Hillingdon GP - Womens National Series

Riding this race we had Jo Tindley, Adel Tyson-Bloor, Eleanor Jones, Bex Heath, Ellie Gilham, Caroline Harding and Nicci Meadows.

The brief for this race was to be aggressive and attack to force a break-away, that would be our best chance to win the race as Lucy Garner, the world junior road race champion was riding.  The girls did just this and there were several moves that went up the road with one of our riders featuring in each of them.  Bex Heath was away with a group early on in the race but the other riders she was with weren't working so it was doomed to fail.  Adel did a brilliant lead-out for Jo who took one of the primes. 

Jo taking a prime, lead out by Adel

A move just over half way through the race saw Adel, and 3 other riders clear of the bunch.  They were soon joined by Lucy Garner and Elinor Barker.  With the major teams represented this move stuck and saw them clear of the bunch by over a minute.  Adel ended up 6th and Jo did a very respectable sprint to come in 4th in the bunch gallop and take 10th overall! 

Adel in the 6-(wo)man break!

 The girls worked brilliantly as a team, putting in work for team-mates when required.  Great team work!

Post race hug, Ellie, Adel, Bex, Caroline, Jo

Having taken 10th place at the Cheshire Classic, the first round of the National series back in April, Jo now lies in 10th place in the standings.  Adel lies in 17th overall having been away racing the Tour of Korea when Cheshire was on.

For full report and results:
http://www.velouk.net/2012/05/27/report-hillingdon-grand-prix/

Johnson Health Tech Round 2 - Peterborough

Riders for this round included Jo Tindley, Adel Tyson-Bloor, Bex Heath, Caroline Harding and Laura Clode.

Jo in the Sprinters Jersey at the start of the race

The second round at Peterborough was not such a technical circuit but wasn't without its challenges....and crashes.  Jo started this round wearing the sprinters jersey, earnt for her 2nd place in the standings.  Luck was not with us for this round as Caroline and Adel had both been ill coming into the round.  Also crashes meant that the girls were held up along the way.  Unfortunately Bex was caught up in an early crash and an epic chase back on to the hurtling bunch is testiment to her strength that she managed to get back on.  Both Jo and Bex were safely in the bunch but had missed out on the move of 3 riders up the road.  This move was never brought back and so it was a bunch sprint for the group of 20ish riders.  Some questionable sprinting saw a rider go down just in front of Jo and Bex who were then held up and unable to get through.   Bex ended up 14th and with the crashes and illnesses of both Adel and Caroline, the team slipped down to 5th in the round and 5th overall.  Jo lies in 9th place overall.

For full report and results:
http://www.velouk.net/2012/05/30/harriett-owen-conquers-peterborough-for-node4/

Johnson Health Tech Round 1 - Oxford

The first round of the televised tour series (ITV4) saw our 4 riders, Jo Tindley, Adel Tyson-Bloor, Eleanor Jones and Nicci Meadows, tactic a highly technical circuit.  The tight circuit and dead turns suited Jo down to the ground.

Taken from Velouk.net

A 50-rider strong field had assembled on St Giles in Oxford for the first round of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series in a strong entry headlined by World Champion Garner and last year’s Series Champion Helen Wyman.

The main move of the race came halfway through, when five riders went clear with Simpson joined by British Circuit Race Champion Hannah Barnes, Corrine Hall, Jo McRae and Jo Tindley.

Jo Tindley sprints to a victory in one of the mid race sprints.

The five worked well together to build what looked an unassailable lead. But over the closing laps the gap gradually came down thanks to the work of Garner who pulled a small group closer and closer.

Simpson and Tindley duked it out in an incredibly close second Sprint, which the VC St Raphael rider just edging Simpson, but there was no stopping the Northumbria University student who did enough to collect the Sprint honours for the evening.

Onto the final lap and Simpson attacked coming onto the long back straight, powering clear of her four breakaway companions. Through the final hairpin of the St Giles circuit the group closed, with the Garner led chasers in turn closing.

Simpson held on though, just crossing the line ahead of Barnes and Tindley for the win and the Series lead.

Having taken 1st place in one of the primes Jo moves into 2nd place in the standings for the sprints competition.  Adel finished in the bunch behind in 14th place and the team were 4th in this round, 1pt off 3rd place.

For full report and results:
http://www.velouk.net/2012/05/23/report-clean-sweep-of-prizes-for-annie-simpson-in-oxford/

Ellie 6th in Junior National Road Race

Ellie Gilham, ably assisted by Jo Tindley, raced the Junior National Road Race in South Wales.  Jo's role for the day was to cover all moves and keep the bunch together so that Ellie could be in contention on the 4km hill to the finish.  Jo delivered Ellie to the bottom of the climb with the group still together, her job being done, Ellie followed the front group up the hill.  Ellie ended up coming 6th in the Championship and 10th in the race overall.  An excellent result and she was the first 1st year junior to cross the line.  Brilliant ride by both and excellent team work.

Bedford International 2-day 5th-6th May

Our team of Jo Tindley, Adel Tyson-Bloor, Bex Heath, Caroline Harding, Nicci Meadows, Ellie Gilham tackled the 2-day 4-stage race.  The first stage being the 6-up team time trial saw the grirls put in a very strong ride to finish 5th team overall after the stage, not bad seeing as the first time they'd ridden together was on the way to the start!  Unfortunatley, Nicci had to pull out of the race at this stage through illness.  The second stage was a 50mile bunch race on the road.  The girls put in an excellent performance here with Ellie, Jo, Adel and Bex safely in the bunch.  Bad luck hit Ellie though as she was brought down with 3km to go so had to solo home.  The remaining 3 girls finished in the bunch.  Caroline withdrew during this stage.  The next day started with an individual TT where all the girls performed very well, Adel sneeking into the top 10 was an awesome ride.  The last stage was a road stage and Adel, Jo and Bex all went into this stage in 19th, 20th and 24th position, all to play for.  The tough hilly circuit sorted the riders out.  Being a very wet day, Adel suffered with her grip on the road and got distanced on the descent.  After some gentle persuasion she carried on riding like a woman posessed for the rest of the stage.  Jo and Bex finished with the bunch and ended upi 16th and 17th overall in the GC, which was excellent.  Ellie, having got tailed of the bunch with 2laps remaining, suffering with her tiny junior gears on the descent, meant that she finished her 1st major senior race in 35th position, a star in the making.  The team finished 5th overall.

The promotions continue!

Congratulations to Ellie Gilham, who has been promoted to 2nd category!  Keep up the good work, Ellie!

Jo's Comeback Continues

Cpngratulations to Jo Tindley who has been promoted to 2nd cat after less than two months into her comeback season!

Well done, Jo!