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Joanna Rowsell – VC Londres, capped her amazing year by winning the final race in the Women’s Team Race Series held on the Griffydam course near Leicester, organised by Nick Horner-Maddocks and Coalville Wheelers, by breaking away with 31 miles covered.
Rain had fallen before the race started leaving wet roads and this was to cause an accident, with 6 miles covered when 4 riders came down; Linda Hubbard and Gayle Taylor from Welland Valley retiring; Michelle Buck and Louise Mahe of Team QCP who although cut and bruised determinedly got going again and were to finish, gaining valuable points for their team.
This was a very aggressive race with many attacks taking place, the first attack came with 4 miles covered but was quickly caught. The hill just before the finish was always going to cause a problem on
this tough course with riders leaving at the rear.
With 21 miles covered the bunch split with 8 riders attacking but once again they were brought back by a vigilant bunch although noticeable in the attacks were Team Luciano, VC Londres and Team QCP. 2 miles later another attack – VC Londres with Team Luciano – again brought back.
One of these attacks was bound to stick and it was the one by Jo Rowsell after 31 miles, Carrie Beddingfield – Team Luciano, went after her and
with sensible blocking by their two teams, the gap increased to well over 2 minutes. Sara Burling – CC Giro, tried to get a gap 3 miles later but she was also caught.
With just 4 miles remaining the pace got to Carrie Beddingfield and she dropped back to the main bunch, through the bunch and onto the rear where it was noticeable that her team members were encouraging her to stay with the bunch, by word and deed, to gain those important team points.
With Joanne crossing the line in a magnificent first place, the sprint was taken by team mate Emma Trott to ensure a team win for the VC Londres; Jeanette Tebbutt sprinted into 3rd place to gain a very good result after an excellent season.
Another very good women’s race had ended with the main teams all working to get points and overall it was Team Luciano-Kuota who won the Team Series for the 4th time, truly what the Team Series is all about and the team to beat in 2007.
1. Jo Rowsell – VC Londres 2hrs 20 mins 10 secs
2. Emma Trott – VC Londres at 2 mins
3. Jeanette Tebbutt – Team Luciano-Kuota at 2 mins 1 sec
4. Diane Moss – Team Luciano-Kuota same time
5. Katie Curtis – CC Giro same time
6. Melissa Mather – Team Luciano-Kuota same time
7. Charlotte Colclough – Team Quality Cycle Products same time
8. Marie Stuart – Raleigh/ERV same time
9. Antonia Burt – Twickenham Cycling Club A
10. Sara Burling – CC Giro
11. Kelly Moore – West Midlands
12. Jill Postliethwaite – Welland Valley CC
13. Heather Summers – Team Luciano-Kuota
14. Becki Rimmington – Tri-Velo
15. Lara Wann – VC Londres
16. Helen Gutteridge – Team Luciano-Kuota
17. Amy Thompsom – Impsport A
18. Jo Tindley – VC Londres
19. Alice Monger-Godfrey – VC Londres
20. Carrie Bedingfield – Team Luciano-Kuota
21. Cayley Ennett – Team Quality Cycle Products
22. Lindsay Clark – Team Quality Cycle Products
23. Beth Clayton – CC Giro
24. Sarah Byrne – Impsport A
25. Louise Mahe – Team Quality Cycle Products
26. Michelle Buck – Team Quality Cycle Products
27. Kathryn McClelland – VC Londres
28. Barbra Etoe – Welland Valley CC
29. Sara Frost – Welland Valley CC
30. Lorna Marlow – Welland Valley CC
Team Overall
1. VC Londres – 457 points
2. Team Luciano-Kuota – 452 points
3. Team Quality Cycle Products – 302 points
4. Welland Valley CC – 221 points
5. CC Giro – 210 points
6. Impsport – 119 points
7. Raleigh ENV – 74 points
8. Twickenham Cycling Club A – 72 points
9. West Midlands – 69 points
10. Tri-Velo – 66 points
