Race report: Elspeth Grace (National Trophy)

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Welwyn Wheeler’s rider Elspeth Grace reports on the exciting Junior Women’s race at Ipswich at the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross

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Race report: Elspeth Grace (National Trophy)

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Elspeth writes “This weekend the penultimate round of the national trophy took place on a fast, flowing course and with over a third of the elite women’s racers being in the junior category, it promised to be one of the most tightly contested races of the day.

From the very start the racing felt like a road race, with the long straights and leg sapping headwinds resulting in a series of chase groups forming behind the three leaders of the women’s race. This made the bunches extremely tactical, the pace occasionally easing off so much that it felt like a club run!

Eventually we had a group of four juniors (Meg James, Sophie Thackray, Maddie Gammons and myself) who had worked well together to shell riders off the back and keep the pressure on Ffion up the road.

With two laps to go, we had one thing on our mind – that coveted podium spot. Excitement came as, leading into the barn, I overcooked the sandy hairpin, resulting in ‘unexpected interface’ with the concrete. Fortunately, I recovered to rejoin the group, which held together until what was to be the decisive move on the final lap.

Sophie made a well judged attack just before the technical uphill/stair section, with none of us able to get back on terms as she powered away to take 4th and first junior. With six under 23 riders in the elite womens top 10, and a superb set of performances by the youth girls, this weekend proved that women’s cyclocross in the UK can only get bigger and better in coming years.

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Thank you Elspeth!

More on the national trophy Ipswich here

 

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