| June
Nicole has won her tenth British Road Race title, her 9th
succesive victory in the championship.
A key aggressor throughout the 80 mile race in South Wales Nicole's attacks
helped create a breakaway group of four riders.
Nicole, Emma Pooley, and Lizzie Armitstead joined early leader Catherine
Williamson after 30 miles, with Williamsson unable to hang onto the other
three in the latter stages.
The leading trio took turns attacking each other
on the finishing circuit, but it all came down to a super fast downhill
sprint in the town centre where Nicole made it 10 wins in 11 years of
racing the British Championship. Armitstead took second place but the
silver medal was given to Pooley and the bronze to Williamson because
Armistead was instead awarded the Under 23 Championship victory.
“That win feels very special just like
the first time. It was an incredible race today with the home crowd so definitely
a very special one for number 10.” “It
was a beautiful course today and a really good finish. Emma made a hard
attack on the first lap and it was good to see what form she had in her
legs at that point. I was really happy with the game plan I chose today.”
“All of us had had a go at trying to attack in
the finale and then it was coming down to a sprint, and I have had some
quite good sprint finishes in the last few weeks so I was feeling confident
going into it. I just knew, if I went at the right time and didn’t
make any mistakes, it would be a really good finish.”
“Vision 1 has had a really good few weeks. We
have got a really good spirit in Vision 1 and things are building up and
we have the momentum going now which is really incredible for such a small
team in its first year.”
Nicole aims for a tenth British
Road Race title this weekend in Abergavenny, South Wales.
She won her first British Champions jersey in 1999 aged just
16, and last year won her 8th succesive national road race!
"It's a special jersey and there is a lot of prestige
which goes with being the British champion. To win it again this year
will be just as special as winning it the first time."
After her recent good form she'll again start
as favourite but the growing strength in depth in British women's cycling
means it will be tougher than ever.
The race also returns to Nicole's home country
of Wales for the first time in 5 years, with the womens race on Saturday
27th, and the male championships the following day.
"I'm training for this like it is the first time. It's a new race,
new rivals and a different course so I'll do my best."
For details of the event click bcf
website.
Nicole has won the 2 day Giro de Trentino in Northern Italy,
taking a 1st and 2nd place on the two stages.
On Thursday 18th a sprint finish saw her led
out well by her Vision One team mates, but she was just pipped on the
line by Former World Champion Regina Schleicher.
Friday's stage was much tougher with several hills inlcuding
a stiff 14% climb to the finish. Nicole and Vision One Racing
team mate Vicky Whitelaw made it into a break of five, with Vicky putting
in a huge effort before Nicole took control in the final 400m. She finished
8 seconds clear to take the stage, overall victory and the points jersey.
watch
Nicole's video diary from the Giro del Trentino
Nicole began June in Spain with two victories as an indication that her
form is really building towards her main objectives in the second half
of the season.
On Tuesday 9th she won a sprint finish to take fifth place behind
a break of four in the Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
(1.2) race.
Her fast finishing form was also in evidence in the Basque Country over
the weekend winning two of the five stages at Iurreta-Emakumeen
Bira.
2nd on Thursday's opening 80km stage, she then won a bunch gallop
for the line in stage 2, beating Diana Ziliute to move top of the General
Classification.
12th in a morning criterium on Saturday, later in the day she outsprinted
overall winner Judith Arndt to take stage 3b.
Nicole was fourth on the final stage, and also took fourth on final GC.
Nicole and her Vision One Racing
Team head off to Spain for two races at the beginning of June.
Travel to and from races around the Continent requires reliable transport,
and vehicular support is also crucial within the races. Victoria
Park Mazda have provided Vison One Racing with this Mazda 6 TS2,
and the teams thnaks go to Andrew at the Cardiff based dealer for his support.
Nicole is supporting a new campaign to
promote Welsh city Newport.
It's the home of the Wales International Velodrome, and the City has hosted
National Road Championships.
"It's great that Newport supports sport so well and I hope that world
class facilities like the velodrome and others around the city continue
to be used by everyone in the community, from schools and clubs to sporting
champions!"
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