Press Release: Local team’s Robyn Clay triumphant at Lincoln Grand Prix

Robyn Clay from Lincoln-based Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee Cycling Team took the title in style with a strong performance in Rapha Women’s Lincoln Grand Prix

Press Release: Local team’s Robyn Clay triumphant at Lincoln Grand Prix

Local team triumphant at Lincoln Grand Prix

Robyn Clay from Lincoln-based Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee Cycling Team took the title in style with a strong performance in today’s Rapha Women’s Lincoln Grand Prix.

Soloing to victory on her final assent along the cobbles of Michaelgate, 19-year-old Robyn secured her first podium appearance in a National Road Series race, the biggest win of her career so far, and a triumphant moment enjoyed by the Lincoln team in their home city. On lap four with half of the race distance complete, Robyn was one of a quintet of riders to break clear from the pack, quickly establishing a lead of 30 seconds. A lead that continued to open and in the penultimate lap, the 5-strong group of leading riders took the bell with a significant lead of 1’50”

It was then on the final assent along the cobbles of Michaelgate that Clay made the decisive call to break clear: “We were all together and we were just coming up to Michaelgate, the two riders from Das-Handsling took to the left, and I took to the right, we were all pressing on, but I felt I could go harder, so I did, I just went as hard as I could, I looked back a few times, but I got the gap. I literally dreamed of this moment, but I didn’t think it would happen this soon in the season, I can’t quite believe it.”

Robyn credited the Lincoln crowds with cheering her on: “Without the crowds I don’t think I could do it, everyone cheering me on, it was fantastic.”

Managing Director of 200 Degrees Coffee Stephen Fern was on hand to watch the event “The feeling seeing Robyn coming around the corner in first place, up the cobbles in a sun blessed Lincoln, with the cathedral towering over the finish line is hard to put into words. despite 200 Degrees Coffees relatively short association with the team, getting to know the riders, coaches, management and volunteers creates a huge sense of passion and pride. Phenomenal efforts from all our team and volunteers today. Inspirational in a word.”

Phil Kelly, managing director of Pro-Noctis “Lincoln is not only our teams home it is truly somewhere special for us as sponsors and the team. Having Jo Tindley win the National Criterium Championships there in 2021 to Pro-Noctis sponsoring the Lincoln Grand Prix in 2022 it was somewhere we held dear in our hearts. And now this! Seeing the team grow again this year in terms of maturity and race craft put us in good stead for the 2023 Lincoln GP.

To see our youngest rider rip the race apart on the final ascent of Michaelgate following a fantastic team performance all race was something truly special. Robyn Clay is someone who has seamlessly transitioned into our team this year with her humour, confidence and aggressive style of racing. On numerous occasions she has sacrificed her own result to help her teammates achieve so there is no doubt in our mind how much Robyn deserves this incredible result.

We have been incredibly proud headline sponsors for three seasons and this team keeps punching above their weight and surpassing all expectations. Another truly incredible accomplishment achieved yesterday.”

Also amongst the crowds was Alex Ingham, Managing Director of MI Supplies, and sponsor of the team and Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. “A fantastic group of individuals in an awesome team. Thoroughly deserved victory for Robyn and the team. Such a brilliant result.”

Robyn joined the roster of Lincoln team Pro-Noctis Heidi Kjeldsen, 200 Degrees Coffee, one of the top UK women’s cycling teams, at the start of the 2023 season. The team now in their third year are the British Circuit Series Champs and Tour Series Champs. Team manager, Rick Lister, from Lincoln was delighted with today’s race: “It’s the teams home race, and the biggest race in the country that every bike rider wants to win so it’s fantastic for us to win on home soil. We have been trying to win the Lincoln Grand Prix for years, and eventually have done and it’s a brilliant feeling for the whole team.”

The Lincoln team now head to Belgium for a race on Thursday at Wilsele followed by the Vermarc Cycling Project 2 day stage race in the Leuven area of Belgium.