1st 0
- Ione Johnson Finished 0
- Georgia Bullard Natural Greatness – Vib Sports Finished 2nd 0
- Chloe Vickers Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
- Dannielle Khan Isorex NoAqua Ladies Cycling T… Finished 2nd 0
- Flora Knight Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
- Jen McMahon Sub Rosa Finished 3rd 0
- Meg Smith Loughborough Lightning – TRG Finished 2nd 0
- Morgan Newberry SKODA DSI Cycling Academy Finished 2nd 0
- Arianne Holland Forth Velo Finished 2nd 0
- Sophie Earl Crimson Orientation Marketing … Finished 2nd 0
- Sarah Briggs RFDA Finished 2nd 0
Queen of the Mountain
1 Illi Gardner CAMS-Basso
2 Eilidh Shaw Tofauti Everyone Active Finished
3 Connie Hayes AWOL- O’Shea
4 Abi Smith Team Breeze
5 Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso
U23 Race Winner
Abi Smith Team Breeze
Team Winners and Overall Winners
Pro-Noctis Red Chilli Bikes-Heidi Kjeldsen
Overall Winners Podium
1 Abi Smith U23 Team Breeze
2 April Tacey U23 Drops Le-Col supported by Tempur
5 Natalie Grinczer CAMS-Basso
