Event: 13 June 2013
Location: Aylsham Town Centre, Penfold Street, Aylsham, Norfolk,
Report: Tour Series
Amidst torrential rain in Aylsham, Norfolk, Hannah Barnes did enough to stay upright and cross the line safely to clinch overall victory in the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, organised by SweetSpot Group.
Barnes crossed the line in 16th place to secure the Series title by 11 points from Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport’s Natalie Creswick.
Creswick was one of two riders who escaped early on in tricky conditions to contest the race victory, taken by fellow escapee Gabby Day, whose Matrix Fitness Race Academy also won the final round, their first team victory of the season.
Rain shortly before the race made the surface greasy, with Day and Creswick breaking clear early on. Behind Barnes showed caution in the tricky conditions to stay within the safety of the main field to ensure she claimed the title.
Come the final sprint it was Day who came out on top, leaving Stoke-on-Trent race winner Creswick behind for the final round victory.
French rider Roxanne Fournier led home the bunch for her second podium of the week, ahead of Coryn Rivera and Hannah Walker.
Creswick’s second moved her up to the Runners Up spot, as three points separated positions two to five in the standings. Day’s victory meant she finished third, ahead of Louise Mahe and Charline Joiner.
The Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport squad also closed the gap in the team standings with three finishers in the top 13, finishing just 12 points behind champions MG Maxifuel, who had their poorest round of the Series.
There was further success for Barnes and MG Maxifuel too, as they clinched the Sprints jersey for a clean sweep of all the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series honours.
Highlights of the final round of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series from Aylsham will be shown on ITV4 at 10pm on Friday 14th June as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series programme, with a repeat at 9.55am on Saturday.
Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, Round Five Aylsham
Round Five Aylsham, Individual Result
1) Gabby Day, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
2) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
3) Roxanne Fournier, FRA, France
4) Coryn Rivera, USA, Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team
5) Hannah Walker, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
6) Charline Joiner, GBR, MG Maxifuel
7) Helen Wyman, GBR, Kona Factory Racing
8) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
9) Harriet Owen, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
10) Jessie Walker, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
Round Five Aylsham Team Winner: Matrix Fitness Race Academy
Round Five Aylsham Combativity Winner: Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
Round Five Aylsham Sprints Winner: Gabby Day, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
Individual Standings, post-Round Five
1) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 84pts
2) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 73pts
3) Gabby Day, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 72pts
4) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 72pts
5) Charline Joiner, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 70pts
Team Standings, post-Round Five
1) MG Maxifuel, 204pts
2) Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 192pts
3) Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 187pts
4) Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team, 101pts
5) Team Hope Factory Racing, 74pts
6) Team CTC, 30pts
Sprint Standings, post-Round Five
1) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 35pts
2) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 23pts
3) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 19pts
