Eileen Roe (Starley Primal) wrapped up the Matrix Fitness GP Series title in style, winning the final round in Woking.
Scottish star Roe, who is set to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, outsprinted previous round winner Amy Roberts (Wiggle-Honda) and rising star Grace Garner (RST Racing Team) on the long final straight to seal overall victory.
Charline Joiner (Pearl Izumi Sports Tour International), who went into the round in second place overall and who will also ride for Scotland at Glasgow 2014, could only finish sixth despite a strong effort from her team-mates in the lead group.
The team – who boast six-time Paralympic cycling champion Dame Sarah Storey among their ranks – enjoyed a strong presence in the front group as a fast pace saw the bunch fracture lap-by-lap.
Also at the front was national cyclo-cross champion Helen Wyman (Matrix Fitness-Vulpine), who won the night’s sprint competition to seal overall victory in the classification – her sterling form in the winter having seemingly been carried into the road season.
Tamiko Butler (WyndyMilla-Reynolds) was also very active in the front group, her aggressive style earning the combativity award but not enough to shake off her elite companions.
By the time of the final lap, the group had been whittled down further, with Roe leading the way as they rounded the final bend on the wheels of a trailing group of riders.
It made for a messy affair, but Roe remained unperturbed, powering up the final straight to hold off Roberts and Garner – whose sister, Lucy, has twice won in Woking – to ensure the overall classification was wrapped up in style.
Joiner’s efforts didn’t go unrewarded however, with team-mate Gabriella Shaw, runner-up in the London Nocturne, following her over the line – in sixth and seventh respectively – to wrap up overall team success.
Two victories for Katie Archibald this year, added to consistent showings from the likes of Shaw, Joiner and Storey, meant they finished 58 points clear of second-placed Matrix Fitness-Vulpine.
Highlights of the final round of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series will be shown as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series highlights on ITV4 at 8pm on Wednesday 11 June, with a repeat on Thursday 12 June at 12.50pm.
Matrix Fitness GP Series: round five (Woking) – result
1) Eileen Roe (GBR) – Starley Primal Pro Cycling
2) Amy Roberts (GBR) – Wiggle Honda
3) Grace Garner (GBR) – RST Racing Team
4) Katie Curtis (GBR) – Starley Primal Pro Cycling
5) Clemence Copie (GBR) – Team MuleBar Girl-Sigma Sport
6) Charline Joiner (GBR) –Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
7) Gabriella Shaw (GBR) – Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
8) Laura Greenhalgh (GBR) – Twickenham CC
9) Lydia Boylan (IRL) – Velosport-Pasta Montegrappa
10) Jo Tindley (GBR) – Matrix Fitness-Vulpine
Final individual standings
1) Eileen Roe (GBR) – Starley Primal Pro Cycling – 104pts
2) Charline Joiner (GBR) – Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International – 91pts
3) Amy Roberts (GBR) – Wiggle Honda – 69pts
4) Katie Curtis (GBR) – Starley Primal Pro Cycling – 69pts
5) Helen Wyman (GBR) – Matrix Fitness-Vulpine – 69pts
Final team standings
1) Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International – 227pts
2) Matrix Fitness – Vulpine – 169pts
3) Starley Primal Pro Cycling – 136pts
4) Team MuleBar Girl-Sigma Sport – 88pts
5) Velosport-Pasta Montegrappa – 73pts
6) RST Racing Team – 64pts
7) Epic Cycles – Scott WRT – 49pts
8) WyndyMilla Reynolds – 46pts
9) GBcycles.co.uk – 3pts
