Kinetic Welwyn Racing Report‏

Race Report from Sunday April 4th 2016

The second round of the Women’s Team Series took the Kinetic Welwyn team to Surrey for the Dave Peck Memorial race.

The 50 mile race was held on a fine spring day, ideal for safe, fast and competitive racing to be contested by another large and quality Elite female field.

Over the excellent hilly course the race soon fragmented and a leading group formed, shedding further riders as the pressure increased.

Various breakaways ensued, including one that gained a minutes’ lead however as the peloton increased the pace the leading riders, including Welwyn’s Sophia Chastell and Gaia Casciello were all together as the race entered its final five miles.

The front group split on the final climb of Staple Hill and then was strung out on the long false flat finish atop Chobham Common.

For Kinetic Welwyn it was Sophia Chastell who was the best of the finishers in 23rd place with Gaia Casciello also riding well to secure 33rd in the main bunch finish.

Rachel Heptonstall, in her first National level road race, was 50th, Elanor Cadzow 51st and Rebecca Maynard 54th.

The Team Series takes a break until the Bedford 3 day event at the end of April, until then members of the Kinetic Welwyn team move onto regional road races and the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir in Northumbria.

John