The latest event in the inaugural Winter Series at the new British Cycling and Sport England funded Odd Down Cycling Circuit in Bath attracted a sizeable field of riders on Sunday morning.
In an attempt to get more women racing, British Cycling have run coaching sessions ahead of each race and also waived the cost of a Day Racing License.
Sunday’s session was led by British Cycling GB Talent Team Coach Frances Newstead, herself a former National Champion with support from organiser Stuart Gourley from Radeon Cycle Coaching.
Frances said: “It was fantastic to have so many women join in, we ran a great coaching session and had a wide range of riders taking part, from novices through to experienced competitive cyclists. The womens’ race attracted the biggest field we’ve had yet.”
One of those taking part was Olympic Modern Pentathlon Silver Medallist Heather Fell, competing in her first bike race and placing a very credible tenth.
Heather said: “It was fun! I was nervous at the start but Fran’s coaching beforehand really helped.Once I settled in to the race I was fine. I need to get used to riding through the corners in the bunch and the tactics.”
The womens’ race was won by Rose Osbourne of High Wycombe Cycling Club.
The first of the mens’ races also attracted more than ten first-timers amongst a field of almost 40. The lead constantly changed with the fast pace and strong headwind stretching out the field around the twisting, testing, 1.5km long circuit. A canny Jake Hollins took the win on the line.
The final mens’ race was won by James Coleman riding for local club VC Walcot, who made it “two wins in two races” having won the last event in the series held earlier in January.
Coleman who lives in Westwood near Bath, is the current duathlon World Champion in his 25-29 age category and has also only recently taken to bunch bike racing. He rode off the front of the race after just two laps and led for over 10 minutes before the chasing pack caught him with 6 laps to go.
Undeterred he went again, this time with Matthew Woods from the Hargroves Cycles Racing Team, the two of them working together to pull out a lead of over 100m. Coleman launched a last attack on the long uphill finishing straight to win by over 10 metres, an enthusiastic crowd cheering him on and his parents holding the chequer flag to wave him over the line.
The series comes to an end in two weeks time with events being run this coming Sunday and next.
The womens’ coaching and race is open to anyone with a suitable road bike, novice men can enter the 4th Category race, either on-line via the British Cycling website or on the day if there are spaces still available.
Plans are being developed to hold an evening series starting in May through to the autumn.
