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3 Days of Bedford International Stage Race
May 29-31, 2004
By Jon Miles
Angela Hunter - GS Strada, won the 3 Days of Bedford Women's International Stage Race, financially supported by Bedford Borough Council, by almost the same time gap that she carried over from her individual win in the 9.7 kilometre time trial but the star of this 5 stage event was Lorna Webb - Impsport Composite Team who won 4 of the stages but lost so much time in that time trial.
With the biggest field ever in women's racing in this country down to ride, this major stage race opened with the Prologue at the Milton Keynes National Cycling Circuit with Lorna Webb 3 seconds faster than the Luxembourg champion Isabelle Hoffman - Team Bianchi and Colette Swift - Cycling Ireland.
With a break for lunch the riders were in action again with a 51 kilometre circuit race at the MK Bowl; during the stage, time bonuses were on offer in the Sprint Competition and it was these that attracted the fiercest racing; into the final lap with Angela Hunter leading the bunch towards the flag but it was Lorna Webb who grabbed her 2nd stage win with Hunter in 2nd place, noted Team Luciano sprinter Helen Gutteridge claimed third place.
71 riders faced the time keeper for the time trial trip from Ravensden to Keysoe in perfect weather with little wind and it was here that Hunter, with her special low profile bike, laid her claim to overall victory as she covered the 9.7 kilometre lumpy course in 13 minutes 34 seconds, Colette Swift of Cycling Ireland showed well in 2nd place 44 seconds later and Hoffman in 3rd place.
The 4th stage covered 80 kilometres on a course from Keysoe to Colmworth, Little Staughton when the Sprint and Hill competition were on the minds of the riders. It was really all about those vital bonus seconds in both those competitions that riders went for, hoping to whittle away the lead that Hunter had built up.
The race speed was always high with attacks trying but not always succeeding until the 2nd lap when Hoffman and Roisian Kennedy - Cycling Ireland broke away and they were free for 2 of the 12 kilometre lap but the speed of the bunch gradually drew them in again and in the final sprint it was Lorna Webb who was the fastest up Mill Hill to take her 3rd stage win of the race just beating Hele Gutteridge and youngster Amy Hunt - WCRA.
It was even warmer for the final stage in Astwood and aching legs faced another 80 kilometres with all to race for but Hunter was closely watching her main rivals who chased the bonus seconds; her experience meant that no one was allowed to gain any time at all.
Lorna Webb won her 4th stage to cap a great race for her with Gutteridge again in 2nd place and Hunter in close attendance in 3rd. When the final bonuses were calculated it was Angela Hunter who took the first 3 day for women with 24 seconds in hand over Isablee Hoffman in 2nd place, Colette Swift rounded up a wonderful stage race for her in a solid 3rd place.
Results
Final general classification 1 Angela Hunter (GS Strada) 6.07.31 2 Isabelle Hoffman (Team Bianchi-Holland) 0.24 3 Colette Swift (Cycling Ireland) 0.48 4 Nikki Harris (WCRA) 0.51 5 Lorna Webb (Impsport Composite) 0.56 6 Jeanette Tebbutt (Team Luciano) 1.04 7 Diane Moss (Team Luciano) 1.07 8 Leda Cox (Impsport Composite) 1.08 9 Julie O'Hagan (Letchworth Velo Club) 1.16 10 Laura Bissell (Impsport Composite) 1.18 11 Susie Godart (Team Bianchi) 1.19 12 Alexandra Nohles (Team Bianchi) 1.27 13 Helen Gutteridge (Team Luciano) 1.28 14 Caroline James (ERV) 1.29 15 Siobhan Dervan (Cycling Ireland) 1.40 Sprint Competition Isabelle Hoffman (Team Bianchi) Hill Competition Siobhan Dervan (Cycling Ireland) Team competition 1 Team Luciano 266 pts 2 Team Bianchi-Holland 219 3 Impsport Composite 193 4 Cycling Ireland 182 5 Letchworth Velo Club 171 6 Central Division 110
