National Circuit Series
National Circuit Series – Colne and Sheffield
The Colne and Sheffield rounds of the Women’s National Circuit Series sees wins from riders on Handsling bikes. This puts the two teams DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and Alba Development RT in first and second in the team competition.
McLaren Automotive Sheffield Women’s Grand Prix
The McLaren Automotive Sheffield Women’s Grand Prix was the fifth event in the seven round series. The fast and flowing1.3Km circuit included a cobbled descent and a long drag to the finish. Last year’s winner was Monica Greenwood, then riding for DAS-Handsling now with Team Coop-Hitec Products.
This year’s edition would be tackled by an 80 strong field under dry conditions. Frankie Hall of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK went to the front and set a furious pace that pulled thirty riders clear. Jo Hindley (Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting) then went on the attack, reducing the bunch to seventeen riders. Next it was Keira Bond (Alba Development RT on the attack. Unfortunately a huge crash behind led to the race being stopped.
When the race was re-started the riders were told that they would be racing for eight laps. Frankie Hall immediately went hard on the front, stretching the bunch into single-file. Her team-mate Lucy Lee then took over with the intention to set Hall up for another lone attack. Unfortunately Frankie couldn’t get a gap, instead Kiera Bond of Alba escaped with three laps to go. With Eilidh Shaw policing the bunch behind, Bond went on to take win.
Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix
This was the first women’s edition of the Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix and round six of the series. The riders would be faced with a circuit that was completely different to the previous round. Colne’s rectangular circuit looked perfect for putting down the power. Which is just what happened from the start. Rotating at the front were riders from Alba RT, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and Spectra Racing.
With the pace so high the bunch stayed together until Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) struck out. Twice she escaped the bunch only to be brought back by Scottish circuit champion Eilidh Shaw. It seemed that the race would finish in a bunch sprint.
2023 Otley Grand Prix winner Sophie Lewis (DAS-Handsling), Shaw and Shibden Apex RT’s Lucy Glover had other ideas however. With team-mates behind to disrupt the chase the trio managed to pull away. Coming onto the finishing straight Sophie Lewis sprinted ahead of Shaw to take the win, with the bunch only two seconds behind.
Eildh Shaw extends her lead in the Individual Series standings, 38 points ahead of her teammate Bond, with Frankie Hall in third. Meanwhile in the team competition, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK increased their lead over Alba Development RT to 642 points. With 140 points separating the two and only two rounds remaining, can Alba close the gap? For all the information and current standings check out the series on the British Cycling website. The next race in the series is the Beverley Grand Prix on Friday 26 July.
Handsling Bikes at the Women’s National Circuit Series
Both Alba Development RT and DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK are racing on A1R0evo bikes from Hampshire based Handsling Bikes.
