Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Dauphiné Libéré Photo ©: Sirotti |
Great Britain Road National Championships - CN
Saffron Walden, Great Britain, August 19, 2007
2006 Results Results
Eighth Heaven for Cooke
Welsh Wonder once again invincible in British Championships
By Ben Atkins, UK Editor, in Saffron Walden, England
|
Nicole Cooke won an unprecedented eighth British National Championships - and her seventh in a row - on the roads of Essex today. She attacked the rest of the breakaway group of seven, containing most of the pre-race favourites, on the last of five twenty-kilometre laps to solo away to take victory by nearly a minute.
Probably the strongest ever women's championship field took the start just outside Saffron Waldon, Essex in the re-scheduled race - postponed from July 1 because of flooding on and around the original Yorkshire course. The most serious competition to Cooke looked like it would come from multiple medallist Rachel Heal (Webcor Builders) and a strong Global Racing team led by national cyclo-cross champion Helen Wyman and including a number of the British endurance track squad, as well as last year's bronze medallist and under-23 champion Jo Rowson. A strong performance was also expected from Specialized Designs for Women rider Emma Pooley who recently added a solo stage win at the Thüringen-Rundfahrt to her third place at the Grand Boucle Feminine (behind Cooke) in June.
In the end, the quality of the opposition proved to be inconsequential, and Cooke's superiority showed on a predominantly flat course, that featured two not-too-testing climbs in the second half of each lap.
The dismal British summer weather, that caused the original race to be postponed on July, continued today, as riders were forced to endure several heavy showers in the early stages of the race.
How it unfolded
|
The first attack, which didn't occur until near the end of the second lap, was put in by Katie Curtis (Global Racing), forcing Cooke's Raleigh-Lifeforce team-mate, Tanja Slater to lead the chase. The move was countered mid-way through the third lap though, and a group of seven pulled clear containing most of the pre-race favourites.
The breakaway group - consisting of Nicole Cooke, Rachel Heal, Catherine Hare (Rapha-Condor), Emma Pooley, and the Global Racing trio of Helen Wyman, Nikki Harris and Lizzie Armitstead - worked well together and soon established an unassailable lead over the rest of the bunch, which didn't contain any teams strong enough to make any ground on the strong riders ahead.
One major absentee from the break was last year's bronze medallist and U23 champion Jo Rowson, who punctured as the move was made. She managed to regain the main bunch without too much trouble, but with three team-mates up the road, her own personal race was all but over.
|
With three in the lead group, Global Racing looked to make their numerical superiority count as they allowed Cooke and Pooley to do the lion's share of the work in the flatter sections.
With the lead over the main peloton meaning that the winner would come from the leading seven, it only remained to be seen whether the Global Racing team could make their superior numbers count, or if one or more riders would be able to get away.
|
Unsurprisingly, it was Cooke who put in the decisive move, attacking on a small rise halfway between the course's two climbs, and quickly opening a gap. On the lap's second climb, after only a few kilometres, her lead was already twenty seconds, and it continued to grow, as her former companions had no answer to her power.
As the race left the main circuit to the last two-kilometre drag to the finish line, Cooke continued to apply the pressure and took a comfortable solo victory and her eighth British title in nine years.
The remaining six breakaway riders stayed together to the finish, and Rachel Heal brought her superior sprint to bear, beating Helen Wyman in the sprint for the silver medal. Hare beat Harris to fourth, but she was compensated by the satisfaction of winning the U23 championship. Pooley and Armitstead, who took the U23 silver, followed.
The bunch was led home by Leanne Thompson (Lune RCC), taking eighth place, over seven and a half minutes back. Dianne Moss (Team Luciano) took ninth and Alice Monger-Godfrey (Glendene CC) completed the top ten and the U23 podium.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com
- Katie Curtis and Helen Wyman (Global Racing) get a pre-race rub down.
- US based Rachel Heal (Webcor Building) has come a long way for this race.
- Beverley Harper joins Rachel Heal her Webcor Building teammate for her first ever race in the UK!
- It's going to be a wet day so wisely, defending champion Nicole Cooke gets some extra lube on her chain.
- Jo Rowson (Global Racing), last year's bronze medallist and under 23 winner, looks unimpressed with today's weather!
- Emma Pooley (Specialized Designs for Women) looks like she means business today.
- The Cooke machine awaits its rider.
- Michelle Roberts and Catherine Hare (Rapha Condor) make their way to the roll out, layered up against the elements.
- The field awaits the start as the rain temporarily holds off.
- The field is all together as it tackles the second climb on the first lap.
- The favourites are all towards the front as the peloton climbs the first drag on lap two.
- Tanja Slater (Raleigh-Lifeforce) hits the front as the bunch pursues the early attack of Katie Curtis (Global Racing).
- On lap three, the selection was made Catherine Hare (Rapha Condor) leads Nicole Cooke (Raleigh-Lifeforce) and the three Global riders.
- The bunch follows the break up the climb but there is little momentum in their chase.
- Jo Rowson (Global Racing) was unfortunate to puncture just as the break went.
- Nikki Harris (Global Racing) was strong on the climbs today and was rewarded with the under-23 title.
- The main peloton passes by a picturesque thatched cottage in the pretty Essex countryside.
- Nicole Cooke (Raleigh-Lifeforce) heads for the finish line, all alone.
- Nicole Cooke (Raleigh-Lifeforce) takes the win! and her eight national title.
- It may be her eighth title but she looks as happy as if it was her first.
- Rachel Heal (Webcor Builders) grits her teeth as she makes her sprint.
- Rachel Heal (Webcor Builders) takes the sprint from Helen Wyman (Global Racing).
- Nikki Harris (Global Racing) out sprints Emma Pooley (Specialized Designs for Women) and teammate Lizzie Armitstead to take fifth place and the under-23 title.
- Emma Pooley (Specialized Designs for Women) rode a great race to finish sixth.
- This woman just loves to win!
- Teammates Cooke and Slater (Raleigh-Lifeforce) enjoy the sweet scent of victory.
- Nicole Cooke (Raleigh-Lifeforce) is very proud to be Welsh!
- Helen Wyman (Global Racing) is British cyclo cross champion and looks really happy to have a bronze medal on the road.
- Leanne Thompson (Lune RCC) takes the bunch sprint for eighth.
- The Under-23 Podium Lizzie Armitstead, Nikki Harris (both Global Racing) and Alice Monger-Godfrey (Glendene CC).
- The Elite Podium Rachel Heal (Webcor Builders), Nicole Cooke (Raleigh-Lifeforce) and Helen Wyman (Global Racing).
- The jersey winners Nicole Cooke (Elite) and Nikki Harris (U23).
- Running out of fingers! This is National title number eight!
- She has seven more of these at home and no one else has worn that jersey since 2000!
Results
Elite Women - 109km 1 Nicole Cooke (Raleigh / Lifeforce / Creation / HB) 3.44.39 2 Rachel Heal (Webcor Builders) 0.59 3 Helen Wyman (Global RT, Billato / Bioracer) 4 Catherine Hare (Rapha Condor RT) 5 Nikki Harris (Global RT, Billato / Bioracer) 6 Emma Pooley (Team Specialized Designs for Women) 7 Elizabeth Armistead (Global RT, Billato / Bioracer) 8 Leanne Thompson (Lune RCC) 7.33 9 Dianne Moss (Team Luciano) 10 Alice Monger-Godfrey (Glendene CC)
