23 Apr EPZ Omloop van Borsele 2.NCUP
This weekend we raced in the Netherlands Nations Cup, Omloop van Borsele in the Junior U19 Women.
We had Maia (Road Captain), Ruby, Ava, Lola and Kirsty racing for Black Magic. Muireann was racing for her Watersley Team. There was 140 riders from across 29 Nations and Trade Teams.
Team Support: Patrick, Tessa, Carly, Mark and Ralph
Stage 1
The first stage was a 14km individual time trial on Friday evening with 140 riders racing the clock. Ava was our lead GC rider after Day 1, also in the Young Riders competition for first year U19s. Only 1min 37 secs down on the eventual winner from England, this was an awesome effort by Ava who nailed her intent from the beginning and rode to an aggressive plan, taking it right to the limit to the very end. All the while, holding incredibly good form throughout.
Ruby was 1 min 56 secs down on the winner and also had a great performance. She settled into her work really quickly, riding good lines and technically a great time trial. Lots of good learnings for Ruby and she is keen for more opportunities on this bike to get her legs fired up better next time.
Maia, Lola and Kirsty completed the time trial on their road bikes and all gave it their all, making sure they nailed the corners and got as aero as possible. Lola was super smooth and technically the best. Maia used her power on the flat to try and limit as much time to those riders on TT bikes. Kirsty started strong and has also come away with lots of good work ons in terms of pacing.
Suffering from illness, Muireann battled through and was determined to complete the stage to get on the line for the following day’s road race. The first half was an absolute stomper and she was on a good track for a great placing on the opening stage before her lungs decided otherwise. We know she will be back for redemption on the next TT outing.
Results
56th – Ava Maddison
77th – Ruby Spring
88th – Maia Barclay
98th – Lola Bryson-Boe
101th – Muireann Green
113th – Kirsty Watts
Stage 2
The first road stage was hectic to say the very least but our girls smashed it and got through a taste of true racing at the top u19 level, with lots at stake for some of the Nations and riders. There were numerous crashes and riders chasing the entire race to get back on. Mark, Ralph and Patrick certainly had a busy day in the team car in the madness of the convoy.
After lap 1 there was a split with Muireann in the front group of around 20, before the bunch all came back together again and all chasing groups fought hard to get back on. Laps 2 and 3 was the big bunch racing around the narrow roads and tight corners, and our girls used their awesome team work to stay in and look after each other. Whether it was lending a bottle, a push back on, dropping back to check on a teammie or pushing up to the front together, you girls did great!
It came down to a bunch sprint of around 80 riders all vying for position on the final straight. The sprint was won by Talent Ned. Ruby, Muireann and Maia where right in the mix in the sprint with Ruby finishing the best in 16th but with Muireann and Maia just a row or two back. Kirsty finished safely in the bunch with Lola only losing a few seconds in the hectic finale.
Results
-16th – Ruby Spring
-26th – Muireann Green
-35th– Maia Barclay
-61st – Kirsty Watts
-92nd– Lola Bryson- Boe
Ava was unfortunately taken out by another rider and did a summersault crash and had to withdraw on Lap 2 but she was riding really well until that point and had in fact chased back onto the peloton with her group. She has super strong legs at the moment so we were very gutted for her.
Stage 3
Unfortunately, on Lap 1 Muireann suffered a super unlucky crash and had to chase the entire rest of the race in a small group but in her style she kept positive and made sure she kept fighting hard until the race was completed. Super gutting for her after a strong performance yesterday in the break at one point.
Lola was working hard the whole race and in the bunch getting ready for the finish, when she unfortunately also came down in a crash 1km to go and lost contact with the bunch but she made sure she finished and nailed completing the tour, also losing no time as it was in the final 3km of the race.
Kirsty was held up by the final crash and had to chase back with another rider, just finishing behind the bunch sprint but was happy to not have not lost any time. She was riding well and preparing to let her inner track sprint out so was gutted to not be there in the sprint.
The iconic racing duo Maia and Ruby were positioned well in the bunch each lap and getting more and more determined to show what they can do against the big sprinters from round the Nations.
Maia took the lessons learned from day 1 and the learning challenge for the day to get a small break, enough to worry the Brits who sent a rider across to sit on and shut it down.
Maia and Ruby used each other to move up in the closing stages as the sprint loomed, with both fighting hard to position for the win, Ruby finished an impressive 6th place, with Maia not far behind in 20th.
We were super impressed to see both riders not afraid to take on such a technical and competitive finale, that takes huge guts and incredible talent from our sprinting duo in only their 5th European race.
A top 10 at this level by Ruby is something special and gives us huge confidence moving into the next few weeks of racing and shows us kiwis can mix it with the best.
Great leadership by Maia the entire weekend as road captain!
Results
6th – Ruby Spring
20th – Maia Barclay
63rd – Kirsty Watts
78th – Lola Bryson- Boe
101th – Muireann Green
General Classification
57th – Ruby Spring
64th – Maia Barclay
71st – Lola Bryson-Boe
73rd – Kirsty Watts
92nd – Muireann Green
All in all, despite a couple of crashes we are gutted about and losing Ava from the Tour yesterday was super sad, we are very proud of the efforts of our Kiwi girls and the results we achieved. For us just even making the start line at a Nations Cup was a great moment for the entire team, then finishing in the bunches and being able to mix it up at the front. The determination and resilience of all of our girls explains it all.
Sprint Classification
- 12th – Ruby Spring
- 35th – Maia Barclay
Youth Classification
- 28th – Kirsty Watts
110 riders finished the Tour today from 140 starters on Friday.
Photos thanks to Kevin Buyssens and Patrick Harvey