The tug-of-war for British Cycling Women’s Road Series supremacy continues this weekend at the round five, the Curlew Cup, as the on-form Katie Archibald closes-in on series leader Nicola Juniper.
Juniper has led the series since the first round, the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir, but strong performances from Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International’s Katie Archibald have seen her climb to second overall, now just six points behind Juniper, who leads the series with 111 points.
The previous round, the three-stage Surf ‘n’ Turf 2 Day, was dominated by Laura Trott and her Wiggle Honda teammates; Trott winning the trio of stages and leaping to third overall on the table on 101 points.
After winning the prologue time-trial and circuit race on day one, Trott broke clear on the road stage the following day with teammates Elinor Barker and Dani King, later joined by Archibald who bridged to the escape on her own but couldn’t get the better of Trott in the final sprint.
Wiggle Honda are however conspicuous by their absence for the Northumberland event, leaving the way clear for the ever-improving Archibald to challenge for the series lead.
Juniper took seventh in Lancashire to keep her overall lead with an exciting battle developing at the top of the rankings.
Below Archibald, Juniper and Trott however, the battle is raging with fourth to seventh places separated by just nine points. Yet again the absence of Wiggle Honda will mean that Archibald’s teammate Gabriella Shaw can re-stake her claim on third place.
Among other riders who could spring a surprise is multiple British cyclo-cross champion Helen Wyman, riding for the six-strong Matrix Fitness-Vulpine squad.
Epic Cycles-Scott WRT have strength in numbers too, with seven riders including Alexie Shaw and Molly Weaver, second and third in round one.
Racing begins in Stamfordham at 9:30am when riders will face 63 miles of racing on Northumberland’s roads.
Three laps of a 13.9-mile circuit will be followed by one lap of the 22.3-mile course used for the Beaumont Trophy men’s event, the latter including a climb of the famous Ryals, which memorably featured in the 2011 national road championships.
This year will be the third edition of the Gosforth RC-run Curlew Cup, which joined the Virgin Money Cyclone weekend in 2012. Dame Sarah Storey won the event in its inaugural year and competes again at the weekend, riding for Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, while 2013 winner Hannah Barnes, riding for UnitedHeathcare, is absent.
