Woodstock Classic Women’s Road Race Report
10th May 2015
The Condor ladies are not shy of a challenge and this year we have a team of at least 10 women who are happy to have a go at competition. Ranging from seasoned racers to first time newbies it seemed fitting that a local 3rd / 4th category women’s race supporting a local club would be a good race to try. So the 53 mile Bicester Millennium Woodstock Classic Women’s Road Race was entered by 8 willing ladies. None of the first timers seemed discouraged by the distance and signed up anyway. Although we found out later that one of our members actually thought she was signing up for a Sportive! When informed that it was actually a road race, she was nonplussed and was still up for it, awesome! A week before the race it was announced that the distance would be reduced to 38 miles, so 5 laps instead of 7 which depending on your viewpoint could be good or bad!
Pre-race reconnaissance missions complete, race day arrived and we were the biggest team in the event all looking brilliant in our pink and black kit. After a bit of a warmup we had the usual race briefing about what to do and what not to do, and after a little pep talk from the guest of honour Nicole Cooke it was time to get racing.
And were off! With a field of around 50 riders, the race was neutralised for the first mile or 2 until we actually hit the course, and as ever with road racing you never know how the pace is going to be. Probably due to the reduced distance many of the girls were chomping at the bit to get going, leading to speeds of over 20mph behind the lead car before the race had even started. Once the flag was pulled into the lead car and the racing started proper the speed instantly went up to around 25mph as we continued down the wide main road.
As we had pre-ridden the course we knew that half the course was on A/B roads and the other half was on technical single track roads with sharp bends and short but sharp climbs thrown in too so it was a good idea to try and be close to the front of the peloton when the race hit the single track. Unfortunately everyone else had this idea too. As we hit the first junction onto the single track trying to avoid the treacherous gravel on the bend the stronger girls who had been driving the pace at the front pushed hard and the field was split in half as they sprinted away. Aimee, Laura & Ruth were best positioned and after a bit of a hairy moment at the junction with some not keeping their line they managed to stay with the leading group. Aimee was obviously the strongest of the Condor ladies today holding her position near the front of the group and never seeming to falter. Laura was struggling a bit but was managing to keep in the lead group, sometimes going off the back a little but using her experience to jump on the wheel of someone else for a tow or using her down hilling prowess to get back on. Ruth struggled a bit on the 2nd lap and went off the back on the hilly section and we thought that was the last we’d seen of her but by lap 3 she was back, what an amazing recovery!
In the lead group the pace was kept high for the rest of the race, lulling now and again to allow just a little rest then it would be off again. 25-28mph on the flat and 35mph+ downhill were not uncommon speeds. This continued for the rest of the race, the pace was kept high, coupled with a strong headwind in places meant that no breaks were getting away. When a break looked like it was about to go on the single track section it was thwarted by oncoming traffic and that was the end of that. On the final climb of the last lap the pace in the front group increased and Laura lost contact with the leading group but worked with a couple of other riders to limit her losses. Meanwhile Aimee was lining herself up for the final sprint and got herself into a good position and came in 4th overall. Result! Laura came in not long after for a top 20 finish but not before being challenged to the line by one of the girls she’d been riding with, but she managed to hold her off and came across the line a few feet in front! Ruth was next over the line shortly after followed by Tyra a few minutes later.
Further back down the field the rest of the Condor ladies were doing the club proud, it didn’t matter that they were no longer in the lead group they all worked as hard as possible to complete the race as a race and there was no let up. Many of the ladies recorded their fastest rides to date and worked together and with other teams to finish the race. When you’re new to racing just getting round the course can be an achievement in itself, and the club is proud that none of our team dropped out or even let up the effort which would have been the easy option.
The whole team were also thrilled by the support and cheering from a large gathering of Condor members who had taken the time especially to come out to the race to support them. Stood for the bulk of the race on the most difficult part of the course, and then the finish line shouting encouragement just when negative thoughts might be creeping in definitely gave some magic watts to find that extra spurt of energy and carry on. It was very much appreciated by all.
Rumours were abound that there was cake back at the HQ and this appeared to be enough to launch some of the team at least into a second wind and get back there as quickly as possible! Next time maybe we should have the cake at the finish line as an extra incentive!
Well done to Aimee on her 4th place, but equally praise should be given to all our ladies that took part and showed great determination and commitment to get the race finished. Finally a big thank you to Bicester Millennium for such a great and well organised event. We’ll be back next year, hopefully in bigger numbers than this year!
Laura – Women’s Officer.
PS: There are some awesome photos of the race here, you’ll probably need to be a member of our facebook group to see them.
And… if you’re interested in some racing yourself, why not make contact with the Condors ladies via the Condors Ladies Facebook Group?