THE crowds turned out in their thousands on Tuesday evening to see world and Olympic champion Laura Trott crowned queen of Redditch in the Matrix Fitness Womens’ bike race series.
Trott, riding for Team Matrix Fitness in her first ever trip to Redditch, was always at the head of affairs in an elite group consisting of the cream of British women’s cycling, including Scotland’s Katie Archibald, fellow gold medallist Dani King, who eventually finished second, and the all conquering paralympian Dame Sara Storey.
A bubbly Trott said she she had been bowled over by the reception in Redditch: “I really enjoyed it, it’s such a great circuit, and I was sorry when I saw there was only four laps to go, because I wanted it to go on for longer.
“I’ve never raced here before and it’s such a fantastic circuit, it’s less than a mile long and it means the crowd see action all the time.
“I really hope it can carry on because it’s not like other circuits as you’ve got a really sharp hill (Unicorn Hill) to climb and after goinjg up it 15 times you can really feel it in your legs.”
Trott finished ahead of fellow Olympian and world champion Dani King (Wiggle Honda) with Nikki Juniper (Team Giordana Triton) third.
“The atmosphere was fantastic too,” added Trott. “I’m only riding two of these events and I’m really pleased I rode in Redditch today, and it’s been a great start for my team too.”
Meanwhile in the men’s Pearl Izumi Tour Series Welshman Jon Mould snatched victory from three times world track champion Morgan Kniesky right on the line, just as the Frenchman was getting ready to celebrate his own victory.
A delighted Mould could only smile at the nature of the win: “I knew I was going quite well and managed to get in a breakaway in the closing stages in a little group of five.
“I then saw Morgan in front and managed to just nick in front of him right on the line.”
Full Results:
Matrix Fitness GP Series, round one, Redditch: 1) Laura Trott, Matrix Fitness, 2) Dani King, Wiggle Honda, 3) Nikki Juniper, Team Giordana Triton.
Combativity winner: Jessie Walker, RST Racing Team.
Sprints winner: Nikki Juniper, Team Giordana Triton.
Team winners: Team Giordana Triton.
Pearl Izumi Tour Series, round two, Redditch: 1) Jon Mould, ONE Pro Cycling, 2) Morgan Kneisky, Team Raleigh – GAC, 3) Mike Northey, Madison Genesis.
Costa Express Fastest Lap: Morgan Kneisky, Team Raleigh – GAC, 1’58.224.
Chain Reaction Cycles Points, winner: Morgan Kneisky, Team Raleigh – GAC.
Team winners: Madison Genesis.
* For a full report and picture special on the day the Pearl Izumi Tour Series came to Redditch look out for the Redditch Standard on Friday.
