Location: Great Chesterford, Essex
Event: 13-14 July 2013

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The National Women’s Road Race Series reaches a potentially pivotal weekend with the Essex Giro 2 Day.

A feverishly fought series has yielded six separate winners so far and left just 55 points between the top five.

Three stages await riders in north-east London with Saturday’s 13-kilometre time trial and 65-kilometre kermesse prior to a 105-kilometre road race on Sunday.

With additional points available for individual stage honours as well as the final overall classification there is the prospect of wholesale changes in the standings.

Anne Ewing’s (Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team) absence will undoubtedly see her relinquish the lead with Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling) primed to take the 11 points needed to replace her.

Barnes followed her Curlew Cup win with second behind Elinor Barker at the Otley Grand Prix and the presence of a kermesse will be beneficial for the Tour Series winner who won the stage three criterium at the opening event in this year’s series, the City of Perth Grand Prix.

Women's Series top 3

Anne Ewing 175
Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team

Hannah Barnes 165 MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling

Eileen Roe 157
Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team

Second in the time trial in Perth also demonstrated Barnes’ versatility, as did the win in the road race stage in last year’s event, won overall by Dame Sarah Storey.

Ewing’s teammate and third place Eileen Roe is also set to miss the weekend of racing providing incentive for Charline Joiner (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling) who is 34 points adrift of Roe and 52 away from Ewing.

Cheshire Classic winner Karla Boddy will hope to rekindle the form she found in the north west.

Elinor Barker (Wiggle Honda) won at the Otley Grand Prix but is on duty with Great Britain at the Under 23 European Championships however British Cycling Olympic Academy rider Emily Kay is named for Scott Contessa Epic.

The 17-year-old won at the Hillingdon Grand Prix as well as finishing third Cheshire Classic and sitting in sixth overall Kay could drive herself into the upper echelons of the standings in Essex.

Stage one’s time trial navigates an 11-kilometre circuit taking in Elmdon and Littlebury before the afternoon’s stage two kermesse takes place over a eight-kilometre circuit.

Eight laps totalling 64-kilometres include an uphill finish on Chapel Green Lane.

Sunday’s 128-kilometre road race consists of six and three quarter laps of an 18.66-kilometre course through Radwinter, Wimbish and Thaxted.

Start list