The 2014 British Cycling Women’s Road Series gets underway with the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir on Saturday.
The field will complete 58 miles over four laps of the course in Northumberland, on the same circuit that will be used for stage two of the men’s race on the Sunday.
Last year’s competition provided some thrilling racing with Hannah Barnes taking the overall title but only after achieving the required victory at the final event, the Stafford Grand Prix.
With 11 events in this year’s series, there are plenty of opportunities for riders to pick up points with the season finale once again taking place in Staffordshire.
Barnes, now at UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team after her superb 2013 campaign, will not be present in Northumberland but there is no shortage of talent in the field.
European cyclo-cross champion Helen Wyman (Kona/ FSA Factory Team) won at last year’s Sheffield Grand Prix and comes into the road season on the back of a notable winter which saw her win bronze at the cyclo-cross world championships.
Boels Dolmans rider Emma Trott, fifth in the 2013 British Cycling National Road Championships, will hope to make an impact as will Epic Cycles-Scott WRT’s Karla Boddy.
Boddy won at last year’s Cheshire Classic, eventually ending the series in seventh, a position she will no doubt want to build-on.
With Melissa Brand, Anna Christian, Ella Hopkins, Laura Massey, Alexie Shaw, Hannah Walker, Laura Wasley, Molly Weaver for company in the Epic Cycles-Scott team, the outfit is well-positioned to control the race and deliver a result.
Matrix Fitness-Vulpine also bring strength in numbers with five riders on the start list in Louise Borthwick, Harriet Owen, Penny Rowson, Jo Tindley and Jessie Walker selected.
Great Britain mountain bike rider Bethany Crumpton will also compete, the 19-year-old using the chance to test her legs having finished sixth at the opening round of the British Cycling MTB Cross-Country Series last month.
The circuit heads into and through Edmundbyers, over the reservoir dam wall, Eddis Bridge, Barleyhill and along the north side of Derwent reservoir to Carrick Corner to complete a lap. Racing starts at 9.30am.
