Location: Northwich Road, Northwich, Cheshire
Event: 28 April 2013
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The historic Cheshire Classic welcomes round two of the 2013 National Women's Road Race Series for 77-kilometres of racing on the outskirts of Weaverham in Northwich.
One of the longest running races in the national series, last year’s edition saw London Paralympic champion Sarah Storey power to victory on her way to the series title and another robust field is set to compete this Sunday.
“This year’s race is set to be one of the best yet,” commented race organiser Andy Wood.
“We have such a huge wealth of talent travelling from all over the UK, Scotland, Isle of Man and Wales. There is a nice mix of experienced riders alongside some very talented up and coming riders.”
“There is a nice mix of experienced riders alongside some very talented up and coming riders.”
Cheshire Classic organiser Andy Wood
With Storey not present in Scotland for the two-day City of Perth, teammate Anne Ewing won the first stage at the series opener on her way to the overall classification as the Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team occupied three of the top six spots.
Eileen Roe (third) - winner of the stage two time trial – and Penny Rowson (sixth) underlined the team’s potency and they will once again look to assert their talent in numbers without Storey.
Ewing was closely challenged by Hannah Barnes in Perthshire. The MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling won the final stage criterium to finish just threes seconds adrift of Ewing but will not be on the start line in Weaverham, instead focusing on round two of National Mountain Bike Cross Country Series in Wheal Maid Valley, Cornwall.
Barnes’ nonattendance leaves Charline Joiner, fifth in Perth, and Karla Boddy as the main threats for the Maxifuel outfit.
Great Britain’s Emily Kay, Bethany Hayward and Emily Nelson - part of the Olympic Development Programme - all return for Scott Contessa Epic after missing Perth due to the Energiewacht Tour junior women's race. Kay already has a win to her name in the series at 2012’s Surf & Turf Weekend.
British Cycling Olympic Academy Programme rider Amy Roberts is the sole representative for Wiggle-Honda Pro Cycling.
Welsh rider Amy Hill, who secured an excellent win in the Energiewacht Tour, will ride for Abergavenny Road Club and will want to continue an excellent campaign thus far.
The riders will take on 10 laps of the 7.7-kilometre circuit, each time tackling the Acton Bridge Hill which also hosts the finish of the race.
Past winners of the race include Nicole Cooke, Lucy Garner and Lizzie Armitstead.
