Sheffield Grand Prix Results and Report
Monica Greenwood of DAS-Handsling wins the 2023 Sheffield Grand Prix.
Round five of British Cycling’s National Circuit Race Series brought town-centre racing back to Sheffield for the first time since 2019. The 1.4 kilometre circuit was run in reverse from previous years and included cobbles and an enthusiastic crowd!
UCI Continental team DAS-Handsling took control from the start, forcing the pace and creating a split. A strong attack from Lucy Lee (DAS-Handsling) drew a group of twenty riders off the front, with a 10 second gap over the bunch. Team Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee then went to the front and the gap grew. Emma Jeffers (DAS-Handsling) tried another attack, but Team Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee had an eye on the overall standing and weren’t letting any DAS-Handsling riders go.
The pace is high at the Sheffield Grand Prix
While the pace remained high, neither of the teams would allow anyone to escape. It wasn’t until the lap-board came out that the winning break went. With under nine laps to go Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling) shot off the front, followed by Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee). After one lap the duo had a gap of ten seconds and both had team-mates controlling any pursuit.
With six laps to go and with Greenwood doing the lion’s share, Sophie Enever (Alba Development Road Team) tried to jump across to the break. The attack was immediately shut down by the escapee’s teams. With DAS-Handsling having five riders in the bunch behind the leaders, it was unlikely anything would change.
Two laps to go!
Two laps to go and with the break working well together, the chasers prepared for their own sprint: series points were up for grabs! The sprint was led out by Greenwood onto the finishing straight and she kept the lead all the way to the line. The chasers came in 44 seconds later, with Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) taking the sprint for third.
Greenwood is returning to racing after a career as the women’s endurance podium coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team. You can read about her decision to start racing again on the Handsling website. DAS-Handsling are a UCI women’s Continental team and ride Handsling’s aero road bike the A1R0evo.
Speaking to DAS-Handsling’s DS after the race he said: “It was great to see Monica with her arm in the air crossing the line in first, truly deserved. The commitment she shows to her racing and training is exceptional, I’m delighted for her.”
He went on to talk about the team: “Our goal for the race was to achieve a togetherness way of racing. Supporting, encouraging and motivating each other throughout. This we definitely achieved as can be seen in the many pictures and the vibe in the race de-brief definitely strengthened what was witnessed throughout the race.”
Women’s BC National Circuit Series Individual Standings
1 Corinne Side Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee 168
2 Jo Tindley Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee 152
3 Isabel Darvill Team Spectra Cannondale 143
4 Robyn Clay Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee 135
5 Bexy Dew Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee 123
6 Emily Proud Le Col Race Team 117
7 Lucy Lee DAS – Handsling Bikes 106
8 Monica Greenwood DAS – Handsling Bikes 102
9 Sammie Stuart DAS – Handsling Bikes 102
10 Millie Couzens Fenix-Deceuninck 94
Women’s BC National Circuit Series Team Standings
1 Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee 482
2 DAS – Handsling Bikes 403
3 Hutchinson – Brother UK 222
4 Team Boompods 201
5 Alba Development Road Team 146
6 Loughborough Lightning 143
7 Shibden Hope Tech Apex 130
8 Team Spectra Cannondale 117
9 Brother UK – Orientation Marketing 81
10 Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon 57
11 AWOL OShea 50
12 LDN-Academy 35
13 Saint Piran WRT 32
14 Tofauti Everyone Active 28
15 Wahoo – Le Col 7
