News: Lincoln Women’s Team takes on Championship Circuit!

With the British road race championships being held in Lincoln in October, one of Britain’s newest women’s cycling teams (Pro-Noctis/Red Chilli Bikes/Heidi Kjeldsen) was quick to take on the cobbles, in a gruelling three-day training camp.

News: Lincoln Women’s Team takes on Championship Circuit!

The team with TV legend Jason Bradbury who has worked at the Tour Series for ITV in the past.

Pro-Noctis – Red Chilli Bikes – Heidi Kjeldsen is the team name for a new British women’s cycling team, managed by Lincoln’s Rick Lister. The team of seven are already packing a punch, with 20 top 10 placings, and 16 top 3 placings so far this season. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the training weekend was in fact the first time all seven riders have been together, providing a first time meeting for many of them, and putting each other through their paces on the Lincoln Grand Prix National Circuit.

Team manager Rick Lister, a former competitive cyclist explained that during Lockdown the team have only been able to compete together via Zwift, for which he gives the platform credit for the teams fantastic bond. “Online racing is a tool we use and it works, it is a different side to the sport, there are some people who do well at it, but not that well on the road, it’s bizarre, some of them love it, some of them loathe it. However it taught the girls the importance of riding as a unit, and for that it’s brilliant.”

On Day 1 of the training weekend, the team cycled out to the Lincolnshire wolds, a loop of approximately 130k, yet a distance the team are comfortable with. “The girls have been training on their own for the last year, but distance training as a group is much easier, being part of a group is more energy efficient making the longer rides possible.”

“Usually on club rides, they tend to race up hills, but for the riders who not natural climbers this can be demoralising. For me it was more important the girls stayed together, they got to know each other and worked as a team” Rick added Team rider Corinne Side added: “It’s nice to get see all the girls together, and get some group riding which we haven’t done in a while, other than on Zwift which was nice but we only ever heard each other over the phone, it’s nice to meet everyone.”

“We’ve got used to cycling alone over the last year, but it’s nice to be back, taking breaks from the wind.”

The girls riding up Michaelgate which will be very busy indeed in October

The team who derive from all corners of the UK, thoroughly enjoyed the weekend’s training, albeit slightly hillier than expected: Team rider Millie Skinner said: “It’s been lovely, other than yesterday when we went around in circles up hills, we did it one way, then we did it in reverse, then we did it the other way up and then we did it again.”

Rick commented: “They thought they were coming to the flat lands, but they know where the hills are now!” On Day 2, the team could be seen leaving Lincoln, heading out via Bardney and across to Newark to meet one of the teams title sponsors, returning through Stapleford woods, and taking in Thorpe on the Hill, before joining the A46 bike path at Skellingthorpe, and finally heading uphill to take on the National Road Race Circuit before checking out the National Circuit Race route too.

Lincoln last hosted the National Road Championships in 2015, and since then the Women’s race has been a feature in the annual Lincoln Grand Prix giving equal prize money in both the men and women’s races. The 2021 British National Road Championship week, will be a first, as Lincoln is set to host the Circuit Race Championships (also known as the Criterium Championships) in the same week. This has never been done in the UK before.

National Championships organiser Dan Elmore also took the opportunity to meet the team on Sunday 6th as they ascended Michaelgate: “ A time trial circuit, road race and circuit race coinciding on race week have never been done in the UK, and that’ll be pretty incredible, it’ll be a busy week, but a week of great racing.”

Dan also went on to explain that there is still time for local businesses to get involved: “We’re in the early stages at the moment, but we’re always looking for businesses to be part of the event in some way shape or form, from an exposure point of view, you are getting the best riders in the world.”

For the riders of team Pro-Noctis – Red Chilli Bikes – Heidi Kjeldsen, the team will next be together at the CiCLE classic on the 27th June at Melton Mowbray, before taking on the
Otley Grand Prix in Yorkshire on the 30th June. The team will also be competing in Rås na mBran 4 day Stage Race in Ireland in September, before returning to Lincoln for the British National Road Championships in October.

When asked about returning to Lincoln, Corinne said: “It’s going to be a fun race I’m sure.”

You can support the team this season via Just Giving by searching for Finishlinert. Proceeds help to cover the costs of racing, travel, equipment and accommodation.