Post race chat: Stephanie Mottram

Talking to a rider, Stephanie Mottram of NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli, who spent most of the Women’s Ryedale Grand Prix off the front on her own, going on to finish 17th

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Post race chat: Stephanie Mottram

A young lady, who in 2017 was third overall in the Holme Valley Wheelers stage race and second in the Tour of Malta, Stephanie Mottram of NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli, certainly made a name for herself in the Women’s Ryedale Grand Prix this year.

The rider from the Kuota UK sponsored team, went off the front on the second lap of the National Series race and opened up a gap of two minutes plus on her own on a very grippy circuit. At the time, the peloton was 50 plus strong. Many laps later, with only five miles to go or so, Stephanie was caught and by then, only 18 or so were in contention.

That alone says a lot about the effort she made on her own out front. After she crossed the line, Stephanie certainly looked like she had been in a bike race, slumped over the handlebars as she was congratulated by riders and teammates for her effort.

Leaving her to get her breathe back, when she could finally raise her head, Stephanie explained “that felt like a long day out to be fair. I could have done with one less lap!”

“It all happened by mistake because while I wanted to attack off the front, no-one went with me. I then hoped someone would bridge across and form a little group. I know the hills are strong for me but when you’re fighting against a bunch of girls like that at this level, its tough.”

“Going up the longest climb, at the top you turn into the wind, not the strongest wind but it was enough that after a long day, I really felt it on that final lap and that is where they got me.”

An exhausted Stephanie is congratulated by a teammate after the finish

“I was trying to keep the pace steady, especially up the hills and keep a good rhythm going, and then hammer it when it levelled out as that seems to be a strong point for me and I think that is why the gap was yo-yoing a lot”.

“I just kept telling myself to keep pushing, I just wanted to stay off the front, keep telling myself I can do it, I can stay there. Keep giving it my all. I wasn’t thinking about the end game. It wasn’t a bad way to finish the national series after a rocky start!”

“It was good fun though and I love this circuit, absolutely love it. They are the sort of hills I like to train on at home and to me this is the best course we have got”.

Well done to Stephanie for a great and memorable ride….

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