teamwallis-CHH Cycling Team

The past couple of weeks have proved a busy time for both Sarah Reynolds and I. The weekend of 23/24th May we both raced for GB's Olympic Development Programme in two separate Junior Women’s events in the heart of Belgium. Our first race was a 70kms event around the Sint-Antonius-Zoersel circuit. Competing against an international field of American, Dutch and Belgium riders our team set about attacking the main bunch throughout this tough and technically demanding circuit. Sarah and I attacked several times and on one occasion I managed to get away with a strong USA rider with a lead of over two minutes. All was looking good however the main group began to get more organised and despite efforts by my team-mates to slow the peleton down, my lead was not to be and we were pulled in by the main bunch. On the final run-in a crash occurred splitting the group of riders. I just missed out on the final gallop for the line resulting in a respectable 25th place out of a quality field of 80 plus riders. Sarah was the best placed Britain that day with a well-earned 16th.

Our second race during the weekend was on the undulating Vlaams-Brabant-Kessel-Lo circuit. Racing in hot temperatures and with an increasingly fast pace the 80 plus riders were soon reduced to a select group who continued to accelerate on the cobbles and bumps of this tough little circuit. I managed to stay with the lead group with only my team-mate, fellow GB junior Laura Trott, staying with me throughout the main part of the race. After a mega attack early on by Sarah, she started to suffer from sun-stroke. She recovered well however and managed to stay up front for the rest of the race. Despite giving it our best shot and after having helped our team-mate to a top 10 place, I managed a creditable 35th place with Sarah not far behind.

After the weekend's racing there was no let up for us both as we travelled down to the Veledrome in Newport, South Wales with the squad for a week's intense track training in preperation for the forthcoming European Junior/U23 Track Champs in Belarus during the month of August.

After a brief return home on the Friday night,.we were again in action when we competed in last weekends Women’s team series event organised by VC Long Eaton, Derbyshire. The race which was held in the picturesque area of Derbyshire saw Nicole Cooke's team-mate, Dani King (Vision 1) riding for the team, Squadra Donne/Luciano take first place. Her victory came after a tough 50 mile race which saw the riders covering five laps of a 10 mile circuit with one climb up Pistern Hill each time and two other climbs on the circuit which were probably even more demanding. With the hot sun, the race broke up in the first lap which took around 25-30 minutes, with the main group gaining a five minute lead on the chasers. Many more were dropped out the back and found themselves a place in the smaller chase groups, managing to complete the distance despite the heat and terrain. Sarah and I along with our GB Junior team-mates, rode a tactical race trying to control events from the front and to counter any attacks made by the other team riders.

On the last lap Sarah counter attacked Jess Booth, another GB team mate. Sarah was joined by Dani King and two other riders. I sat tight in the bunch, along with Laura Trott controlling the pace at the front to assure Sarah stayed away. Coming into the finishing straight, I positioned myself behind Laura Trott, a team mate and well renowned sprinter. I got 3rd in the bunch sprint and 8th over all. Sarah got a credible 4th place. Our GB Junior Squad managed to finish first team with a 4th,6th and 8th place.

This weekend sees Sarah and I crossing the channel once again when we take part in our first UCI sanctioned event, competing in a 130Kms road race in Belgium. The selectors will be out for Team GB when they will be considering who to take to the European Junior Road Championships.