Lee flies to Great victory as Ellwood’s capital gains are overhauled
Iceni Velo riders Polly Mason (white helmet) and Catherine Pearce at the VC Norwich Road Races. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
RAF Marham rider Ian Lee won the VC Norwich men's road race at Great Cressingham after overhauling Tom Ellwood (CC London) who had attacked early as a breakaway group of 10 approached the finish.
The womens podium at the VC Norwich Road Races, from left, Elizabeth Hughes, Emily Ashwood and Elena Spanou. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
The afternoon women's race went to Junior rider Emily Ashwood (Team OnForm) again from a breakaway group – both breaks having formed after sprints for mid-race 'Prime' prizes on the climb past the race headquarters at Great Cressingham Village Hall.
In the men's race just after Sam Toy (Velo Schils) had won the prime sprint, Jack Hardwicke attacked and his Strada Sport team-mates immediately went to the front and soft-pedalled the pace to help him get away.
It was those competitors who managed to get round these blockers who formed a leading group which stayed away for the rest of the race.
Hardwicke tried again with one lap to go and Harley Matthews (DAP CC) for company, but the group re-formed and Lee, a 25-year-old aircraft technician, won from Ellwood, with Toy third and Norwich rider Mike Auger fourth and top third cat finisher.
The mens sprint at the VC Norwich Road Race eventual winner Lee, left, and Norwich rider Mike Auger (1st Third Cat) in green API kit. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
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Horsford MTB junior champion Sophie Wright took the Prime in the women's race and her attack split the field, a substantial leading group of 15 rapidly opening a big gap on the rest.
OnForm's Jessica Woodworth led out, with team-mate Ashwood, from south London, taking over up the finish climb. Elizabeth Hughes was second with Wright the top Norfolk finisher in eighth spot.
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That summer hazard – loose chippings – affected both ends of the Godric CC 50-mile course in the Waveney Valley. VeloVelocity team-mates Matthew Senter (1:48:51) and Daniel Bloy (1:51:59) dominated, but the stuffing does seem to have been rather shaken out of the rest.
The '10' course in the middle was not chipped, but the wind made for a very hard finish in Saturday's Iceni Velo 10.
Horsford rider Sophie Wright wins the mid-race prime from Jessica Woodworth at the VC Norwich Womens Road Race. Picture: Fergus Muir: - Credit: Archant
Nevertheless Verity Smith managed to update her course record to 23:24. Bloy, top man in 20:34, commented: 'Fast – properly fast, 30 mph out, but coming back was awful'
In the mid-week Godric Open 10 VC Baracchi scored a one, two, three win led by Mark Richards (21:44).
Emily Ashwood (OnForm) takes the win at the VC Norwich Womens Road Race. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
VC Norwich eventual winner Ian Lee (RAFCA) leads this group. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
