The latest round of the Women’s RR Series held at Olveston, Glos on May 14. Team Rapha/Condor scored their first national category win when Caroline Kloiber out sprinted Jo Rowsell (VC Londres) and Jenny Derham (Twickenham CC) Here’s Caroline’s account of how she faired:
“It was a fairly local course for me, around 30 mins
drive away, and I had quite a lot of support around
the course which was nice.
The race was 80km, over 8 laps, with a climb of approx.
1km at the end of each lap. The finish was also at the
top of the hill. On driving the course we decided that
the race would most likely break up fairly quickly,
due to the hill, to become a true test of the
strongest riders.
The early pace was quite pedestrian, so the first time
up the hill I stretched my legs a little which strung
things out and dropped some girls. At the end of the
second lap, off the top of the hill, myself and Jenny
Derham forced the pace a little and spent a lap
working together around 20 secs ahead of the field. We
drifted back as it was still early, although more
small pockets of riders were now detached.
Fourth time up the hill and I made a bigger move
myself which immediately had a group of 5 of us away.
We got ourselves well organised so the gap back to the
chasing group grew over the next 2 laps to around 90
secs. Another big push by myself up the hill at the
end of the 6th lap whittled our number down to 3. With
all 3 of us contributing to the work over the
penultimate lap we increased our lead to 3 mins as we
entered the final circuit.
The final lap was a bit ‘cat & mouse’ with none of us
wanting to push things on, all trying to save for one
big push up the hill to finish. The tempo had slowed
enough for me to spend most of the final lap in my
small chainring trying to save my legs for the sprint.
I entered the final 400m of the race sat on Jenny
Derhams wheel, & with around 150m to go the hill
flattened out slightly and this is where I made my
move. I went hard to go past her and immediately
opened a gap, I felt strong yet still had another
change of pace should I have needed it – but I did not
need it! crossing the line for my first win at this
level. Delighted with the win and with how good I felt
throughout the race”
Results – Women – 50m
1. Caroline KLOIBER Team Rapha- Condor 02:23:00
2. Jo ROWSELL VC De Londres @ 0:01
3. Jenny DERHAM Twickenham CC / Evans / Natures Kiss st
4. Melissa MATHER Team Luciano @ 0:31
5. Lara WANN VC De Londres @ 0:45
6. Louise MAHÉ Sutton CC / De Ver Cycles @ 2:18
7. Sophie RUDERMAN www.agiskoviner.com st
8. Antonia BURT Twickenham CC / Evans / Natures Kiss st
9. Lisa PARSONS Somerset Road Club st
10. Hannah BUSSEY VC Meudon / Excel / Tiger / Cycle Kingdom st
11. Cecilia GLADH Kenilworth Wheelers st
12. Amy SMITH British Cycling Private Member st
13. Sara BURLING CC Giro st
14. Angela PIKE Wolverhampton Road Club st
15. Carrie BEDINGFIELD Team Luciano st
16. Paula MOSELEY Climb on Bikes st
17. Heather SUMMERS Team Luciano st
18. Natasha SCRIVENS Stratford CC st
19. Sophie JOHNSON Raleigh ERV st
20. Rosemary REMEDIOS Raleigh ERV @ 2:20
21. Helen GUTTERIDGE Team Luciano st
22. Jeanette TEBBUTT Team Luciano st
23. Claire HALL CC Giro st
24. Kirsten McCLELLAND CC Giro @ 2-30
25. Nikki WHEELER Velocity – The Exercise Deck @ 3:00
26. Jackie BULL Tri Velo @ 1 Lap
27. Marliyn JONES Tri Velo st
28. Jo TINDLEY VC De Londres st
29. Abi GREENAWAY Charge Bikes st
30. Emma TROTT VC De Londres st
